Lord Teach Us to Pray

Prayer is communing with an awesome, holy, creator of all that is in an open, intimate way.  Prayer is worship and worship is a way of living.

Pray -

• to speak to God in worship;

• enter into spiritual communion with God,

Prayer -

• the act of praying;

• the thing prayed for;

• a form of words used in praying;

• a form of worship

Pray-er -

• a person who prays,

Communion -

• the act of sharing;

• an exchange of thoughts and feelings;

• intimate talk,

• fellowship:

• close spiritual relationship.

Worship -

• to pay great honor and respect to;

• to consider extremely precious;

• hold very dear;

• adore.

In an attempt to assist you in your weekly praying, we have developed a brief prayer guide with some help from a little book, by Charles M, Laymon, "A Primer of Prayer."  You will also find practical suggestions to enrich your prayer life and prayer needs suggested to us,  This is in no way an exhaustible resource.  Please feel free to use this guide in any manner you deem suitable.

"Believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)  We must believe that God is.  We must believe that God is powerful and that God has a loving will.  We must believe that God hears and responds to our prayer.  "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find,- knock, and it will be. opened to you. " (Matthew 7:7)

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5)  We must have the attitude of faith.  We must have the attitude of sincerity.  We must have the attitude of praise and thanksgiving.  "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. " (Psalm 103:1, 2)

"...it will be given you." (Luke 11: 9)  Every prayer to God is answered.  None is disregarded.  Each is considered thoughtfully and in love.  Whether the answer be "Yes" or "No," the Christian knows by faith that God has spoken rightly,

"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it, " (John 14:14)  Praying in the name of Jesus does not insure an answer on your terms.  What is meant is that we should pray in the spirit of Jesus, taking his attitude and faith in the all wise, loving Father as our very own, with the confidence that the answer will be God's answer.

A God of love created the universe and there is no contradiction between his love and his orderly systematic processes in the universe.  God is not a prisoner of His own creation.  He is free, within the logical consistency of His mind and character, to do the loving thing in response to prayer.  "Thy will be done" is not asking God to break his law for our benefit.  It is requesting God to do what is best for the individual, the Christian brotherhood, the world and the universe--all at the same time,

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2:20

Prayer is not primarily a process of asking and getting.  It is first of all a fellowship between God and us.  It is communion with God, and out of this communion we emerge as changed persons,

• Prayer is essential in our new birth experience.  Only in prayer can we confess our sin, express repentance and receive forgiveness.

• In prayer we commit our lives to God.

• We continue to grow in Christian Character through prayer.  Unless we pray, we will not grow.

How not to pray for others: We must not use prayer to force our will upon others.  We should not pray for the needs of others if we are not willing to help them in whatever way we are able.  Our prayer should not be of such a general nature that it has no particular content.  Praying for others means that we identify ourselves with their needs.  This is not easy to do.  If we are to pray for them with power, we need to place ourselves in their situation, feel as they feel, and experience a soul-oneness with them.  Intercessory prayer stands or falls, not with any explanation of man, but with the character and power of God.  Jesus himself urges us to pray for others.  We must be willing to be used to answer our prayer.  In winning others to Christ, prayer is a tremendous force.  Our motive must be unselfish.  We must be moved by love for others and a compassionate caring that makes us willing to accept their standing before God as our concern,

"Give us this day our daily bread. " (Luke 11,3)  There is danger in praying for things.  There is the danger of greed.  There is the temptation to think of God in mechanical terms - if one learns the right combination of words, all things can be his.  God Himself should be the object of our praying, not His gifts.

There is danger in not praying for things.  Nothing, which affects our lives, is beneath God's interest,

When is it safe to pray for things?  If the desire for material things is based upon necessity and the desire to spread the Kingdom of God more effectively, then it is safe to pray for material things.  We must not be oblivious to the needs of others as we concentrate upon our own needs.  We must not substitute prayer for work.  We must know how to value God's material gifts.  If the material things for which we pray can be used in the service of the Kingdom on earth, we may pray for them with confidence.

