How to (and How Not to) Pray | The Importance of Intentional Prayer

Today's episode of A New Beginning is brought to you by Harvest Partners. Helping people everywhere know God.

Learn more at harvest.org. And while you're there, browse our library of free ebooks designed to help you grow in your faith. God knows what you need before you ask Him. Therefore, why should I pray? After all, I can't change God's mind. Well, listen, the objective of prayer is not to change God.

It's to change you. Prayer is more than just a shopping list of things we want. Today, Pastor Greg Laurie points out sometimes prayer changes our very relationship with the Lord. Prayer is not to inform God. Prayer is to invite God.

Prayer is getting closer to God. This is the day when the lost are found. This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. Again you hear all the angels are singing.

This is the day, the day when life begins. Think of the conversations you have with a good friend of yours. If the only time you spoke to them was to ask a favor or borrow a couple of bucks, that relationship would start to feel pretty shallow.

Oh, good friends connect with each other and let the relationship deepen. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see prayer is more than just a request line. We'll see it's a way for us to deepen our relationship with the Lord and bring our will in line with His will. We'll see prayer is a lifeline to a loving God. Grab your Bibles now and turn to Matthew chapter 6. The title of my message is how to and how not to pray.

How to and how not to pray. Heard the story of a pilot who was flying a plane load of passengers to their destination. Suddenly the rudder malfunctioned. He radioed the control tower in panic and said the rudder has malfunctioned.

What should I do? The air traffic controller said, keep calm captain. Just repeat after me. Wings flap, check. Velocity, check.

Altitude, check. The pilot made the appropriate adjustments and everything was fine. A few moments passed and the starboard engine failed. He goes back to the radio tower. The starboard engine just stalled.

What should I do? The air traffic controller radioed back and said, okay keep calm captain. Repeat after me. Wings flap, check. Velocity, check.

Altitude, check. Now both engines went out. Mayday, mayday. Both engines have gone out.

What should I do? The air controller said, now keep calm captain and repeat after me. Our father who art in heaven. Hallowed be your name. The Lord's Prayer. Most of us know it or at least we know parts of it. It's a prayer that is sort of behind glass. In case of emergency pull this prayer out and there's certainly nothing wrong with praying the Lord's Prayer verbatim but it's more than that.

It's really the words of Jesus given to us and how we can pray. Imagine if you went to an elite university and you were able to be taught by the most impressive people throughout history. For instance you could study music under Beethoven himself. Or you could have a drama class taught by William Shakespeare. A political science class taught by Thomas Jefferson. Or a philosophy class taught by C.S.

Lewis. How about this? A class on prayer taught by Jesus Christ. I'd sign up for that.

I'd be all over that course. I'd want to know what Jesus had to say about prayer. That's what the Lord's Prayer is. It all started when his disciples came to him and said, Lord would you teach us how to pray? And the encouraging thing is Jesus did what they asked and in doing so acknowledging that prayer is something you can learn. You learn how to pray.

It takes time. I love when little children are just starting to pray. And we'll say you pray and they'll offer their cute little prayers. And they're learning.

They're growing. I remember as a young Christian the first time I was asked to pray publicly I was so nervous. You know what I'm talking about? What am I going to say? So it was a big prayer circle and we went around the circle and somehow I ended up being last. By the time it got to me all the good stuff had been prayed for. I didn't know what to say or what to do.

And you know that feeling. Well Jesus is teaching us now how to pray. So this is a model prayer or a template prayer. You know when you go to a housing track that's being built and they have the model homes. I love model homes because you walk in and it's as though someone lives there but they don't. They have fake fruit and fake things in the fridge and photos of who knows who who supposedly live in this fake house. But it gives you an idea that that pile of dirt over there is going to turn into a home. Well that won't look anything like this actually.

But it's a model home to give you an idea of what the homes will look like. Jesus gives us a model prayer to show us what our prayers ought to look like. But before we learn how to pray let's learn how not to pray. Matthew 6 verse 5. Jesus says, when you pray you shall not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing on the synagogues and on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men. You might underline that.

That they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you they have their reward but when you pray go to your room when you have shut your door pray to your father who is in the secret place and your father who sees in secret rewards you openly. When you pray don't use vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think they'll be hurt for their many words. Therefore do not be like them for your father knows the things you have need of before you ask him.

We'll stop there. It's a tragic thing but really sin knows no boundaries. It can follow us to the very throne of heaven where I'm actually missing the whole point of what prayer should be.

Focusing the intention upon myself. This was the problem of the Pharisees. They prayed to be seen by men. The Pharisees loved the theater of prayer. It was sort of like a performance.

