Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session I : Understanding of Prayer 1

SESSION I UNDERSTANDING OF PRAYER

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian life. God expects every Christian to pray.
Without prayers, a Christian will become weak. He will not be able to know God
intimately and would not know how to accomplish His will.

A. WHAT IS PRAYER?

1. Prayer is _________________ with God. It involves communicating,

talking and dialogue with Him.

Genesis 3:8-13 In the Garden of Eden, God and man simply talked.

2. Prayer is ________________ with God. It is done in the spiritual realm.

Romans 8:26 Spirit enables our praying by interceding through us

and for us.

B. PURPOSE OF PRAYER

1. ____________ God

Jeremiah 29:12-13 When we seek God with all our heart, He will be found.

2. ___________ from God

Matthew 7:7-8 The promise of answered prayer as we ask.

James 1:5 All we need to do is ask and God will give.

3. ______________ to God

Psalm 141:2

Revelation 5:8 Our prayer is like incense, a sweet smelling aroma go

God.

4. ______________ from God

Jeremiah 33:3 As we call up God in prayer, we will receive from Him.

 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session I : Understanding of Prayer 2

5. _____________ to God

Psalm 143:7-8 Have our ears open to listen, God is speaking all the
time to us.

C. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WHEN WE PRAY?

1. God to ___________ Himself.

Jeremiah 29:13 The Lord will allow Himself to be found by us.

2. God to _____________ us.

Jeremiah 29:12 We can expect our prayers to be answered when we

pray and call upon Him.

3. God to _____________ us.

2 Corinthians 3:18 Prayer changes our attitude in the way we see our
circumstances.

4. God to change _________________.

Acts 4:31 Our circumstances change as we pray according to the leading

and guiding of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYERS BRING GOD’S INTERVENTION

IN OUR LIFE

D. WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRAYERS

In the morning, prayer is the key

That opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings;
In the evening, it is the key
That shuts us up under His protection and safeguard.
(Anonymous)

Seven days without prayer makes one weak.

(Allen E. Bartlett)
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session I : Understanding Prayer 3

Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue.

(Adam Clarke)

Prayer changes things?

No! Prayer changes people,
And people change things.
(Quote)

Serving God is doing good to man,

But praying is thought an easier service
And therefore more generally chosen.
(Benjamin Franklin)
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session II : Our Attitude in Prayer 4

SESSION II OUR ATTITUDES IN PRAYER

Have a great attitude in prayer. Be child-like, but do not be childish. Do not throw your
tantrum and anger before God when you come to prayer. Be free, natural, trusting,
and sincere. Always remember that God listens to your heart more than your words.

Here are some of the attitudes you need to cultivate.

A. Be _______________

Maintaining a right relationship is a vital key.

Mark 11:25-26 Unforgiveness will hinder the effectiveness of our prayer.

1 Timothy 2:8 Our hands have to be holy as we come before God in

prayer.

B. Be _____________ and ______________

Psalm 5:3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my
request before You and wait in expectation.

How would David begin each day? ___________________________

Psalm 55:17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears
my voice.

The 3 fixed times David would pray each day:-

1. _______________

2. _______________

3. _______________

It is important for us to pray regularly, but how often should we pray?

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of
prayer and requests.

“On all occasions” means _______________________

 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session II : Our Attitude in Prayer 5

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray ___________________

“Continually” means pray unceasingly.

C. Be ________________

2 Chronicle 7:14 As we humble ourselves, pray and seek the face of God
and repent of all our sins, He will hear us.

D. Be _________________

Psalm 32:2 Our heart must not contain deceit.

Psalm 32:5 Be open and acknowledge our sins before God.

E. Be _________________

Hebrews 5:7 Jesus willingly submit himself totally to the father.

“A man may pray night and day and deceive himself,

but no man can be assured of his sincerity who does not pray…”

Richard CeciL
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session III : 7 Keys to Praying Powerfully 6

SESSON III 7 KEYS TO PRAYING POWERFULLY

1. Live __________________

James 5:16b The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

2 Pray __________________

To be fervent means to pray with passion, to be hot, earnest and intense. In

Greek it means “to be on fire”.
To pray fervently is to pray with ______________ and with all of your heart.

Your spirit, soul and body are all going in the ________________________.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth, give
me and undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name.

3. Claim God’s ________________ of prayer

Luke 11:9 Ask, seek and knock.

4. _____________ in Christ and His Word

John 15:4-7 Remain in Him.

5. Have ____________ in God and in your prayers

Mark 11:23-24 Pray with belief and not doubt.

