Page 38 - Principles for Discipling Others-Student textbook

Prayer is not just about asking God for blessings but is about communication with the living God.
Without communication, relationships fall apart. So, too, our relationship with God suffers when we do
not communicate with Him. If your life is empty, maybe it’s because you have not asked God to fill it!
James 4:2-3 You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you
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ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

If God is sovereign overall and if He knows everything that is going to happen, why do we need to pray?
Because prayer is the means God has ordained for some things to happen. Prayer helps others know
the love of Jesus. Prayer can clear human obstacles out of the way in order for God to work and
demonstrate His power. It is not that God can’t work without our prayers, but that He has established
prayer as a part of His PLAN for accomplishing His will in this world. It is God’s way of showing us what
He wants us to do.

Another reason we need to pray is that prayer gives us power over evil.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the
body is weak.

church is the very greatest hindrance to the progress of Christ’s work.

7.4 Let’s Practice…

1 – 4. What are the five aspects of prayer?

5 – 10. What six things must we understand about God before we can really pray effectively.

11 15. What five things is NOT prayer?

16. Write out a definition of what prayer is.

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