Prayer is seeking God relationally Jeremiah 29:12-14 – Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord

Evaluating my prayer life IF – Am I praying? HOW – Am I praying consistently? WHAT – Am I praying for what God promises to give?

Praying prayers God answers Do I desire to follow Christ – Am I a disciple? Attitudes/Actions of Matthew 5:1-7:6 Do I most want God’s kingdom and righteousness? Matthew 6:33 Kingdom – Praying God’s purposes (ministries) Righteousness – Praying for my holiness, others Am I asking God to do what is good? It’s his call as my good Father – Matthew 7:9-11 What God calls good as I pray about spiritual needs What God calls good as I pray about physical needs

Ask, Seek, Knock – Luke 11 Luke 11: 9-13 – And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

God answers “good” prayers Spiritual needs Physical circumstances Worship Confession of sin/ Repentance Righteousness – Need help of the Holy Spirit “Kingdom” ministries Personal “kingdom” ministry Money – Provision, wisdom, gratitude, contentment, my attitude, spiritual progress Family – Wisdom, what is spiritually best for spouse or children, godly responses, patience Desires/Blessings – My motives, what’s best for me, contentment, gratitude Health – Healing, acceptance, my attitude, spiritual progress James 4:2-3 – You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQan9L3y Xjc&list=RDXQan9L3yXjc#t=282

“Blessings” lyrics We pray for blessings, we pray for peace Comfort for family, protection while we sleep We pray for healing, for prosperity We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering All the while You hear each spoken need Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things 'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You're near? What if trials of this life Are Your mercies in disguise? Laura Story