ACTS of Prayer - Part 1 [Notes]

Join us for "The ACTS of Prayer," a six-week series designed to help you grow with God and others through the gift of prayer. Each week, we’ll explore different types of prayer—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication—while addressing questions like, “Am I doing this right?” and “Why does God answer some prayers but not others?” Whether you’re new to prayer or looking to deepen your connection with God, this series will provide Biblical insights and practical tools to help you experience the power of prayer in a meaningful and guilt-free way.

Takeaway: Our Father delights in hearing from His children. 

Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
–Matthew 6:9-13 (HCSB)

"You have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'"
– Romans 8:15 (HCSB)

But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.
– John 1:12 (HCSB)

"Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy."
– Matthew 6:9 (HCSB)

"This prayer is commonly called 'The Lord’s Prayer,' but it is actually 'The Disciples’ Prayer.' This prayer, which is repeated by many Christians, contains elements that are important for all praying… Jesus presented a model prayer for His disciples to follow.
– Dr. Louis Barbieri, Bible Knowledge Commentary 

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
– Matthew 6:1 (HCSB)

Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
– Matthew 6:5-8 (HCSB)

He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves.
– Matthew 14:19 (HCSB)

Father, I thank you that you heard Me. I know that you always hear Me.
– John 11:41-42 (HCSB)

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
– Acts 2:42

Many had assembled and were praying.
– Acts 12:12 (HCSB)

Give us today our daily bread.
– Matthew 6:11 (HCSB)

“This is the confidence we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
– John 5:14 (HCSB)

“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares about you.”
– 1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)

“Our Father. Familiar words, maybe so familiar that they are no longer real. Those words were not only real, but also revolutionary to the twelve disciples. Pagan philosophers such as Aristotle arrived at the existence of God via human reason and referred to Him in vague, impersonal terms: the uncaused cause, the immovable mover. The prophets of Israel revealed the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in a warmer, more compassionate manner. But only Jesus revealed to an astonished Jewish community that God is truly Father. If you took the love of all the best mothers and fathers who have lived in the course of human history, all their goodness, kindness, patience, fidelity, wisdom, tenderness, strength, and love and united all those qualities in a single person, that person’s love would only be a faint shadow of the love and mercy in the heart of God the Father addressed to you and me in this moment.”
– Brennan Manning

He Lives // Crowns Down // The Truth // Trust in God

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