How is your building

coming
along?

Cultivating a
Lifestyle
Lesson 5

Introduction.
Another building block for
BUILDING a successful Christian
Life is PRAYER.
Many teenagers & Christians do
not pray (Some practically hate
it!), because they do not see the
need.

nderstanding the
mportance of
rayer

(A). PRAYER MEANS RELATIONSHIP.

Relationship can be likened to friendship. Any
friendship can survive with the absence of all things,
except COMMUNICATION (whether small or much).
Prayer is the only way we speak to God.
Everybody prays at some point in time (most
especially emergencies), but imagine having a friend,
which you call or speak to when in need only. What do
you think will happen to that friendship?
Communication, irrespective of magnitude, is
important for any friendship to survive. However, a
strong friendship can only be built on MUCH
COMMUNICATION.

(B). PRAYER MEANS PRIVILEGE.

It is near impossible to easily get President Buharis
direct phone number. However, this is not so with
God (the creator of all), because we possess the
privilege (benefit exclusive to Children of God) of
prayer.
The Cross of Christ made available this privilege to
DIRECTLY APPROACH a HOLY GOD as it wasnt so in
the past. Only specific people, at specific places, at
specific times, with specific clothing can speak to
God directly (No assurance for that person to even
make it out alive, if he was sinful).
But at the CROSS, Christ broke the barriers! The

(C). WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DONT PRAY?

Its not as though the sky will collapse on
anyone who refuses to pray (benefits of
grace). God isnt happy when we refuse to
pray because He wants to relate with us.
However, our refusal, affects us more than it
does to God.
We drift away from Him and begin to see Him
as an impractical source of help even in times
of need (Nebuchadnezzar).
We trust ourselves more and this in turn
produces frustration when we are unable to

(D). THE CHOICE IS OURS!!!

No one will be forced to pray. However,
praying:
Makes us conscious of Gods presence
always. This makes us want to relate
everything that happens to Him.
Makes us know Gods will for our lives.
(Matthew 7:7-8)
Activates Gods power in our lives.

(E). WHAT DO WE PRAY FOR?

EVERYTHING (Philippians 4:6-7)
How should I pray?
(Matthew 6:5-15)
How often should I pray?
(P.U.S.H- 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16)
How about those things I have prayed for and
Im yet to see answers?
(James 4:7, Isaiah 55:9, Hebrews 11:6, Daniel
3:15-18)

Resourcing Prayer
Habits

Prayer is:
A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION.
AN AVENUE TO EXPERIENCE GODS LOVE
AND GROW SPIRITUALLY.
A CHANNEL OF OVERCOMING FORCES OF
DARKNESS.
AN AVENUE TO ASK AND RECEIVE OUR
DESIRES.
A INVITATION TO GOD TO ACT.

teps to having a mor

Fruitful Prayer Life.

Prayer is not an easy task. There will always be a

point where one struggles to pray. Therefore,
praying requires discipline and deliberate steps to
get into. Some are:
A.CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE TIME AND PLACE
(Matthew 6:6, Mark 1:35; 6:46)
B.PRAYER EXERCISES & IDEAS (Posture, Prayer
List etc.)
C.BIBLICAL PRAYERS- Most especially when you
dont know what to pray.
D.PRAY OUT LOUD- However, be conscious of

CONCLUSION
Everyone fights one battle or the
other. However, the strategy we
deploy determines whether there
will be victory, because NO
VICTORY COMES BY ACCIDENT.