PRAYER - Do not pray like this!

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 6:5-8 | When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Do not be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

James 4:3 | And even when you ask, you do not get it because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure.

DISCUSSION

1. What is wrong with prayers that are prayed to impress others?
2. What is dangerous about memorized prayers that are just repeated each day?
3. What is the purpose of prayer?
4. How does prayer help you stay close to God?
5. Thinking about your prayer life, are your prayers about being close to God, knowing Him better and being known by Him?
6. Now that you have spent a week focusing on prayer, what will you change about your prayer life? Do it- No excuses!