Why Pray

Benefits of Prayer

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Display the following items on a table:

Telephone Newspaper Letters & Envelopes Road Map Radio

As the children arrive ask them what they think the items on the table have in
common. Just before class starts let the kids know that all the things displayed on
the table are used to communicate with each other. Today our lesson is about
another way we communicate. More specifically, it is about how we communicate with
God.

Introduction:
Today we will learn that prayer is communicating or talking with God. We may not be
able to call God on the telephone or send Him a letter, but prayer is just as real
as e-mail or newspapers. Why should we pray? Because it makes our relationship with
God stronger. Could you imagine trying to have a best friend without communicating
with them? Prayer is seeking God and His direction for our lives. Praying also
helps keep us out of trouble. Jesus told us to pray, "Watch and pray so that you
will not fall into temptation." [# Use Master's quote here]

Discussion Questions:
1. What is prayer? (Prayer is spiritual communication between ourselves and God.)
2. Can you pray when you are in trouble? (Yes.)
3. Can you pray when you are happy? (Yes.)
4. What is another name for happy prayers? (Praises.)
5. What are some of the examples of why to pray (When you are in trouble, when you
are happy, when you are sick, to show faith, for confession of sin, and to pray for
others.)
6. What else can we pray for? (Some examples include: Guidance, Protection,
Strength, Wisdom.)
7. Is the prayer of a righteous man powerful? Is it effective? (Yes, the prayers of
the righteous are both powerful and effective.)

Why pray? It's simple, to talk with God and to get His direction for our lives. God
is so good and will help us when we are happy, sad, sick or even when we're in
trouble. God will give us wisdom, strength and understanding if we only ask Him. In
fact God is willing to give us many good things as long as we ask for them in
accordance to His Will. God answers our prayers with signs, the Holy Spirit and His
Word, the Bible. When we pray our relationship with God grows.

write as many ways they can think of that they can pray, such as how, where or
when. They may come up with standing, walking, kneeling, bowing, singing, quietly,
lying down, in bed, with hands together, with outstretched hands, in the morning,
at night, etc.

we learned that prayer is communicating or talking with God. So how should we pray?
When we pray, God wants us to pray with all of our heart. We should pray earnestly
and not half heartily. We should not pray just so other people will think we are
godly.

Discussion Questions:
1. Will God listen when we pray? (Yes, God listens to our prayers.)
2. What kind of plans does God have for us? (Plans to prosper, for hope and a
future, and plans to keep us from harm.)
3. How can we seek and find God? (We can find God when we earnestly seek Him with
all of our hearts.)
4. God wants to give us hope and a __________? (Future.)
5. When we pray we should pray with __________? (All of our hearts.)

God does not want us to pray mechanically like robots. He wants us to pray heart-
felt prayers. He wants us to tell Him our desires, our fears, our hopes, and He
wants us to sing songs of joy to Him when we are happy. Praying before meals and
bedtime is good, but He wants to hear from us more often than that. He wants to be
involved in our lives, to comfort us when we are sad, strengthen us when we are
scared and laugh with us when we are happy. God will give true meaning and
direction to our lives. We need to make Him part of our lives throughout the day by
reading His Word, the Bible and seeking Him through prayer.

we will discuss the purpose of prayer or in other words what do I pray for? The
word ACTS will help you remember what to pray for.

A = Adoration
Adore God, love Him and praise Him for who He is.
Yours, O GOD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O GOD, is the
kingdom; you are exalted as head over all."

C = Confession
Admit your shortcomings to God, ask for His forgiveness through faith.

T = Thanksgiving
Thank God for answered prayers, for the good things He has done in your life. For
growth.

S = Supplication
Pray for your family and friends, for those who are sick or sad. Pray for your own
spiritual growth and any other needs that you may have.

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Goodness is a wonderful thing. What do we mean when we say that someone is good? It
really means that they have goodness in their heart, doesn�t it? They may be kind,
or loving or helpful to others. The question is where does true goodness come from.
Ultimately everything that is truly good comes from God. There is one true source
of goodness in your life, in my life, and that all comes from God.

it is necessary to ask before we receive, seek before we find, knock before the
door will be opened. Asking God for anything in prayer is to assertively petition
God, as the friend does of his neighbor.