They would go to a street corner and stop and pray loudly and people would look oh look at that religious man. Oh how devout he is. How impressive he is. Jesus is saying God's not impressed. He's not impressed one bit because you're doing it for others to see. And so he's showing us that is not how we should pray nor should we offer ritualized repeated prayers. That's why I don't really love memorized prayers. That people pray over and over again just say 10 our fathers and you'll be okay. Well is there some magic in a little prayer that we pray? When we pray God looks on the heart.

It's a conversation with God. For instance here's a memorized prayer. We'll say to our children okay honey it's time to go to bed. Now pray this prayer.

Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Who came up with this crazy prayer? This is not a good prayer. You're saying to a child if you should die before you wake honey you may die in your sleep tonight. My only hope is God will take your soul you little heathen child. So sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite.

Oh great this is pointless. You want to teach them want to teach them not a memorized prayer but you want to teach them rather how to pray. And so Jesus told the story of two men that went to pray. One was a Pharisee.

One was a publican or a tax collector. The Pharisee literally prayed this prayer. God I thank you I'm not like other men. I don't cheat. I don't commit adultery. I don't sin and I'm certainly not like that tax collector over there.

Meanwhile the tax collector the the sinner who would acknowledge as much just said God be merciful to me the sinner Jesus said that man the sinner went down justified before God because the other men prayed a prayer to impress other people. It's very easy to pray and not be thinking about what you're praying about. Don't tell me you haven't done it.

I've done it. What is worship? It's prayer set to song. So when I'm singing a song especially one that's directed toward God I'm praying. But are you always thinking of what you're saying and thinking of what you're praying when you're singing that or are you thinking of other things. After church I'm going to go to Chick-fil-A. No I can't they're closed on Sunday.

I'll go to In-N-Out Burger instead. Or why is she wearing that at church? That person is singing too loudly.

What's going on over here? Why is Greg so strikingly handsome? It distracts me. Excuse me those are my thoughts but actually they're not but the point is I'm thinking of other things with no thought of God whatsoever. Sometimes in prayer people use it as an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments. It's more of a bragimony than a testimony.

You've seen this. Someone praise God I thank you that as I just read 15 chapters of Leviticus this morning breaking my three-month fast I was able to share the gospel with 12 people. Stop. What is that about? That's about you. That's about you trying to impress other people. Sometimes people use prayer as an opportunity to impress others. Our most gracious heavenly father our most bountiful God we come before you today to beseech thee. Okay nice but is this really about God or is this about you trying to impress others or long prayers long prayers. You know a meal comes you should ask a blessing on the meal.

I was just over on Maui last Sunday speaking at our church which is doing great. Let's climb back and there was a guy a couple rows in front of me and his meal came and he prayed he bowed his head and prayed. I thought well that guy must be a Christian and afterwards he said hi I'm a Christian I recognize you oh nice to meet you and he goes why didn't you pray over your meal and he was right no it's not true but I don't know if I did because sometimes I forget.

Do any of you ever forget to pray but so when okay the food comes it's hot someone says let's ask the blessing and you're asked don't pray a 20-minute prayer. Other times people use prayer as an opportunity to gossip. You're praying and someone says Lord I just found out that Jim has been unfaithful to his wife.

Wait what? Jim who? All of a sudden it's not about prayer it's about the latest gossip you just heard these prayers go no higher than the ceiling. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. It's such a blessing to hear from listeners who take time to express their appreciation. I started listening to Pastor Greg when I first became a Christian in the 1980s but then I got so busy in ministry in my church that I didn't really listen very much.

Then COVID hit and life slowed down. I started listening to Pastor Greg again and I'm so glad I did. His solid preaching with his great sense of humor along with his heart for evangelism keeps me encouraged in my faith. I'm so thankful there are pastors like him still out there. I pray every day for Pastor Greg, his family, church, church, and ministry.

It's a privilege to bring these studies your way. If you'd like to share a comment with Pastor Greg call us and let us know. Call 1-866-871-1144.

That's 866-871-1144. Well we're talking about prayer today as Pastor Greg presents his message from Matthew 6 called how to and how not to pray. Jesus gives us insight verse 8. Your father knows the things you need of before you ask him. God knows what you need before you ask him. Therefore why should I pray? After all I can't change God's mind. Well listen the objective of prayer is not to change God.

It's to change you. God knows what you need but prayer is not to inform God. Prayer is to invite God.

Let me say that again. Prayer is not to inform God. Prayer is to invite God. The value of prayer is it keeps me in touch with God. Prayer is getting closer to God. Sometimes God allows things in my life to bring me to him in prayer. It can be a challenge. It can be a need.

It could even be a tragedy. And I come to the Lord and I call upon the Lord. So that's how not to pray.

Let's talk about how to pray. Matthew 6 verse 9. Now this is the Lord's prayer and I would like us all to say this out loud together.

