Return | Prayer Models

Follow Along with the Message

Matthew 6:5-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray

in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say

to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut

the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret

will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think

that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows

what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father 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 also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if

you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Four “R’s” of Prayer

Reverence: Who is God?

Response: Because of this reality, I will do something.

Requests: God, this is what I need from You.

Readiness: I am committed to something.

Acts 4:23-31 | ESV

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests

and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together

to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and

everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the

Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom

you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of

Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now,

Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word

with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are

performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the

place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the

Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Luke 10:25-28 | ESV

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to

inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And

he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he

said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Prayer Model // Immanuel Journaling

1. Gratitude:

• Dear God, I am thankful for… where is your gratitude?
• Dear Child of mine… What is God’s response to your gratitude?

2. I can see you.

• From God’s perspective, what does He observe in you right now?
• Pay attention to what is happening in your body as you do this.

3. I can hear you.

• From God’s perspective, what does He hear you saying to yourself?

4. I understand how big this is for you.

• How does God see your dreams, blessings or upsets, and troubles?

5. I am glad to be with you and treat your weakness tenderly.

• How does God express His desire to participate in your life?

6. I can do something about what you are going through.

• What does God give you for this time?

7. Read what you have written aloud (preferably to someone).

• Do not give any context or explanation for why you have what you have, just share it with someone who will receive it well.
• The Brain isn’t looking for solutions, it is looking for validation.

Implications

1. Prayer should start with some awareness of who God is.
2. We need to spend time seeking God’s face before we seek His hands.
3. Setting our mind right is important before we approach prayer if we want to hear God speak.
4. God hears us. He listens to us. He cares about our concerns. That is especially true when we don’t understand what He is up to.