I am the kind of person that loves to hear only the good things about life and really don’t enjoy hearing any thing negative and yet I am reminded that a loving parent will discipline their child.  God, who is a more loving parent than I am, will therefore show His love sometimes by disciplining me when I step out of line.  My reaction?  Well my reaction is normally to push away, much like a child who pushes away from their parent during discipline.  Isaiah 30.9-11, records God’s frustration when we only accept that which is pleasing and ignore that which is needed:

Isaiah 30:9-11 (NIV)
⁹ These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD’s instruction.
¹⁰ They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
¹¹ Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”

May I not be afraid to be confronted by a loving Heavenly Father, knowing that His love will often bring discipline to this often wayward child!

Can You Hear Me Now? (1): CUL8R (see you later)

Bottom Line: Intentional prayer paves the way for intimacy and relationship

TEACHING OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION:

Most formula prayers center on the idea of asking God for something.

TENSION:

From our perspective, we don’t get why God answers some prayers one way, and other prayers a different way.

Some of us decide prayer is just one big flip of a coin.

TRUTH:

There was something different about how Jesus prayed.

“Don’t be like the hypocrites, for they love standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men” (Matthew 6:5 NIV).

“Don’t be like the hypocrites, for they love standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5 NIV).

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen (Matthew 6:6 NIV).

“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” (Matthew 6:6 NIV).

The reward is the relationship. God invented prayer for you to cultivate a relationship with Him.

APPLICATION:

We can talk to God the rest of our lives and never feel connected to Him.

God wants us to understand the fullness of who He is and what He wants for us.

Where is that place? When is that time?

Find a place with few distractions where you can get alone, just you and God.

CONCLUSION:

I don’t want you to think that prayer is simply asking and waiting.

Where can you carve out time this week to get alone with Him?