Prayer

by: Ruth Brown on: Sunday, 15th January 2012

Scripture: James 4:8

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Follow-up questions:

How do you communicate with God currently?What is your next step in developing communication with God?What filters/interference do you need to reduce?What prayer goals/strategies has God given you for this season?

Summary of teaching:

Prayer is ‘supernatural communication’ Rachel Hickson

God always wants to communicate with us.

The goal of prayer is relationship.

Key Scripture:

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

James 4:8 NIV

Communication is a 2 way process in which a message is sent and received.Communication with God starts with listening to him

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: ‘Love of God begins with listening to his word’

Example of Jesus:

“..the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing,...” John 5:19

Jesus was constantly communicating with his father God, though he also set aside longer periods of time to seek him eg when choosing his disciples

There are many methods for communicating with God eg silent thought, speech, tongues, bible, writing, music, art, dance, drama, emotions.

There are many ways in which God communicates to us including: person of Jesus, bible, thoughts/impressions, dreams/visions, prophetic words, other people especially believers, signs, creation

Communication is affected by interference and filters ie external and internal barriersGod is the perfect communicatorWe have filters based on: Beliefs - Attitudes - Experience

We will communicate better with God if we reduce the filters by:

1. Believing God’s word
2. Cultivating attitude of God awareness, forgiveness and thankfulness
3. Acting in faith on what we feel God is saying