The Importance of PrayerWhat it’s all about…

How NOT to PrayLuke 11:1 and Matthew 6:5-8

1. Don’t pray like hypocrites (actor; character on stage—not authentic; pretending to be something we are not)

• Not backed up by the lifestyle• Prayer in public can DEFINITELY be good (Matt

5:14-16); however, our motive needs to align with Christ’s heart

How NOT to Pray Cont’d2. Don’t pray like pagans (the more I say, the more God hears me)

• Can’t base salvation on a sinner’s prayer. It’s God’s movement in your heart, so salvation really happens before the prayer.

• Incantations mean nothing. NOT pavlov’s bell: before we eat, at bed time, etc.• Pavlov’s Bell• Bedtime Prayer

3. Don’t pray to inform God (Psalm 139:1-4)

• He already KNOWS!

So if He Already Knows, Why do We Pray?• Prayer changes things! It changes ME! HE

reveals Himself to me. It’s an initiation from the Sovereign Creator to be in His presence.

Testimonies?

Avoid Distractions!!!