Prayer That Makes A Difference Matthew 6:5-15 Grace Community Church 6/19/2005

How Not To Pray - Hypocritical Matthew 6:5-6 5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

How Not To Pray – Ignorant of God Matthew 6:7-8 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Pray Concerning His Agenda Matthew 6:9-10 9“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Pray Concerning Our Participation In His Agenda Matthew 6:11-15 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Conversational Prayer “‘Our Father in heaven…” Father, in what ways does being an adopted child fundamentally change my world? Meditate: Romans 8:12-31 and Galatians 3:26-4:31

Conversational Prayer “Hallowed by your name…” Father, what is holiness, and is your name made holy because I am identified as your child? Meditate: Matthew 5-7, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 1:4, Colossians 1:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:4, 2 Timothy 2:9, Hebrews 10

Conversational Prayer “Your kingdom come…” Father, how am I, as your child, to be used to do your kingdom work? Meditate: Matthew 28:18-19, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:1-2

Conversational Prayer “Your will be done…” Father, as your child, what is your will for me and my life? Meditate: Matthew 5-7, John 14:15-21, Matthew 28:18-19

Conversational Prayer “Give us our daily bread…” Father, provide what I need to carry out what you are calling me to accomplish. Meditate: Matthew 6:25-33 & 7:7-11, Philippians 4:4-19

Conversational Prayer “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive…” Father, expose anything in me that hinders my walk with you that I may confess, be forgiven, and be purified… Meditate: 1 John 1:9-10

Conversational Prayer “Deliver us from evil…” Father, As I follow you I will be tempted. Protect me from the evil one and my own propensity to coddle my sin nature.” Meditate: Romans 6-8