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Talk with GOD!
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E CAN actually talk with the God of the
universe! And He
talks back to us!
God
wants simplicity in our prayers
God is a lot less formal than we are. He doesn't require a lot
of fancy words from us when we pray. Just a simple honesty. "Lord, help
me!" is the simplest prayer recorded in Scripture! Jesus provided the
example of, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" in one
of His parables.
In
fact, God doesn't want fancy-schmancy prayers; He came for the real
people, the humble people!
9 And He
spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that
they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to
pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus
with himself, God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give
tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican,
standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me
a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to
his house justified rather than the other: for every one that
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted.
15 And they brought unto Him also
infants, that He would touch them: but when His disciples saw
it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them unto Him,
and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid
them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever
shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in
no wise enter therein.
Luke
18:9-17
God wants us to pray about EVERYTHING
10a For
who hath despised the day of small things?
Zech. 4:10a
6 Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God.
Phil.
4:6
God
is not concerned just about the big, momentous things in the
world and in our life!
He cares, also, for every little thing in our life!
Those are the things He wants us to bring to Him, each
and every moment of every day!
17
Pray without ceasing.
II
Thes. 5:17
Develop the habit of, under your breath
or in your mind, praying for everything that enters your mind,
or that occupies your hands.
Imagine the arrogance of saying,"I need God's help
in this area, and in that area, but for these small things
over here, I don't need any help from God?"Imagine
the utter arrogance of even suggesting that there might be
something, anything at all, that we can do without the help of
God!
Whatever it is, large or small, ask for God's help in it.
Become utterly reliant on God's Presence and working in
your life!
Our God wants to be intimately present in our
life!
Jesus died for each, and every one
of us!
He didn't die for a group, a nation, a planet; He died
for individuals!
14
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married
unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a
family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Jer. 3:14
In
other words, God died for you, and you personally!
God is concerned about every intimate area of your life!
Make God intimately involved in every tiny detail of your
life.
He expects it!
God
wants us to spend
time alone with Him
God
wants us to take time alone in prayer. Despite
the necessity of maintaining a constant attitude of prayer
there's nothing that will replace taking time alone with God on
a regular basis.
Scripture
tells us that Jesus (God Himself!) went off alone to pray
35 And in the morning, rising up a great
while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary
place, and there prayed.
Mark
1:35
46 And when He had sent them away, He departed
into a mountain to pray.
47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of
the sea, and He alone on the land.
Mark
6:46-47
16 And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and
prayed.
Luke 5:16
Jesus instructs us:
6 But thou, when
thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father Which is in secret; and thy Father
Which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matt. 6:6
Jesus said that group praying adds
power to our prayer!
19
Aain I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for
them of my Father which is in heaven.
20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them.
Matt. 18:19
Prayer develops relationship with God
The
best way to get to know someone is to spend lots of time with
them. We spend time with God by praying to Him.
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