Show Notes
Prayer is not a religious obligation. It is about aligning our hearts with God's will. James 4:8 promises that when we come closer to God, He comes closer to us.
In Part 2 of "Prayer - Drawing Near to God,” Duane Sheriff explores Jesus' model for prayer found in the Lord's Prayer. This "four-by-four" pattern starts with a vertical focus on God, His name, His Kingdom, and His will, then turns to our needs, forgiveness, temptation, and deliverance.
To pray effectively, we need to know who God is and who we are to Him. We come to God as His children, trusting in Jesus. When we start by focusing on God—His character, His desires, and His Kingdom—we prepare our hearts before bringing our own needs to Him.
Prayer is not about pleading with God or trying to get Him to agree with our plans. It is about letting our hearts and desires match His will. As we ask for our daily needs, forgive others, face temptation, and deal with evil, we learn to rely on God's grace rather than our own efforts. When we focus on God first, the rest of our prayers start to make sense.
More from Duane Sheriff Ministries - Messages
Do you believe that it's God's will to heal? Our experiences, disappointments, traditions, or someone else's lack of healing cannot determine our answer. God's Word must establish His will.
Where do we place our confidence? Are we building our confidence based on our accomplishments? When we compare ourselves to others by race, title, background, education, or success, we are placing confidence in ourselves instead of Christ.
Faithfulness is the key to increase in life and ministry. Greater opportunities and influence begin with being faithful in the little things God has already entrusted to us.
Are you pursuing greatness on God's terms or on the world's terms? The world teaches us to climb higher, promote ourselves, gain influence, and push past others to succeed. However, Philippians 2 reveals a radically different path.
What does it look like to have genuine, unshakeable joy when life is falling apart around us? Joy is not a prize waiting at the finish line of our struggles or reserved for moments when things go as we hoped. Scripture reveals that supernatural joy can remain even in the middle of suffering, uncertainty, and chaos beyond our control.