The Bible tells us that our prayers are like the "incense" and the "lifting up of my hands are as the evening sacrifice" (Psalms 141:2). Under the Old Testament teachings, two lambs were offered daily upon an altar in sacrifice for the people's sins and it was a "sweet-smelling sacrifice" to God. Christ is our offering and became the lamb of God for us, offered as a sacrifice. When we pray, our prayers become as this "evening sacrifice" and this is pleasing to God (Ephesians 5:2).

Jesus opened the door to the throne room of God so we can talk freely to God in prayer, "having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Christ" (Hebrews 10:19). Maybe you feel you don't know how to pray. The apostles once asked this same question, "Lord, teach us how to pray" (Luke 11:1). Jesus began his prayer by saying, "Our Father which art in heaven" (Luke 11:2). Prayer is simply "telling God about it" for he loves us and cares, "Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you" (I Peter 5:7).

Proper attitude - Jesus said we needed to become like "little children." Have you ever heard a little child pray? Their prayers are simple and to the point. There's the "hurt toe," the "lost puppy" and the "million dollars" so daddy won't have to work so hard. God really has his work cut out for him when a little child prays, doesn't he? He doesn't worry about how God will grant his requests, he just knows God is the "one with the goods" and how God does it is God's problem (refer Matthew 18:3).

In Jesus' name - It is because of Jesus that we can approach God, for justice has been satisfied at the cross. Jesus said, "whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do" (John 14:13). We should ask in Jesus' name. It's sort of like going to apply for a job and the personnel manager is your brother - you're sure to get the job. Preachers are often asked to lead the prayer, but anyone can pray and they are heard just as much as some very religious person.

Pure heart - The Bible teaches that "if I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart" when I pray, the Lord will not hear me. Husbands and wives can have "their prayers hindered" if their behavior is not proper toward one another or others. Jesus told a story about two men who went up to the temple to pray. Both men had different attitudes and only one had an acceptable prayer.

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I AM NOT as other men who are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican" (Luke 18:11).

The Pharisee went on to say, "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess," (Luke

18:12) praising himself. We are only good because of Christ. The Pharisee had a problem with "pride" and "self-righteousness." The publican stood far off and wouldn't even look unto heaven saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner " (Luke 18:13). Jesus said this man went down justified rather than the other. He that "exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted " (Luke 18:14).

Thankful heart - There's not much need for God to give more to us if we are not even thankful for what he has already given us. Prayer and praise are due God as our provider and creator. Calling our blessings by name helps us be aware of them.

"Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually... that is the fruit of our lips ... giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

With confidence - The Apostle John, being allowed a glimpse into heaven said he saw "golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints" (Revelation 5:8). Did your parents ever have "keepsakes" like school papers? Well, God keeps them too - our prayers. You may be thinking, "I don't know what to say?"

"The SPIRIT itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).

So God's Holy Spirit that indwells Christians helps us in presenting our prayers to God, with Jesus acting as our advocate or lawyer (I John 2:1-2). All of this should give us confidence that all is well with God and me. Prayer is the only power in the universe to which God will yield, the prayers of his children.

With persistence - Jesus taught us to be persistent in our prayers to God in his story of the widow and the unjust judge. The judge who did not believe in God granted the widow her request because she troubled him with her "continual coming." Jesus meant if "perseverance" worked on the unbelieving judge, how much more will God hear his children. Storm the throne of God in prayer. We may just get more than we asked for, as the lame man who came to Peter and John asking for money and got more than he asked for. Another "Wondrous Work of God" - for the man was above 20 years old and had been lame from birth. Peter replied:

"Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6).

The lame man was healed immediately. The apostles once prayed for boldness to preach the word of God and God gave it to them (Acts 4:29-30). God can supply all our needs. "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). God would stop creating worlds to come to our aid, for we are that important.

"Shall not God avenge his OWN ELECT (Christians) which CRY day and night unto him though he bear long with them" (Luke 18:7).

