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How to Pray so God Hears Me

This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ MATTHEW 6:9-13 NIV

Pray with confidence

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 1 JOHN 5:14 NLT

I can pray with confidence because I am a child of God.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. EPHESIANS 1:5 NLT

I can pray with confidence because God loves me.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are… 1 JOHN 3:1 ESV

We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 1 THESSALONIANS 1:4 NLT

I can pray with confidence because God wants to hear from me.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. HEBREWS 4:16 NLT

Pray to God respectfully

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 1 PETER 1:17 NLT

Stand or kneel

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, EPHESIANS 3:14 NLT

Head bowed

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father!.. MATTHEW 26:39 NLT

Eyes closed

All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. 1 TIMOTHY 1:17 NLT

Mind focused

Keep my prayers short

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. MATTHEW 6:7-8 NIV

…Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. JAMES 4:2 NLT

Pray with integrity

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. MATTHEW 6:5-6 NIV

The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. PSALM 145:18 NLT

…‘Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ MATTHEW 6:9-13 NIV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few moments to set aside any burdens from the day, giving them to Jesus and inviting him into this time. When you are ready, pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly, focusing on each section and praying it intently from the heart. Pray: Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. MATTHEW 6:9-13 NIV How was this time different from when you usually pray? Write down your thoughts in the space below, sharing with the group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by completing the Personal Reflection Guide, (link found on the top of sermon notes). Use this time to pray the Lord’s prayer slowly and attentively. (Tip: playing some soft background music is helpful here!)
  2. REAL WITH SELF: With God, we are never his “second choice”. How does it make you feel to know that you’re a child of God and he chose you?
  3. REAL WITH GOD: How do you show reverence to God during your prayer time? How do you show reverence to God in your daily life?
  4. REAL WITH GOD: When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t just see your sin; he also saw your potential. How would your prayers change if you saw yourself the way God sees you?
  5. REAL WITH OTHERS: Have you ever gotten on your knees to pray? What do you think the purpose or value of that posture might be?
  6. TAKE ACTION: Commit to praying the Lord’s Prayer every day this week. As you do, don’t just recite the words, but really pray each line from the heart. If you haven’t memorized the Lord’s Prayer, spend some time this week committing it to memory as you pray it. Check in with each other next week to see how this practice affected your week.