Lord, Teach Us To Pray
We are starting a new study on prayer in a few weeks in our bible study class. Tonight I prepared a study on our personal prayer lives. The study was based on the following passages, Luke 11:1-13 and Matthew 6:5-15, where we find the Lord’s Prayer. I’m including some of my notes and scripture references.
Some points to consider about your personal prayer life:
POINT 1: PRAYER is an absolute necessity.
–> Read Luke 11:1
Jesus being from heaven, came down and humbled himself, by taking on the form of man. He often went off alone to pray. In this particular instance either the disciples saw him praying or they knew when he went to this certain place that he was praying. Being with Jesus 24 hours a day, obviously they knew something was different about him after prayer time. They wanted that. They ask Jesus, “Lord, Teach Us To Pray.”
POINT 2. You should have a CERTAIN PLACE where you pray.
–> Read Luke 11:1; Matthew 6:5-6
While we can pray anywhere at anytime, it is still important to have a certain place to meet with God. Do you have a certain place, a prayer closet – someplace special where you can meet for a “face to face” with God?
POINT 3. Not sure where to start, follow a prayer model.
–> Luke 11:2-4, Matthew 6:9-13
As a new Christian we probably were not sure how to pray. Folks that have been Christians or saved for some time are not quite sure about prayer. They may tend to ask others to pray for them or depend on the prayer time on Sunday morning. The same way people depend on hearing the word only from the preacher on Sunday, they tend to think of prayer in the same way. At some point as you grow in your Christian walk, you will develop your own prayer style, but you can’t stay on the excuse, “I don’t know how to pray.” Jesus provides the way and we need to DO IT!
POINT 4. Make sure nothing hinders your prayers.
–> Matthew 6:14-15, Hebrews 12:15
If you need to forgive someone, find a way to do it. Someone makes you angry, find a way to deal with the anger. Don’t let yourself grow bitter and resentful. In Hebrews 12:15, it states you must watch for “any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble” The devil is like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. He can not touch our salvation, but he can cause you to feel or become separated from God. Don’t let him! Resist the devil and he will flee.
POINT 5. Be bold. “With God all things are possible.”
–> Luke 11:5-13, Matthew 19:26, James 4:2
Prayer is true walk of faith. Circumstances might seem hopeless, unchangeable and obstacles may seem impossible – Jesus wants us to ask in boldness. You have not, because you ask not (James 4:2).
