2. 1. Everybody prays to some degree. Prayer is universal. The Bible has this interesting assumption that everyone has at least tried to pray. Prayer is the universal reflex of the human heart. The more in touch with your humanity the more you pray. – What it feels like to lose faith. Conscience condemns Dependence emerges To the degree that you get in touch with your real condition you will pray.

3. 2. The approach is everything. a. To pray is to go before him. Going into his presence. Many think of prayer as an exchange of information. Revealing of an attitude. Real prayer is life on a life. Seeking the presence of God. Prayer is not simply sending a fax, a phone call, or a resume. When you do these you are in control—doesn’t matter how you’re dressed or if you’re doing other things. When you are in personal audience with someone, you have to give complete attention. That’s real prayer. You give full attention and you get full attention.

4. To come into the presence of God—when God becomes the governing reality. – Who He is governs what you see and what you feel. 16 year old: I know God loves me but what good is that if I cannot get any dates. – Both facts: – God loves her. No boy wants to date her. – Which fact governs her. – One knowledge, one filling her vision.

5. I set the Lord ever before me, I will not be shaken. Which truth do you live before? Which do you live in the presence of? There are always two truths before you, which will govern you?

6. b. To come before him you must go with your whole self. He sees you. You are vulnerable. Allow yourself to be examined. Real prayer is to lay your life in front of him and let him say what he needs to say.

7. 3. Real prayer is traumatic. Keller – Reassure our heart before him; – Our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart – He knows everything. – Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; The closer you get to the standard the more you will see how you do not measure up. Not our genie, fairy godmother, or sweet old grandparent.

8. 4. What do you do to set your heart at rest? – 1 John 1:9 confess – 1 John 2:1 advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous God is greater than your heart. – Set that truth before all others. Nothing is greater than God. If you can’t forgive yourself, something else in your life, heart is more important to you than God. God is the only God who forgives, every other master will not forgive.

9. 5. Why bother? Whatever we ask we receive from him