Praying(God s(words! ! 17

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1 Praying(God s(words...but$hope$that$is$seen$is$no$hope$at$all.$who$hopes$for$what$they$already$ have?$but$if$we$hope$for$what$we$do$not$yet$have,$we$wait$for$it$patiently.in$ the$same$way,$the$spirit$helps$us$in$our$weakness.$we$do$not$know$what$we$ ought$to$pray$for,$but$the$spirit$himself$intercedes$for$us$through$wordless$ groans.$and$he$who$searches$our$hearts$knows$the$mind$of$the$spirit,$because$ the$spirit$intercedes$for$god s$people$in$accordance$with$the$will$of$god."$ Romans8:24227 Prayerforeverysituation(Luke18:13) "Lord,havemercyonme,asinner"TheTaxCollector(Repeat) Prayersfortimesofdoubt(Mark9:24) LordIbelieve,helpmyunbelief Prayersingrief(Psalm6) Havemercyonme,OLord,forIamweak.OLord,healme,formybonesare greatlytroubled.howlongolord?deliverme.iamwearywithmy groaning;allnightimakemybedswim;idrenchmycouchwithmytears. TheLordhearsthevoiceofmyweeping.Hehearsmysupplication,theLord willreceivemyprayer.havemercyanddeliverme. Prayerfortimesofdistress(Jonah2:2,5S7,9) "InmydistressIcalledtotheLord,andheansweredme.Fromdeepinthe realmofthedeadicalledforhelp,andyoulistenedtomycry.theengulfing watersthreatenedme,thedeepsurroundedme..totherootsofthe mountainsisankdown;theearthbeneathbarredmeinforever.but you,lordmygod,broughtmylifeupfromthepit.whenmylifewasebbing away,irememberedyou,lord,andmyprayerrosetoyou,toyourholy temple..i,withshoutsofgratefulpraise,willsacrificetoyou..iwillsay, SalvationcomesfromtheLord." Prayersforhumility(Psalm36) Ohcontinueyoursteadfastlovetome,andyourrighteousnessofheartLet notthefootofarroganceorprideuponme,norletthehandofthewicked drivemeaway. Prayersforspiritualenlightenment(Col.1:9S12) IaskthatImaybefilledwithknowledgeofYourwillwithallwisdomand spiritualunderstanding;thatimaywalkworthyofthelord,fullypleasing 17

2 You,beingfruitfulineverygoodworkandincreasingintheknowledgeof God;strengthenedwithallmight,accordingtoYourgloriouspower,foral patienceandlong/sufferingwithjoy;givingthankstothefatherwhohas qualifiedmetoapartakerintheinheritanceofthesaints PrayerstoinstillthedesireforGodinus(Psalm27) OnethingIaskYouLord,thatIwillconstantlyseek,thatImaydwellinYour housemylordallthedaysofmylife,togazeuponyourbeautyandinquire inyourtemple.foryouwillhidemeinyourshelterinthedayoftrouble; YouwillconcealmeinthecoverofYourtent;Youwillliftmehighupona rock. Prayersforboldness(Acts4:23S31) GrantYourservantallboldnesstospeakYourword,tostretchYourhandto heal,andthatsignsandwondersmaybedoneinyournamejesuschrist. Prayerstoknowoneself(Psam139:23S24) Searchme,OGod,andknowmyheart;trymeandknowmyanxieties;andif thereisanywickedwayinme,andleadmeinthewayeverlasting. Prayersforsafekeepingfromwickedness(Psalm141) Setaguard,OLord,overmymouth;keepwatchoverthedoorofmylips.Do notinclinemyhearttoanyevilthing,topracticewickedworkswithmen whoworkiniquity;anddonotletmeeatoftheirdelicacies.letthe righteousstrikeme;itshallbeakindness.andlethimrebukeme;itshallbe asexcellentoil;letmyheadnotrefuseit. Prayersforguidance(2Thes.1:11S12) Lord,IpraythatYoumakemeworthytoYourcalling,andthatbyYour poweryoumaybringintofruitionmyeverydesireforgoodness,holiness, anddeedspromptedbyfaith.ipraythissoyourname,lordjesus,maybe glorifiedinmeandiinyou,accordingtoyourgrace,mercy,andlove.amen. Prayersforchastening(Jeremiah10:23S24) "Lord,Iknowthatpeople slivesarenottheirown;itisnotforthemto directtheirsteps.disciplineme,lord,butonlyinduemeasure notin youranger.." "When$you$pray,$try$to$let$the$prayer$reach$your$heart.$It$is$necessary$that$ your$heart$should$feel$what$you$are$talking$about$in$your$prayer,$that$it$ should$wish$for$the$blessing$for$which$you$are$asking...$observe,$during$prayer,$ whether$your$heart$is$in$accord$with$that$which$you$are$saying." SSt.JohnofKronstadt 18