Let's see what Jesus says. Our father who art in heaven hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. The Lord's prayer. Great one. Memorize that.

It's not too long. A template for all prayer. The first three requests in the Lord's prayer deal with the glory of God. Our father who art in heaven hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The final petitions deal with the needs of man. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Don't lead us into temptation. So how do we pray?

Here's point number one if you're taking notes. We pray to a father in heaven who loves us. We pray to a father who art in heaven. Our father who art in heaven. Not our vending machine who art in heaven.

Not our butler who art in heaven. Our father. A father who longs for communication and fellowship with us. A father who loves to bless us. He's a generous father. He's a good father. Jesus said it is your father's good pleasure to give to you the kingdom. He's not a stingy God. He's a generous God.

So I come to my father. I remember when I first met Billy Graham I called him Dr. Graham. That's what everyone called him Dr. Graham. So I called him that. And one day he said to me Greg don't call me Dr. Graham call me Billy.

I said well Dr. Graham I don't know if I can do that. And it took me a while to get comfortable with calling this man that's been so powerfully used of God Billy. It just seemed too personal. But I eventually started calling him Billy. But I noticed his children called him Daddy as they do in the south. Even adults still call their parents Daddy and Mama. And then the grandchildren called him Daddy Bill. Well I didn't call him Daddy Bill.

That was not my privilege. That was only for his grandchildren. But I can call God Daddy. Because the Bible says God has not given us a spirit of bondage again to fear but one of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father. Abba Father. Abba Father is the Hebrew equivalent of Daddy or Papa. It's a term of endearment. I remember times I've been in Israel and I'll see a little Jewish boy calling his father Abba he'll say or his mother Ima. It's a term of affection. This is the kind of relationship we have with God now where we can call him Father but even more Papa Daddy Abba all the same thing. When Jesus was grappling with what was ahead in the Garden of Gethsemane before he went to the cross his first words were Abba Father.

A term of dependency affection closeness. And after Jesus rose again from the dead remember he said to Mary Magdalene I'm going to my God and your God to my Father and your Father. A whole new relationship with God our Father who are in heaven. So I contemplate that and then I say verse 9 hallowed be your name. Hallowed be your name. It means I set God apart in my life. In other words he is above everything else. He is Lord of all.

Because if he is not Lord of all he's not Lord at all. When I say hallowed be your name it means in my life and character I'm setting Christ apart and I'm seeking to live a holy life. Therefore I should ask myself about things I pursue. My ambitions.

My interests. Is this for his glory? Can I write hallowed be your name over this? This career choice.

Can I write hallowed be your name over this? This tv program. The music I listen to. The sites I visit.

The things I stream etc. Can I write hallowed be your name over it? If I can't ask the Lord to bless it then I shouldn't do it. So when you got up this morning let's go to church. Can you say this is for God's glory? Of course you can. Let's go to lunch. Can you say this is for God's glory?

For the most part yes. But now you're going to go to a party and get drunk. Lord just bless this night as we go get drunk. No you can't ask God to bless that.

Lord I'm going to go with my boyfriend tonight and we're we're going to have sexual relations. Just no no there's no blessing there. Now you're outside of the will of God. You can only ask God to bless the things that will bring him glory.

Point number two. When we pray we should always ask for God's will to be done. When we pray we should always ask for God's will to be done. Look at verse 10. Your kingdom come your will be done.

Did not Jesus model this for us in the garden of Gethsemane? He said father if it's possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but yours be done. Reminding me the primary objective of prayer is to line my will up with the will of God. True praying is not overcoming God's reluctance.

It's laying hold of his willingness. Prayer is not getting my will in heaven. It's getting God's will on earth. Prayer is not getting my will in heaven. You don't want your will in heaven. You want God's will on earth. First John 5 14 says this is the confidence we have in him. If we ask anything according to his will he hears us and we'll have the petitions desired of him. Prayer is surrender to the will of God. So our father who art in heaven hallowed be your name.

Point number three. We should pray for God's kingdom to come. Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What is the kingdom of God? It's the rule and reign of Christ in your life.

Jesus said on one occasion the kingdom of God is in the midst of you and what he meant was I'm here and wherever I am that's what the kingdom of God is. So when we're told in Matthew 6 33 to seek first the kingdom of God in his righteousness that means put Christ first. Put the will of God first. Have Jesus rule and reign in your life.

Good encouragement today here on A New Beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie is leading our study of the Sermon on the Mount and we're currently gleaning some important principles from our look at what we call the Lord's Prayer. Prayer is such an important part of the Christian life. It's more than how we communicate with the father it's our very lifeline to God's throne. In fact prayer is the way we first come into a relationship with God.