God will not do what God desires to do until we come to see that we desperately
need God's intervention in our lives. As long as we erroneously think that we can
handle life's situations on our own, God simply stands aside.

This strikes at the heart of our self-sufficiency. Prayer is in part the struggle
to admit our dependence. It is the struggle to overcome human blindness and pride.
It is the struggle to realize and acknowledge our deep need. This acknowledgement
is precisely what lays hold of and releases God's resources. Prayer has as its
purpose to open our hearts to receive all that God is willing to give. Prayer is
crying to God for help, based on an awareness of dependence on God.

Prayer is the language of a man burdened with a sense of need. It is the voice of a
beggar, conscious of his poverty, asking of another the things he needs. Not to
pray is not only to declare that there is nothing needed, but to admit to a
nonrealization of that need.

Affluent, successful man is repelled by this understanding of prayer. No person

likes to think that they have to beg for anything. All of us prefer to earn what we
want. That is why prayer is so difficult for us. We are content to settle for less
because we don't want to lower ourselves to the position of a supplicant. We would
prefer to go without rather than to have to ask God or anyone for help.

Prayer resembles faith. Like faith, prayer is opening our empty hand so that we
might receive God's provision for us. But prayer not only expresses dependence,
just as faith admits it must trust; prayer also expresses our belief that God is
willing and able to act if we ask, seek and knock. This is the connection between
God's action and human faith.

Such faith brings results. Jesus said to the woman who anointed his feet with
perfume: "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7:50) When two blind men
came to him, he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this." After they
expressed their belief in him, he touched their eyes and said, "According to your
faith will it be done to you." And their sight was restored.

As we pray, we are working to spread the presence of the kingdom in that area of
life for which we are praying. As we pray, we become the instruments of the Spirit
in opening the situation we face, or the person for whom we are praying, to receive
the breaking in of God's rule in the present.

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Jews pray in order to enrich our lives and seek comfort, to connect to the past and
to others, to celebrate and develop a sense of the sacred, to serve God and help
make ourselves Godlike.

Prayer Reminds Us of Life�s Truths

Perhaps first and foremost, prayer is a delivery system for committing us to the
great ideas that make life worth living, because ideas that are ritually construed
empower us to do what we would otherwise never have the courage to do. Prayer moves
us to see our lives more clearly against the backdrop of eternity, concentrating
our attention on verities that we would otherwise forget. It imparts great concepts
and moves us to live our lives by them.

Prayer Connects Us to Other Realms

I pray daily. I wrap a prayer shawl, known as a tallit, over my head; gather its
four fringed corners; and bring them to my lips. It lasts only a moment, but under
the tallit I feel a sense of security and warmth. It is the closest I get to heaven
all day. The tallit I wear is one that I inherited from my father. It is a broad
woolen blanket-like shawl with a silver brocade that falls on my shoulders

why jews pray Under the tallit, I feel my father�s presence and my mother�s
presence. They are no longer in this world, but under the tallit I feel connected
to a different realm where I encounter my parents and even the Almighty Himself.
When I take the tallit off my head, I am most often in the presence of my children,
who are usually finishing their Cheerios and their Kix as I go through my daily
devotions.

At times I am able to meditate seriously on a verse or two, but usually it is hard

to concentrate on what I�m praying. I�ve got to get the kids off to school, and my
work lies ahead of me, but I pray, knowing I�ve started my day attempting to reach
the Divine. My hope is that it makes an impression on my God, my ancestors, and my
children.

I know it makes an impression on me. I feel fortified by prayer. I am in a

relationship with God. I praise, I acknowledge, thank, request, express my love,
and sometimes even get angry. My connection with the rest of the world�with my
children, my wife, my students, my colleagues�flows out of my daily encounter with
God.

