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T
Remember the word "ACTS."
(A)doration
(C)onfession
(T)hanksgiving
(S)upplication
Adoration: Mat 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Supplication: Mat 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Thanksgiving: Mat 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread.
Confession: Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Supplication/Adoration: Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'
And the consequences, it builds your relationship with God.
This is the short answer
(A)doration
(C)onfession
(T)hanksgiving
(S)upplication
Adoration: Mat 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Supplication: Mat 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Thanksgiving: Mat 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread.
Confession: Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Supplication/Adoration: Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'
And the consequences, it builds your relationship with God.
This is the short answer
Z
Reasons?
1. To glorify God
2. To glorify God
3. To glorify God
Oh, and to
-be set free from worry (Phil. 4:6)
-to ask for thing so that we can receive them so that we can glorify God
-to grow closer to God
-to everything
There are a million reasons, yet we make a billion reasons not to (and that includes me!) sometimes. What a loving Father we have that He does not instantly just cast us out when we do not spend time in prayer to Him. However, He still draws us to see His beauty, thus leading us to pray and glorify Him.
Consequences?
We
1. Will come closer to God
2. Will do His will, not our own
3. Will glorify Him
4. Will grow in hatred of sin, the devil and his schemes
5. Will want to pray more
Grace and Love in Christ
1. To glorify God
2. To glorify God
3. To glorify God
Oh, and to
-be set free from worry (Phil. 4:6)
-to ask for thing so that we can receive them so that we can glorify God
-to grow closer to God
-to everything
There are a million reasons, yet we make a billion reasons not to (and that includes me!) sometimes. What a loving Father we have that He does not instantly just cast us out when we do not spend time in prayer to Him. However, He still draws us to see His beauty, thus leading us to pray and glorify Him.
Consequences?
We
1. Will come closer to God
2. Will do His will, not our own
3. Will glorify Him
4. Will grow in hatred of sin, the devil and his schemes
5. Will want to pray more
Grace and Love in Christ
Z
Remember the word "ACTS."
(A)doration
(C)onfession
(T)hanksgiving
(S)upplication
Adoration: Mat 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Supplication: Mat 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Thanksgiving: Mat 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread.
Confession: Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Supplication/Adoration: Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'
And the consequences, it builds your relationship with God.
This is the short answer
(A)doration
(C)onfession
(T)hanksgiving
(S)upplication
Adoration: Mat 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Supplication: Mat 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Thanksgiving: Mat 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread.
Confession: Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Supplication/Adoration: Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'
And the consequences, it builds your relationship with God.
This is the short answer
Grace and Love
T
actually i've always wondered this too; if God knows everything we're going to do before we do it then it makes it kinda pointless doesn't it? Plus i think praying the same prayers over and over would make Him kind of bored wouldn't it? i know if I was in his place i would get annoyed at the same thing over and over, i would feel that they have just memorized what they were supposed to say and even if they try to make it sound meaningful, it still isn't anymore. To picture it say you have a girlfriend, and every when she comes home from work she has a big long sweet speech for you. Ya it's cute and nice to hear at first, but after hearing it so many times you know she's not putting any work into it anymore.
Prayer is communicating with your Heavenly Father. As you know, communication is essential for a successful relationship. If you want to be successful in your walk with God, you need to communicate with Him. We know that He is near and always accessible to us by His Word.
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: ( Acts 17:27 )
Prayer is two-way communication between man and God.The Lord will speak back to you in one of three ways:
Through a "still small voice"
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. ( Isaiah 30:21 )
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
( 1 Kings 19:12 )
Through reading His Word -
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17 )
Through the anointed preaching of a minister -
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ( 2 Timothy 4:2 )
- We Have An Invitation To Approach GOD In Prayer -
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ( James 4:2 )
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. ( Luke 11:9-10 )
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
( John 16:24 )
- If We Ask In The Right Manner,We Will Receive -
We must pray with the right attitude -
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ( Matthew 15:8 )
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ( James 4:6 )
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ( Luke 18:10-15 )
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
( Psalm 145:18-19 )
We must pray with our whole heart -
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ( Jeremiah 29:13 )
We must pray with Faith -
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. ( Mark 11:24 )
Prayers from the righteous are powerful -
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ( James 5:16 )
Obedience to God causes us to receive answers to our prayers -
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. ( 1 John 3:22 )
Prayer must be according to God's will -
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ( 1 John 5:14 )
Prayer is effective if we stay close to Christ and His Word -
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
( John 15:7 )
- Hindrances That Keep Prayers From Being Answered -
Prayers will not be answered .....
