Psalm 37:4 (ESV) Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 
Larry Crabb in his book, “The Papa Prayer,” identifies two basic paradigms for prayer. The paradigm that is far more commonly accepted among Christians today is what he calls the “Get Things from God” paradigm. The
second paradigm for prayer, he calls, “Get to Know God Better.” 
 
We have looked at eight assumptions regarding both paradigms and compared them.  Now, we see how these two paradigms look like in our actual prayers.
 
FALSE PRAYER:
A Me-Centered Prayer Life
 
PETITION:
     Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
      * Bless me, dear God.
      * Give me the good life of fulfillment and joy.
 
INTERCESSION:
    Change Things for My Sake
      * Work in others and in my circumstances with my well-being in view.
 
THANKSGIVING:
    Thank You for My Blessings
      * You’re useful
      * I like it.
      * Keep it up!
 
WORSHIP:
    Here’s My Tip for Good Service
      * I’ll sing and praise You for what You’ve given me.
      * Hey, worship is easy. All I have to do is work up fervent emotions. Sacrifice isn’t required.
 
RELATING:
    Tell Me What to Do to Keep Good Times Rolling
      * I’ll do my part for as long as You do Yours.
 
TRUE PRAYER
A Relationally-Centered Prayer Life
 
RELATIONAL PRAYER:
    Draw Near and Listen
      * Remain in Christ
      * Let God’s word remain in you
 
WORSHIP:
    Bend Low As a Living Sacrifice
      * Surrender every second thing to gain union with God.
 
THANKSGIVING:
    In Every Circumstance Give Thanks
      * Thank God for the unique opportunity every blessing or trial presents to delight God’s heart and reveal Him to others.
 
INTERCESSION:
    May Your Kingdom Come Through Others
      * Change people’s hearts so that they long to advance Your will.
 
PETITION:
    With the Mind of Christ, Ask and Receive
      * Petitions grow out of a desire for God…
          – expressed by the Spirit’s groaning
          – discerned by the Father’s searching
          – furthering the Son’s joy.
 
Larry Crabb – The Papa Prayer writes, “We must put God in the center of our prayer life. We must develop a relationship with God. If we don’t pray relationally (to know God, to move toward union with God so that we increasingly experience His life in us and pour His life out of us into others) before we start asking for things, we’ll become narcissists disguised as Jesus followers, and we won’t realize what we’ve become. Prayer will be the weakest part of our spiritual journey.”