PRAYER - How to pray

Alright Christ follower. How are you doing? Are you still committed to the work of a disciple? Have you found ways to become disciplined? Things like changing your schedule, building new habits, seeking accountability, and setting realistic goals?

So now what? How do we move from going through the motions of doing to being disciples who are transformed by Gods power? How do we know what to do when the Word of God covers so much?

Simply put, we cannot do it on our own. We must get in the habit (or discipline) of regularly seeking the Lords direction and guidance. To do that, we must pray.

What is prayer? Why should you pray and how is it done? Does it matter where, when, or what position you are in when you pray? And then, what should you pray about? And how do you know it worked or what Gods answer to you is? Join us this week as we look to the Word of God to answer all of these questions and more!

SCRIPTURE
James 4:8 | Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Matthew 6:9-13 | Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And do not let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

DISCUSSION
Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew. In His model prayer, we see what we should pray about. When we pray, we praise God and remember how big and amazing He is, we repent for our sins or the ways we have not followed His plan, we ask for our needs and the needs of others, and we yield to His plans while waiting for His timing.

1. How does prayer connect you to God or help you draw closer to Him?
2. What do you usually pray about?
3. What can you praise God for right now? What are some things you need to repent for? What needs would you like to ask Him for?
4. Spend some time in prayer alone or as a family, praying like Jesus did. Then, think about how you will yield to God, looking for His ways and waiting for His time.