The Heart of our Faith                                       2.   Prayer

Our Mission statement says “We have a heart for God …through prayer that is passionate and consistent.”

How passionate is your prayer life? Do you pray as if your life depended on it? Do you long to spend time with God? Or is prayer more of a chore or a duty that you feel you must fulfil?

How consistent is your prayer life? Do you pray regularly? Do you pray whatever the circumstances? Or is prayer something you turn to when your need is great, or when you feel “in the mood”?

Matthew 7.7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

1.  Jesus offers us a pattern for our praying -

            Ask -  acknowledge your need

            Seek -  put in some effort on your own part

            Knock – the idea of effort plus persistence

2.  Jesus offers us a promise for our praying

            You will receive…you will find…the door will be opened

3.  Jesus offers us a proof for our praying

            v 9-11 – God loves to give good things to those who ask him.

            The proof that prayer is real lies in God himself – who he is and

            what He has done. He is our loving Heavenly Father.

Three Practical Steps to a better prayer life this week:-

1. Find a time to be quiet with God each day this week. It need only be for 10-15 mins, but make time to talk to God and listen to Him.
2. Ask God to help you pray for what He wants, and not just for what you want. Pray that his will may be done.
3. Tell God what you are going to do to try to be the answer to your own prayers.

Here is a prayer that you can use this week:-

“Lord, please help me to pray as Jesus prayed. Help me to pray with real passion, instead of from duty or habit. Help me to pray consistently, instead of just when I feel like it, or when trouble comes.

Lord, when I get to heaven, I don’t want you to say to me that you don’t recognize my voice. I want to spend quality time with you every day – listening as well as talking. Help me to be a Christian who loves to pray. And help us to be a prayerful Church, as we serve you together. Amen.”