Understanding Prayer

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Understanding Prayer

• Sue Bohlin
• November 12, 2002

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Prayers we pray persistently (review)

• God, show me where Im being deceived.
• Prayer for protection of ourselves and others
• Prayers that God hasnt answered yet

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Prayers we pray persistently

• Prayers that build character
• Asking to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians
  518) - Yieldedness
• Scripture prayers
• 1 Thessalonians 312 May the Lord make their
  love increase and overflow for each other and for
  everyone else.

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• Praying for our children
• Colossians 19-13
• For this reason, since the day we heard about
  you, we have not stopped praying for you and
• asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his
  will through all spiritual wisdom and
  understanding. And
• we pray this in order that you may live a life
  worthy of the Lord
• and may please him in every way

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• bearing fruit in every good work and
• increasing in the knowledge of God
• strengthened with all power, according to His
  glorious might,
• for the attaining of all steadfastness and
  patience
• joyously giving thanks to the Father who has
  qualified us to share in the inheritance of the
  saints in light.

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Prayer Basics

• God wants to hear from us
• God wants to speak back to us
• We ask, not demand
• Remember to say Thank You
• We pray to God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
• Not to dead saints
• Not to angels

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Prayer Basics

• God wants us to speak conversationally from our
  hearts, not in formula or ritual
• Praying without ceasing (1 Thess. 517) means
• cultivating a continual acknowledgement of Gods
  presence
• open heart dialog
• chatting and thanking and praising as well as
  asking

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When God Says NoReasons for Unanswered Prayer

• Sin in our lives Confess and repent
• To say yes would bring us harm we dont foresee
• God has something far greater in store for us
• We pray at cross purposes with other believers

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• We pray for things where a yes is impossible
• We pray for things that are already determined
• We get discouraged in prayer by thinking God has
  said no when in fact He has said nothing at all
• Gods No is not rejection but redirection

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• Gods No isnt punishment, its preparation
• Gods No will sometimes bring greater glory to
  God
• Gods No opens the door to an adventure with
  God