PRAYER:  WHO | WHAT | WHEN | WHERE | HOW

WHO:  Our Father in Heaven, the Greatest Being in the Universe, we direct our prayers to Him.

Ephesians 3:14-15

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Romans 1:9

I thank my God through Jesus Christ.

WHAT:  We pray for His will first - Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

We are to align our will to God's.

Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Any request in prayer needs to be within His will as we find in Scripture.

James 4:3 - You ask and do not receive, because you spend it on your pleasures.

 1 John 5:14 - Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

God's will first means I will yield to it no matter what, even if He answers as a no, or not right now. He has an eternal perspective; I do not.

We are to ask "Show me Your will, then my needs and forgiveness, and deliverance from temptation."

WHEN:  Pray daily (examples show three times a day)

Luke 11:3  - Give us day by day our daily bread.

• Daniel prayed three times daily (Daniel 6:10)
• David prayed evening, morning and at noon (Psalm 55:17)
• Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray (Luke 5:16)
• Paul encouraged us to pray without ceasing, giving thanks in everything for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

WHERE:  We should pray in private.

Matthew 6:6  - When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who lives in secret will reward you openly.

Mark 1:25 - Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

HOW:   We should pray with our hearts.

Matthew 6:7-8 - And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions like the heathen do.  For they think they will be heard for their many words.  Therefore do not be like them.

Effective Prayer = Fervent Prayer with all our heart.

James 5:16 - The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Heartfelt prayer is passionate, sincere, and earnest.