The Right Way to Pray
A Zac Poonen Sermon Summary
Prayers can be powerful, particularly a righteous person’s earnest prayer (James 5:16). Let’s understand some attributes of prayers.
Prayers are not for informing God what we or other people need. God knows what we need even before we ask (Matthew 6:8, 31-32). Prayers are not primarily for making requests. Parents do not like their children to talk to them only when they have needs.
Prayers should not be artificial, and they’re not for impressing or influencing others (Matthew 6:5). Prayers are to God.
Prayers should not be meaningless repetitions to fill time (Matthew 6:7). We should be conscious of what we say. Prayers can be long if we are alert and genuine. Typically, a long prayer starts with a burden.
In prayers, we must communicate sincerely and open our hearts to Him. God wants to have fellowship with us and wants us to speak freely and intimately to Him, like children talking to their warm and loving father.
Pray alone often. Christ often withdrew to the wilderness to pray alone, sometimes praying all night (Matthew 6:6; Luke 5:16, 6:12).
Asking for things in our prayer is fine, particularly valuable things, such as the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13, James 4:2). Though God knows what we need before we ask, God wants us to express our needs and experience the joy of Him filling it. In asking, we should be persistent. We can even ask with shameless audacity. (Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8).
We should learn from the Lord’s prayer. It is not self-centered. It uses the word our but not words like my, I, or me.
The Lord’s prayer starts with “Our Father in heaven.” The Old Testament never addresses God as “Father.” We can because through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can be God’s children (Romans 8:16). Addressing Him as our Father implies that He loves us and wants to help and bless us (Romans 8:32).
The term “in heaven” implies at least power, wisdom, and glory. After all, God is the Creator of heaven and earth.
Know the significance of praying to our Heavenly Father. This is the foundation of our faith and the basis of our prayer.
Summary of a sermon by Zac Poonen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP5R-ZSms-U
Prayers are not for informing God what we or other people need. God knows what we need even before we ask (Matthew 6:8, 31-32). Prayers are not primarily for making requests. Parents do not like their children to talk to them only when they have needs.
Prayers should not be artificial, and they’re not for impressing or influencing others (Matthew 6:5). Prayers are to God.
Prayers should not be meaningless repetitions to fill time (Matthew 6:7). We should be conscious of what we say. Prayers can be long if we are alert and genuine. Typically, a long prayer starts with a burden.
In prayers, we must communicate sincerely and open our hearts to Him. God wants to have fellowship with us and wants us to speak freely and intimately to Him, like children talking to their warm and loving father.
Pray alone often. Christ often withdrew to the wilderness to pray alone, sometimes praying all night (Matthew 6:6; Luke 5:16, 6:12).
Asking for things in our prayer is fine, particularly valuable things, such as the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13, James 4:2). Though God knows what we need before we ask, God wants us to express our needs and experience the joy of Him filling it. In asking, we should be persistent. We can even ask with shameless audacity. (Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8).
We should learn from the Lord’s prayer. It is not self-centered. It uses the word our but not words like my, I, or me.
The Lord’s prayer starts with “Our Father in heaven.” The Old Testament never addresses God as “Father.” We can because through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can be God’s children (Romans 8:16). Addressing Him as our Father implies that He loves us and wants to help and bless us (Romans 8:32).
The term “in heaven” implies at least power, wisdom, and glory. After all, God is the Creator of heaven and earth.
Know the significance of praying to our Heavenly Father. This is the foundation of our faith and the basis of our prayer.
Summary of a sermon by Zac Poonen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP5R-ZSms-U