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A committed Jew prays because prayer is one of the Jew�s many obligations. As loyal
servants, of course, we should obey the commands of our Sovereign. Yet even the
most loyal and devoted servant must, at one time or other, ponder the question of
purpose.

the commandments were given to refine human character, to ennoble humanity, to have
a positive impact on our lives. observing the dietary laws (vegetarianism) is meant
to influence human character so that we act with compassion.

The proper worship of God should have a beneficial impact on human character,
leading us to exemplify virtues in our lives, and bring us closer to perfection, to
being God-like in our behavior.

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Why do Reconstructionists pray? Here are some reasons:

Spiritual Discipline. Most of us go through the day without consciously

experiencing God�s presence. Prayer helps to develop and maintain a spiritual
sense. Focusing regularly on our sacred encounters helps us to notice them as they
occur.

Meditation. Most of us live at a very rapid pace. We welcome the opportunity to

slow down and remember what has deeper meaning beyond our daily routines.

Group Connection. If we are not careful, it is easy to become isolated. Even if we

interact frequently with others, our daily lives rarely afford many opportunities
to let our guard down and express what is really important to us. It is a real
treat to be connected to a group, all of whose members are seeking together.

Celebration. For many of us, few experiences transport us as powerfully as group

singing. We may be grateful for a life passage, or for the blossoming of flowers in
spring, but without our prayer communities, we might never sing about it.

Group Support. Life is unfortunately filled with disappointment, illness, and

tragedy. Social scientists now tell us what we already knew: that recovery from
family discord, depression, and even physical illness is enhanced when we
experience the support of a caring group. Praying for a sick person is efficacious
even if you don�t believe that God intercedes supernaturally. Our prayers do have
power.

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Why pray?

If life had nothing more to offer than a random mix of good and bad, health and
sickness, life and death, it would seem futile to pray.

But what if life is more than what it appears to be on the surface? What if
goodness is the reality of life, and what if evil can be proved to be powerless
over us? This would certainly give us hope and a positive basis for our prayers.

In its simplest form, couldn�t we define prayer as a desire to become more

conscious of the almighty power of God�s goodness? Understanding that God is all
good and is the only power makes it evident that anything claiming to oppose God
has no real authority in our lives, and can be proved powerless. As we thank God
for the power of His goodness and love for all, we will see that becoming more
conscious of God�s goodness brings healing results.

Some years ago, my career suffered a catastrophic setback when lies were spread
about me. During this time, I became very ill. The better part of a week passed,
and the severity of the symptoms left me unable to get out of bed. I turned to
prayer and so did my family and a friend of ours. I affirmed the unfailing power of
goodness to uphold my health and maintain harmony in my life.

Holding on to this spiritual truth allowed me to listen for inspiration from God.
As I listened in prayer, this healing thought came to mind: Even though the
unethical behavior of others had irreversibly changed the direction of my career,
it had not stopped the unfolding of God�s goodness in my life. I knew nothing could
interrupt God�s loving care for His creation. Once I realized this, though I still
had no idea what the future might bring, I felt confident that the power of God�s
goodness would reestablish my career on a sound basis. After this realization, the
illness immediately began to dissipate. I was able to get out of bed, and, in a
short time, I returned to a normal activity level.

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Why pray? What is the point of prayer when God knows the future and is already in
control of everything. If we cannot change God's mind, why should we pray?

Praying is supposed to be like breathing, easier to do than to not do. We pray for
a variety of reasons. For one thing, prayer is a form of serving God and obeying
Him. We pray because God commands us to pray. Prayer is exemplified for us by
Ramayana and Mahabharata. If avatars thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should
also. If they needed to pray to remain in God�s will, how much more do we need to
pray?

Another reason to pray is that God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His
solutions in a number of situations. We pray in preparation for major decisions; to
overcome demonic barriers; to gather workers for the spiritual purposes; to gain
strength to overcome temptation; and to obtain the means of strengthening others
spiritually.

We come to God with our specific requests, and we have God's promise that our
prayers are not in vain, even if we do not receive specifically what we asked for.
He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will,
He will give us what we ask for. Sometimes He delays His answers according to His
wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and
persistent in prayer. Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do
our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. God�s
wisdom far exceeds our own.

