The power of prayer

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the power of prayer
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Prayer misunderstood?

• Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for
  things, is a small part of it confession and
  penitence are its threshold, adoration its
  sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment
  of God its bread and wine. In it God shows
  Himself to us. That He answers prayers is a
  corollary not necessarily the most important
  onefrom that revelation.
• -C.S. Lewis, The Efficacy of Prayer

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Gods help through prayer

• If you believe, you will receive whatever you
  ask for in prayer. -Matthew 21 22
• God wants us to bring our requests to Him.
• He wants the best for us.
• Faith is the key factor in prayer requests.

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God, are you listening?

• The Bible tells many stories of Gods followers
  crying out to request healing or salvation from
  enemies.
• Sometimes God chooses not to answer our prayers
  at least not in the way we would prefer or
  understand at first.
• Gods seeming silence doesnt mean He isnt
  listening.
• Even Jesus experienced an unanswered prayer at a
  crucial moment My Father, if it is possible,
  may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will,
  but as you will. Matthew 2639

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More than prayer requests

• In times of loss or turmoil, it is natural to
  seek God to ask for help or deliverance or
  supernatural assurance.
• It is the asking in itself, though, that the
  value of prayer is truly seen
• Confession
• Repentance
• Worship
• Basking in Gods presence
• The very process of prayer brings you closer to
  God and into a different mindset.

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Prayer changes me

• The function of prayer is not to influence God,
  but rather to change the nature of the one who
  prays.
• -Søren Kierkegaard,
• 19th century philosopher

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Does prayer work?

• It is difficult to keep some truths in mind when
  in the midst of tragedy or hardship.
• Nevertheless, the truth of prayers actual
  purpose can give Christian hope.
• Asking if prayer works is the wrong question.
• It isnt the number of favorable outcomes that
  speaks to the value of prayer instead, it is
  how we are different after we meet God in prayer.

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True prayer

• True prayer isnt a matter of saying the right
  words in a particular order.
• Instead, it is a letting go of worldly concerns
  and expectations it means humbly coming before
  God to listen to His voice.
• The real power of prayer comes when we submit
  ourselves to Gods will when we emerge from the
  uncertainty of hardship into a new understanding
  of God.
• Being changed by prayer in this way moves the
  believer from being merely an observer of Gods
  will to being an instrument of His will.

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Real life prayer

• Prayer isnt just for Bible stories every person
  can experience God through prayer.
• Prayer is also the critical element in bringing
  about life-changing events in a persons life.
• John DiBattista, an author and evangelist, has
  shared his story around the world his story is
  an amazing example of how a life of dedicated
  prayer can lead to miraculous encounters with
  God.
• He shares his story in-depth in his book, Tell
  Them That I Love Them.

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Read the book
http//www.tellthemthatilovethem.net