Babies are deeply loved even before they can talk
         But parents long for the day they can have a conversation
    1.  God loves YOU deeply even if you can’t or don’t talk to him.
         But he wants you to GROW UP: Means learning how to talk to him!
    2. Learning to pray is like learning any other language.
            You listen and practice and get better…Words become sentences!
                     Q: Did your first sentences make sense?
       3. There is nothing off-limits in talking to God.
1 JN. 5:14-15 “We can be confident in approaching God, knowing that he listens to us whenever we ask him for anything according to his will. And since we know that he hears us when we make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us.”

GOD LIKES TO SHOW HIS GRACE BY ANSWERING PRAYER
 With every answer, God shows he is a good, good Father
...  even when the answer is NO or NOT YET!
 
 Q: Does a loving parent give a child everything they ask for? No!
Many good reasons: Protection, Correction. Direction not spoil
 God, you didn’t answer me!”  “Yes I did! My answer was no!”
 Always 4 possible answers: Yes, No, Wait, & Are you kidding!     
JER. 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you. I will show you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” (Mes)    
Sometimes the answer is a bigger perspective.  I now see...
MT.7:11 “If you, being imperfect and sinful parents know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?”  (NLT)
JAM.4:2 “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” (NIV)

GOD LISTENS TO PRAYERS THAT ARE SINCERE & SIMPLE
   You don’t have to use flowery words or fancy phrases.
  It just has to come from your heart.  Authentic.  Real.  Honest
                         
MT. 6:5-8 “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 men. I tell you the truth, they’ve received their reward in full. Instead, 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 babbling on and on 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.”           (NIV)

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS ABOUT PRAYER
to help you see prayer in a different way
GOD LOVES FOR ME TO TALK WITH HIM ABOUT ANYTHING
            It doesn’t have to be a “religious” topic!
            If YOU are interested in something- God is too!
            Why is God interested in anything you’re interested in?
                        1. He loves you!    When you love someone...
                        2. He gave you those interests!   He  shaped you!
                        3. He enjoys talking with his children!
PS. 103:13 “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who reverence him.”  

 Let's admit it:    We’re not very good at prayer.
Everybody feels inadequate.   Many are afraid to pray publicly
Even  Paul considered himself to be a novice at prayer
ROM 8:26  “We don't even know what we should pray for,nor how we should pray...”  (NLT)
- And even the disciples who lived with Jesus asked for help
 LK. 11:1 “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.
When  he finished, one of the disciples said  "Lord, teach us to pray...”
​God doesn’t want talking to him to feel so difficult!