Practicing Prayer: “Talking with God”
Matthew 6:11-13. Hebrews 4:15-16
January 21, 2024

 ’your Father KNOWS what you need BEFORE you ask Him.’  Matthew 6:8

 TALKING TO God = Saying a PREMADE Prayer

 Jesus NEVER intended that pre-made prayers be the ONLY way we pray.

 A big part of ‘talking WITH’ God is ASKING

 Matthew 6:1-13

PROVISION: v.11 “GIVE us this day our DAILY bread.”
PARDON:  v.12 “FORGIVE us OUR sins as we also forgive EVERYONE who                                                  sins against us.”
PROTECTION: v.13 “And lead us not into TEMPTATION but DELIVER us from                                                        EVIL.”

LAMENT- Talk with God about what is EVIL in your life and world.

PETITION and INTERCEDE – Asking God to fulfill His promises to OVERCOME EVIL with good.

Do we AGREE with Jesus about what is evil in our world?

Or do we play the ‘I’m going to just SIN NOW because I can always get FORGIVENESS LATER’ game?

There is nothing ‘HALLOWED’ about a god who is so easily manipulated.

Why is TEMPTATION, so tempting?

SELF-protection and SELF-gratification

Embracing SURRENDER is the ALTERNATIVE to being led into temptation.

Saying yes to temptation always results in a LACK of something.

Following Jesus is the threshold to LIFE.

 Ways to grow in prayer for other people:

1. Keep a 3×5 card with first names, and a simple description of each person’s need in a place you will see throughout your day, and when you see it pray for them.
2. When praying for yourself or someone else, try to be as specific as possible. Generic prayers can make it more difficult for us to recognize God’s work in our lives.