We feel unworthy - Why should God bother with me? Satan wants us to feel this way, God doesn't. If you were kidnapped, your family would pay any price to secure your release. God didn't think the cross of Jesus was too great a price for us. When David sinned with Bathsheba, committing adultery, and had her husband killed, he repented and didn't feel unworthy to ask God to spare the child born of their union. God said no, and the child had to die because of David's sin (II Samuel 12:14-24). God blessed David with other children and the Bible says, "David was a man after God's own heart." No situation is hopeless.

Can God really grant my request? - It makes a difference if our prayers are "burning desires" or "wishful thinking" for "if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us" (I John 5:14). God has an abundant storehouse of blessings he is just waiting to bestow (Ephesians 3:16). Whatever we ask within his will "we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (I John 5:15).

"Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us " (Ephesians 3:20).

We need to "be specific" in our prayers. Sometimes we are not sure God can bring it about so we are general or vague. In the story of Jacob and Esau, Jacob tricked his father and stole Esau's blessing and ran from his brother. For 20 years he lived in fear but gave his fears to God when he saw Esau coming. "Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him," and the brothers forgave each other (Genesis 32:11-32 & 33:4).

Prayer brings h-e-l-p from God - "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." There's a difference in really praying and merely "saying prayers." (Hannah was barren of children and asked for a son and God granted her request (I Samuel 1:11-19). Failure to ask, blocks God's help. Hezekiah in the Old Testament knew he was going to die and asked for more life and God granted him 15 more years of life.

Gives protection - The armour of a "Christian" is prayer (Ephesians 6:18), which God provided "against the wiles (tricks) of the devil. During the wars the enemy always destroyed the ammunition dumps because the big guns and airplanes were useless without it. Prayer is our ammunition against Satan.

Intercessory prayer - (prayer for other) Jesus told Peter on one occasion that he had prayed for him, for "Satan had desired to have him" (Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Revelation 12). Moses prayed 40 days and nights for God to spare Israel (Deuteronomy 9:18-29) and for his brother Aaron's sins (Numbers 14:19-20) at Mt. Sinai when they fell to worshipping a golden calf. God spared them because of Moses' intercessory prayer.

"Seeing he (Jesus Christ) ever liveth to make INTERCESSION for ___________" (Hebrews 7:25).

Gives counsel from God -Sometimes we fail to pray because we know we are going to have to put some feet on those prayers for God may want us to do something. When God told Jonah to preach to the wicked city of Nineveh, Jonah tried to run. After 3 days in the belly of a great fish, which God caused to swallow Jonah, he preached a meeting at Nineveh and the whole city repented. The apostles prayed about someone to take Judas' place and the lot fell on Matthias. So pray about decisions. Influence with God doesn't depend upon "flowery words" or "social status" but humbleness, dependence and willingness. Remember - God pitched his tent within our camp in a humble manger.

1. As Christians, in our prayers to God we can have "boldness to enter into the _____________ by the ____________ of Christ" (Hebrews 19:19).

2. God wants us to bring him our troubles " _______________ all your care upon him for he (God) _____________ for you." (I Peter 5:7).

3. When we pray, Jesus said "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my ____________, that will I do" (John 14:13).

4. The Bible teaches that "If I regard _____________ (sin) in my heart" when I pray, the Lord will not hear me (Psalms 66:18).

5. In the story of the Pharisee and the publican, whose prayer was pleasing to God? _________________ (Luke 18:11-14).

6. "Let us offer the sacrifice of ______________ to God continually – that is the ____________ of our lips – giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

7. The prayers of saints (Christians) are kept by God in heaven in _______________ vials (containers) much like we keep keepsakes (Revelation 5:8).

8. When Christians pray, Jesus stands as our _________________ (lawyer) before God presenting our cause to God (I John 2:1-2).

9. If we ask anything according to his __________________ he heareth and whatsoever we ask, we ____________ that we have the petitions (request) that we desired of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

10. "Now unto him that is ___________ to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask of _____________ according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20).

NAME__________________________ LESSON RECEIVED____________________

ADDRESS_______________________ LESSON RETURNED____________________

________________________________ GRADED BY____________ GRADE________

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