P.R.A.Y.

This week, I am reading through the Sermon on the Mount along with my church through a method called F260 (which I love and highly encourage). Part of the Sermon on the Mount was Jesus telling how to pray through a very familiar and often memorized passage called "The Lord's Prayer." Now this prayer was not meant to just be memorized and repeated, but was to be a model of prayer. There is a great acronym (you know how I love those) that helps me remember how to pray and is great to teach our kids.

P - Praise

R - Repent

A - Ask

Y - Yield

P - Praise God for who is He and what He has done in my life. 
      God has so many names and so many attributes/qualities/characteristics.
      He is Accessible, Creative, Eternal, Forgiving, Gracious, Holy, Immutable (Never Changes),
      Just, Light, Merciful, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Peace, Righteous, Sovereign.
      I could go on an on with names and qualities of God. 
      Ex. "God, You are Accessible. I can come boldly to You anytime, anywhere, with anyone,
      about anything. I am so thankful that because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross,
      I do not have to go through someone else to get to You."
      Of course, you can probably sit and write a long list of all the things God has done in your life.
      That is thanksgiving or giving thanks to God. 
      Ex. "Lord, I am so thankful for how You have provided for my family during this time.
      Thank You!"
      "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name." (Matthew 6:9)

R - Repent of my sins to God.
      I don't know about you, but I haven't lived a single day without sinning.
      If I do, I will let you know (but then that would be pride and that's a sin LOL!). 
      Sometimes I am very aware of my sins, but at times, I need God to reveal them to me. 
      Ex. "Father, Please search me and show me any sins in my heart, my mind, my words, 
      my attitude, my actions, my temptations, my walk. Please forgive me for ___________.
      I am having a hard time forgiving __________. Please help me forgive them."
      "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
       And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:12-13)

A - Ask/Petition God.
       I would assume this is the part of prayer most of us are "good at." 
       We bring our list to God and ask Him to meet those needs.
       This is when we pray for ourselves, our (future) spouse, our (future) marriage,
       our (future) kids, our (future) parenting, our family, our home, our finances, our school,
       our friends, our neighbors, our church, our ministries, missionaries, our country, our world,
       lost people, sick people, and needy people.
       Ex. "Lord, I pray for ___________ and their need for __________."
       "Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11)

Y - Yield your plans/will to God's.
      "Prayer connects my heart/will/plans to God's heart/will/plans."
      Ex. "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
      For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:10, 13)