For situations in which we do not know God's will specifically, prayer is a means
of discerning His will. We will never see the results of answered prayer unless we
pray.

A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God. We pray
to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised and bless our
lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for. Prayer is our primary means of
seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of �plugging into� God's
power, it is our means of overcoming our shortcomings that we are powerless to
overcome by ourselves. May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him
enough to come to Him often in prayer.

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For what do we pray?

Prayer is the key to the heart of God. Prayer is the only way to a real and
personal relationship with God.

Pray acknowledging He is God, and that you accept His gracious gift.
Pray confessing our shortcomings and accepting His forgiveness.
Pray that His will be done in our lives, that He guides us, and that we be filled
with the fullness of all God has for us.
Pray for spiritual understanding and wisdom.
Pray with thanksgiving for all the ways He blesses us. Pray when we are ill, lonely
or going through trials.
Pray to worship Him.
There is nothing we can�t pray about. pray without ceasing and in everything give
thanks to God. When we choose to have a positive attitude, we realize we have
received many blessings for which to give God praise.

We find intimacy with God through communicating with Him in prayer. We go to Him in
faith, knowing that He hears and answers all our prayers. Be confident that God
knows and wants what is best for us; so ask that His will be done in all we seek
from Him. Then, thank Him for it, even though it hasn�t happened yet.

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10 reasons to pray

Some people say that prayer is just a type of meditation to make us feel better and
to lull us into a false sense of security. Others say that since God is loving and
good, He will give us all the things we need and will accomplish His good will
whether we pray or not.

1. PRAYER IS NECESSARY TO gain salvation

The Bible says, �Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved�
(Romans 10:13). We know that prayer does not save; God saves. But we see from this
verse that God has made prayer the avenue through which salvation is granted. He
decided that we must call upon Him before He will save us.

2. PRAYER IS NECESSARY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

What is spiritual growth? It is growing in understanding of God�s ways. It is

growing in understanding of His Word. It is overcoming sin and growing in the love
for righteousness. Overall, it is being transformed into the image of Godman.
Prayer helps us in all those areas.

3. PRAYER IS NECESSARY TO HELP US STAND FIRM AGAINST EVIL

Jesus said, �Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation; the Spirit is
willing but the flesh is weak� (Matt. 26:41). Jesus knew that prayer was
absolutely necessary to resist temptation, that without it we are weak and
vulnerable to the attacks of evil.
4. PRAYER IS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN THINGS

God really wants us to have things�many things. However, He wants us to have only
those things that are good for us. There are many good things that God wants us to
have, but if we don�t ask for them we may have to struggle hard for them.

5. PRAYER IS NECESSARY FOR OBTAINING FULLNESS OF JOY

6. PRAYER IS NECESSARY FOR OBTAINING MERCY AND GRACE

God is sympathetic and merciful toward us, is able to help us at any time with any
of our needs. With this great realization in view, let us therefore come boldly to
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.�

7. PRAYER IS NECESSARY FOR OBTAINING FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY

Anxiety is a terrible thing. It is a state of uneasiness and apprehension, of

fearfulness and dread. But prayer can make it all go away. For when you pray God
will help you to see that He is in control and that He loves you and cares for you.
The Bible says, �Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your
minds in God Power.�

8. PRAYER IS NECESSARY FOR OBTAINING THE POWER OF God

We know that God dwells in the heart of every believer; however, every believer
does not seem to possess the power of God. Some live every day just like
unbeliving egoists. They don�t hear God speak to them; they don�t seem to have any
spiritual strength; and they have very little power over temptation. Submit to
God. Resist evil. Pray that God would fill you with His grace and empower you to
serve Him, and He will.

9. PRAYER IS NECESSARY TO HELP PEOPLE BELIEVE

When prayers are offered up and unbelievers see God at work through those prayers,
they may believe. The raising of Lazarus and the public prayer by Jesus, for
example, was done in order that people would believe.

