How Should We Pray?
We should pray with absolute confidence in God's presence and our righteousness through Christ, trusting that He cares for us and will answer our prayers.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the power and necessity of prayer in our lives, sharing a personal story about his son Daniel's prayer for tennis shoes that was miraculously answered by a stranger. He encourages believers to pray as a remedy for worry, reminding us that God invites us to cast our cares upon Him, as stated in Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:7. Yohannan highlights that prayer not only pleases God but also strengthens our faith, as we approach Him with confidence, knowing we are made righteous through Christ. He reassures us that our worthiness to pray comes not from our actions but from God's grace, allowing us to call Him 'Father' with assurance.
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When our children were growing up, we encouraged them to pray for their needs. One time my son, Daniel, was praying for a particular pair of tennis shoes. A stranger who knew nothing about this prayer bought the exact shoes that Daniel was praying for and gave them to him as a gift. Imagine the joy and the thrill of a young heart experiencing God's answer to prayer! So it is with us as adults too.
Pray because it is the best cure for worry and concerns. When we pray, we leave the matter in God's hands and are free from worry and concern.
Someone once said, "Why pray when you can worry about it?" But Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." God has given us the invitation to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us (see 1 Peter 5:7). What is bothering you? Please, just pray. When you are troubled about anything, pray.
Pray because it makes our God happy. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." It brings joy to the heart of God when we turn to Him in prayer, depending on Him to move in the circumstances of our lives.
How Should We Pray?
Pray with absolute confidence that God is on our side. When we pray, the devil will bom bard us and make us feel sinful and horrible about ourselves. We will never come to the place of being holy enough for God to hear our prayer. Rather, we stand before the Lord pure, transparent and righteous because it is a gift He has given us through His Son. It is not something we can earn. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It is nothing we attain. It is only by grace that we are children of God. As we come to Him and say "Father," He truly is our Father. He is our confidence.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Prayer
- Why We Should Pray
- How We Should Pray
- Pray with absolute confidence in God's presence
- We stand before God as righteous and holy through Christ
Key Quotes
“Why pray when you can worry about it?” — K.P. Yohannan
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” — K.P. Yohannan
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- Pray with confidence in God's presence, trusting that He cares for us and will answer our prayers.
- Recognize that our righteousness is a gift from God through Christ, and not something we can earn.
- Depend on God through prayer, leaving our worries and concerns in His hands.