1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) — 17 Never stop praying.

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) — 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Six reasons people and churches fall away from prayer:

1. UNBELIEF
   • 1 John 5:14–15 (NLT) — 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
2. SATISFACTION
3. SELF-RELIANCE
4. RELIANCE ON OTHERS
5. GUILT
6. TIREDNESS

Old-School Church Teaches Us:

We should pray FIRST.

Acts 1:12–13 (NLT) — 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.

We should pray TOGETHER.

Acts 1:14 (NLT) — 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

We should pray for DIRECTION.

Acts 1:24 (NLT) — 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen.”

We should pray for God’s KINGDOM to advance.

Acts 2:42 (NLT) — 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

We should pray for God to EMPOWER us.

Acts 4:24 (NLT) — 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them…”

We should pray for God to FIGHT for us.

Acts 12:5 (NLT) — 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.