Progressing in PRAYER!

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POUR OUT 

 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. 

For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 

Therefore do not be like them. 

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:7-8

When we pour out before the LORD, what is in our hearts, we experience His love being poured out into our hearts. We must not use meaningless or repetitive words in prayer. The words we use in prayer and the manner with which we approach GOD are indications of our relationship with Him. 

SINS

If we are burdened with our sin, we can release that burden at the foot of the cross. The LORD JESUS went to the cross, shed His precious blood and willingly died that cruel death to take the burden of the sin of mankind. He removes our transgressions far from us and casts our sins into the sea! When we receive His forgiveness, our hearts are cleansed of guilt and shame and replaced with His love and peace.

Who is a God like You,

Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities.

You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19

When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden.

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"

And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Psalm 32:3-5

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9

 Now hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts 

by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:5

CARES, BURDENS

We can also pour out all our doubts, fears and anxieties to the LORD.

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; 

nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." 

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. 

Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 22:41-44

Even our LORD JESUS poured out His agony to His Father at the garden of Gethsamene. GOD always answers those prayers and gives us a solution - out of it or strength and help to go through it.

INTERCESSION

We can even bring the hurts, sins and sicknesses of others and place them at the foot of the cross and intercede on their behalf.

Anger, cruelty, ridicule, mockery, spitting, whipping and shame were cast on our Saviour. He prayed and released forgiveness to those who cruelly treated Him and crucified Him.

This was symbolic of the sin of all of mankind that the LORD has taken on Himself and released forgiveness and made salvation available for all, for all eternity!

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

And they divided His garments and cast lots. Luke 23:34

 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, 

leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 

"Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; 

when He suffered, He did not threaten, 

but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

1 Peter 2:21-23

Now He expects us to do the same and be intercessors.

 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 

  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 

  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

John 20:21-23

And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,

"Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59-60

PRESENT your PETITIONS

 And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. 

I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, 

but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 

Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, 

for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." 

Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, 

and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." 

And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." 

So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad….

 And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, 

I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 

For this child I prayed, 

and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 

Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; 

as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." 

So they worshiped the Lord there.

1 Samuel 1:15-18, 26-28

 Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 

present your requests to God. And the peace of God, 

which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

PEACE

We must bring our petitions to the LORD with faith and thanksgiving. As we also listen, He will make clear to us the path we must take. When our hearts and minds are aligned and yielded to the LORD’S will, the peace that passes all understanding will be our experience!