1. OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.

3. Why people don’t pray? 1. Not sure how to pray 2. Distracted while trying to pray 3. Think requests are too small for God 4. Not sure prayer will really make a difference

4. Working definition Prayer is simply communicating with God Hebrews 4:16 [We can] “…come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (NKJV)

5. Working definition Prayer is simply communicating with God Psalms 5:1-3 L ORD, listen to my words. Pay attention when I sigh. My King and my God, listen to me when I cry for help. I pray to you. L ORD, in the morning you hear my voice. In the morning I pray to you. I wait for you in hope. Other English translations use: ‘cry’ – ‘meditation’ – ‘groan’ – ‘sadness’ – ‘lament’ Hebrew word [ hâgı̂yg ] means: To murmur or ponder in pleasure or anger

6. Prayer is simply communicating with God Exodus 5:22-23 Moses returned to the L ORD and said, ‘Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.’ The First Thing How do we talk to God? Raw honesty

7. Prayer is simply communicating with God Matthew 6:5-7 “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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” The First Thing How do we talk to God? Raw honesty

8. Prayer is simply communicating with God Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The Second Thing Talk to God about everything that matters to us Whatever matters to you... pray about it! 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

9. Prayer is simply communicating with God Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: ‘In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” ‘For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!”’And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?’ The Third Thing Talk to God continually P-U-S-H Praying Pray Until Something Happens

10. Prayer is simply communicating with God 1 Samuel 1:12 As she kept on praying to the L ORD …” The Third Thing Talk to God continually P-U-S-H Praying Pray Until Something Happens Persistent prayer Prayer until God changes the circumstances

11. Prayer is simply communicating with God 1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the L ORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (KJV) The Fourth Thing Listen for God’s response The danger of a one-sided relationship How is God going to speak? God speaks through the unexpected When you have eyes to see and ears to hear, God will direct you

13. OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.