a pattern for prayer

Reading out of the book, “The Battle Plan for Prayer”, we talked today about the definition of prayer, and what prayer really is.
Check out some of the highlights below!

Prayer, at its heart, is communicating with God. Reverently, openly and sincerely.
We are interacting with the magnificent God of the universe.
We can’t forget that we’re in his presence when we pray

If we just understood what being in the presence of the Almighty is like, our minds wouldn’t wander. We’d enter into awestruck worship. Stunned and possibly speechless.

We need to realize that prayer is serious business – and we get that privilege because of Jesus. Jesus opened a new way for us to draw near to God through his death and the tearing of the veil. It was the atoning blood of Christ that opened that channel (Hebrews 10:20). His blood shields us from the consuming fire. Only through Christ are we safe with God.

The practical definition of prayer…Prayer is communion with God in order to…

1 – Intimately know, love and worship Him

Relationship and Worship are key to prayer. We’re trying to know more about who He is and what He does. This helps us grow deeper in our love and respect for Him. This is the “hallowed be Your name” part of the Lord’s Prayer.

2 – Understand and conform our lives to His will

Prayer doesn’t just change things, it changes us! He works to align our hearts and minds to His. This is the “your Kingdom come, your will be done.”

3 – Access and advance His kingdom, power and glory

When we pray, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we are seeking to access God’s kingdom resources, for His mighty power to work on our behalf and for Him to reveal His glory in our situation. The last words of the Lord’s Prayer are not just for church and ceremony – they are to remind us that God is owner of all, ruler of all, and worthy of all (Romans 11:36). Prayer allows us to join God in what He is doing among the nations for His glory.

Prayer is not about prayer – it is about a PERSON. God Himself. We get off track when we focus more on provision or protection rather than knowing and pleasing God.

“Help me abandon my own agendas and self assurance, wanting to be nowhere else but aligned with Your will.”

Thanks for listening!
-Lilly

Today I started the first week in our series on prayer! This week, I talked about the pattern for prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, and how that prayer contains the six basic elements that we should be including in our prayers.
Check it out below!

1. Pray boldly. We have no need that God can’t meet.
His resources are unlimited and His power is infinite.
2. Pray that God’s name will be revered and esteemed.
Give Him thanks, obey Him, and constantly be aware of His presence.
3. Pray that God’s kingdom will come in us and on Earth.
4. Ask God to meet our daily needs and the needs of those around us.
All that we are, have, and do comes from God.
5. Seek God’s forgiveness every single day.
6. Request that God protect us from temptation.
“Lord keep me from the inclination to sin when I have the opportunity, and the opportunity to sin when I have the inclination.”

Our word of the day today was slacktivism.
It’s a noun that means: actions taken to bring about political or social change but requiring only minimal commitment, effort, or risk.
Slacktivism is a portmanteau formed from the terms slacker and activism. It is first recorded between 1995 and 2000.

Thanks for listening!
See you tomorrow for the NZ Top 10!
– Lilly

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The Definition of Prayer

Praise Thursday: Pattern for Prayer