This is part of a 12-week series designed around some basic Christian disciplines that will propel you to spiritual growth!
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Welcome back to Beginnings, I’m so glad you’re on this journey!
This week we focus on a Christian discipline that is already widely practiced by most of humanity: Prayer.
Because there is a God-shaped hole in the heart of every human being, people have been praying since the beginning of time, in every culture, in every language.
Even people who claim not to believe we’ll find themselves crying out and in times of difficulty. It’s just a part of who we are!
The key is to remember that prayer is a conversation: we talk, listen, consider our circumstances and remember the role we play… He is God; we are not.
But many of us have been intimidated over the years. We think there’s some special language full of thees and thous that need to be spoken. There is not.
We think that people who ‘really’ pray can drone on and on for hours. They do, and it’s not necessary.
And we have heard so many people pontificate with particular expertise in their prayers that we think we could never do that. Good, they’re usually not praying, they’re performing.
The book of Romans says that the Holy Spirit will interpret even your groanings, so no need to get wordy. The book of Hebrews says that we have permission to enter the presence of God with boldness and confidence.
So why are we waiting?
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray (The Lords Prayer) He gave them an incredible model:
- Adoration – Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Matthew 6:9
- Submission – “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
- Provision – “Give us this day our daily bread,” Matthew 6:11
- Confession – “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:11
- Protection and Direction – “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew” 6:11
If we can learn to “pray then like this” we will truly be growing in Christ.
Make your goal this week to memorize the Lord’s Prayer, to download the Bible study/prayer card listed below and then get to praying!
Make sure to listen to this week’s podcast to hear all this content and much more. Many blessings my friends!
Seeking more of Him and less of me,
Andy Addis
Pastor, CrossPoint Church
John 3:30