Matthew 6:6-8 NIV  6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

Mark 6:31-32 NIV 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 

Your prayer life is at it’s best not when you’re praying big prayers occasionally but when you’re praying small prayers consistently 

God is real. He loves you. He wants to spend time with you.

Keep it real. Keep it simple. Keep it up. 

-Reasons we struggle to pray:

We want to handle things ourselves

We’ve been disappointed.

We’re busy.

God is invisible and that makes talking to Him more difficult than a family member or friend.

PRAY - Pause. Rejoice. Ask. Yield. 

Pause

You're eating → thinking about work.

You're working → thinking about dinner.

You're with your family → thinking about tomorrow.

You're resting → thinking about what you should be doing. 

The result is that we are rarely where we actually are 

Be still and know that I am God.

Rejoice

Rejoice always 1 Thess 5:18 

Ask

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  John 14:13-14 NIV 

Yield

We all struggle with the impulse to write the ending of the story for God don’t we? We want to help God out. 

There’s a fork in the road that you will come to every day of your life:

Trust or Control.

Hebrews 7:24-25 ESV  but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[a] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 

Luke 22:31-32 NIV

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”