Chris Wall • Matthew 6:16-18

Every one of us are experienced fasters. Maybe not this discipline of going without meals for the purpose of prayer, but all of us have fasted in daily life. Did you ever miss a meal in school because you were focused on a test. Did you choose not to watch a certain show because work required some extra time. At some point, you had to get up early to make an appointment or lose some sleep to get a job done. When the church was younger, fasting was much more common for followers of Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us about Fasting and He did not say, “if you fast, but “when” you fast. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that God calls us to experience because it produces incredible power in your life. This week, give up something that matters to you for the sake of turning your face to Christ in prayer.

Chris Wall • Matthew 6:9-15

It is good that most people can quote the Lord’s prayer by memory. Any scripture that is memorized is profitable. At the same time, Jesus quoted this prayer in the Sermon on the Mount so that we utilize the prayer to learn to actually pray. Often our prayers become monotonous and repetitive and come off of our lips with very little meaning. This is not the kind of conversation we are to have with the Lord. This morning, lets all lean into the Lord and learn to use this famous passage of Scripture like Jesus intended: To learn how to pray.

Chris Wall • Matthew 6:5-9

Jesus defined prayer simply defined is communication with God. Communication involves both listening and talking. Prayer is a fascinating and remarkable opportunity for us. Every one of us in this room could start talking to God right now and He has the power to not only to completely understand each one of us, but His Holy Spirit miraculously leads each of us in unique ways. We need to pray not because God is somehow needy. God leads us to pray not for Him but for us. Through prayer, we come to see the Lord’s hand uniquely. We come to know the Lord’s heart specifically. We come to understand the Lord’s will directly. This morning, allow the Lord to teach you to pray.