Patterns for Prayer
The Disciples’ Prayer, Mt. 6:9-13 (borrowed from John MacArthur’s The Disciples’ Prayer)

• God’s Paternity (Fatherhood), Mt. 6:9a.
  We must acknowledge the nature of our relationship to God — we are totally and completely dependent on our heavenly Father.
• God’s Priority, Mt. 6:9b.
  We must honor His name with our requests.
• God’s Program, Mt. 6:10a.
  We must fit into God’s design, not try and fit Him into ours. God is not a footnote in your story!
• God’s Plan, Mt. 6:10b-c.
  We must implement His strategies for living, not expect He’ll use ours.
• God’s Provision, Mt. 6:11.
  We must rely on His provision for our physical, spiritual, relational, and emotional growth, not be unhappy with what He supplies.
• God’s Pardon, Mt. 6:12.
  We must admit, confess, and turn from all known sin.
• God’s Protection, Mt. 6:13.
  We must be confident that God gives us victory over temptation to sin.

Read Ps. 66:18; Is. 59:2; Jn. 9:31.
Does God hear and answer anyone who prays? Why or why not?

Read Jn. 14:13-14; 15:16.
Why do we ask "in Jesus’ name?"

Read 1 Jn. 1:9.
Does God answer your prayer for forgiveness without you admitting ("confessing") your sin?

The Prayers of Paul
Read some of Paul’s prayers (Rom. 1:8-10; 10:1; 15:5-6; 2 Cor. 13:7-9; Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-21; Philip. 1:3-11; Col. 1:3-14; Ph. 4-7).

Note that his prayers were full of thanksgiving. He always prayed that God would work in and through circumstances, rather than merely change them. And, Paul’s focus in prayer was primarily for others; not for himself!

Read 2 Thess. 1:11-12.
What two requests does Paul ask of God (v. 11)?
Why did Paul pray this way (v.12)?
Do you really seek the glory and praise of Jesus in your prayer requests?

Read 1 Thess. 3:9-13.
When was the last time you thanked God for the joy that other believers brought to you (v. 9)?
Do you desire to be with other believers so you might strengthen them (v.10)?
Have you ever prayed that God would cause someone’s love to overflow and their hearts to be strengthened in holy living?

Read Col. 1:9-14.
What is the longest period of time you prayed for others?
When you pray for others, do you really pray for God’s will?

Read Ps. 143:10.
Do you pray for others to do God’s will or are you more concerned about their finding God’s will? In many aspects, God’s will is clear (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:15-17; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:16-18).
Does your pattern of speech and behavior please the Lord more than it shames Him?

Indicators of a life that pleases the Lord:

• "bearing fruit in every good work"
• "growing in the knowledge of God"
• "being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience"
• "joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light"

Excuses for Not Praying
Too often we find excuses for not praying regularly. Though these excuses are real, they all have the same root problem: We don’t sense our need to depend upon God. And, this is a dangerous place to be (Joshua 9:14-15)! There are many excuses for not praying, but the following are the most dominant.

-- I’m too busy to pray.
-- I don’t feel a need to pray.
-- I feel too ashamed to pray.

If any of these excuses are yours, the best solution is to PRAY ABOUT THEM!

Prayer Principles
-- Effective prayer asks what God wants, not merely what we want.

-- Before asking God for something, ask yourself why you’re making the request.

-- Don’t give up praying (Lk. 18:1; 1 Kgs. 18:42-44).