Page 31 - Principles for Discipling Others-Student textbook

your heart. Of course, if you are living for Christ, He will put His desires in your heart. Psalm 27:4 says
that God will put into your heart His desires for you. He will direct you by the desires He instills in your
mind.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

A believer who is operating within a Spirit-controlled, sanctified, submissive life will be yielded to the
direction God puts into his heart. So his desires will become God’s desires. So as long as you are
obeying God in the above areas, the will of God for you is what you desire to do. Remember this verse:

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level

ground!

As you launch out to do God’s will, He promises to direct you on your path. Your plans may change, but
His will is going to be revealed along the path.

THE PRAYER “SPOKE”

Why Pray?
Prayer is simply talking with God or the Lord Jesus. It is not something complex. We are used to making
requests for things from our parents….for help with some project…to seek guidance…to express our
hurts or joys, or for forgiveness for hurting others…or to express our excitement for what another has
done for us! Why then should it be difficult to do so to our heavenly Father? It should not be
difficult…just do it! It does not have to be long periods of time either. But time with the Lord can be a
great way to start the day. Commit your day to the Lord and ask for wisdom as to what to do and what
to say so your time, life, and activities will bring glory to God and help bring family and friends closer to
heaven.

*Note: Some folks wait to “say their prayers” before going to bed, but then, often, have to spend a lot of
time praying for forgiveness for things said and done.

Prayer Traditions

1. Individuality…..there is no need to feel self-conscious about prayer. Each of us has our own
personality and our own way of expressing ourselves. So there is no such thing as having to learn a
special “prayer vocabulary.” Neither should we feel self-conscious about praying in public. Public prayer
is still to our heavenly Father. It is communicating our needs and desires to God while opening a
window to others about the concerns that are on our heart. Certainly, we should not be concerned
about what kind of impression we are making on others when we pray in public.

2. Intimate Fellowship with God…for the most part prayer is a matter between us and God. If before and
after every important act or decision we will lift our heart to God for guidance, or strength, or in
thanksgiving, and never say anything about it to anybody, not even our closest friend or spouse…there is
no other one habit that will do so much to give us joy in life and strength for every emergency as to go
through life hand in hand with an All-Powerful Friend whom we take into our confidence and consult
about everything with which we have to do…including the smallest detail.

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