"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Song of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?'" Luke 18:1-8
"'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!'" Matthew 7:7-11
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16
If a judge who did not fear God or respect people responds to the incessant pleas of a widow; how much more will ABBA Father respond to the prayers of his dearly loved children?
Q: What is prayer?
A: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving. New City Catechism, Question 38
Q: With what attitude should we pray?
A: With love, Perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers. New City Catechism, Question 39
Prayer
1. Prayer is difficult but we make it more difficult than it is.
2. Prayer involves the offering up of our DESIRES to God (Ps 62:8 and Matt 7:7-11)
3. Prayer involves the glad surrender of life to the wise counsel of the Lord (“thy kingdom come..”)
4. Because Jesus is the ONE mediator between God and man I pray with childlike confidence (Heb 4:14-16)
5. The Bible is God’s prayer book
Q: What should we pray?
A: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us. New City Catechism, Question 40
Prayer Pointers
1. We have a Savior who is our substitute, our intercessor (Heb 7:25, Rom 3:34),our mediator (1 Tim 2:5-6)... therefore there is no shame!
2. Prayer is ongoing and absolutely necessary if we are to live with the Father’s abiding presence.
3. Pray the Psalm of the day (Aug 9- “the Lord sits enthroned” Ps 9:7 or “the Lord is the stronghold for the oppressed” Ps 9:9)
4. Pray “on the go” or without ceasing. (1Thes 5:17)
5. Be part of a small prayer group or have a prayer friend
6. Pray with your spouse/family