Talking with God(prayer) is our means of finding strength and help for every situation in life

1. Is it possible to approach God with confidence? 2. If we pray according to God’s will, we know He _____ us. 3. If we know He hears us, what else do we know? 1 John 5: John 5: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

1. Luke 18 : 1 1. Luke 18 : 1 “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Jesus said we should always _____ and not _______.

2. Mark 1:35 2. Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”(NIV) When did Jesus get out of bed for a quiet time of prayer?

3. Romans 8 : Romans 8 : 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Who helps us to pray?

4. Luke 18 : “ 4. Luke 18 : “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” How did each of these two men pray? a. Pharisee b. Publican Which one did God hear?

5. Matthew 7 : 7 “ 5. 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.” What three things are we to do in prayer? _______________________

6. John 15 : 7 “ 6. John 15 : 7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” If we are to get what we ask for, we must ________ in Jesus and His words __________in us.

7. 7. What are two hindrances to effective prayer? James 1 : “ James 1 : “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” ____________________________________ James 4 : 3 “ James 4 : 3 “ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” ____________________________________

8. 8. Name two more hindrances to effective prayer. Psalm 66 : 18 “ Psalm 66 : 18 “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” ____________________________________ 1 Peter 3 : 7 “ 1 Peter 3 : 7 “ The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.(The Message version)” ____________________________________

Write a short paraphrase of each line in the prayer Jesus used as an example of how we should pray. Matthew 6 : 9 – 13 Matthew 6 : 9 – 13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “9 This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; 10 may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need. 12 Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. 13 Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.’

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Why is prayer beneficial? Why is prayer essential? Why is prayer practical?