Most people say they pray

If prayer were a phone call, what would be God’s tone?

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."— A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

Bottom Line

The God you picture is the God you pray to.

Prayer starts here. It starts with a right view of God.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8

The Hypocrites

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:5

The Pagans

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Matthew 6:7

Five Ways We Get God Wrong that Lead to Getting Prayer Wrong:

1. The Distant Deity
2. The Guilt Tripper
3. A Vending Machine
4. A Life Coach
5. The Passive Enabler

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father…
Matthew 6:8-9

Prayer starts with viewing God as a loving Father who is for us.

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
John 14:9

God the Father is like Jesus.

Action Steps

Pray - Create some space with Jesus to pray through the following:

• What experiences did you have in childhood that shaped the way you see God?
• What false views of God most resonated with you (distant deity, guilt tripper, vending machine, life coach, passive enabler)?  Are there others that fit your view of God?
• What does the assertion that “God is like Jesus” unlock for you?

Practice

• Spend at least 10-15 minutes in prayer each day this week.
• Grab a copy of “How to Pray” by Pete Greig to go deeper in this sermon series.