How can Christians develop a good and healthy prayer life?

#Christians are supposed to be a people in #prayer.  Paul encouraged Christians to #pray constantly. 

But how should Christians pray?  Christians often struggle to understand how to pray consistently and effectively. 

Constantly pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

How can Christians develop a good and healthy prayer life?

#Christians are supposed to be a people in #prayer.  Paul encouraged Christians to #pray constantly. 

But how should Christians pray?  Christians often struggle to understand how to pray consistently and effectively. 

Constantly pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

How does the Lord's #prayer help us understand how to pray?

Jesus' disciples wanted Him to give them instruction about how to #pray.  Jesus provided the "Lord's prayer." 

In it, #Jesus encouraged #Christians to honor God's name and the advancement of His purposes, to ask for their daily needs, to ask for forgiveness as they have forgiven others, and to be delivered from temptation. 

While we can pray for more things than can be found in the prayer, we certainly should not pray for less.

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place.
When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
So he said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And do not lead us into temptation" (Luke 11:1-4).

What can we learn from the one man who returned to Jesus?

It would be easy to indict the nine, but perhaps they felt that they had to go and do what they had been commanded to do both in the Law and by Jesus. 

Thus, it can be a reminder that we can get so focused on trying to fulfill commandments that we cease thanking, praising, and giving glory to the God who empowers us to fulfill His commandments!

Some lepers requested cleansing, and Jesus commanded them to show themselves to the priests according to the commandments in Leviticus. 

As they went to do so they were cleansed. 

One of the ten came back to Jesus to give thanks, and that man was a Samaritan. 

Jesus commented on how only the foreigner came back to give God glory. 

#Gospel Reading: #Luke 17:11-19
 
#Jesus passed by the border of Samaria and Galilee on His final way to Jerusalem. 

How can Christians develop a good and healthy prayer life?

#Christians are supposed to be a people in #prayer.  Paul encouraged Christians to #pray constantly. 

But how should Christians pray?  Christians often struggle to understand how to pray consistently and effectively. 

Constantly pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Old Testament Reading: #Jeremiah 29:1-7
 
Jeremiah’s letter to the #Israelites #exiled to #Babylon in 597. 
 
How could Jeremiah expect them to seek the welfare of Babylon, the same Babylon which was oppressing the people of God? 

How can Christians well and effectively #pray?

How to Pray
https://youtu.be/6Z8rnSXvdjE

Why would God invite the nations to see Israel's deliverance from Egypt?

The people of God are called upon to make a joyful noise to God, to glorify Him in praise, and attest to the greatness of His works and His power. The earth will serve and sing to God. 

All are invited to see the great work of God in delivering Israel from Egypt. God rules over the nations forever. 

People are to bless God who holds our lives and makes us to stand.  God has tested and tried them and caused them grief, but has delivered them to a place of abundance.