1. GROWING IN PRAYERFULNESS
PART 1
THE NATURE & ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

2. What is Prayerfulness?
It is the human inclination towards engagement in conversation with God
It is the heart’s yearning for intimacy between the human spirit and God
It is a way of life that reflects a posture of humility, attentiveness and responsiveness to God

3. What is Prayer? The Divine – Human Conversation
Our response to God’s initiative
Listening and speaking and listening
It begins from the heart

4. What are the Elements of Prayer
Adoration A
Confession C
Thanksgiving T
Supplication S

5. Prayers of Adoration Ascribing glory to God
Expressions of love for God
The use of titles and adjectives that express the nature of God
From Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;     the whole earth is full of his glory.”

6. Prayers of Adoration “This, then, is how you should pray:
From Matthew 6:9
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, …’”
In teaching our children and grandchildren how to pray:
“Dear God, you are … “

7. Prayers of Confession Expressions of repentance before God
Naming our mistakes/sins of misdeeds and omissions
Seeking God’s forgiveness
From Isaiah 6:5
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

8. Prayers of Confession From Matthew 6:12
“And forgive us our debts,      as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
In teaching our children and grandchildren how to pray:
“Dear God, I am sorry for … “

9. Prayers of Thanksgiving
Expressions of appreciation for all that God has done
Giving thanks for God’s gift of grace and salvation
Acknowledging and naming God’s blessings
From Isaiah 6:6-7
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

10. Prayers of Thanksgiving
From Matthew 6:14
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
In teaching our children and grandchildren how to pray:
“Dear God, thank you for … “

11. Prayers of Supplication
Prayers for ourselves
Prayers for others – also called intercessions
Prayers for the coming of the Kingdom of God
From Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

12. Prayers of Supplication
From Matthew 6:14
“… your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread … And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
In teaching our children and grandchildren how to pray:
“Dear God, please … “

13. Growing in Prayerfulness
Nurturing a personal and corporate way of life that reflects a posture of humility, attentiveness and responsiveness to God
Understanding the principle elements of prayer that provide a framework and a flow for our conversation with God
Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication