P.R.A.Y.

Pray (How do I start?)
"Lord, please forgive me, fill me, and open my eyes to the wonderful truths in Your word that I may obey and make you proud (Psalm 119:18)."

Read (What do I read?)
Matthew 6, with an emphasis on vs. 9-13 

Think (What's this about?)
Prayer is fundamental to us having an awesome relationship with the Lord.We get to talk with God and ask Him anything! While prayer isn't hard, Jesus did teach on prayer--telling us what to do and not do. This devotional is about the dos and don'ts. Here's a summary from Pastor Carl.

Study (What's the point?)
OVERVIEW
Our giving, praying and caring matters to God. He cares about why and how we give, pray and care about things. Jesus teaches we ought to:

1. Give to help, not to be recognized.
2. Pray to communicate with your Heavenly Father, not to perform.
3. Care about God and His priorities first and He’ll take care of our priorities.

MAIN POINT
This passage for today's focus is Matthew 6:9-13, where Jesus teaches on how to P.R.A.Y.
He gives some don’ts and do’s as a guide ...

First, the Dont's:

1. vs. 5-6: Don’t pray as a performance to others; pray to communicate with your Heavenly Father.
2. vs. 7-8: Don’t pray repetitiously insincerely; pray knowing God responds to faith not nagging words. (Hebrews 11:6)

Next, the Do's:
When you pray ....Praise, Repent, Ask and Yield.

1. PRAISE God ... expressing honor and respect in view of your relationship and His role (vs. 9-10).
2. REPENT to God ... seeking forgiveness personally, corporately and with a willing readiness to forgive others (vs. 12). 
3. ASK God ... with humility of mind, holiness as a guide (as God’s word prescribes) and God’s glory as a goal (vs. 11-13).
4. YIELD to God ... preferring and submitting to His will, His way and for His glory (vs. 10-13).

Learn (What does it mean?)

1. How can prayer be like a performance instead of a conversation?
2. How can prayer be like a ritual instead of real?
3. What does it mean to praise God?4. Why praise God?

Repentance means to change--your mind and behavior.

1. How does forgiveness help us repent?

We get to ask God anything. He responds to requests that match what He knows is best and good.

1. How do you know what to ask God?
2. How should we ask God?

God is still God and He makes the final decision.

1. How can we accept His answers and decisions?

Apply (What do I do?)
Below are some question to help you apply what you've learned to your life.

1. Why and for what do you praise God?
2. When you pray, what do you need to change?
3. What do you want to ask Him right now?
4. What decisions did God make that you now see were best?

How else can you apply what you've learned?

Plan (Now what?)
Make S.P.A.C.E. for God in your life and apply the lesson(s):

• What Sins(s) should I confess?
• What Principle(s)/promise(s) about God can I trust?
• What Attitude(s)/action(s) should I change/continue?
• What Command(s) should I obey?
• What Example(s) should I learn?

Memorize (What do I remember?)
What verse(s) is God using to really speaking to you?
Suggested verse(s): Matthew 6:9-13

• Write your memory verse(s) here:

Pray (How do I finish?)
The acronym  P.R.A.Y. (found in Matthew 6:9-13) can help guide our prayer life.
P-Praise God (expressing to God thanks and honor for who He is and what's He's done)
R-Repent to God (confessing to God your sins and your willingness to change)
A-Ask God (seeking God for what He wants or impresses on your heart--for your self or others)
Y-Yield to God (listening, preferring and submitting to His will, His way and for His purpose)

Write your prayer related to what you will do and remember, then P.R.A.Y. it.

Let us know if devotionals like this are helpful and how we can be praying for you (prayermin@turningpointbfc.org).