If we hide secret sins in our hearts -
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: ( Psalm 66:18 )
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. ( Isaiah 59:2 )
If we are indifferent to God -
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: ( Proverbs 1:29 )
If we despise God's law -
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
( Proverbs 28:9 )
If we neglect mercy -
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
( Proverbs 21:13 )
If we are not stable -
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. ( James 1:6-7 )
If we have wrong motives -
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ( James 4:3 )
If it is not the will of God for our lives -
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 )
If we have an improper relationship with our spouse -
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
( 1 Peter 3:7 )
If we do not Forgive -
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
( Mark 11:25-26 )
- Keys To Successful Prayer -
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. ( John 14:14 )
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 )
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? ( Luke 18:1-8 )
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
( Genesis 32:26 )
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ( Matthew 6:9-13 )
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. ( Matthew 18:19 )
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ( Acts 2:1-4 )
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. ( Acts 12:12 )
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
( Ephesians 5:20 )
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ( Hebrews 4:16 )
- Prayer Is The Means God Uses To Provide Our Needs -
The Bible tells us to pray specifically for -
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ( 1 Timothy 2:1-2 )
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ( Matthew 5:44 )
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. ( Luke 10:2 )
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ( James 1:5 )
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
( Matthew 26:41 )
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ( James 5:16 )
- Praying With The Spirit -
When we pray with the Spirit ( praying in tongues ), our Spirit is speaking mysteries unto God.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. ( 1 Corinthians 14:2 )
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ( 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 )
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ( Romans 8:26 )
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
( Jude 1:20 )
- Prayer Is The Infallible Mark Of A Christian -
To be a Christian is to be Christ-like. To be a man/woman of prayer is to be like Christ.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. ( Mark 1:35 )
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12 )
Pray without ceasing. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 )
- Where To Pray -
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
( Matthew 6:6 )
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. ( Luke 1:10 )
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ( Acts 2:1 )
We must have a consistent prayer life and keep the channel of communication open to him. By praying,we maintain our spiritual well-being and a close relationship with God. since prayer is such a powerful tool of the Christian, we should not permit it to be crowded out of our busy schedule and thus be neglected.As you spend more time communicating with your Father, you will truly get to know Him better and understand His will , His ways , and His plans for your life.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. ( Psalm 5:3 )
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: ( Acts 17:27 )
Prayer is two-way communication between man and God.The Lord will speak back to you in one of three ways:
Through a "still small voice"
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. ( Isaiah 30:21 )
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
( 1 Kings 19:12 )
Through reading His Word -
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17 )
Through the anointed preaching of a minister -
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ( 2 Timothy 4:2 )
- We Have An Invitation To Approach GOD In Prayer -
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ( James 4:2 )
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. ( Luke 11:9-10 )
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
( John 16:24 )
- If We Ask In The Right Manner,We Will Receive -
We must pray with the right attitude -
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ( Matthew 15:8 )
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ( James 4:6 )
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ( Luke 18:10-15 )
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
( Psalm 145:18-19 )
We must pray with our whole heart -
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ( Jeremiah 29:13 )
We must pray with Faith -
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. ( Mark 11:24 )
Prayers from the righteous are powerful -
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ( James 5:16 )
Obedience to God causes us to receive answers to our prayers -
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. ( 1 John 3:22 )
Prayer must be according to God's will -
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ( 1 John 5:14 )
Prayer is effective if we stay close to Christ and His Word -
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
( John 15:7 )
- Hindrances That Keep Prayers From Being Answered -
Prayers will not be answered .....
