Believers Talk with God

I. God Sets the Terms for Conversation

A. Prayer is an offering up of a believer’s desires to God. “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:8)

B. The focus should be on things agreeable to God’s will. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14)

C. Always remember that Christ made the audience possible; if there were no cross, there would be no conversation. “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (John 16:23)

D. Be utterly honest; ultimately there is no way to hide sin when approaching God, so do not even try. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” (Psalm 32:5-6)

E. Always acknowledge what God has done in the past; politely remind Him that He has an investment in the petitioner which is appreciated. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)

F. Come boldly. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

II. Start with Expectation of Success

A. Prayer is a very personal expression of dependence on God’s sovereign providence; petitioners must be confident God can do whatever needs doing. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

B. Children can expect good things from fathers and God is a believer’s Father. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

C. Share prayer concerns with other believers; prayer meetings are prudential expressions of Christian faith. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

III. Follow the Revealed Prayer Pattern

A. The Lord revealed a pattern. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

B. Seek God’s glory. “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.” (Psalm 67:2-3)

C. Seek the destruction of evil and the advancement of holiness. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.” (Psalm 68:1) “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:10-11)

D. Plead for people to do what God wants. “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” (Psalm 103:20-21)

E. Ask God to meet the common and ordinary needs of life; He Who will do big things will do small ones as well. “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)

F. Seek pardon for sin; only God pardons. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2)

G. Ask for help to stay out of trouble. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)