Concept:
One must change his thinking.  Begin to look at things from God’s perspective.  Scripture says “as a man thinketh so is he.”  Rom. 12:2, “Don’t be conformed be transformed.”  Many times we miss the simple truths and then ask God what we should do.  Problem: we have missed the simple truths.

We must change our thinking on prayer:
•    Prayer is not just talking to God or making our request known to Him.  It is 2-way communication.  It is being with God, listening, responding, pouring out one’s heart, understanding God’s heart. 

•    Prayer, thanksgiving, intercession, confession, supplication, different aspects of a person expressing their heart to God.  When we say “Let’s talk at God.”  God will speak if we listen, not necessarily an audible voice.  He speaks through impressing thoughts on our minds through scripture and other brothers.

•    God wants us to come to Him with all our heart, our whole being, then we will find Him.

•    Prayer is like breathing, it should develop into the most essential involuntary aspect of our lives, should become natural.  No one tells you to breath.  Our greatest needs should be automatic.

•    Prayer should not just be asking for answers and help, but to know Him, which is to have all the answers.  Our lives would change if our focus transformed.

•    The words “to know” which are in Pr. 3:5-6 and “acknowledge” in Dan. 11:52 come from the Hebrew word which means “intimacy.”  For example,  it is used again in “adam knew Eve and Eve conceived.”

•    Prayer is a way to monitor your growth.

•    God does not want ritualistic or religious people.  He wants sincerity, our hearts.  An empty drum makes the loudest noise.

•    God wants to know that we are serious.  Persistence is not because it takes ten times for Him to hear us but rather HE wants to know we mean what we are saying AND NOT JUST GOING THROUGH SOME RITUAL.  Many times we tell people we will pray about this or that and we never remember, just words.  ASK—SEEK—KNOCK—A progression or persistence or seriousness.  Our Father does not want to deprive us.

•    There are many examples of men in scripture who show their persistence with God.  They not only are persistent, but they are themselves with God; if upset, they are upset, nervous, then nervous. 

•    Communication with anyone is verbal and non-verbal.  It is the same with God.

•    Our communication with God should be growing and changing as we get to know Him better.

•    God has given promises throughout the Bible—we should find them and use them.  Faith is believing God’s promises.