If we hide secret sins in our hearts -
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: ( Psalm 66:18 )
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. ( Isaiah 59:2 )
If we are indifferent to God -
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: ( Proverbs 1:29 )
If we despise God's law -
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
( Proverbs 28:9 )
If we neglect mercy -
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
( Proverbs 21:13 )
If we are not stable -
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. ( James 1:6-7 )
If we have wrong motives -
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ( James 4:3 )
If it is not the will of God for our lives -
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 )
If we have an improper relationship with our spouse -
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
( 1 Peter 3:7 )
If we do not Forgive -
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
( Mark 11:25-26 )
- Keys To Successful Prayer -
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. ( John 14:14 )
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 )
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? ( Luke 18:1-8 )
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
( Genesis 32:26 )
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ( Matthew 6:9-13 )
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. ( Matthew 18:19 )
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ( Acts 2:1-4 )
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. ( Acts 12:12 )
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
( Ephesians 5:20 )
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ( Hebrews 4:16 )
- Prayer Is The Means God Uses To Provide Our Needs -
The Bible tells us to pray specifically for -
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ( 1 Timothy 2:1-2 )
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ( Matthew 5:44 )
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. ( Luke 10:2 )
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ( James 1:5 )
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
( Matthew 26:41 )
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ( James 5:16 )
- Praying With The Spirit -
When we pray with the Spirit ( praying in tongues ), our Spirit is speaking mysteries unto God.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. ( 1 Corinthians 14:2 )
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ( 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 )
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ( Romans 8:26 )
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
( Jude 1:20 )
- Prayer Is The Infallible Mark Of A Christian -
To be a Christian is to be Christ-like. To be a man/woman of prayer is to be like Christ.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. ( Mark 1:35 )
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12 )
Pray without ceasing. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 )
- Where To Pray -
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
( Matthew 6:6 )
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. ( Luke 1:10 )
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ( Acts 2:1 )
We must have a consistent prayer life and keep the channel of communication open to him. By praying,we maintain our spiritual well-being and a close relationship with God. since prayer is such a powerful tool of the Christian, we should not permit it to be crowded out of our busy schedule and thus be neglected.As you spend more time communicating with your Father, you will truly get to know Him better and understand His will , His ways , and His plans for your life.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. ( Psalm 5:3 )
Z
Well, it depends on how your praying.
If literally all you're doing is asking for "things," then yes, I would imagine that it wouldn't entirely delight Him. It delights Him to answer your prayers, but the main point of prayer is to glorify God. In glorifying Him we come closer to Him.
Notice Jesus' model of prayer - it begins with "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
I don't think that means that we literally say "hallowed be your name" every time, if that makes sense. It means that, in general, what we should be doing first in prayer is glorifying God and thanking Him for who He is and what He has done, is doing, and will do.
If you believe He gets bored of it (and don't take this too hard), then your God is a changing God.
Now, of course, your God and my God is not a changing God. In that, we know that He will always love to be glorified and always will love to come close to His children and poor blessings upon them, to His glory.
Grace and Love
If literally all you're doing is asking for "things," then yes, I would imagine that it wouldn't entirely delight Him. It delights Him to answer your prayers, but the main point of prayer is to glorify God. In glorifying Him we come closer to Him.
Notice Jesus' model of prayer - it begins with "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
I don't think that means that we literally say "hallowed be your name" every time, if that makes sense. It means that, in general, what we should be doing first in prayer is glorifying God and thanking Him for who He is and what He has done, is doing, and will do.
If you believe He gets bored of it (and don't take this too hard), then your God is a changing God.
Now, of course, your God and my God is not a changing God. In that, we know that He will always love to be glorified and always will love to come close to His children and poor blessings upon them, to His glory.
Grace and Love
T
What I'm trying to say is that by praying the Our Father every day is pretty pointless because after a while it becomes just a speech, no matter how hard a person tries to make it seem genuine. The only way to really pray then would be to come up with something new every day, thereby showing God you truly mean it. And on the subject of answering prayers, Since God has a grand scheme for absolutely everything, why would he change his plans just to answer yours? It doesn't follow any logic.
