A pattern for prayer

A pattern for prayer
Jonah 2

Intro…"Life is work, play and prayer. Prayer, once you get past the crying, asking and begging... is listening." Jock Southerland
• Prayer is an important part of our lives…even for those who don’t pray… “Man, I really hope this works out…”
• This Bible gives us some great examples of what the pattern should be for our prayer life.
• Today we’ll look at the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, the 23rd Psalm and Jonah 2.

Big Pic: Prayer is all of who we are and is an elevation of the soul that can dispense with speech.

Text: Jonah 2

The Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:9-13 (read together)
Hallowed be your name.
• (Holy, consecrated, sacred, revered) Giving God his due, his rightful place.

Your kingdom come, your will be done.
• Trusting God for his outcome

Give us this day, our daily bread.
• Asking God for the basics, after we’ve revered him and trusting him for the outcome.
• We usually get this backwards… ”God I need ___________!”

Forgive us our debts…
• Asking God to forgive us as we learn to forgive others.

Lead us not into temptation…
• Keep us out of Satan’s path.

The 23rd Psalm (read together)
• (actually a song, sung or quoted in times of need)
• This song/prayer is a reminder of God’s goodness and provision.
1-2 God is our shepherd, leading, guiding providing, “green pastures and quiet waters.”
3 He will restores our souls and lead us in the paths of righteousness…if we let him.
4 We know that the hard times will come, yet God is with us.
5 God provides all we need.
6 As we continue to trust God, goodness, love and mercy will follow us

Back to our prayer for today, Jonah 2 (there is good theology in this prayer)
2 In our distress we want to call out to God, not doubt his presence
3 Recognizing God’s involvement in this process of learning. Yes, God can hurl us wherever he wants to. “Your waves and breakers swept over me.”
4 At times we feel like we’ve been banished from God’s site because of our sin, yet that’s exactly when we need to look towards him.
5 The engulfing waters of life do often feel threatening. At times it does feel like we’re sinking to the roots of the mountains, barred in forever.
6-7 When we can recognize our helpless state and call on God, that’s when we get rescued. “You brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God.”
8 “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
9 Instead, with a song of thanksgiving, a sacrifice to God, making good on your vows to God…salvation comes from the Lord.

And finally Jonah’s ordeal inside the big fish ends…v. 10

What to learn from these prayers?
• It’s not about us, it’s about listening and trusting God.
• Prayer is about spilling your guts before God, being honest.
• There is so much more to recognize than our need.
• God is to be revered, we want his will to be done, he will supply our basic needs, we need forgiveness.
• God is our shepherd leading and guiding every step of the way, through all of life’s journeys.

When we pray, remember:
The love of God that wants the best for us
The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
The power of God that can accomplish it.
William Barclay

The ideal prayer is asking for God’s will to be done. “Oh God, please show me your plan…”

Daniel 9:3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and supplications with fasting.

Conclusion:
The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. C.S. Lewis