Prayer
Prayer foundation:
1. Prayer is expected; this is not so much a divine summons as it is a royal
invitation! We pray as a child to the Father. (Matt 6:5-9; Col 4:2; I Thes
5:17; Heb 4:16)
2. Prayer is learned; (Luke 11:1) It is encouraging to know prayer involves
a learning process. It is like the new instruction packaging for electronics.
They include the most simple instructions to simply set the new item up and
begin using it. Then after some practice we are ready to learn more from the
manual and further use.
3. Prayer is answered by God; (John 16:24; Matt 7:7; Luke 18:1; James 4:1-3)
God wants us to have a confidence that He will answer! God wants us to ask
and not be selfish
Key Verse:
" And
when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing
in the
synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell
you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray,
go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you
pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what
you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Practical project:
Focus on one of the times in your life where prayer is already
a habit (like before meals, when you go to sleep, in the morning, etc.). At the
beginning of the week sit alone for 10 minutes and come up with a plan to make
that time more meaningful (not longer). Then practice it for 5 days & note
any difference. Use our class discussion as a stimulus. (If you do not have any
regular time of prayer in your life, simply start a regular prayer before meals
or before going to sleep – then note any difference. Don’t take any more than
5 minutes a day to do this.)
Questions:
Where (and how) have we made prayer a discipline (i.e. where do we regularly
do it)? Where can we apply “discipline” to our prayer life?
How can we make it
legalistic?
What have your found very helpful in your own personal prayer life?
What hinders
you in your prayer?
How can we make regular prayer times (like before meals) more
meaningful?