Learning to Pray
Prayer is a powerful tool that can bring about positive change in our lives, but many of us struggle to take time to pray due to a lack of understanding of how to pray effectively.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the transformative power of prayer, illustrating its ability to overcome various challenges and bring blessings into our lives. He reflects on the common practice of asking for prayer and the urgent need for it in all aspects of life, yet questions whether we truly dedicate enough time to communicate with God. Yohannan shares his personal journey of learning to pray, highlighting the importance of guidance from more experienced believers and resources. He encourages the congregation to deepen their understanding of prayer and to prioritize it in their daily lives.
Text
"The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled the demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. Prayer is all-efficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine which is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by storm.
It is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings." ~Chrysostom How often have you heard someone say, "I will pray for you" or ask, "Please pray for me"? Of the thousands of letters I receive, a significant number of them always have some kind of prayer request included. The need for prayer is felt in all aspects of our lives. Whether it has to do with our families, children, education, daily needs, ministry, relatives, friends or the many other concerns that can fill our days, the necessity of prayer is always present.
But despite that, the question remains: Do we honestly take time to pray? If we do pray, how much time do we really spend in prayer? We may spend hours each day talking to friends and family members about the things in our lives, but do we even spend at least one hour with the Lord in prayer, talking with Him? I believe our lack of prayer is because so few of us truly know how to pray. I know that in the early days of my Christian life, I had no clue what prayer really was. I would close my eyes, and in a few short minutes, I would run out of things to say. It wasn't until learning from older brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as from books on prayer, especially those of E.M. Bounds, that I began to grow in my prayer life.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Power of Prayer
- A. Prayer is a powerful tool
- B. Examples of prayer's effectiveness
- II. The Need for Prayer in Our Lives
- A. Prayer is necessary in all aspects of life
- B. Examples of prayer requests
- III. The Problem of Not Taking Time to Pray
- A. Lack of time spent in prayer
- B. Comparison to time spent with friends and family
- IV. The Solution: Learning to Pray
- A. Importance of knowing how to pray
- B. Learning from others and resources
Key Quotes
“Prayer is all-efficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine which is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by storm.” — K.P. Yohannan
“It is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings.” — K.P. Yohannan
“Prayer is a powerful tool that can subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled the demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- We should prioritize taking time to pray and seek guidance on how to pray effectively.
- Learning from others and resources can help us grow in our prayer life and become more effective in our prayers.
- Prayer is a powerful tool that can address various concerns in our lives and bring about positive change.