How To Have a Healthy Prayer Life

Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up. Hebrews 12:2-3 (MEV)

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (NIV)

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

MATTHEW 6:9-13 (NIV)

MY PRAYERS MUST COME FROM my OWN personal …

1. ________________________ WITH GOD. – “Our Father in heaven…”

WHAT TYPE OF FATHER IS GOD? HE IS…

C ________________.                                           C ________________.

C ________________.                                           C ________________.

C ________________.                                           C ________________.

God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day… Luke 18:7 (NCV)

…If your child asks you for bread, would any of you give him a stone?  ¹⁰Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake?  ¹¹Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him? Matthew 7:8-11 (GWT)

• I can pray with ____________________ if I am God’s __________.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:13-14 (NIV)

2. __________________ for God. – “Hallowed be your name…”

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’” Malachi 1:6 (ESV)

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)

• I must __________ God when I seek His ________.

3. ______________________ TO God. – “Your kingdom come, your will be done…”

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  Luke 22:42 (NIV)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

• If God is to ____________ my life I must let him ________ my life.

4. ________________ on God. – “Give us today our daily bread.”

• I can rely on God for __________________. – “…daily bread.”

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5 (NIV)

Entrust your ways to the Lord. Trust him, and he will act on your behalf.
Psalm 37:5 (GW)

• If I trust God __________, I don’t have to __________
• I can rely on God for ______________________.

– Our Father…Give us…forgive us…lead us not…deliver us…”

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: ¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda]. Proverbs 27:6 (AMP)

• To have ___________, I must _________ my life with God’s people.
• I can rely on God for ____________. – Forgive us our debts…”

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. Matthew 6:14-15 (MSG)

• If I want ______________________, I must be __________________.

• I can rely on God for ____________________. – “Lead us not
  into temptation…deliver us…”

Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care. ³³    But those who listen to me will live in safety and be at peace…” Proverbs 1:32-33a (NCV)

“How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, and you were unwilling! ³⁵“Behold, your house is left to you desolate… Luke 13:34-35a (NASB)

If I want God’s ______________, I must accept God’s ___________.