P1 MOVE FROM WORRY TO WORSHIP THROUGH PRAYER THAT REACHES HEAVEN

Moving Closer to Jesus Through Prayer: A Guide to Spiritual Growth in 2025

Just as objects remain stationary unless acted upon by an external force, our spiritual lives require intentional effort to move in the right direction. Without actively pursuing spiritual growth, cultural currents can slowly pull us away from Jesus.

Why Is Prayer Important for Spiritual Growth?
Prayer is a fundamental discipline that moves us closer to Jesus. Like Jesus' disciples who asked to be taught how to pray, we must learn and practice this spiritual discipline intentionally. A productive prayer life doesn't come naturally - it requires effort and understanding.

What Are the Key Elements of Effective Prayer?

Recognize Prayer as a Privilege
Prayer isn't a right but a gracious gift made possible through Jesus. We can approach God only because of Jesus' credentials, not our own. When praying, acknowledge both God's holiness and our need for forgiveness.

Prioritize Prayer First
Like Jesus who prayed early in the morning, we must make prayer a priority. Spiritual growth that's visible always rests on unseen spiritual foundations. Just as skyscrapers need deep foundations, our spiritual life won't grow taller than our prayer life is deep.

Pray with a Plan
While spontaneous prayer is valuable, having a prayer plan ensures balance. Different types of prayer include:
- Requests
- Thanksgiving
- Worship and adoration
- Intercession
- Confession

Maintain a Surrendered Spirit
Approach prayer with surrender to God's will, trusting that His perspective and wisdom exceed our own. Many of life's greatest blessings come when God doesn't answer prayers as we expected.

How Can I Develop a Better Prayer Life?
Consider practical steps like:

• Waking up 20 minutes earlier for prayer
• Creating a balanced prayer plan
• Setting aside specific times for different types of prayer
• Approaching prayer with humility and surrender

Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to implement these changes in your prayer life:

• Set aside dedicated prayer time before starting your day
• Create a simple prayer plan incorporating different types of prayer
• Practice approaching prayer with a surrendered spirit

Ask yourself:

• Am I treating prayer as a privilege or a right?
• What specific changes can I make to prioritize prayer in my daily routine?
• How balanced is my current prayer life?
• Am I truly surrendering to God's will in my prayers?

Remember, spiritual growth requires intentional effort. Your relationship with Jesus will only grow as deep as your prayer life allows.

Move Part 1, Prayer – January 5, 2025
Before Sermon:

• Wednesday Night Activities Resume This Week

 
Intro: Inertia
Example: Drift at the beach
Luke 11:1 (NIV2011)
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 

Matthew 6:5-13 (NIV2011)
5  “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. 6  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.
7  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10  your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11  Give us today our daily bread. 12  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
To make prayer a productive practice,
Recognize that prayer is a privilege
Matthew 6:9 (NIV2011)
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…’
Vs.
Matthew 6:12 (NIV2011)
‘And forgive us our debts…’
Ephesians 2:18 (NIV2011)
18  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Example: Morgan at Disney
Prioritize Prayer
Mark 1:35 (NIV2011)
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
What’s seen rests on what’s unseen
Example: Skyscraper
Example: Packing a suitcase
Pray with a plan
Example: Preaching Plan
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV2011) 

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
What are some of those “kinds of prayer”?
Kinds of Prayer
 
Requests (Phil. 4:6)
Thanksgiving (Psalm 136)
Worship & Adoration (1 Chron. 29:10-19)
Intercession (1 Tim. 2:1)
Confession (1 John 1:9)
Matthew 6:10 (NIV2011)
…your will be done…
Pray with a surrendered spirit
Matthew 26:39 (NIV2011)
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Example: Parenting