TALK 7 FIREPROOF IN PRAYER

Teaching series… A Battle of your Heart & Mind The Temptation Trap Fireproof your Choices A vision for a Fireproof Marriage The Money Dare Fireproof during Conflict & Crisis Fireproof in Prayer Leading with your Heart A Battle of your Heart & Mind The Temptation Trap Fireproof your Choices A vision for a Fireproof Marriage The Money Dare Fireproof during Conflict & Crisis Fireproof in Prayer Leading with your Heart

2010 is being declared by the SOP as being the ‘YEAR FOR PERSONAL PRAYER Danger! Non-praying Christian

How I prayed as a young boy 1) In Chinese primary school 2) In English primary school 3) In the home

My early understanding of prayer 1) Prayers are meant to be said 2) God is passive in my prayer

That was the way we were taught to pray The prayer of an old Saintly priest

PRAYER IN MY TEENAGE 1) NOVENA 2) ALL SOULS’ DAY 3) GOD IS LIKE A VENDING MACHINE

IN THE RENEWAL The finite Trying to control the Infinite 1) Spontaneous prayer, tongues and reading scriptures 2) Listen Lord, your servant is speaking 3) Questioning, doubting and searching the scriptures

Prayer Is All About Being Connected “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. … Remain in me, as I remain in you… Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. … If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you…” John 15:1-8

Being connected with the Lord means: 1) Intimate relationship between Jesus and us 2) We have divine life within us 3) More fulfilling relationships with everyone around us

Being connected means 1) Being strong and vital and bearing abundant fruit 2) To keep on abiding in Christ 3) Being able to say no to temptation

Jesus’ personal prayer life “I tell you the truth, the son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. … By myself I can do nothing…” (Jn 5: 19 & 30a)

What is Jesus’ purpose of praying? 1) Jesus prayed to order to maintain an intimate relationship with his Father 2) Jesus prayed to determine the will of God 3) Jesus prayed before all major events

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN Mt 7:7-12 ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. …If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

We are three, you are three

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND SHARING 1) What is the story of your attempt to learn to pray? What supports you most in your desire to pray? 2) How do you hear God speaking in your life? Who are the people you have known who seem to be most centered on their inner voices, on God’s Presence? THE END