The Importance Of Prayer - Scott Turansky

In and by true prayer we are blessed 

  and heaven and earth move.  
Through prayer we are 

  strengthened, others are lifted up, 
    and sweet communion takes place with God.

Prayer takes discipline and commitment.  

  It's about being faithful.  
Do you want to be a strong Christian?

    Pray.  

Do you want to be a person 

  who has a fire in your heart for God?  
    Pray.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions 
  with all kinds of prayers and requests.  
With this in mind, be alert and always 
  keep on praying for the saints.
                                                - Ephesians 6:18

One of the greatest ways to enhance 
  your prayer life is to read and meditate 
    on the prayers and verses about prayer
       in the Bible.  
The Bible gives five categories of prayer 
  and as you read these verses, 
    you will enjoy a greater communion 
       with the Lord in your own prayer life.  

Worship and Praise – 
    Expressing worth, adoration and
      honor to God

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness 
         and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and 
        the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, 

    and praise your glorious name.

                                                              - 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.
    I will praise the LORD all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

                                                                 - Psalm 146:1-2

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom 
         and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!   

                                                                 - Romans 11:33

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

                                                                 - Revelation 4:10-17

In a loud voice they sang:

    “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
      to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

      and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, 
    and all that is in them, singing:

      “To him who sits on the throne 
            and to the Lamb
        be praise and honor and glory and power,
            for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” 
    and the elders fell down and worshiped.

                                                                 - Revelation 5:12-14

Confession – Declaring openly and honestly 
        our disobedience, claiming God's forgiveness

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the LORD” —
and you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

                                                                 - Psalm 32:5

I confess my iniquity;
    I am troubled by my sin.

                                                                 - Psalm 38:18

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.

                                                                 - Psalm 51:1-3

If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened

                                                                 - Psalm 66:18

Thanksgiving – Acknowledging our gratitude 
    to God for His blessings and provisions 
        as well as His tests and discipline

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 

                                                                 - Romans 1:8

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

                                                                 - Philippians 1:3-6

Intercession – Supporting others in prayer, 
      remembering their special needs

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
                                                                 - Ephesians 1:18-21

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 
                                                                 - 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Petition – Expressing our own needs
                        and requests to God

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

                                                                 - Philippians 4:6-7

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
                                                                 - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
                                                                 - Hebrews 4:14-16