This is one of the very vast subjects in the Bible. To sum it up in 30-40 mins. is like an injustice to the topic. Many think that as older they get into Christianity now God will do everything before even they have been asked. Instead of increasing in prayer life, we decrease slowly.
What was the necessity for Jesus to Pray, have you ever thought about it? In four gospels there are more than 29 verses referring to Jesus' praying.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:7?-?11
1) Ask constantly
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 11:13
Ask the Holy Spirit He's the best gift you will ever receive. Because once he comes he will convince us about our salvation, he will help us in repentance. Our spiritual life begins with Him. There's no better gift than him. If we are saved it's through him otherwise I doubt your salvation experience.
Our job is to ask, his job is to give, we should consider ourselves sheep and him our good shepherd, we should consider ourselves his children and him our Father. We should consider ourselves patients him the doctor, we should consider him the Potter ourselves the clay. We should consider ourselves pilgrims and his destiny.
We should learn to humble ourselves before him, he's worthy to be adored.
King David prayed seven times a day. Daniel prayed 3 times a day in spite of his responsibilities and busy schedule. Learn to cultivate the habit of prayer.
These verses contain a most important direction and encouraging exhortation to the people of God to seek the help of him in all difficulties whatsoever, and all those aids of his Spirit, and other blessings necessary to their salvation.
Have you ever asked a question that why I don't have? James gives the best answer.
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:2?-?3,
) Seek continuously.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33.
You are looking for materialistic blessings God promised that you will have but before that, you have to long for the Kingdom of God and righteousness of God.
Give yourself some time in reading and praying these are some of the important characteristics of the Spirit-filled life.
For it seems most natural to interpret the expression of that way of becoming righteous which the gospel proposes, and by which alone we can be put in possession of the kingdom of God on earth, or in heaven. And all these things shall be added unto you — For if you seek, as now directed, the kingdom of God, first and principally, all things pertaining to this life shall, in the course of the divine providence, be bestowed on you as far as they can contribute to your real welfare, and more you would not desire.
The "seeking" of these is the making them the object of supreme choice and pursuit, and the seeking of them "first" is the seeking of them before and above all else. The "all these things" which shall, in that case, be added to us are just the "all these things" which the last words of Mt 6:32 assured us "our heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of"; that is, all we require for the present life. And when our Lord says they shall be "added," it is implied, as a matter of course, that the seekers of the kingdom and its righteousness shall have these as their proper and primary portion: the rest being their gracious reward for not seeking them.
3) Knock desperately.
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:7
Christ is the Door. And what greater security has the church of God than that the Lord Jesus is between it and all its enemies? He is a door open for passage and communication. Here are plain directions how to come into the fold; we must come in by Jesus Christ as the Door. By faith in him as the great Mediator between God and man. Also, we have precious promises to those that observe this direction. Christ has all that care of his church, and every believer, which a good shepherd has of his flock; and he expects the church, and every believer, to wait on him, and to keep in his pasture.
Continuing the primary scripture, let us read verse 11
How strong is your relationship with your father? Does it matter? Does God listen to only his children?
Absolutely.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16
As we grow we grow apart to God. This question was asked to me by me. When I started my Christian life how I was and now how I am.
In the last days, Jesus predicted that will he find faith on earth.
Luke 18:8
[8]I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
You know this word is really for prayer, and it is really for believers not for unbelievers.
We think as if we are perfect, we will never be
Why do we need to pray? Because Jesus being God he prayed on every occasion.
The argument is taken from the lesser to the greater, and runs thus; that if ye, who are but men, men on earth, yea evil men, not over liberal and beneficent, nay covetous and niggardly, know how to give good gifts unto your children; can find in your hearts, having it in the power of your hands, to give suitable provisions for the support and sustenance of your children; how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven; who is omniscient and omnipotent; who knows the persons and wants of his children, and what is proper for them, and is able to relieve them, being Lord of heaven and earth, give good things to them that ask him? Not only temporal good things, as meat, drink, and clothing; but all spiritual good things; every supply of grace; all things pertaining to life and godliness. In Luke 11:13 "the Holy Spirit" is mentioned, and so seems to design his gifts and graces, everything that is necessary for the spiritual and eternal good of his people: but for these things, he must be inquired of and sought after, and it is the least saints can do to ask for them, and they have encouragement enough to ask; for it is but ask and have.
I believe that people will lose their prayer lives in the last days because people will be a lover of themselves and trust in themselves.
Are you one of them or will you improve your spiritual life. Jesus being God prayed and set us an example. What about us?
Please do watch this sermon on my YouTube channel
https://youtu.be/T7TebC6r8JQ
