Grade 7: The Story of Jesus Lesson 2.9 V: Blessed be the name of the Lord R: Now and forever!

Test: Oct. 23 The Apostle’s Creed I believe in God…. And in Jesus Christ…. Who was..., Suffered…. On the third day.... He ascended ... From there .... I believe in .... the holy ..., The forgiveness..., The resurrection .., And life... Amen.

Let’s Review What are the ACTS of Prayer? Adoration = praising God, blessing in His name Contrition = express sorrow for sin, purpose of amendment Thanksgiving = gratitude for good things Supplication = ask God to help us and others We use these ACTS of Prayer in all Forms of Prayer... Vocal Prayer- using words aloud or in our heads Meditative Prayer- thinking about God and imagining holy scenes Contemplative Prayer- listening to God’s response to our prayers

PROBLEMS: Obstacles to Prayer Distractions → sights, sounds, preoccupations Disappointment → sometimes God says “no” or “not yet” Dryness → feelings can get in the way Deception → wrong ideas about prayer

Unanswered Prayers Just the other night at a hometown football game My wife and I ran into my old high school flame And as I introduced them the past came back to me And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be… Click on Garth’s face for video with song

Unanswered Prayers She was the one that I'd wanted for all times And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then I'd never ask for anything again…

Unanswered Prayers Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

Unanswered Prayers She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams And I could tell that time had changed me In her eyes too it seemed We tried to talk about the old days There wasn't much we could recall I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all.

Unanswered Prayers And as she walked away and I looked at my wife And then and there I thanked the good Lord For the gifts in my life.

Unanswered Prayers Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

SOLUTION: PUSH PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS The Persistent Widow (Lk 18:1-8) CLICK FOR VIDEO

Homework: Watch the “Tips for Praying” video In your notes Homework: Watch the “Tips for Praying” video In your notes...write 5 tips that you learned CLICK FOR VIDEO Persistent Widow teaches us to “pester” Jesus/God with our prayers because he always wants what is best for us. So, if the selfish judge gave the woman what she wanted after she kept “pestering”him, we can know that God, who is all good and not selfish at all, will want to answer our prayers even faster.