Intro to Practical Prayer
Prayer
Use this as a devotional tool. Look up the Scripture provided. Journal about it and/or talk about it with family and friends. Feel free to leave comments or message me at pastorjacobhayward@gmail.com
Who can pray?
Anyone can pray. We are encouraged to pray. Don’t leave this up to the pastor.
Many characters in the Bible call out to him and he hears them.
What should I look like when in prayer?
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
What should I pray about?
Anything and everything. We have a God that through his grace and mercy restored our connection to him that we may speak with him. Present your heart to him.
4 types of prayer: Adoration, Repentance, Thanksgiving, Petition.
When should I pray?
1 Thessalonians encourages us to pray without ceasing. Prayer is not always going to be in a quiet room and head bowed. We ought to have a constant conversation with God.
That being said we need our morning and evening with God
Where should I pray?
Anywhere. Doesn’t have to be the altar at church. Make it a specific place though.
Why should I pray?
1 Peter 5:7 calls for us to cast our anxieties on him because he cares for us.
Brings us into alignment with him.
How do I know what to pray about?
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:14
How should I pray?
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:5-15
Troubleshooting: What if I get stuck?
There are many tools we can use to help us pray.
The Bible
Prayer guidebooks
Devotional
Christian books
Journaling
Make sure to ask and answer these questions on your own and with your family. There may be things that I missed, so please feel free to comment them. If you’d like to continue the conversation, feel free to contact me at pastorjacobhayward@gmail.com. Thanks for joining me, I hope to continue this journey with you soon. God bless.