Now I know God is not a changing God (except for the transition from the cruel, inhuman, violent God of Old Testament to the quiet, transparent God of the New Testament). But why does he love to be worshiped so much? I know I'm sounding bitter and angry and I'm sorry for that, but this is about the only way i can express my questions like: why does he want to be worshiped so much? Only psychotic human beings (Hitler, Attila The Hun, Xerxes I, and basically every king/emperor) feel the need to be worshiped. Only good, humble, and kind beings want just friendship.
Everyone who reads this is a good example of what i was just talking about. When you do something good it's nice to hear a compliment or something nice about your deed isn't it? What if your mind was so twisted that compliments weren't enough for you, and every time you did something good, you wanted people to publicly praise you, adore you, give up offerings to you and the sort? Would your friends views of you change? would they stop thinking you're such a good guy and start thinking you're doing these good deeds for the publicity, power, praise? Is that what God is doing?
Now I know God is not a changing God (except for the transition from the cruel, inhuman, violent God of Old Testament to the quiet, transparent God of the New Testament). But why does he love to be worshiped so much? I know I'm sounding bitter and angry and I'm sorry for that, but this is about the only way i can express my questions like: why does he want to be worshiped so much? Only psychotic human beings (Hitler, Attila The Hun, Xerxes I, and basically every king/emperor) feel the need to be worshiped. Only good, humble, and kind beings want just friendship.
Everyone who reads this is a good example of what i was just talking about. When you do something good it's nice to hear a compliment or something nice about your deed isn't it? What if your mind was so twisted that compliments weren't enough for you, and every time you did something good, you wanted people to publicly praise you, adore you, give up offerings to you and the sort? Would your friends views of you change? would they stop thinking you're such a good guy and start thinking you're doing these good deeds for the publicity, power, praise? Is that what God is doing?
Z
How is it "pretty pointless?"
Does that mean that we should just stop asking how others are doing in our daily lives, too? No.
It's not about coming up with "new" and "inspiring" phrases to try and please God - that's how the pagans prayed to their gods, pretty much saying "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Yes, you're a great god, your an awesome god...now can you make my wheat grow please?"
Would you just stop talking to your father every day too? No. Why would you? Moreover, why would you stop talking to your Heavenly Father every day?
Personally, I can read Psalm 103 out loud every day, and still mean it every day. For example, on my walk home I was saying "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all of His benefits." I had been praying for a reading lamp this week without telling anyone. Guess what I found when I got home? Then I could truly shout, "Do not forget all His benefits!!!"
As for God "changing His plans," I don't believe He does. I believe He, in His Sovereign plan, set it up so that He would get the glory by answering our prayers, further able to shower His love out into our hearts through the Spirit He has given to us, in Christ.
Thomas - you ask this question, yet do you really know God? I look at the next paragraph:
Why would you say that? God didn't "change" from a "cruel, inhuman, violent God" to a "quiet, transparent" God. Have you even read the New or Old Testament? If you're going to go along with that, I would say just the opposite - the New Testament is where hell is brought up, which is much worse than just death.
You misunderstand worship as well (and I don't mean to be mean). He's not looking for the "worship" as much as "true worshipers" who will worship Him "in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) He wants this worship from true worshipers because He desires to pour out His love to His children and show His glory to them, because He is God - the great "I AM." (Exodus 3:14) He deserves so much more than we give Him - yet it's all perfect in Christ, in whom we believe. If you want to make a god in your own image (and heaven forbid you would!) then you might as well turn away from the true God, for He is holier than all of us - He is holy. Jesus is our friend, but don't forget that He is our Lord, our God as well (John 20:28).
God desires that His name be known throughout the world - and it has, and it will be.
Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
God's main purpose in creating us was to show His everlasting glory, to us and to all the world (Isaiah 43:7).