10. PRAYER IS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT GOD�S WORK

Every believer has been given the privilege and responsibility to do the work of
God. And we do it with His help through prayer.

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Confidence in Prayer
When we think about confidence, even when we say the word �confidence,� it makes us
feel good doesn�t it? It gives us a lift, gives us energy, strength and courage.
And I suppose that is because the word is so much associated with positive energy.
And whether we believe it or not, that energy comes from God. It is a special gift
that He has given to all people�the energy, the drive to believe and have hope in
themselves and in the gifts that they possess. Yes, we are all created in His
image; and since God Himself has self-confidence�believing and having hope in
Himself�all people down deep within themselves have this same self-confidence too.
It is inherent in the way He has created us.
But listen to this: God gives a special confidence (a more powerful and more
personal confidence) to those who trust Him. It is a childlike confidence in God
and in prayer, which comes from our new nature, created for us by our spiritual
master.

Childlike confidence makes us pray as none else can. It causes a man to pray for
great things that he would never have asked for if he had not learned this
confidence. It also causes him to pray for little things that many people are
afraid to ask for, because they have not yet felt toward God the confidence of
children. I have often felt that it requires more confidence in God to pray to Him
about a little thing than about great things�

What will it take to learn this childlike confidence?

If you really want to learn how to be confident you must first understand that
confidence is a trust. And to have confidence in God we must come to trust in Him.
Confidence is also a hope, courage, and an assurance. Hence, if we have confidence
toward God we have hope in what He has provided for us, we have courage because He
is with us, and we have an assurance that the things He has promised us He will
give to us. And through it all, because we have confidence in Him we feel secure
and safe.

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Why Prayer Takes Time and Why Persistent Prayer is Necessary

It almost always takes time for prayers to be answered; therefore, prayers need to
continue with persistence. But why is that true? Why can�t God answer prayers
immediately?

Well, He can, and He sometimes does if He wants to perform a miracle. However, God
has chosen to put us, and all His creation, under the law of gradual growth. Just
as the grass, the flowers, and the trees grow slowly and gradually, animals and
people also grow slowly and gradually. Our prayers should be that that process
would continue as it was designed, hence, that God would give us the proper
sunshine and rain that we need in order to grow and develop properly.

if we pray for a miracle we shouldn�t be surprised if God doesn�t answer that

prayer; because His normal way is the way of gradual growth�even in our spiritual
lives.

For just as our body takes time to grow and develop, our spirit and our
relationship with God takes time too. Consequently, as our faith grows to maturity
and as we grow in His knowledge, we will see more and more answers to prayer.

1. It takes time for man�s will to change. we must allow God time to work through
our prayers to change our will. Constant prayer will definitely help to soften a
person�s heart and strong will. Just as hard ground needs to be plowed in order
for seeds to germinate and grow, we need to pray that God would plow up our hard
heart and plant His seeds of righteousness. This process will not transpire
without long persistent prayer.

2. It takes time for faith to grow to maturity. One of the reasons why answers to
prayers are delayed is because we have not believed enough to receive what we ask
for. Our constant prayer will serve to build up our faith. The more we pray for a
thing the more our faith will grow; hence, the more we will see the will of God and
how He is going to answer us.

3. It takes time for prayers to mount up. I don�t know why it works that way but
it does. It seems that the more prayers that are heaped up, the greater the power
of God is toward us. I think God just loves to see and hear our prayers,
especially if we are sincere.

4. It takes time to fight evil. The more evil has been allowed in a person, the
more it will be entrenched there, and the stronger its hold will be. Furthermore,
the stronger its hold is in a person the longer it may take to get rid of it, to
become pure, ethical, and to see prayer answers.

when, by prayer, the heart is made soft, when faith is built up enough to receive
His Grace, and when evil is put out of the way, hence when God sees that the time
is right, He works speedily! He will not delay His answer one second more than is
needed.

