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This past Sunday, Pastor Philip talked about prayer from Jude. Prayer is an integral part of a life of worship. There are two events that really impacted my life of prayer. The first was when I was about 9 years old. I was going through catechism at Sugar Creek Presbyterian where my father was the choir director. It was the end of the class and I was asked to close in prayer. I just sat there in silence because I HAD NEVER PRAYED OUT LOUD BEFORE! Prayer just wasn't a part of what our family did.

Jump forward a few years. My parents had a real spiritual awakening and things changed in our house. My father had lost his job and we had been without income for many months. We had run out of food and there was no prospect for any more. My parents knew they needed to pray but weren't sure whether to include the children because "what if we pray for food and God doesn't answer?" They eventually chose to include us and we knelt around the bed to pray for an immediate need...food. While we prayed, we heard a knock at the door. Our neighbor (not knowing our need) chose that moment to show up with two bags of groceries to thank my mother for helping him with some cake decorating. It was the first time that I understood that prayer has very specific, tangible results. Prayer has been an important part of my life ever since.
One thing I've learned about prayer is that there are amazing prayers spoken and written by others, and there's nothing wrong with using them as a jumping off point for your own conversation with God. We all sing songs written by others. Why not do the same with prayers? Now I'm a very practical Christian and I like to give people usable tools. Here are two that I have used over the years in my own prayer life:
ACTS
This is a prayer format that is modeled after many of the prayers we see in the Bible. It's an acronym for:
A - adoration: You praise God for who He is..."O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth."
C - confession: You confess your sins. 
T - thanksgiving: You tell God what you're thankful for.
S - supplication: This is a fancy word for "asking for things." One of my favorite ways to do that is the five-finger prayer. What I love about that is it allows me to do more than just pray for me.
THE FIVE FINGER PRAYER
Turn you hand sideways with your thumb pointing at you.
Thumb - Your thumb is closest to your heart. Pray for those closest to your heart...family and close friends.
Index finger - It is used for pointing. Pray for those who give you direction...teachers, pastors, mentors
Middle finger - It is the tallest and strongest. Pray for those in government...mayors, legislators, the President, the military, etc
Ring Finger - It is your weakest finger. Pray for those weak and in need...the sick, the lost, those in pain.
Pinky - It is the smallest and least of your fingers. Pray for your needs.
As you do this with some frequency, it begins to become a part of you. There are other prayers you might add. The Lord's Prayer is a good one. There is a prayer of confession I often use. I prayed the prayer of Jabez for years in my 20's and early 30's. I currently pray a prayer that Saint Martin prayed every day because it fits where I am right now. You do what works for you.
The last thing I want to mention is Pastor Philip's instruction to pray like a child, with innocence and humility. Children BELIEVE! When he said that, I thought of a song I used to sing many years ago called "Still Listening" by Steven Curtis Chapman. On Sunday when I got home, my memories on Facebook included a video I recorded on Skype with my children 15 years ago. I was in Afghanistan and was doing a sermon on prayer and wanted to do the song. I recorded the rest of it on Monday. I hope the words (and not my mistakes) bless you!
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
Build Your Kingdom Here
All Creatures of Our God and King
Yet Not I but Through Christ In Me
Still God, Still Good
...and we are learning
Graves into Gardens