Why is it so wrong for God to want to be praised and adored? Our friends don't deserve this nearly, nearly as much as God - not even close. He, however, does deserve our praise and adoration. We will be doing it for an eternity (Revelation 4-5) - why not start now?
Thomas, I truly do love you in Christ - but if you can't accept what I've said above - further, who God has revealed Himself to be - please, please call on His name and ask Him to show you His glory. You will never see Him the same way again - you will see Him as all-worthy of worship, my Lord and my God. He has perfectly revealed Himself in Christ, who is the image of the invisible God - worship Him, and bring glory to Him.
He deserves it all.
Grace and Love in Christ
Does that mean that we should just stop asking how others are doing in our daily lives, too? No.
It's not about coming up with "new" and "inspiring" phrases to try and please God - that's how the pagans prayed to their gods, pretty much saying "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Yes, you're a great god, your an awesome god...now can you make my wheat grow please?"
Would you just stop talking to your father every day too? No. Why would you? Moreover, why would you stop talking to your Heavenly Father every day?
Personally, I can read Psalm 103 out loud every day, and still mean it every day. For example, on my walk home I was saying "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all of His benefits." I had been praying for a reading lamp this week without telling anyone. Guess what I found when I got home? Then I could truly shout, "Do not forget all His benefits!!!"
As for God "changing His plans," I don't believe He does. I believe He, in His Sovereign plan, set it up so that He would get the glory by answering our prayers, further able to shower His love out into our hearts through the Spirit He has given to us, in Christ.
Thomas - you ask this question, yet do you really know God? I look at the next paragraph:
Why would you say that? God didn't "change" from a "cruel, inhuman, violent God" to a "quiet, transparent" God. Have you even read the New or Old Testament? If you're going to go along with that, I would say just the opposite - the New Testament is where hell is brought up, which is much worse than just death.
You misunderstand worship as well (and I don't mean to be mean). He's not looking for the "worship" as much as "true worshipers" who will worship Him "in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) He wants this worship from true worshipers because He desires to pour out His love to His children and show His glory to them, because He is God - the great "I AM." (Exodus 3:14) He deserves so much more than we give Him - yet it's all perfect in Christ, in whom we believe. If you want to make a god in your own image (and heaven forbid you would!) then you might as well turn away from the true God, for He is holier than all of us - He is holy. Jesus is our friend, but don't forget that He is our Lord, our God as well (John 20:28).
God desires that His name be known throughout the world - and it has, and it will be.
Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
God's main purpose in creating us was to show His everlasting glory, to us and to all the world (Isaiah 43:7).
Why is it so wrong for God to want to be praised and adored? Our friends don't deserve this nearly, nearly as much as God - not even close. He, however, does deserve our praise and adoration. We will be doing it for an eternity (Revelation 4-5) - why not start now?
Thomas, I truly do love you in Christ - but if you can't accept what I've said above - further, who God has revealed Himself to be - please, please call on His name and ask Him to show you His glory. You will never see Him the same way again - you will see Him as all-worthy of worship, my Lord and my God. He has perfectly revealed Himself in Christ, who is the image of the invisible God - worship Him, and bring glory to Him.
He deserves it all.
Grace and Love in Christ
T
It's pointless because God knew we were going to worship him before we even do (since he is all-knowing).
Like i said before, if you truly loved someone you would want to express it in more than just saying "i love you." just because you're coming up with different ways to tell God you love him does not mean you're trying to bribe him whatsoever. it merely shows you're putting an honest effort to talk to him, it's actually the pagan way to repeat fancy words over and over - Matthew 6:7
I do not talk to my dad everyday because i don't live anywhere near him. I call him up about once a week or every two weeks to see how life is going for him and letting him know how mine is as well.
And wait?? so you just said that I shouldn't be using fancy ways to try and praise God because i'll just be using the "i scratch your back you scratch mine" technique, yet you are using words which i'm pretty sure you do not normally talk like that at all, in order to get a reading lamp? I see something wrong with this picture.
