Pray in Faith Let s set our focus:

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1 PRAY IN FAITH Christian Life Institute Alfred Street Baptist Church May 20-22, pm Facilitator: Rev. Danielle L. Bridgeforth, J.D., M.Div.

2 Pray in Faith Let s set our focus: What do you want to get out of this course? Do you have any general questions about prayer? What advice can you share with us about prayer based upon your experiences? Are you open?

3 Pray in Faith What is Prayer? Communion with God Claude King Ask yourself the following questions about your current prayer life: Are you encountering God? An encounter with God always brings three things: 1) A sense of His holiness and our lowliness. 2) An acknowledgment of our inadequacy. 3) Humility, and a hunger for more of Him. (from UCB Word for Today Devotional -4/22/14) Is your prayer life multidimensional? Are your senses and emotions engaged? Are you including: dialogue, listening, silence, meditation, reading, music, praise, writing, fasting, and partnership in your prayer time? Do you experience results from prayer? Is there tangible and intangible, internal and external, immediate and long term change in you, your life, and your lifestyle because of your time in prayer? Are you growing closer to Christ?

4 Pray in Faith Why? 10 Reasons to Pray 1. To spend time with God the One you love 2. To identify with God by becoming like Him 3. To identify with God by working together with Him 4. To gain strength to resist temptation 5. To be made right with God 6. To find forgiveness, mercy, and grace 7. To learn God s will 8. To offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving 9. To learn authority 10. To release God s power

5 Pray in Faith- How should we pray? Prayer is a way of life which allows you to find a stillness in the midst of the world where you open your hands to God s promises and find hope for yourself, your neighbor and your world. Henri J.M. Nouwen Responding prayers when we pray we acknowledge the character of God. When we open ourselves up in prayer, we invite God to remake us; we become more like Christ.

6 Pray in Faith- God s Character Attributes of God able almighty all-knowing all-powerful all-present awesome beautiful blameless blessed compassionate enthroned eternal exalted faithful gracious holy glorious good indescribable invisible jealous just kind living majestic merciful mighty patient peaceful perfect pure slow to anger spirit strong love generous wise creative Biblical Words for Praise & Worship praise exalt laud exult rejoice worship adore ascribe glorify honor magnify bless hallelujah (praise Yahweh) hosanna (save, we pray)

7 Pray in Faith Prayer Requires? Relationship Faith Discipline Salvation Partnership Surrender Trust Obedience Yielding Persistence Consistency Conformity Vulnerability Openness Honesty Affirmation Expectation Hopefulness Denial Sacrifice Confession

8 Pray in Faith Prayer Requires? Faith Discipline Relationship Effective Prayers James 5:13-18

9 Pray in Faith Types of Prayers: Confession Responding to God s holiness 2 Samuel 24:10 Praise Responding to God s Attributes Psalm 57:9-10, I Chron. 29:10-13 Worship Responding to God s Glory I Chron. 29:10-13

10 Pray in Faith Types of Prayers: Thanksgiving Petition Intercession Responding to God s Riches I Chron. 29:10-13 Asking for yourself Matthew 7:7-8 Asking on behalf of others James 5:13-18, Ephesians 6:18

11 Pray in Faith Stay Focused No matter what type of prayer we are praying, we must stay focused on what is most essential. Prayer at its core is not about results, its about relationship. Our best prayers are designed to highlight who God is not just what God does. Through the process of being engaged in prayer we learn more about God and we grow stronger and better. Prayer is its own reward

12 Pray in Faith Getting Answers "He Will Answer Byron Cage He will answer when you call He never sleeps, He never slumbers Pick you up each time you fall No need to ask no need to wonder Yes, He sees you kneeling Yes, He's already dealing He will answer, He will answer When you call Even though getting answers isn t our main focus when we pray, we should still have great expectation for God to answer us. We can trust that God is attentive to our cries (Psalm 34:15, 17) and we must be convinced that God will respond and reward us for being diligent in our seeking (See Hebrews 11:6) Every Prayer Every prayer, waiting on the answer only to discover He is near and He hears every prayer, for He has done great things and I believe He's a God that always answers prayer. Israel Houghton & MaryMary

13 Pray in Faith Getting Answers Pray for God s Glory John 14:13 John 12:27-28 Make God s glory our focus Pray for God s Honor Numbers 14:15-16 Ask God to defend God s own honor Trust God to do what is right Acknowledge God s Sovereignty 2 Kings 19:15-16, 19 Let God be God Yield to God s perfect plan & will for our lives and circumstances

14 Pray in Faith Praying Together If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:19-20 Agreement with God (removal of sin, unbelief and wrong motives) & Agreement with One Another (removal of pride, brokenness, fear) Acts 4:24-31 Sharing Willingness to be open, honest, sincere, and vulnerable. Matthew 26:36-38 Togetherness: Mutual goals, communal needs given the priority, corporate requests made by individuals Acts 12:1-16

15 Pray in Faith Final Thoughts Prayer is relational. Prayer transforms our focus. Prayer meets inner needs. One who prays will receive freedom from fear, strength of soul, guidance and satisfaction, wisdom and understanding, deliverance from harm, fullness of joy, peace, and freedom from anxiety (New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1023) Prayer changes people, perspectives and predicaments. Prayer is its own reward

16 Pray in Faith Final Thoughts Bibliography A few resources that you may find helpful: *T.W. Hunt and Claude King, Growing Disciples: Pray in Faith (Nashville: Life Way Press, 2007) *Claude King, The Call to Follow Christ: Six Disciplines for New and Growing Believers (Nashville: Life Way Press, 2013) *Dutch Sheets, Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth (Ventura: Gospel Light Pub., 2008) *Henri J.M. Nouwen, With Open Hands (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2005)

17 Pray in Faith Final Thoughts Let s Stay Connected: Rev. Danielle L. Bridgeforth, J.D., M.Div. Shiloh Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia dbridgeforth@joy4lifeministries.org Website: joy4lifeministries.org FB: Joy4Life Ministries,