Encouragements to prayer
- An opened way, Heb 10:19-20 ‘We have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.’
- A heavenly advocate, Heb 7:25 ‘He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.’
- An indwelling Spirit, Rom 8:26 ‘The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.’
- A great example – Jesus
- A delighted Father, Prov 15:8 ‘The Lord abhors the sacrifices of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.’
- A promised blessing, Mt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.”