Well God does change his mind according in Noah's flood so he obviously does (which makes absolutely no sense to me but that topic can be saved for another day). What you're saying is that when God set everything up, he knew you were going to pray to him and he knew he would give you a reading lamp which he then knew you would praise him even more for? sounds like he's watching a movie that he already knew the storyline down to the last detail, in other words, really boring.
Like i said before, if you truly loved someone you would want to express it in more than just saying "i love you." just because you're coming up with different ways to tell God you love him does not mean you're trying to bribe him whatsoever. it merely shows you're putting an honest effort to talk to him, it's actually the pagan way to repeat fancy words over and over - Matthew 6:7
I do not talk to my dad everyday because i don't live anywhere near him. I call him up about once a week or every two weeks to see how life is going for him and letting him know how mine is as well.
And wait?? so you just said that I shouldn't be using fancy ways to try and praise God because i'll just be using the "i scratch your back you scratch mine" technique, yet you are using words which i'm pretty sure you do not normally talk like that at all, in order to get a reading lamp? I see something wrong with this picture.
Well God does change his mind according in Noah's flood so he obviously does (which makes absolutely no sense to me but that topic can be saved for another day). What you're saying is that when God set everything up, he knew you were going to pray to him and he knew he would give you a reading lamp which he then knew you would praise him even more for? sounds like he's watching a movie that he already knew the storyline down to the last detail, in other words, really boring.
T
Yea i read the old testament and it pretty much sickened me that God would be so violent, in direct numbers he killed almost 2.5 million people, and with things like Noah's flood and the sort, it's been estimated he killed almost 25 million people. Now we know all of them were in a state of mortal sin (which is why he killed them) and when they were killed he obviously didn't just uncreate them, they were damned to hell. Now not only is that completely vile, but what makes it so much worse is that God knew, even before he created this world that, in his infinite intellect, he was going to send all these people to hell. I say God is a transparent God now because in the Old Testament he was doing so much on this Earth; the tower of Babel (he obviously didn't confuse a bunch more people when we create even higher skyskrapers today), telling fathers to sacrifice their only son to him (today people would be put into an insane asylum and for a good reason), burning hail (it would be everywhere on the news if that were to happen), and all these other crazy things that haven't happened in thousands of years.
I never asked to be created. I never asked for anything, so if it's taken away from me i will not pout, i will not care, all i'm going to do is take advantage of the time that has been given to me. When you say "true worshipers" I get the feeling you will follow God to the very end no matter what without question which reminds me of Samurai's. I think you should watch a Samurai movie sometime to see an outside view of what you're like.
Well things are changing, if God really wants everyone to make it to heaven then he had better do something soon. Christianity is a slowly dying religion, the fastest growing is atheism.
That's a good excuse, but still you gotta admit that God is not meek, nor is he humble (i can safely say that by looking at the Old testament where he kills when he does not get exactly what he wants).
I've tried for the last 18 years of my life, but after thinking about the kind of God he is, it's very hard for me to accept him after reading the Bible and finding out exactly the kind of God he is, putting two and two together, puts me on the rocks with Him.
I never asked to be created. I never asked for anything, so if it's taken away from me i will not pout, i will not care, all i'm going to do is take advantage of the time that has been given to me. When you say "true worshipers" I get the feeling you will follow God to the very end no matter what without question which reminds me of Samurai's. I think you should watch a Samurai movie sometime to see an outside view of what you're like.
Well things are changing, if God really wants everyone to make it to heaven then he had better do something soon. Christianity is a slowly dying religion, the fastest growing is atheism.
That's a good excuse, but still you gotta admit that God is not meek, nor is he humble (i can safely say that by looking at the Old testament where he kills when he does not get exactly what he wants).
I've tried for the last 18 years of my life, but after thinking about the kind of God he is, it's very hard for me to accept him after reading the Bible and finding out exactly the kind of God he is, putting two and two together, puts me on the rocks with Him.
First,you may get bored, but God Our Father does not.
Scripture says God Our Father delights in us.
