HOW TO GROW IN THE LORD STUDY GUIDE

LESSON 5   

Prayer

Prayer is the most powerful tool the Christian has. When we pray, we are in  the very presence of God Himself. The door of prayer is always open no matter what we have done or not done. When we have a need, God is always there waiting to hear from us and to grant our request. Every person who accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour should set his or her heart and mind to learn how to pray. Praying is the Christians right given to him or her by God. Our help is just a prayer away.

Memory Verse: (Phil 4:6 KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

                                    HOW TO PRAY:

Prayer is more than just talking to God. Prayer is asking. About 30 times in the New Testament the word ask is used to describe prayer.

These versed tells us the promises of God to those who pray:
(Mat 7:7 KJV) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:(8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

(Mat 21:22 KJV) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

(Luke 11:13 KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

(John 14:14 KJV) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
(John 16:24 KJV) Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Prayer is simply you talking to God and asking God for the things you need which He can supply.

HOW TO PRAY ?

A lot of people think we have to fold our hands and kneel, bow our head and close our eyes. However, learning how to pray has nothing do with our physical body. Prayer has a great deal to do with the attitude of the heart. When we pray, we must learn how important it is for our hearts to be in a right relationship with God.

1.    We must pray with God's WORDS abiding in us.
(John 15:7 KJV) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

2.    We must pray in Jesus' name:
(John 14:14 KJV) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

3.    We must believe that God can answer us when we pray.
(Mark 11:24 KJV) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

4. We should boldly come before God's throne:
(Heb 4:16 KJV) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

5.    When we bring our requests before God by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving.
(Phil 4:6 KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

6.    We should pray directly to God and not through some other person.
(1 Tim 2:5 KJV) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

REASONS WHY WE SHOULD PRAY ?

1.    Because God commands it. God tells us to pray all the time.
(1 Th 5:17 KJV) Pray without ceasing.

2.    Prayer is essential in our fight against Satan and our doubts:
(Eph 6:16 KJV) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.(17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:(18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

WE CAN PRAY ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME

1.    God says we are to pray privately and He will reward us openly.
(Mat 6:6 KJV) 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.
The Jewish believers would cover their head with a cloth called the prayer talleet. Many referred to this as their closet.

2.    Every Christian should have a "prayer closet." or a place to meet alone with God every day and pray. Think of a place and a time you can be alone every day with God and make an appointment to meet Him there every day.

THE BEST TIME TO PRAY

1.    ALL THE TIME!
(Psa 55:17 KJV) Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

2.    Daniel prayed on his knees:
(Dan 6:10 KJV) Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

3.    We should pray all the time and as often as we need too.
(Luke 18:1 KJV) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

We should pray every day with God. We should pray with other Christians at church. We should pray at meal times. We should pray once each day as a family. Anytime there is a need for prayer is the time to pray. Even when we are alone, that is always a good time to speak to God.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN HINDER OUR PRAYERS

Every Christian should know that certain things will hinder his or her prayers before God.

1. (Psa 66:18 KJV) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
2. (Mark 11:25 KJV) 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.(26) But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
3. (James 4:3 KJV) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4. (Jer 5:25 KJV) Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
5. (1 Pet 3:7 KJV) 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.

Write Down Some Things That you Want To Pray To God For:
 Prayer Request      Date Asked      Date Answered
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