Drawing Near to God Through Prayer

Series: Drawing Near To God
Message: Through Prayer
Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

Goal: That we would take one step forward in our understanding and our practice of prayer as a means of drawing closer to God.

Why Pray?

1. Prayer expresses the depth of my Need for God

Prayer is my “declaration of dependence” Upon God

Prayerlessness at its root is Pride

2. Prayer is a way that I get to Know God

The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone

3. Prayer is a way to be Used by God

Prayer is a way that God has given us to Participate with Him in what He is doing in the world

God ordains not only the Ends but also the Means

How Do We Pray?

1. Pray in Secret (5-6)

Advantages of A “Secret Place”:

• A minimum of Distractions
• It encourages Openness/Humility
• It helps us Listen to God

Note: This does not eliminate the need for or the power of praying with others.

2. Watch Your Words (7-8)

Jesus was not against spending a long time in prayer!  He was against "Showy Prayer"

Application:

• Be careful about Cliches
• Avoid praying on Automatic Pilot
• Say what you mean and mean what you say

3. Keep It Balanced (9-13)

P – Praise

Prayer starts by fixing our eyes, heart, attention and affections on God!

R – Repent

Pause and ask God to show you what is not honoring and pleasing to Him in your life.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24)

Repentance leads to Restoration of richness in our relationship

A – Ask

Ask for specific needs in our lives and the lives of others

• Planned
• Spontaneous

Y – Yield

God direct my steps.  Help me to walk in your ways.

Pray through your Schedule

Some Results of This Type of Praying

1. God is Glorified

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)

“Prayer, like everything else in the Christian life, is for God’s glory and our benefit, in that order.”  R.C. Sproul

2. We Change

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

Prayer is not simply getting something from God, but becoming the kind of person God can trust with something!

3. Things Change

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)

Private prayers make a public difference!

Prayerless people cut themselves off from God’s prevailing power!

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

What is one step forward you will take in your practice of prayer as a means of drawing closer to God?