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Prayerlessness is sin

People come up with all kinds of excuses why they don�t pray more. I think the
most common excuse is, �I am so busy, I just don�t have enough time to pray.�
Well, the fact is everyone has the same amount of time. The real reason why we
don�t pray as much as we should is because we just haven�t given prayer the right
priority. We don�t make it as important as other things.

we ought to pray at all times and not to lose heart. True prayer must be
constant�without ceasing; it is prayer that comes from a life of devotion; it is
selfless prayer; it is sincere prayer; it is prayer that comes from a life that is
totally dedicated to God.

There are recorded prayers of saints; they were written down for us to learn how to
pray, as well as how to live. And we learn not only from the recorded prayers
themselves, but from those that prayed them.

Prayerlessness is sin because it is a rejection of God�s protection. All seekers

after God need protection against the evil within which is against us and against
all the good things we do. It wants to deceive us, corrupt us, discourage us, and
destroy us. It wants to break us down so that we can not realise our true selves
or reach God.

But God has given us His armor: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of
righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation,
the sword of the spirit, and especially prayer. With this armor, through it all,
we are made victorious.

Bible says �Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is
willing, but the flesh is weak.� This says to me that if we don�t keep praying our
armor is useless and even the great sword of the spirit becomes dull.
Prayerlessness is definitely sin because it is a rejection of the protection that
God offers us.

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Is prayer a waste of time? After all, God is sovereign, knowing what we�re going to
pray and what we need even before we ask. Isn�t it an attack against God to even
ask, suggesting God was somehow sleeping on the job?

six reasons why prayer is necessary:

1. Prayer is necessary so �that our hearts may be fired with a zealous and burning
desire ever to seek, love and serve him, while we become accustomed in every need
to flee to him as to a sacred anchor.�

2. Prayer is necessary so �that there may enter our hearts no desire and no wish at
all of which we should be ashamed to make him a witness, while we learn to set all
our wishes before his eyes, and even to pour out our whole hearts.�

3. Prayer is necessary so �that we be prepared to receive his benefits with true

gratitude of heart and thanksgiving, benefits that our prayer reminds us come from
his hand.

4. Prayer is necessary so �having obtained what we were seeking, and being

convinced that he has answered our prayers, we should be led to meditation upon his
kindness more ardently.�

5. Prayer is necessary so �that at the same time we embrace with greater delight
those things which we acknowledge to have been obtained by prayers.�

6. Prayer is necessary so �that use and experience may, according to the measure of
our feebleness, confirm his providence, while we understand that he promises never
to fail us, and of his own will opens the way to call upon him at the very point of
necessity.�

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But what is prayer? Why is prayer important? Why do speakers, teachers, and
religious leaders emphasize the importance of prayer? Books have been written on
prayer. Prayer is one characteristics that is shared among many world religions
and philosophies. Prayer is emphasized because prayer is a very important practice.
Not only can prayer bring spiritual support, prayer can also benefit a person
mentally and physically.

1. Prayer is Important Because it is Communication with God. prayer is

communication. When many couples attend marriage counseling, one of the key areas
that is promoted is communication. Communication is vital to the seeker, as well.
This is our time with God. We do not spend even a few minutes in prayer every day.
No wonder we feel as if we do not feel the presence of God. It is not because God
moved. It is because you did. Just as you speak to a parent or a friend, you can
communicate with God. God hears and will respond according to God�s will. Are you
communicating with God the way you should?

2. Prayer is Important Because it is the Way to Give Thanks. In our time, one
is hard-pressed to find anyone truly thankful for anything. It seems that
individuals are more concentrated on what they do not have rather than what they do
have. There can be found no rest nor contentment for such a person. However, if
we really concentrate on what we have been given, we all have a reason to give God
thanks. Yes life is not perfect. But, God has given us life. He has given us
food to eat, water to drink, clothing for our backs, and a place to call home. So,
look around you. You have something for which to be thankful. Use prayer as a
means to express your thankfulness to God. Just as a person likes to hear thanks
for something that one has done, I feel that God appreciates our giving thanks unto
Him for the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.

