LISTENING
God desires that we have a thriving relationship with Him through healthy Communication.
Prayer is talking with God. It certainly includes listening. The Holy Spirit wants to guide you in how in how to pray. He will add people to your prayer list and provide leadership in how to follow Him. Remember, you face Spiritual battle every day. Satan wants to defeat you through temptation and fear. Prayer can strengthen you for every situation that you have yet to encounter.
If you wonder how to pray, you are not alone. Those closet to Jesus asked for help. Jesus taught them in Mathew 6:5-8 to be honest(v5), humble(v6) and real(v7-8). Then He gives 6 things to pray for.
Praise of God: “Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your name”(V9)
Commit to His Purposes: “…Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on as it is in heaven”(V10)
Ask for your Needs: “Give us today our daily bread.”(V11)
Ask God for Forgiveness: “And forgive us our debts”(V12)
Pray for others: “as we also have forgiven our debtors.”(V12, 1Timothy 2:1)
Ask for Protection: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”(V13)
Exercise: Ask God to show you how to pray for each of these six areas and note on the “Prayers & Answers” page. For instance, “God, show me Your qualities so i may praise You.”, “Lord, what is your will for…?What are my needs?”
Remember the encouragement Jesus taught through the Apostles:
- John wrote “….the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NLT
- The Apostle Paul: “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” Romans 12:12 NLT
- James Jesus’ half brother wrote: “You do not have…because you don’t ask God” James :2NLT
- Peter and John prayed “…enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” Acts 4:29-30 NIV
Note the Prayer/Answers pages that follow. Through your day, listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to pray for people. It may come in silence in your quiet time with God or as you see a person in your day. If you sense a leading , step out and offer to pray with that person. List the prayer concerns and the date God answers. We encourage you to carry the journal with you so you can ass/update throughout your day.