Session

 Three  |  Learn  to  Pray  

Prayer  seems  so  religious  to  most  people.  But  in  any  relationship,  if  there  is  no  
communication  that  relationship  begins  to  die.  Don’t  let  images  in  your  mind  about  
what  prayer  is  or  isn’t  keep  you  from  beginning  to  practice  one  of  the  most  
important  steps  in  your  faith  life.  To  be  a  Christian  simply  means  that  you  have  
decided  to  follow  Christ  and  that,  quite  simply,  means  to  begin  to  have  a  relationship  
with  Jesus.    

Prayer  is  as  simple  as  a  conversation  with  Jesus.  You  can  ask  your  questions,  tell  
Him  your  needs,  and  even  pray  for  other  people.  Even  Jesus  would  pray  to  His  
Father  in  heaven  on  many  occasions.  And  here  is  something  even  more  
profound…as  you  learn  to  listen  you  will  learn  how  to  hear  His  voice  as  He  speaks  to  
you.    

God  communicates  to  His  people  in  the  following  three  ways:  

1. His  People—the  church  (last  session)

2. Prayer—two-­‐way  conversation  with  God.
3. Through  His  Holy  Word—the  Bible  (next  session)

The  Bible  says  in  Jeremiah  [Link]  

Then  you  will  call  on  me  and  pray  to  me,  and  I  will  listen  to  you.  

Ephesians  6:18  says:  

And  pray  in  the  spirit  on  all  occasions  with  all  kinds  of  prayers  and  requests.  With  this  
in  mind,  be  alert  and  always  keep  on  praying  for  all  God’s  people.    

A  beginners  Guide  to  Prayer  

4. Set  aside  a  time  each  day

5. Pick  a  place  each  day
6. Pray  out  loud
7. Be  specific

Please  watch  the  following  video  message  on  prayer  from  Pastor  Jentezen  Franklin:  
 A  Beginners  Guide  for  HOW  to  Pray—ACTS:  

One  very  simple  way  to  pray  is  ACTS.  Many  believers  young  and  old,  new  believer  
and  veterans  have  used  this  method  as  an  effective  way  to  pray.  Simply  come  before  
God  and  walk  through  the  following  steps:  

A:  Adoration  
It  is  important  that  remember  that  He  is  God,  and  we  are  not.  Tell  Him  that.  It  is  also  
important  to  know  that,  to  you,  He  is  not  JUST  God…He  is  YOUR  God.  And  THIS  God  
sent  His  Son  to  die  for  you.  Thank  Him  for  that.  Spend  just  a  minute  acknowledging  
His  greatness  and  His  amazing  love  and  power.    

When  we  humble  ourselves  before  our  God  it  is  a  powerful  thing.  

C:  Confession  

Take  just  a  minute  and  confess  your  sins  before  Him.  It  says  in  I  John  [Link]  

If  we  confess  our  sins,  He  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins  
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness.  

Confess  things  you  have  done  and  for  any  struggles  you  may  have  had  in  your  
thought  life  since  the  last  time  you  confessed.  Get  it  all  out  there  and  let  your  God  
forgive.  Your  sins  were  paid  for  with  Jesus’  death  on  the  cross.    

T:  Thanksgiving  

Take  a  moment  and  thank  Him  for  everything.  Psalm  100:4  says  this:  

Enter  his  gates  with  thanksgiving  and  his  courts  with  praise;  
give  thanks  to  him  and  praise  his  name  

God  loves  a  grateful  heart.  Have  an  attitude  of  gratitude  and  give  thanks  for  
everything  He  has  blessed  you  with.    

S:  Supplication  (asking  for  something  of  great  importance  to  you)  

This  is  simply  letting  the  Lord  know  your  needs  and  desires,  and  be  honest.  I  John  
5:14-­‐15  says:  

This  is  the  confidence  we  have  in  approaching  God:  that  if  we  ask  anything  according  
to  His  will,  He  hears  us.  And  if  we  know  that  He  hears  us—whatever  we  ask—we  know  
that  we  have  what  we  asked  of  Him.  

Many  times  we  have  not  because  we  ask  not.    It’s  really  that  simple  sometimes.  
This  is  also  a  time  when  you  can  ask  your  questions.  Be  honest.  God  loves  an  honest  
and  transparent  heart.    

The  Lord’s  Prayer  

The  most  famous  prayer  in  scripture  is  found  in  Matthew  6:9-­‐13  and  is  a  prayer  that  
should  be  prayed  daily:  

Our  Father,  who  is  in  heaven,  Hallowed  be  your  name,  
Your  kingdom  come,  Your  will  be  done,  on  earth  as  it  is  ion  heaven.  
Give  us  this  day,  our  daily  bread,  and  forgive  us  our  sins,  
As  we  forgive  those  who  have  sinned  against  us.  
And  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  the  evil  one.  

Bible  Reading:    
Please  read  the  following  verses  in  your  Bible.  Google  can  typically  locate  any  Bible  
passage  as  well:  

• Read  Matthew  chapter  6

Please  answer  the  questions  below,  and  then  copy  and  paste  your  responses  in  an  
email  to  your  course  mentor  coursementor@[Link]    After  you  have  
submitted  these  you  will  receive  a  personalized  response  from  your  course  
mentor  based  on  your  answers.  

1. Give  your  basic  understanding  of  what  prayer  is  based  on  what  you  have
learned  above.

2. What  does  prayer  have  to  do  with  you  and  your  daily  life?

3. How  will  you  begin  to  incorporate  prayer  into  your  daily  life?

4. Please  re-­‐state  the  Two  Most  Important  Keys  listed  above  in  your  own
words.

5. Please  talk  about  the  first  Most  Important  Key  and  what  it  means  for  your
life.

6. Please  talk  about  the  second  Most  Important  Key  and  what  you  plan  to  do.

7. Please  list  any  questions  or  other  observations  from  Session  Three.

Please  email  these  responses  to  your  course  mentor  

coursementor@[Link]  at  your  earliest  convenience  and  then  move  on  
to  Session  Four.