3. Prayer is Important Because it is the Way to Intercede. As prayer is

communication, prayer is an important means to intercede for another. What is
intercession? Intercession means that we speak on behalf of another. how many
people need prayer. Do we pray for our world? Do we pray for the gospel to be
spread? Do we pray for our nation and our national leaders? Even if you have an
evil leader, you should still pray for him/her. It may be through intercessory
prayers that one is changed. Do you pray for the sick? Do you pray for travelers?
Do you pray for your police officers? Do you pray for medical staffs? Do you pray
for those in the military? Do you pray for your neighbors? Do you pray for your
family? The list could go on and on and on.

4. Prayer is Important Because it is the Way to Give Praise.

A Psalm says,
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

psalms are in fact prayers put to music. We should praise God. What is the
difference between giving thanks and giving praise? Giving thanks is thanking God
for what He has done. Giving praise is thanking God for Who He is. When one
understands the greatness, the power, the glory, the love, the compassion, and the
grandeur of God, how could one not praise God?

5. Prayer is Important Because it is the Way to Confess our shortcomings. God

knows our faults and wrongdoings already. Some would ask, �If God knows all about
it, why do we need to confess our sins?� This is a good question. Our confession
of sins is admission. Through the admission of our wrongdoing, we are able to ask
for forgiveness from God and also to allow God to direct us on how to correct the
mistakes. Confession also brings freedom. Confession which leads to forgiveness
allows one to live life without the burden of past failures. With God, one does not
have to worry about one�s faults being blabbered around to others. God, who is the
essence of holiness and perfection, forgives, corrects, and frees.

6. Prayer is Important Because it is the Way to Ask for Help. Bible says, �Ask,
and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened
to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who
knocks it will be opened� Who does one ask? The person asks God, seeks God, and
knocks to have God�s truth opened unto them. We all need help. To ask for help,
one must lower one�s pride and admit that he or she cannot do something by
themselves. This may be a shock to learn especially in our individualistic
society, but you were not meant to live this life alone. God in His essence is an
eternal relationship. You were created for relationships: relationship with God
and a relationship with others. Prayer allows one to go to God in asking for help.
God may give help in a variety of means. But God is still in the miracle business.
God can give you help in your time of need. Will you recognize your need for God�s
help and ask?

As we have seen, prayer is extremely important. It is important for you to spend

time with God in prayer every day. Do not think that 5 minutes a day is enough.
you can easily pray an hour a day. The only difficulty is finding a time and
sticking with it. If your relationship with God matters to you, spend more time
with God in prayer every day. It could be one of the most important things you
ever do.

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How to Spend Time in Prayer

I. PRAISE
Start your prayer hour by praising the Lord. Praise Him for things that are on your
mind right now. Praise Him for one special thing He has done in your life in the
past week. Praise Him for His goodness to your family.
2. WAITING
Spend this time waiting on the Lord. Let Him pull together reflections for
you.Think about the hour before you and the things you want the Lord to do in your
life.

3. CONFESSION
Ask God to show you anything in your life which might be displeasing to Him.Ask Him
to point out attitudes that are wrong. as well as specific acts for which you have
not yet made a prayer of
confession. Now seek forgiveness so that you might be cleansed for the remainder of
the hour.

4. READ THE Scripture

Spend time reading any scripture you have faith in.

5. PETITION
This is general request for others. praying for others.

6. INTERCESSION
Specific prayer on the behalf of others.

7. SINGING
Sing Bhajan

8.THANKSGIVING
Spend these minutes giving thanks to the Lord for things in your life. things on
behalf of your guru. things on behalf of your family.

9.
MEDITATE
Ask the Lord to speak back to you and keep a paper and pen handy. ready to relate
the impressions that He makes upon your life.

10. LISTEN
Spend time merging the things you have read from the Word. the things you have
prayed. the things you have thanked God for. the things that you have been singing.
and see how God brings them all
together to speak to you.

11. END WITH PRAISE

Praise God for the time you have had to spend with Him. Praise Him for the
impressions that He has given you. Praise Him for the prayer requests He raised up
in you mind.

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ab 21-8-15