Pastor Greg maybe somebody's listening today who would like to begin that kind of relationship. God wants us to come to him doesn't he? That's right the Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved so think of it this way maybe you're out in a riptide in the ocean and you can't get your footing and you're in trouble and you see a lifeguard call out for help and the lifeguard will rescue you. The same is true spiritually you're drowning in your sin you need help Jesus will save you he will rescue you but you must call out to him and you know how you do that you do it in prayer. So let me just lead you in a simple prayer and you can pray this prayer after me you can pray it out loud if you like and this is where you are calling out to Jesus to save you.

Just pray this Lord Jesus I know I'm a sinner and I know you are the savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead now Lord I turn from my sin and I put my faith in you be my savior my Lord be my God and my friend I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray amen. Hey if you just prayed that prayer I want you to know that Christ himself has come to live inside of you and I have a resource I want to send you it's called the new believers Bible. So the new believers Bible is the new testament in the new living translation translation with hundreds of notes that I wrote that will encourage you in this commitment you are making to follow Christ there's some other materials included as well in what we call the new believers growth pack but let me get this new believers Bible into your hands as quickly as possible.

Here's Dave to tell you more. Yeah we'll be glad to send it all your way free of any charge if you've prayed along with Pastor Greg today just ask for the new believers Bible when you call 1-800-821-3300. You can reach us anytime 24 7 at 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning box 4000 Riverside California 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click know God. Well Max Locato is with us today he's a best-selling author and pastor and a real wordsmith his books are full of wonderful stories and quotable quotes and we're happy to make available his newest on the end times called what happens next. Max you talk about what it'll be like when we come into God's presence and sort of as a metaphor you tell the story of your friend Joe Stoll former president of Moody Bible Institute. Could you recall that story for us?

That's a great story. Greg do you know Joe? Oh yes Joe's a great guy. Great guy. Well many years ago Joe had the opportunity to do what you do often Greg he he went to the White House this is in the term of President George W. Bush and according to the way Joe told me he was one of like a dozen pastors invited to visit with the president and there was a reception and he was rehearsing in his mind what he was going to say when he met President Bush and finally it was his turn and they were not close to the president there was about 20 feet they had to walk to get across the room and so he in his mind he kept rehearsing I'm Joe Stoll I'm the president finally finally he extended his hand he said Mr. President I'm Joe Stoll I'm the president of Moody Bible Institute and before he could say another word President Bush with that Texas twang slapped him on the shoulder and said way to go Joe and then marched him off and so he called his he called his secretary she said what was it like meeting the president and he told her that story and by the time he returned to Chicago to Moody Bible Institute she had made a t-shirt had a t-shirt printed and placed on his chair in his office said way to go Joe George W. Bush that's great but when he told me that story I guess I was kind of touched with a word that that was a little more from the Lord than from me because I said you know Joe you're gonna someday stand before Jesus Christ and he's not going to be in a hurry and he's going to look you in the eyes and he's going to say way to go Joe well done good and faithful servant you know Greg you're going to hear those words Dave you're going to hear those words and I know that maybe a person could go their whole life and never hear those words even from an earthly father but when we hear those words from our heavenly father that'll make it all worthwhile all worthwhile and that's what that's what's waiting on us when we get home that's beautiful you know max the word revelation means the unveiling and it's not God's desire to conceal but to reveal and bible prophecy is not given to scare us but to prepare us yes and I think whenever we raise the subject of end times people immediately think of armageddon anti-christ mark of the beast etc and that of course is all part of the story of the story but they don't think about what you've just said because in the book of revelation we read about that final day when we'll stand before Christ and what is the revelation and unveiling of it's an unveiling of Jesus Christ that's a spirit of prophecy it's Christ honored and glorified and magnified and so what I love is that you have a gift to encourage people not only in your writing and your preaching but privately how many times I can think of getting a text from you and and it's a word of encouragement as you just shared there with Joe and with the rest of us and you're going to be encouraged reading this brand new book that max has just written called what happens next it's about end times events yeah he gets into all the topics you're interested in but it's a book that focuses on Christ and will be an encouragement to you and we want to send it to you for your gift of any size this month whatever you send will be used to help us continue to reach people through the teaching and preaching on this program you listen to called a new beginning so order your copy right now of max locato's brand new book what happens next and be encouraged yeah that's right it's a book you'll love reading in fact you'll be recommending it to friends so thanks so much for your investment and be sure to ask for your copy of the brand new book by max locato what happens next the subtitle is a traveler's guide through the end of this age so just grab your phone and call us at 1-800-821-3300 that's a 24 7 number 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning box 4000 riverside california 92514 or go online to harvest.org well next time more insight on prayer has taught to us in the lord's prayer join us here on a new beginning with pastor and bible teacher greg lorry hey everybody thanks for listening to a new beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners so for more content that can help you know god and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner just go to harvest.org