Sermon Central
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The Discipline Of Prayer
Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025 (message contributor)
We refer to many of the practices that aid in our ongoing sanctification as Spiritual Disciplines. These include prayer, Bible reading/study, tithing/generosity, fasting, silence, and worship. This is not a complete list. All Spiritual Disciplines have the same goal – increasing your intimacy with God. The Bible calls it abiding in Christ: John 15:4 “4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
As I have told you before, most of us were never taught to pray, and we have no idea that different ways/forms of prayer have been passed down for us to use. I have a book of Spiritual Disciplines that has instructions for over a dozen prayer forms. Just come see me to try some out. There is an excellent book on prayer by Richard Foster, “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home”. Here is his list of prayer forms:
• Moving inward: Seeking the transformation we need. This includes the prayer of the forsaken, examen, the prayer of tears, and formation prayer.
• Moving upward: Seeking the intimacy we need. It covers the prayer of adoration, prayer of rest, sacramental prayer, unceasing prayer, and contemplative prayer.
• Moving outward: Seeking the ministry we need. Prayers include intercession, petitions, healing prayer, and the prayer of suffering.
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