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We could pray



If we want to know what to do, we must pray.  It is so much better than worrying.



Philippians 1:19  (NASB)

19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your [b]prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,





Why do we pray?  The Lord told us to.  It sure is better than worrying.  It releases God's provision.   


Prayer releases God's provision.  Supplication releases God's supply.




Philemon 22  (NASB)

Paul writing to Philemon:  At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.   



Paul just wrote go ahead and get a place ready for me because I'm convinced that I will be released because of your prayers. 




Prayer allows God to work in your situation.  In the Book of Acts, they would pray, and then God would move.  






Don't give the glory to your prayers, but prayer is involved.  Prayer didn't do it.  God did.  



If you give prayer the glory, glory goes to the prayer, you, instead of God.  






Prayer is not to be one way, but two ways.  We talk, and then we listen. 






When we pray to God, we must listen to Him as we pray. 



If we listen to God's directions while we pray.  We won't pray what He doesn't want us to pray about.  






God is a person.  


The better that we know His Word and His Spirit.  The better we know how to pray and for what to pray.




If you try to make deals with God, you don't know Him. 



God knows so much and we know so little.  If we are smart, we will trust Him even as we pray.  





Why do we pray?  It's not to be religious or to inform God.  It's not to put in time.
  



Do not worry.  It actually gets in God's way.  If you exchange your worry time into prayer time, your life will change. 






If you pray right, it allows God to act on our behalf.  






Acts 12 (NKJV)

4 So when he (Herod) had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.



5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 





Why would you keep on praying?  



It's because you don't know what to do yet.  You haven't received the peace of God's answer.  



6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 




7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.





8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 




9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.


10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.



11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”



12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.



When bad things happen, we should not be quick to give up.  God can change things when we pray.  



13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 



14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 



15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”



16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 



17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.



They weren't begging God in unbelief for Peter.  They were asking God to intervene for Peter until He did.






Keith Moore, Faith Life Church
https://flcmedia.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/productvideo/0331-AlwaysPray-02-WhyPray-HD.mp4

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