Spiritual Disciplines 02 Prayer

A talk presented at the 2014 Augustine Presbytery Family Camp - these talks emphasize growth in spiritual discipline.

Prayer

Memory Verses
John 15:7 - “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask  whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Philippians 4:6–7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Three Truths about Prayer - Disciples of Jesus must grow in the Word (e.g., Scripture Memory and Study), but also in prayer. Knowing the Word precedes effective prayer and effective prayer calls us more and more into the Word. Much could be said about growth in prayer, but for our time, three truths are essential:

1) Prayer is communication with the Triune God (Rom. 8:26; 1Th. 5:17; Eph. 6:18).
2) Prayer is the central act of worship (John 4:22-24; Prov. 15:8; Ps 17:0, 90:0, 72:20).
3) Prayer according to God’s revealed will is effective (James 5:17-18; Deut. 11:11, 17; John 15:7).

Five Steps for Morning Prayer (PCPLP) - Many times our prayer is merely making requests of God. However, supplication is not the problem most people have. Our problem is putting on the full armor of God in preparation to make our requests effective. Below are five steps to preparation, recommended as a morning prayer routine: PCPLP.

1) P - Collect for Purity - “Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
2) C - Confession of Sin - “Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.”
3) P - Pater Noster (Lord’s Prayer) - Our Father . . .
4) L - Lorica - St. Patrick’s Breastplate - “I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three…”
5) P - Praise - Sing a Psalm, Hymn, or Praise Song.

> Pray through 31 Selected Psalms with 31 Days with God