how to pray, part three

confession: sometimes i forget to pray.  lame, i know.  but i'm trying.  i really like what matt had to say yesterday about praying small prayers throughout the day.  i've truly seen that type of prayer help my relationship with god.  

that said, sometimes i desire more structure when i sit down to pray.  like some guidelines that can help me when i pray.  what i'm about to explain i first read in rick warren's book on bible study and then i heard a local pastor talk about it.  it's adapted out of jesus' teaching on how to pray from the bible.  it's commonly referred to as the "lord's prayer" and/or "our father."  you probably know it, you know..."our father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." (matthew 6:9-13)

let's get started.

let me ask you this: how does a person get closer to god?  he or she PRAYS.  that's all ya gotta remember!

each morning, i try to follow these guidelines in my prayer life:

Praise
Repent
Ask
Your Will

my brother, friend, and i made this cross, breckenridge, co

Show Me

praise (verse 9) start off your prayer by praising god, thanking him for his goodness, his mercy, his amazing grace in your life.  just thank him!

repent (verse 12)
say something like, "god, i'm sorry for the ways i've sinned against you...(insert sins here).  please forgive me."  make sure it's from the heart and then embrace that you are truly forgiven.

ask (verse 11)
ask god for things in your life
ask god for things in the lives of others

yield to his will (verse 10)
let's face it, sometimes god doesn't answer our prayers.
this is us admitting, "god, i really, really, really want what i just prayed for but i really, really, really trust you and want to follow your will above all else."

show me (verse 13)
god, show me how to avoid the evil/bad in life.  show me how to do good in my life.

i know this is really basic.  i coulda expounded on it a bunch but i've intentionally left it simple so that you can adapt these "guidelines" to best fit your relationship with god (if you'd like more information on this, i'd be happy to chat with ya).

i'll close with this: if you follow this structure and/or the things matt talked about yesterday, god will start to/continue to transform your life.  he may not immediately give you what you ask for but i firmly believe that it's the act of praying that will change your life, not the getting (philippians 4:6-7).

ml.