Also, we are called to offer unto the Lord a sacrifice of praise, praise is prayer, and it is in praise that prayers are answered, for it is in acknowladging, praiseing and thanking God that we recieve His power in our lives.
Prayer is also to step out of flesh, and into Gods protection and presance, talking to God Our Father is never boring, because He trully answers our prayers, and His answers are amazing!!!
Prayer is conversation through Jesus, with God Our Father, is to know Him, and delight in who He is.
Instead of working at prayer, simply talk to God, He is trully a good listener, He never tirers of wearies, and His understanding no one can fathom.
Dont underestamate the power of prayer, and of God Our Father's attention.
For when one's eyes and ears are finnally opened in faith to His answers, one trully knows the delight and love of Our Lord God in Jesus, and why a sacrifice of praise is a joy to give God!
God bless
pickles
Scripture says God Our Father delights in us.
Also, we are called to offer unto the Lord a sacrifice of praise, praise is prayer, and it is in praise that prayers are answered, for it is in acknowladging, praiseing and thanking God that we recieve His power in our lives.
Prayer is also to step out of flesh, and into Gods protection and presance, talking to God Our Father is never boring,
because He trully answers our prayers, and His answers are amazing!!!Prayer is conversation through Jesus, with God Our Father, is to know Him, and delight in who He is.
Instead of working at prayer, simply talk to God, He is trully a good listener, He never tirers of wearies, and His understanding no one can fathom.
Dont underestamate the power of prayer, and of God Our Father's attention.
For when one's eyes and ears are finnally opened in faith to His answers, one trully knows the delight and love of Our Lord God in Jesus, and why a sacrifice of praise is a joy to give God!
God bless
pickles
Z
It's pointless because God knew we were going to worship him before we even do (since he is all-knowing).
So, if I knew that you were going to be my child and that you would say you would love me, would that be pointless too?
Like i said before, if you truly loved someone you would want to express it in more than just saying "i love you." just because you're coming up with different ways to tell God you love him does not mean you're trying to bribe him whatsoever. it merely shows you're putting an honest effort to talk to him, it's actually the pagan way to repeat fancy words over and over - Matthew 6:7
The pagans thought that by their many words they would get the attention of God.
God, on the other hand, hears our every thought.
I guess I just don't know what to say Thomas - it seems that you don't want to pray to God.
I do not talk to my dad everyday because i don't live anywhere near him. I call him up about once a week or every two weeks to see how life is going for him and letting him know how mine is as well.
Hypothetically, if you lived with your dad you wouldn't just not talk to him everyday.
And wait?? so you just said that I shouldn't be using fancy ways to try and praise God because i'll just be using the "i scratch your back you scratch mine" technique, yet you are using words which i'm pretty sure you do not normally talk like that at all, in order to get a reading lamp? I see something wrong with this picture.
What?
When I'm talking to God, I really do say "You are worthy to receive glory and might and honor and wealth and thanksgiving and blessing..." not because I'm trying to get something from Him but because I want to glorify Him. These were the first words I said to God - and it doesn't mean I'm better than anyone for saying them.
God is content with a child-like heart simply saying "I love you."
He is unhappy with one who says all of the above, yet has no heart in any of it.
Well God does change his mind according in Noah's flood so he obviously does (which makes absolutely no sense to me but that topic can be saved for another day). What you're saying is that when God set everything up, he knew you were going to pray to him and he knew he would give you a reading lamp which he then knew you would praise him even more for? sounds like he's watching a movie that he already knew the storyline down to the last detail, in other words, really boring.
Yep.
When I watch movies again, even knowing what's going to happen, I don't get bored!
But it's not like "watching a movie" to God - it's interacting with and loving His creation.
S
When we pray, we are showing God we believe, depend and have faith in him.
When we pray we gain access to His understanding and spiritual insight.
When we pray we enter into His rest.
1 cor 2:14
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Matt 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Isaiah 55:8,9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
When we pray we gain access to His understanding and spiritual insight.
When we pray we enter into His rest.
1 cor 2:14
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Matt 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Isaiah 55:8,9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
