Should i train prayer

If you want to overcome the things that tempt you to disobey God, it helps to think of your faith in terms of a loving relationship.

The outcomes of your choices will either nurture or damage it. As you pray, ask God to show you where you are struggling to obey Him and to reveal why. He is so much more patient with us than we deserve or can even imagine. The way you think often determines the way you act. The church God has built to bring about change in the world always faces the danger of being corrupted by the widely accepted ways of doing things in the culture around it.

The letter to the Romans teaches us about the change that happens in you when you become a Christian and the change God continues to bring about in you. God, please renew my mind so that I will know what You are calling me to do. As I read Your word, remind me of who I am, who You are and what my purpose here on earth is. This verse is the sixth of what are known as the Beatitudes. Jesus made these simple statements intending that they would be memorized by His listeners.

The difference between those listening to Jesus in person and us today is that we now read these statements through the lens of His death and resurrection.

We know that purity is not something we achieve through sticking rigidly to religious rules. It develops as we depend on Him to help us live in obedience to His standards, moment by moment. As you pray and seek God in your life, ask Him to make you aware of areas of impurity so you can invite Him to cleanse your mind, heart and soul.

Jesus, I want my thoughts, words and actions to please You. Please search my heart and show me anything that offends you. Learn more about battling the things that would damage your relationship with God. If you are a Christian, you know that there are ways of living that please God and other ways that displease Him.

God determines right from wrong and has the authority to judge anyone. The part of the Bible that the verse above is from is full of strong warnings about judging others or treating them with contempt because they do not follow God in exactly the way you do.

One day we will all face God. Understanding how much grace He has shown you will come with an understanding of how little you deserved it. God, You have given me time, talents, resources and relationships. Help me to make the best possible use of all these things, and teach me to withhold judgment on how other people use their own. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Jesus knew that if His disciples thought of their lives only in terms of their time on earth, they would end up hopeless and disappointed.

He knew every struggle and persecution they would face — even the ways they would die. So in His final conversation with them before He was taken to be crucified, Jesus made sure to teach them about looking at life from an eternal perspective, the way God does.

They would face many days that would feel like defeat unless they entered them already knowing that victory was ultimately theirs because of Jesus. Seeing your life the way He sees it will allow you to experience peace that would seem ridiculous to someone who does not know God. God, I pray that Your presence will always give me the courage to face whatever happens in life, and I ask You to help me look at the days of my life as You do.

Learn more about persevering as a Christian. Hope can be a fragile thing. But it is possible to regain hope. What would happen if you placed your hope and joy in these things instead of circumstances here on earth? Lord, help me to recognize what I can control my attitude, responses, feelings, etc.

Strengthen my faith and hope in You so I can confidently say that You are still good and sovereign over all. If your prayer life ever feels stuck in a rut, ask yourself what it would look like to really enjoy time with God. The Bible talks a lot about enjoying God. Are you interested in learning more about prayer? All rights reserved worldwide.

The Christian faith can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. But those things ultimately have no power. Here is an in-depth look at spiritual warfare. We live in very polarizing times. However, Jesus calls for us to be unified in Him with love for each other. How can we reach this unity? God calls us to pray for our leaders — that they would submit to His leadership for the sake of His will being done and for the advancement of His kingdom. What is Christianity?

Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Dealing with Life's Questions Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith.

Spiritual Growth Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Bible Studies Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Share the Gospel Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Leadership Training Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Language Resources View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Mission Trips Partner with Cru on a short-term missions trip. Careers Latest job openings at Cru. Go International Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Volunteer Opportunities Would you like to give your time to work with Cru?

We need you. Events Find a Cru event near you. Explore Your Interests Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Campus Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. City Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Inner City Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. Families Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Military Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. Locate Cru Near You. What We Do How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Statement of Faith What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Our Leadership Learn about Cru's global leadership team. Cru Partnerships When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Values Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Oneness and Diversity Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. Storylines Showing God in action in and through His people. Press Hear what others are saying about Cru. Contact Us. Spiritual Growth. Sharing the Gospel. In just 12 simple steps - 5 minutes each - the Prayer Cycle guides you through 12 ways the Bible teaches us to pray.

In just 12 simple steps - 5 minutes each - this Prayer Cycle guides you through 12 ways the Bible teaches us to pray. Praise Him for things that are on your mind right now. Praise Him for one special thing He has done in your life in the past week. Praise Him for His goodness to your family. Be silent and let Him pull together reflections for you. Ask Him to point out attitudes that are wrong, as well as specific acts for which you have not yet made a prayer of confession. But this is just the beginning!

The notion of a two-way conversation with a God you cannot literally see or hear can feel elusive and frustrating. We all spend years learning to read, write, add and subtract; relatively few people spend devoted time learning to pray. One possible explanation for this is that we incorrectly think there is an ideal formula or playbook for prayer. Remember, prayer is about a unique relationship between you and God.

If you are recently married, you can learn a lot from couples who have been together for years. But their experiences will only get you so far. Prayer is a mysterious thing — simple but profound. Billions of people pray every day. What you can be sure of is that God listens to them all.

Maybe you see someone sitting silently. You might even imagine a group of people all talking at the same time, making a holy ruckus as they pour their hearts out to a higher power. The majority of books on healthy relationships describe communication as the cornerstone. Most of us never hear from God audibly. And yet many people claim God speaks to them. So how does that work? But here are three ideas to try if you want to learn to hear from Him.

Some of us are verbal processors, and praying out loud enables us to clearly communicate with God. Others of us find that as we write out our prayers, our thoughts become clearer.

Answering these questions will help you reach a point where you can ask God how He wants you to respond to whatever you are reading. Learn more about living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Men in particular often develop deep friendships doing things side by side rather than talking face to face. So why not schedule some time to connect with God the way you would with anyone else you value? Ask if you can pray together. While time alone with God is vital to our spiritual growth, God Himself tells us that when two or more gather to focus on Him, something special happens Matthew If you are praying in public or with another person, remember to talk to God and not them.

Now that you know the basics about how to pray, all that remains is to begin. The aim is not to become an expert on prayer but simply to move deeper into a relationship with your Father in heaven. As with most other relationships, the things you talk to God about will develop as your trust in Him grows.

Remember to listen to God as you talk with Him. Strong relationships are not built on one-way conversations. Reasons Why We Pray. Praying Through Spiritual Warfare. What is Christianity? Learn the basics of what Christians believe.

Dealing with Life's Questions Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Spiritual Growth Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Bible Studies Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Share the Gospel Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Leadership Training Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Language Resources View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Mission Trips Partner with Cru on a short-term missions trip. Careers Latest job openings at Cru. Go International Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Volunteer Opportunities Would you like to give your time to work with Cru?

We need you. Events Find a Cru event near you. Explore Your Interests Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Campus Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. City Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. Athletes Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. Families Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Military Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. Locate Cru Near You. What We Do How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Statement of Faith What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Our Leadership Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Values Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Oneness and Diversity Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. Storylines Showing God in action in and through His people. Press Hear what others are saying about Cru. Contact Us.