1. We are to pray

“…when you pray…” Matthew 6:5 NLT

 

 

2. We are to pray in private

“…when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private…” Matthew 6:6a 

 

3. We are to pray authentically

“When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” Matthew 6:7 NIV 

 

 

• God is not about quantity, but quality
• God is not about span, but sincerity

 

4. We are to pray in faith

“…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8 NIV

 

• Prayer is an opportunity to express submission to God’s will even when His will is unclear
• Prayer is an opportunity to express dependence on His provision

 

5. We should practice different ways of prayer

 

• Pray through the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
• Pray through the Psalms

“Psalms keeps me honest by furnishing words to prayers I would not pray apart from their prompting.” Philip Yancey

• Pray through the prayers of others
• Pray and personalize the prayers of Paul
  (Romans 15:5-6, Ephesians 1:16-22, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:19-14, 1 Thessalonians 3:10-13, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)