HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PRAYER LIFE
I. Why Do Most People Have a Hard Time Praying?
A. It takes real faith to speak regularly to an unseen God (Heb. 11:1, 27).
B. We don't see a lot of answers to prayer, and we forget the ones He does answer (Habakkuk 1:1-4).
C. We get apathetic and don't see our need (Is. 43:22) (Luke 22:45).
D. We get independent and trust in ourselves, or in others (Is.30:1-2).
E. A lack of discipline (1 Tim. 4:7).
II. What Are the Benefits of Regular Prayer Time?
A. This is where you can be filled with the Holy Spirit, and the joy of the Lord and commune with Him (John 16:24)(Luke 11:13).
B. This is where you get release from anxiety and worry (Phil. 4:6-8).
C. Victory over temptation (Luke 22:46).
D. Built up in faith (Jude 20).
E. Victory in Spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-18) (Mark 3:27).
F. You will be truly helping others that you are praying for (Phil. 1:19) (Rom. 15:30-32) (2 Cor. 1:11).
G. You will get to see His "great and mighty things" (Jer. 33:3).
III. What Should I Pray About?
A. Jesus gave to His disciples a model for prayer. The most important issues are covered here. This is what you should pray about (Matt. 6:9-13).
1. Acknowledge that God is your Father, and ruler in heaven "Our Father in heaven".
2. Praise to Him, "Hallowed be thy name".
3. Acknowledge that your desire is for His kingdom and will! "Your kingdom come, your will be done".
4. Your needs, "Our daily bread".
5. Personal forgiveness, "Forgive us."
6. Granting forgiveness to others, "As we forgive."
7. To be kept from temptation, "lead us not."
8. Acknowledgement that His purpose and will reign supreme, "For Yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever."
B. Paul also gives instruction to Timothy on what to pray about (1 Tim. 2:1-3).
1. Supplication: to humbly ask; Prayers: to earnestly ask; Intercession: to ask in favor of another; and Thanksgiving!
IV. A Simple Method
A. Discipline yourself to a specific time of day for prayer. This will help you to be consistent. Example: before you start your day's work, before you study, or before you eat lunch.
B. If you have a difficult time concentrating on what you're praying for, take these steps.
1. Find a place with the least amount of distraction.
2. Make a list of what or who you are praying for.
C. So as not to forget your own need for change, make a list of every area you are failing in. This helps you to consistently ask God for His help in the areas you are struggling in (Prov. 28:13) (Ps. 32:5) (Ps. 90:8).
D. So as to not forget what the Lord has done for you, make a list of answered prayers. This will help you to be continually thankful, even when things are not going well at the moment (Ps. 103:1-2).
Hebrews 4:16
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
