We have learned that the heart is the "wellspring" of life and that transformation in our lives comes when our heart is submitted to the worship and will of God. When our heart is changed, our lives become changed. One thing that changes our hearts most dramatically is prayer. From the beginning of His ministry untill He was about to go to the cross, we see Jesus in dependent prayer to His heavenly father. More than anything else, He desired to obey his father and so He guarded His heart through prayer. In Luke 11:1--13 Jesus teaches and models for His disciples the importance of prayer in changing our hearts and in moving the hand of God.
Prayer changes our hearts, in verse 2--4 Jesus describes our attitude in prayer.
We honour Him
We desire His will
Obedience to His will is our greatest joy.
We trust Him and we are repentant (1 John 1:9)
We forgive others and resist sin Galatians 5:16.
PRAYER MOVES GOD'S HAND in verse 5--13. Jesus explains that God responds to prayer.
1. When we are bold to pray
2. When we persistently pray.( Luke 18:1--7)
1 John 5:14--15. Says when we pray according to His will, He hears us. When our hearts are submitted to His will and Worship and we ask what He desires, then we have confidence that He hears us and will give us what we ask for. EPHESIANS 6:18-20 Encourages us to pray all time. We should pray about challenges we may face, so that we are prepared to handle them when they come. And we should pray for God to enable us to boldly speak the gospel to others, for the sick and our enemies. As we pray in these ways, our hearts are changed, our minds, bodies and relationships come under His control and God's hand is moved to act according to His perfect will and our greatest joy.
Memory verse. 1John 5:14. And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He will ear us. May the Lord change your heart towards Him. Shalom
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