What is prayer?

Prayer is conversation with God; the intercourse of the

soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but
in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental,
occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal.

Acceptable Prayer

Prayer is conversation with God; the intercourse of the

soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but
in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental,
occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal.

How We Should Pray

God does not teach us the posture of prayer,

because any posture will do.
People in the Bible prayed standing, lifting up their
hands, sitting, lying down, kneeling, lifting their eyes
toward heaven, bowing, and pounding their chests.

God does not teach us the place to pray, because

any place will do.
Scripture tells us, "I desire therefore that the men
pray everywhere" (1 Timothy 2:8). People in the Bible
prayed during battle, in a cave, in a closet, in a garden,
on a mountainside, by a river, by the sea, in the street,
in Hades, in bed, in a home, in a prison, in the
wilderness, and inside a fish.

Jesus does not tell us when to pray, because any

time will do.
People in the Bible are found praying early in the
morning, in the mid-morning, in the evening, three
times a day, before meals, after meals, at bedtime, at
midnight, and day and night. People pray when they
are young, when they are old, when they are in
trouble, every day and always. In any posture, at any
time, in any place, and under all circumstancesprayer
is good and needed in the life of the Christian

Types of Prayer:

Speaking to God: Verbal Prayer (A.C.T.S.+I.)

1. Adoration(worship) Give praise and glory to

God for all His love and wondrous works (Ps
148-150)

2. Contrition(penitence) With a penitent heart,

ask God to forgive all your sins and failings
(Ps 51, 123)

3. Thanksgiving Give thanks to God for all gifts

and blessings you have received (Ps 100,
136)

4. Supplication(petition)- Petition God for

whatever you need, big or small, in humility
and trust (Ps 5, 17)

5. Intercession Pray also for others, for their

physical, material, and spiritual needs (Ps 1,
122)

Another popular mnemonic for the first

four is P.P.P.T. =
Praise, Penance, Petition, Thanksgiving

o Listening to God: Non-Verbal or Not-only-

Verbal Prayer
 1. Natural World Gods goodness & love are
revealed to us in the beauty and marvels of
nature.

2. Human Life God can speak to us through art,

music, literature, and everyday conversations.

3. Sacred Scripture Gods Word teaches and

inspires us, comforts and challenges us each
day.

4. Interior Silence God can also encounter us in

the stillness of our hearts, with wordless love.

5 Mistakes People Make When Reading the Bible

1. Looking for Insight Rather Than Personal

Application

Its a huge temptation to only read the Bible with the

purpose of gaining more knowledge. And while theres
nothing inherently wrong with that, youre missing the
whole point of the Scriptures if you never once sit
down and read it with the intent to let it guide you to
change something in your life.

2. Failing to Research Context

Examining the details surrounding it, including:

Author - who wrote the book, and why were they

writing it? What else do we know about this person?

Date - when the book was written can tell you a lot
about the verses in the book youre reading. For
example, knowing that the book of Ruth took place in
1300 BC tells us that they lived during the time of
judges, when Israel was at one of its most darkest
points in history. This makes the story of Ruth and
Boaz that much more inspiring and powerful.

Recipient - who the book was intended for can give

you more insight on how the Scriptures were meant to
be processed. This is especially true of the letters in
the New Testament, most of which were written to
different churches who were in various spiritual states.

3. Sticking to the Same Translation

A lot of people make the mistake of sticking to the

same Bible translation, either refusing to change
because of tradition or because theyre unaware of the
other reading options available. Since each translation
is slightly different, reading a different version can
give you more insight into the Scriptures, and can
make an otherwise confusing Scripture more
accessible.

4. Reading in a Distracting Environment

Reading your Bible can and should be a very personal

affair. Eliminating distractions could mean the
difference between reading a good verse and finding
the passage that changes how you view your life.

How to pray using the Scriptures

Using the 4Rs

Read the passage slowly, soak in the words and take

the verses to heart. You may even want to write it out
on paper.
Reflect on what the passage is saying to you. How
does this passage apply to your life right now? How
does it address your prayer needs? What words stand
out to you and speak to your heart?

Respond to God by praying this passage back to him.

Insert I or me in the passage to make it more
personal. Or, insert a friends name if youre praying
the scripture for someone else. As you respond in
prayer, consider these three responses:

Rejoice in Gods great goodness. Praise Him

through the scripture.

Repent of your mistakes and sins. Where is this

passage convicting you?

Request prayer for your areas of need. Ask for

Gods promises and blessings from this passage.

Receive Gods response to your prayer by taking a

moment of silence to listen. What is He putting on your
heart in response to your prayer?

5 Powerful Prayers from the Bible

1. EXODUS 33:13 MOSES ASKS FOR GOD'S FAVOR

"Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight,
please show me now your ways, that I may know you
in order to find favor in your sight."
After God nearly destroyed the Israelites for
worshiping the golden calf, Moses talks with God about
his position of leadership. He seeks to confirm his
favor in God's sight, a treasure for any believer.

2. PHILIPPIANS 1:911 PAUL PRAYS FOR BELIEVERS

"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more
and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that
you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and
blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the
glory and praise of God."

This is a beautiful guide for when praying for other

believers, that "their love may abound more and more"
and the rest.

3. PSALMS 51:18 DAVID PRAYS FOR GUIDANCE

"O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me."

This may take some work to memorize, but it's a

power-packed prayer that proclaims how God's
character, holiness and righteousness pave a straight
path for us.
4. JONAH 2:29 JONAH PRAYS THANKSGIVING AND
COMMITMENT
"When my life was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.
Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation belongs to the Lord!"

Jonah remembers God's saving love and confirms his

commitment to serve Him.

5. MATTHEW 6:913 JESUS TEACHES HOW TO PRAY

"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil."