Prayer is spiritual communication between you and your Heavenly Father – a two-way relationship in which you not only talk to God, but also listen to Him. Prayer is simply opening your heartfelt thoughts and emotions to God.
Prayer is a gift. God has given each and every one of us the opportunity, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to speak to Him directly. As a child of God, you are invited to come boldly before His throne.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1 John 5:14
Why should I pray?
We can freely bring all of our concerns, thoughts, desires, hurts and needs to Him, knowing that He is our loving Father who wants to hear from us. We pray because through prayer:
- We are changed
- We are blessed
- Others for whom we pray are blessed
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:18
Where do I find time to pray?
Many of us struggle to bring God into our daily schedule and forget to make time to pray. We may think that God can’t possibly be interested in our work, our housework or our leisure time – yet our Heavenly Father is interested in everything we do.
Prayer is available to us 24/7, wherever we are – at home, at work, in the car, at the supermarket or in church. Prayer is both public and private.
Why not start today? Look over your weekly routine and find some times you can set aside to be alone with God, gradually building up to a daily time of prayer.
How do I pray?
Prayer is essentially talking with God, just as you would talk with an earthly parent who loves you and wants the best for you. God is your Heavenly Father who loves you perfectly – just come before Him with the simplicity and trust of a child.
Our relationship with God is deepened by spending time in daily prayer. It’s better to start with five minutes a day, if that’s all you can find, than to aim for an hour and become frustrated. It may take a while before you feel comfortable praying – but in time you’ll find the joy of daily prayer, and prayer will become a running conversation with God throughout your day.
These six simple steps can help guide your time of prayer:
01
Adoration
Worship God and love Him with all your heart, mind and soul. Praise Him for who He is – your Creator, your Provider and your Redeemer.
02
Wait
Wait in silence for God to speak to you. Sometimes the Lord is silent, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear anything. Use the Bible, and let God speak to you through it by the Holy Spirit.
03
Confess
Confess anything in your life that needs healing and forgiveness.
04
Intercede
Pray for the needs of others. Ask the Lord to give you a heart for those He wants you to serve, or keep a written prayer list of family, friends, colleagues and your church.
05
Pray for yourself
Bring your own needs to God – making sure your requests are rightly motivated and will bring Him glory.
06
Admire
Admire Him some more, and thank Him for all that He has done and will do in your life!
Would you like us to pray with you?
Our Prayer Team would love to pray for you. Send us a prayer request, or join us in person for prayer at 10am every Sunday before our 11am service.
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