Randy Frazee | – Believe | Prayer | 01-13-19 | Randy Frazee

Chapter 12 – Prayer

“Believe” Series

January 13th, 2019

Randy Frazee

Prayer is more than giving God his “to do” list for the day.

Key Question is not Why doesn’t God give me everything I ask for?

Key Question is How do I grow by communicating with God?

Key Idea: I pray to God to know him, to find direction for my daily life, and to lay my requests before him.

I pray to God to know him.

I cried out to God for help;I cried out to God to hear me.2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;at night I stretched out untiring hands,and I would not be comforted.

3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;I meditated, and my spirit grew [support us]]4 You kept my eyes from closing;I was too troubled to speak.5 I thought about the former days,the years of long ago;6 I remembered my songs in the [support us] heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever?Will he never show his favor again?8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?Has his promise failed for all time?9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. (pg. 196-7; Psalm 77:1-15)

12 I will consider all your worksand meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

13 Your ways, God, are [support us] god is as great as our God?14 You are the God who performs miracles;you display your power among the peoples.15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. (Pg. 196-7; Psalm 77:1-15)

[support us]’t begin your prayer asking for something but rehearsing who God is and his track record
[support us] don’t need God to change our circumstances as much as we need to remember he is bigger than our [support us] /> [support us] and rehearse scriptures in your mind.

I pray to find direction for my life

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

[support us] your heart and mind through worship and the [support us] /> [support us] to God genuinely wanting his will for your [support us] /> [support us] him
[support us] others to pray and speak into your [support us] /> [support us] and wait.

I pray to lay my request before God

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

If I had cherished sin in my heart,the Lord would not have listened;19 but God has surely listenedand has heard my prayer.20 Praise be to God,who has not rejected my prayeror withheld his love from me! (Pg. 192; Psalm 66:18-20)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps. 37:4

[support us] delight yourself in the Lord and then…he will give you the desires of your [support us] /> [support us] you delight in the Lord, your desires change to his desires.

Guided Prayer Time

Posture – Hold your hands out open to God, symbolizing the posture of your heart before him.

“God, we invite you to consider each person that stands before you with their hands and hearts open to you. We ascribe worth to your name for who you are – you are a good, good, Father who invites us to come to you with everything, We worship you for what you have done for us.”

Tell God something you recognize he has done for you. (the breath you take, something small, something huge)

“God, some of your children need direction. They are asking for wisdom. Speak to them, Father.”

Ask God for wisdom…Then just plainly tell him what you need direction in.

“Father, some of your children have a request to lay before you. They need your help. Hear their prayer.”

Tell God your request. Don’t hold back, he can handle it, I promise.

“God, as you people have asked for wisdom and laid their request before you, may they also lay down the anxiety they have been carrying… ‘be anxious no more.’ God, hear the prayers of your people. We bring them to you confidently in the name of your Son, whose blood has given us unlimited and unrestricted access to you.”

As we close, I am going to ask you to say this, only if you mean it. I am going to ask you to close your prayer with the same way Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane – “not my will, but your will be done.”

“Now Father, we close this prayer following the example and teaching of Jesus – (say it with me) – “Not my will but your will be done. And all of God’s people said, ‘Amen’.