3 Prayer& Workshop OvercomingtheObstacles Prayeris Theoxygenofourspirituallife.Weneedprayerinordertostay alivespiritually;therefore,wearesurethatitwillbeattackedbeattackedby thedevil.prayerisnotnecessarilyeasybutweknowthatifweperseverein prayer,wewillreceivethefruitsofourlabour: I$have$received$this$great$fiery$Spirit:$receive$Him$now$yourselves.$If$you$wish$ to$receive$him$that$he$may$dwell$in$you,$first$offer$hard$labours$of$the$flesh$ and$humility$of$the$heart.$raise$your$thoughts$up$to$heaven$night$and$day.$ask$ in$uprightness$of$heart$for$this$fiery$spirit$and$he$will$then$be$given$to$ you Persist$in$prayer$diligently,$with$all$your$heart$for$this$Spirit$dwells$in$ upright$hearts.$he$will$reveal$to$you$higher$mysteries$and$other$things$which$i$ cannot$express$in$ink$and$paper Celestial$joy$will$then$be$your$portion$day$ and$night.(saintanthonythegreat,letters8) Whatdoyouunderstandaboutprayerfromthispassage?. Whatobstaclesdoyouface/whatdoyoufinddifficultaboutprayer?. CommondeceptionsaboutPrayer 1. I lldoitlater Wewon t Wemustlearnurgencytopray/bystartingonthispersonal relationshipwithgodandtastinghissweetness,wewilleventually longtopray. 2. Ijustspent4hoursatchurch;Idon tneedtoprayagain Neversubstitutepersonalprayertime,inthesilenceofyourroom, withotherspiritualactivities. 3. Goddoesn tmind,icanpraywhilelyinginbedinstead. You reright,youcanprayinbed,butthisshouldbean addon,nota substitute. Westandinprayerlikewestandinchurch wegivegodrespectashe iskingofkings 20

4 Exercise: CanyouthinkofanotherwaywecangiveGod respect,humbleourselvesandenterprayerin thefearofgod? DoyouknowhowtodoaMetania? Somecommonobstaclestowardsprayer Obstacle Ineverknowwhatto prayabout EvenifIpraythe Agpeya Idon treally understandthe psalms. ItrytopraybutI m alwaystootired Iget bored.especially withtheagpeya.it s justrepetition Distractionsinmy room Busythoughts 21 Solution AskGodtoteachyou. TheAgpeya(bookofHours)givesuswords whenwedon thavethem.also,thewordsare fromthebiblesoweknowtheyareaccordingto Hiswill. Lookuporthodoxcommentaries/explanations toeachpsalm,evenifyoujustprayonepsalma day,prayitwhilstunderstandingwhatyou re saying. Setasideaparticulartimeofdaye.g.firstthing inthemorningorwhenyougetbackfrom school,toprayformally. Thatdoesn tmeanweshouldn tprayatany othertime...wemustmakesurewealsopray throughoutthedaywheneverweremember God AskGodtogiveyouaspiritofunderstanding andloveofthewordsyouarepraying. Don trushintoprayer takeacoupleof minutesbeforeyoustart,tofocusongod.some peoplefindithelpfultolookatapictureof Christe.gonthecrossandmeditateonthis. Chooseanareawithnomirroror pictures/posters. Useyoursenses:Pictureofasaint,holdacross, speakoutloud Freeyourmindandprayaboutallyour concernse.gpersonalprayerbeforeyoustart prayingfromtheagpeya turnyourdistraction intovirtue.1peter5:7 castingallyourcare uponhim,forhecaresforyou Prayoutloud

5 Exercise Inagroupofthree:twopeopletrytohaveaconversationwhilstthethird personwhispersinoneperson sear. Apartfrommovingawaywhatcanyoudotocontinuehavingaconversation withyourpartner? This$is$to$highlight$the$importance$of$praying$out$loud.$If$we$only$pray$in$our$ heads,$our$thoughts$are$as$loud$as$our$prayer$and$we$get$distracted.$by$ praying$out$loud$it$can$help$drown$them$out$and$help$us$ $ What sthis?. Doyouknowhowitcanbeusedtohelpwithprayer?. Exercise: Thisisjustonewaysomepeopleliketofocusand usetheirsensesinprayer.canyouthinkofany others?. 22