#2 – LEARNING TO PRAY WHEN THE PRESSURE IS ON

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Philippians 4:6 (MSG)

OUR TENDENCY IS TO GET AN “F” UNDER PRESSURE…

F______ F______   |   F______ F________________   |   F___________ F____  

F________ or F__________   |   F__________ or F________   |

F____________________ F______

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. 20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. 21 Your own ears will hear him. Isaiah 30:19-21 (NLT)

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 22:39-44 (NLT)

I CAN PRAY WHEN THE PRESSURE IS ON LIKE JESUS DID…

• BY _____________________________________________________.

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. Luke 22:39 (NLT)

Are you having troubles? You should pray. Are you happy? You should sing. Are you sick? Ask the elders of the church to come and rub oil on you in the name of the Lord and pray for you. If such a prayer is offered in faith, it will heal anyone who is sick. The Lord will heal them. And if they have sinned, he will forgive them. So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen. James 5:13-16 (ERV)

• Godly people to whom ______________________________________.  

• Godly people who can ______________________________________.

“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” Mark 14:34 (NKJV)

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)

• Godly people who __________________________________________.

Do not befriend someone given to anger or hang around with a hothead. 25 Odds are, you’ll learn his ways, become angry as well, and get caught in a trap. Proverbs 22:24-25 (VOICE)

• Godly people who _______________________________________.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12 (NIV)

• BY _____________________________________________________.

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed… Luke 22:41 (NLT)

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 (NLT)

• BY _____________________________________________________.

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you…” Mark 14:36a (ESV)

• “Abba” reminds me of my ________________ on God.

• “Father” reminds me of God’s ______________________.

• “Abba Father” reminds me of God’s ______________.

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6 (NLT)

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NIV)

NOTE: For Abba to be my Father, I must become His __________.

You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This means that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  Galatians‬ 3:26-27 (NCV)‬‬

• BY _____________________________________________________.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me…” He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 22:42a, 44 (NLT)

• BY _____________________________________________________.

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 22:41-44 (NLT)

• The certain way to find God’s ________ is to look in God’s ________.

All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place. You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 (CEV)

Jesus said to them, “All of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture says, ‘God will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will all be scattered.’” Mark 14:27 (GNT)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)