1. Why and How Do I Pray What is prayer?
Main way in which we develop a relationship with our Heavenly Father
It is:
concerned with relationship not ritual
vertical rather than horizontal
seeking reward from God and not from other people
Prayer
to our heavenly Father
loves to give good gifts to his children
through the Son
no right to come by our own merit
the way is open through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross
Jesus Christ has unlimited credit in Heaven
by the Holy Spirit
the Holy Spirit lives in us and helps us to pray

2. Questions concerning prayer
Why Pray ?
The way we develop a relationship with our Father in heaven
Content of prayer:
Praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition, guidance, listening etc
Questions concerning prayer
If God knows all our needs why should we ask
He asks us to do so
His spirit helps us to ask aright
Does God always answer prayer?
Jesus said “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”
“Whatever you ask in my Name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son”
“If two of you on earth agree about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven”

3. Unanswered prayer How should we pray Unconfessed wrongdoing
Disobedience
Wrong motives
Not according to God’s will
Not yet
How should we pray
No set way - we are free to talk to God as we wish
He doesn’t want meaningless words or empty phrases but to hear what is on our hearts
Some people find it helpful to have a pattern to follow
A - adoration: praising God for who He is and what He has done
C - confession: asking forgiveness for things we have done wrong
T - thanksgiving for help, family, friends,answered prayer etc
S - supplication: praying for ourseles, our friends, and for others

4. The Lord’s Prayer A model prayer taught by Jesus Our Father in heaven
We should consider our relationship to God like a father to his child except that this Father lives not on Earth but in heaven and is Almighty
Hallowed be Your Name
In Hebrew someone’s Name signified a revelation of that person’s character. We should desire that everywhere and in all things God’s name is honoured.
Your kingdom come
God’s kingdom is his rule and reign. We should pray that God may everywhere reign like a king in people’s lives and in society both in the present and the future.
Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven
Men and women would do God’s will rather than their own

5. Lord’s prayer continued
Give us today our daily bread
we ask for physical necessities of life
Forgive us our sins (wrongdoing) as we also forgive those who have sinned against (wronged) us
Forgiveness is only possible by Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for us. Realising how much we have been forgiven, we should be ready to forgive others also.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
We are all spiritually weak and must pray for God to prevent us being lead astray through temptation.
When should we pray
Always - wherever we are and have opportunity
Alone - regular times, particularly in the morning
With others - with other people in small groups or in prayer meetings