6. Pray according to God’s ______________

1 John 5:14 Pray with confidence.

 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session III : 7 Keys to Praying Powerfully 7

7. Pray in the ____________ of Jesus Christ.

God has given us authority in Jesus’ Name.

i) John 14:13-14; John 16:23b-24 –

___________________________________

ii) Philippians 2:9-11 –

_____________________________________________

iii) Matthew 18:20 –

________________________________________________
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Prayer and Fasting 8

SESSION IV PRAYER AND FASTING

A. WHAT IS FASTING?

Fast is the voluntary abstinence of oneself from food or certain activities for a
season for the purpose of drawing near to God or seeking His purpose and
direction.

You may have food fast, TV fast, newspapers fast, interest fast, etc…. . Paul
once told the married believers in Corinthians the possibility of “intimacy fast” (1
Cor 7:5)

B. WHY FASTING?
1. Fasting unto ____________.

Zechariah 7:5

2. Fasting for ________________ _________________.

Psalm 69:10

3. Fasting to set ________________ free.

Isaiah 58:6

4. Fasting to seek God’s _____________.

Acts 13:2

5. Fasting to avert God’s ______________.

Jonah 3:5, 8-9

C. HOW SHOULD WE FAST?

Fast ___________ God and ___________ man

Matthew 6:17-18
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Prayer and Fasting 9

D. FASTING THAT DISPLEASES GOD

1. __________________ (Social injustice to the poor, the poor not taken

care of)

Isaiah 58:3

2. ______________ (Argument, fights/ dissension)

Isaiah 58:4

3. ______________________________________ (Outward sign

becomes empty when no inward faith exits)

Isaiah 58:5

E. FASTING THAT PLEASES GOD

1. HELPFUL TO _______________.

Isaiah 58:7, 10

2. BUILD A _____________ COMMUNITY.

Isaiah 58:6, 9b

F. THE RESULT OF FASTING

1. Prayers __________________

Isaiah 58:8, 9a

2. __________________ made known.

Isaiah 58:11

3. ______________ in God.

Isaiah 58:13
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Prayer and Fasting 10

G. THE BLESSINGS OF FASTING

1. Health – It can ______________ diseases and _____________ your

Spirit and mind.

2. Spiritual – Revival and Renewal, greater __________________ with

God, effectiveness in ministry and increase in faith.

H. DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASTING:

1. ______________ Fast

Daniel 10:3

2. ______________ Fast

Ezra 10:6

3. ____________________ Fast

Deuteronomy 9:9
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Practical Guide For Prayer and Fasting 11

Practical Guide For Prayer And Fasting

Preparation before fasting

Avoid drinking coffee, tea or anything dehydrating.
 Take nutritious food. Decrease food intake gradually.

During the fast

 Drink water numerous times a day in moderate amount each time.
 Take warm bath or shower. Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth to avoid bad
breath.
 Do not exhaust yourself.
 Spend time reading the Bible, singing and worshipping and pray.
 Mediate on God.

After the fast

 This is the most difficult time. Self-discipline and self-control are required here
more than in the other stages of fasting.
 DO NOT take large amounts of solid food.
 Increase your food intake gradually starting from fluids.
 When eating solid food, chew your food longer.

What you must know about fasting and prayer

 Fasting has purpose and goals.
 There should be a well-planned fasting timetable.
 Take heed of doctor’s advice, if you have sickness, prior to engaging in fasting.
 Do not panic should you experience headache, nausea, fever, insomnia and
gastric pain. These are biological reaction to fasting.
 Determine to overcome the desire to eat.
 Dress neatly and be cheerful.
 Do not put on a suffering face.

a) Begin by setting aside one lunch hour for prayer. Have a warm drink or milk if
you like.

b) Set aside half a day for fasting. Besides individual fasting & praying, it is good to
fast and pray with others with whom you are united in spirit and purpose.
 CONTENTS

Session I Understanding Of Prayer 1

A. What Is Prayer?
B. Purpose Of Prayer
C. What Can We Expect When We Pray
D. What People Say About Prayer

Session II Our Attitudes In Prayer 4

Session III 7 Keys To Praying Powerfully 6

Session IV Prayer And Fasting 8

A. What Is Fasting
B. Why Fasting?
C. How Should We Fast?
D. Fasting That Displeases God
E. Fasting That Pleases God
F. The Result Of Fasting

Practical Guide For Praying

And Fasting 11
 HOW
TO
PRAY
EFFECTIVELY