CONNECTION

Prayer is not an option, it is imperative.

The less we pray the more we rely on the flesh to achieve the works of God and this will wear us out. More can be accomplished in one minute of a praying man than in the lifetime of a prayerless person disconnected from God. 

Take some time today to read this post on heading deeper into the purpose of prayer and what Jesus meant when he said this is how we should pray.

Matthew 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

The time is now for praying together and strengthening the roots of the church. No matter what time or stage of life you are in, you're not disqualified from being an agent for good in the body of the church.

Everyone, anyone can pray and build the foundations of our church. We want God to do things for us, but God moves in response to prayer. However, our flesh is unwilling and resistant to prayer. We need to make it a habit to pray, to push in and make prayer a part of our lives, prayer increases our desire and hunger for God.

Prayer isn't about prayer - its roots are in relationship.

God will begin to mean more to you than the words of your prayers. Seeking His face is vastly different to seeking His hand. The most incredible thing about God is God himself, rather than what he can do for you.

Seeking a relationship with God was the original intention for prayer. In fact the purpose of His son was to create this relationship, Jesus’ sacrifice was so we could seek God and seek His face.

Times will come when the sickness doesn't heal, when the answers don't come; this is where relationship finds it purpose.

God is actual, He is here, and He is in the world today. This is the original intention: that you and I would walk with Him, in the cool like Adam and Eve before us. There is no other way to get close to Him. Once Christ means more to you than anything else everything else in your life falls into order.

The only thing the disciples asked to be taught was how to pray, and this was Jesus' response to them. There are two elements here, the attitude and the pattern. It's not simply the words.

The attitude is unashamedly bold. Boldness is not volume, but attitude towards who we are and who we are addressing. You have authority, you should prophesy your prayers. Come boldly with your prayers, do not hesitate. The key is to establish that God's agenda is more important that your own.

The Elements of 'Our' in The Lord's Prayer

1. Agreement

"Our..." Our is a word of agreement, that we all are in one. You can't pray this prayer on your own, it is about the unity of the saints. 

Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

To say "our" there must be agreement and unity. People in disagreement or with unresolved breaches in relationships will not get answers to prayer. When I am praying alone, I am not praying with only myself in mind. My prayer is for us, not for me. 

2. Abba

"Our Father..." Jesus instructed to pray our Father, not just our God. We are in a family and we belong, we are in His house. 

Galations 4:6-7 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”. Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The desire of a child is to please their father. A father seeks to be made proud by their child. When the Spirit fills us we immediately cry out to God and know He is our Father. When we call God our Father we are recognising He is the One who provides us with a House. In this House there is food for us; training, guidance, correction, shelter, family.  

3. Atmosphere

"Our father who is in Heaven..." When we pray we are called into the Spirit. The Holy Spirit inspires us to pray, to go deeper with God. To pray in the spirit is to create an atmosphere.

Effective prayer is prayed by people moving into the heavenlies. 

Jude 20 Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit....

Praying in the Spirit takes us out of living in the flesh. 

4. Adoration

Romans 8:26 "Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be your name..." 

To hallow is to make or set apart as holy. This is the first and highest prayer Jesus calls us to. We are called to make His name sacred. 

We hallow the name of Jesus by not using it lightly, nor in futility, as in religious use that has no power, in vain. The maligning of the name of God is the blasphemy of the Devil, come to corrupt His name. This is why we declare that God is good, glorious, magnificent and awesome. That is our calling in life: to make the name of Jesus magnificent.

There are many names of God. All of them are used to describe who He is and what He does; God is revealed through His Name, thus He calls on us to pray that Name, thus He calls on us to pray on that Name to be guarded so He is not misrepresented but revealed as He truly is. 

See you in church!