There are certain steps in the prayer journey which are basic:

• We may begin our prayer with thoughts of God, his power, his love, and his justice.  Reading the Bible before we pray will help us here.

• Then we will thank him for who he is and praise him for his goodness.  We will thank him for Jesus and his love, for the meaning of the cross and the fact and significance of the resurrection.

• While our hearts are filled with the awareness of God, we will offer ourselves to him, just as we are, with our sin and weakness.  Confessing our sin, we shall seek his forgiveness.

• We are now ready to offer our special petitions to God, to pray for other persons, and to present our own needs.  Here we will be specific, naming names and describing situations.

• Silently surrender to God's presence, while he speaks to our hearts, forgiving, encouraging and guiding.

• It may be that we are now ready to decide with God on a course of action, or to make a new commitment.

• Finally, we shall thank God for his presence, praise him for his power, and rejoice with him in the reality of his Kingdom.

A helpful key to remembering the components of prayer:

A:  Adoration for who God is.
C:  Confession of sins both individual and corporate.
T:  Thanksgiving for all that God has done for you,
S:  Supplication for particular needs.

Prayer is a vocation and a ministry in itself.  Since in prayer we find God, our interest leads us inevitably to action.  It is here that we find the call to serve.  Prayer and action are complementary experiences.  Between them life finds its true rhythm.  Each needs the other.  Prayer without action leads to an ingrown life.  Action without prayer results in purposeless motion.  God waits for men and women of prayer that through them his will may be done on earth.

• Read God's word purposely.  Get to know Him, study His promises, and learn what He expects of His children,

• Repent as you become aware of the sin in your life.

• Recount your blessings with a grateful heart.  All we have is a gift.  All our circumstances have been allowed by God and can serve His purpose in our lives.

• Reflect on the attributes of God.  Choose one and ask God to show you how to develop that attribute in your life.

• Record your prayers in a journal.  As you put your thoughts onto paper, they will become clearer and you will have the added bonus of being able to look back and see what God has done.

• Retreat. Make time for God.  Schedule an appointment and keep it.  Start with a short period of time.  As you see the benefit, you can expand the time.

• Review. Periodically do a self examination,

Our major prayer thrust is for profound spiritual revival for every person connected with Asbury United Methodist Church.

God has called all of us to pray.  He provided "The Lord's Prayer" as a model for our prayer.  Fine words and fancy phrases are not to be desired.  The seeking of a childlike heart is.  Persevere in prayer.  The eternal rewards are well worth it,

Write down the particular concerns that God has laid on your heart and title them: SPECIFIC PRAYER CONCERNS

JESUS IS THE REASON....

Lest we forget, Jesus is the reason for the season.  His birth, life, death and resurrection are what demonstrates God's incredible love, provides hope, and produces the joy and peace the whole world seeks.  Dear friends, let's covenant to pray together that the light of Christ that burns within us will kindle fires of love in hearts all over the world.

Each week during Advent, let's spend a few extra minutes praying for our world.  The first week of Advent we light the first candle in our Advent wreath - the candle of LOVE.  Think about the needs of world leaders, our military, the poor, the oppressed, missionaries, those in positions of authority and those responsible for our security.  Pray, as God leads you, that the love of God will touch hearts and lives in meaningful ways.

We've a story to tell to the nations,
that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and dawning to noonday bright;
and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear Is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

The joy of the Lord is my strength,
The joy of the Lord Is my strength,
The joy of the Lord is my strength,
The joy of the Lord Is my strength.

I am thine, 0 Lord; I have heard thy voice, and it told of thy love to me,,
but / long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to thee.
Draw me neared, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou has died,
Draw me neared, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious, bleeding side.

The week after Christmas, a new year begins,  On January 6"', we celebrate Epiphany, the revealing of Christ to non-Jews (as represented by the Magi).  This week claim the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans for prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Put past failures behind you and stand on the solid rock. 

Our hope Is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness,
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground Is sinking sand;
all other ground Is sinking sand,

Call me through the Church office - 407-644-5222.  I would love to know that you are praying with us.  I welcome any suggestions, comments, or questions you may have,  Verta Sorensen

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!