Connection Directive
Sunday | September 29, 2024
ray@crossroadsny.org
Psalm 54:2 / ESV, “O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.”
1. Pray with the right motives
Matthew 6:5-6 / 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. 6 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.”
Proverbs 16:2 / ESV, “All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs motives.”
First Thessalonians 2:4b / NLT, “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”
2. Pray with the right mindset
Matthew 6:7-8 / ESV, “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. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
James 5:16b / ESV, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
3 Pray with the right model
Matthew 6:9-13 / ESV, Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
Romans 8:34 / CSB, “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”
NEXT STEPS:
+ Read Matthew 6 & Luke 11
+ Memorize: Proverbs 16:2; Romans 8:34
+ Focus on having prayers that reach God’s ears.
+ Return for church next Sunday, October 6th. Service times: 9am, 11am, or 6pm.