BASIC TRUTHS ABOUT PRAYER

BASIC TRUTHS ABOUT PRAYER
by brother bob

Mat 6:5-15 (TLB)
EXAMINE YOUR MOTIVES WHEN YOU PRAY
{5}"And now about prayer.
When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites
who pretend piety by praying publicly on street corners
and in the synagogues where everyone can see them.
Truly, that is all the reward they will ever get.

EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUIRES SOLITUDE AND SUFFICIENT TIME
{6} But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone,
and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly,
and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you.

GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY REPITITOUS PRAYER
{7} "Don't recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do,
who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again.

REMEMBER THAT GOD KNOWS YOUR THOUGHTS AND NEEDS
{8} "Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need
even before you ask him!

IT'S O.K. TO USE A PRAYER LIST
{9a} "Pray along these lines:

RECOGNIZE GOD'S HOLINESS AND TRANSCENDANCE
{9b} 'Our Father in heaven, we honor your holy name.

SEEK THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S MASTER PLAN FIRST
{10a} We ask that your kingdom will come now.

SEEK HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE
{10b} May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.

ACKNOWLEDGE GOD AS THE SOURCE OF YOUR PROVISION
{11} Give us our food again today, as usual,

CLEAR UP ANY UN-CONFESSED SINS
{12a} and forgive us our sins,

FORGIVE OTHERS SO YOU MAY BE FORGIVEN
{12b} just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

ASK GOD TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM TEMPTING CIRCUMSTANCES
{13a} Don't bring us into temptation,

ASK GOD FOR POWER TO RESIST SATAN'S TRICKERY
{13b} but deliver us from the Evil One.

REST IN THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S ANSWER
{13c} Amen.'

YOUR FORGIVENESS DEPENDS ON YOUR WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE OTHERS
{14} Your heavenly Father will forgive you
if you forgive those who sin against you;
{15} but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.
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ANSWERS TO PRAYER MAY INVOLVE SUFFERING, TRUST AND OBEDIENCE
Heb 5:7-8 (TLB)
{7} Yet while Christ was here on earth he pleaded with God,
praying with tears and agony of soul
to the only one who would save him from (premature) death.
And God heard his prayers
because of his strong desire to obey God at all times.
{8} And even though Jesus was God's Son,
he had to learn from experience what it was like
to obey when obeying meant suffering.


PRAY AND REJOICE AT ALL TIMES
1 Th 5:16-18 (KJV)
{16} Rejoice evermore.
{17} Pray without ceasing.
{18} In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.