Introduction:  We Are To Pray:

Secretly  (Matthew 6:5-6)   Sincerely  (Matthew 6:7)  Specifically  (Matthew 6:8-13)

Three Blessings Of Prayer:

Our relationship with Jesus is enlarged and deepened when we spend time with Him in prayer.

We begin to see our lives from God’s perspective and His desires for us.

The pressures of life begin to dissipate and we experience peace with God.

Four ACTS of Devotional Praying:

Adoration  (Most all the Psalms)

Richard Foster in his book on prayer

“Prayer is the human response to the perpetual outpouring of love by which God lays siege to every soul. 

Our response to God’s love is adoration.

Adoration is the spontaneous yearning of the one’s heart to worship, honor, magnify, and bless God.”

• Adoration sets the tone for the entire prayer  (Psalm 9:1-2)  (Psalm 35:18)   (Psalm 30:12)

• Adoration reminds us of God’s identity & desires

• Adoration purifies the one who is praying

• God is worthy of adoration  (Psalm 18:1-3)

Confession  (1 John 1:9)

• Confession Should Be:

            Spontaneous     Specific     Sincere

• Benefits of Confession:

            Conscience Cleared     Forgiveness Given     Pray Freely

Thanksgiving  (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Three Blessings To Thank God For:

• Spiritual

• Relational

• Material

Supplication  (Requests) 

  (Philippians 4:6)  (James 4:2)

• Wrong Request—No                 

• Wrong Timing—Slow

• Wrong You—Grow                   

• Right Request, Timing, You—Go (Psalm 37:4)

Application:  From the four categories of prayer discussed today: 

Under Adoration:  List God’s characteristics that move you today

Under Confession:  List the sin in your life God brings to mind 

Under Thanksgiving:  List God’s blessings in your life 

Under Supplication:  List your request before God