Prayer
🧵 Learning to pray
Jesus’ own pattern for prayer, and promises that make us bold to ask.
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1
Matthew 6:5-8
Pray sincerely and privately; your Father already knows what you need.
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
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2
Matthew 6:9-13
The Lord’s Prayer: honour, dependence, forgiveness and protection, in a handful of lines.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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3
Luke 11:9-10
Ask, seek, knock — persistence is invited, not scolded.
9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
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4
Mark 11:24
Pray with expectation that God hears and answers.
24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
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5
Philippians 4:6
Replace anxiety with requests made with thanksgiving.
6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
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6
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
A rhythm for ordinary days: rejoice, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything.
16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
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7
James 5:16
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful — and praying for one another heals.
16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
