Prayer Basics. Adults

Transcription

1 Prayer Basics for Adults Lesson 3: What Should We Pray About? (A study guide resource built to accompany the book Prayer Basics: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Prayer and brought to you by the Office of Prayer and Spiritual Care, a ministry of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.) The Office of Prayer and Spiritual Care Equipping the Church......Answering the Call.

2 Prayer Basics For Adults (A Study Guide) LESSON 3: What Should We Pray About? Everything! STUDY TEXT: Psalm 34:18; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 6:9-13; 22:21; Ephesians 3:20,21; Philippians 4:6,14-19; Hebrews 11:1; James 1:5; 5:14-16 LESSON FOCUS: As we embrace God s assurance that He wants to hear about our every problem, need, and crisis, we can overcome barriers like guilt, fear, and doubt that hinder our prayer lives. KEY VERSE: Philippians 4:6 In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. (NIV). Open the Study DISCUSSION STARTER: Open the study by dividing the class into small groups and inviting each individual to share a specific time when he or she was particularly moved toward prayer. Perhaps it was a moment when there seemed to be no way out. Prayer was their only option. From those discussions, bring the class together and discuss the following questions: What kinds of situations or needs are most likely to prompt people to pray fervently? (Note that unexpected crises, severe health issues, and seemingly impossible moments are common precursors to prayer.) What are some difficult times in life when you might be less apt to think about prayer? (Note, as highlighted in the book, that we might be tempted to overlook prayer if we know God s answer will force us to make a hard choice, we fear feeling let down if the answer does not come, or we question if our need is too small for God to care about.) EXPLAIN: It s not uncommon to struggle with prayer when faced with certain situations, or when we grapple with difficult choices. So it is important to remember that we re not alone when prayer becomes challenging. We may wonder if God actually wants to hear the details of our lives. Or, doubts and fears might cause us to neglect prayer. Yet as we search the Scriptures, we find important promises that will energize our prayer lives, helping us realize that we really can take everything to the Lord. This study offers several principles we can keep in mind when the road of life takes us through some of these challenging moments where prayer doesn t seem to come easily.

3 Examine the Word 1. God Cares about What We re Facing EXPLAIN: Sadly, some believers struggle to pray because they wonder if God really cares about them in the midst of a world filled with problems and crises. These struggles, if not resolved, significantly hinder our prayer lives. Our prayers must be rooted in the confidence that God is compassionate and willing to act on our behalf. He isn t put off by our desperation, and doesn t grow weary at the sound of our voices. Below are two potential concerns filling our minds when we pray. Nothing is too big for God (READ: Hebrews 11:1). Our hope for answered prayer must be focused on several unchanging promises: God is good. God is powerful. Nothing is too big for Him to handle. Such assurances divert our attention from the need so we can focus on the solution God. ASK: Why is it so vital for us to adopt this perspective, focusing on God when a tremendous problem is looming? (This change of perspective is vital. Sometimes needs extend far beyond our capacity to understand, much less solve. Yet, faith, exercised through prayer, reminds us of who God is. As we focus on Him, the size of the problem becomes irrelevant. God is greater than any crisis.) READ: Ephesians 3:20,21. (Note that overcoming the notion that our problem is too big extends beyond simply acknowledging God s sovereign power. We must personalize it. Revisit verse 20; God s power is at work within us. The following subpoint expands on this important truth: God is willing and able to act because He cares.) God cares, no matter the situation. (READ: Psalm 139:7-14). (Explain that when we feel alone, God is there. When the valley seems dark, God s presence lights our way. Why can we be assured of this? Because we know God lovingly created us. He s been there from the beginning. His compassion for every detail of our lives will not cease.) ASK: How will grasping this truth, that God cares deeply about the things that burden our hearts, impact the way we pray? (No matter our situation, problem, or emotional state, God is there. He isn t put off by desperation. He doesn t reject His people because of their inadequacies. We can freely approach Him with any need. Such a realization will revitalize our prayer lives.) 2. We Can Take Even Small Needs to Him REFLECT: Ask students to think about a time when they approached a friend or loved one about a serious need, only to be brushed off with a trite response like don t worry about it or if you think that is bad, listen to what happened to me... How did they feel at that moment?

4 EXPLAIN: No one likes to feel as if someone they love doesn t take them seriously, especially when they are hurting. These fears can even spill over into our prayer lives. We know God has the power to meet any request. We recognize His compassion for the crises we encounter. Yet there are times we still might hesitate to take every need to Him. Perhaps we struggle with the concept of a sovereign God being interested in our problems. This feeling can grow stronger when we see the desperate, life-threatening crises confronting so many in our world. At such times we are wise to keep these principles in mind: All needs take high priority in God s eyes. (READ: Matthew 22:21). (Explain that while this verse doesn t intend to define prayer as a formula for getting anything we want [see 1 John 5:14], it s a good reminder of the power available to each of us when we pray. We re not at the bottom of God s priority list just because the world is full of needs that seem more dramatic or visible.) DISCUSS: Invite students to ponder some specific examples of needs that can seem small in the eyes of others, yet huge in our own eyes. Why is it important to recognize that God really does want to hear from us in those times? Prayer offers the cure for everyday anxieties. (READ: Philippians 4:6). (Explain that despite God s repeated assurances, it is not uncommon to feel anxious about even the most basic needs of life: My bills must be paid ; I feel like I m getting sicker ; My relationship with my parents is still a real struggle. ) ASK: How can we overcome feelings like these? (Note that in Philippians 4:6, we re invited to lay aside anxiety by giving our needs to the Lord. But the passage doesn t end there. See how verse 7 describes His peace as transcend[ing] all understanding. Some situations do leave us feeling as though peace is impossible the crisis moments; the private fears. Yet we can rest assured that, without favoritism, without prejudice, and without limitation, God cares about the needs we face.) 3. Seek God No Matter What the Need May Be READ: Matthew 6:9-13 EXPLAIN: God never intended for prayer to be difficult or stressful for us. Yes, the situations and needs calling us toward prayer can cause immense concern. But prayer is meant to be our refuge, our source of help in the worst of times. We need not worry about how we sound or what we ought to say. When we struggle to pray, we re wise to remember Christ s simple pattern for prayer: Our Father in heaven... (The prayer begins tenderly, calling us to address God as Father. While there is a place for formality in prayer, ultimately it s intended to be a personal conversation between Father and child.)

5 ...hallowed be your name... (God is both our tender Father and our holy Lord. The Creator of the universe is intimately concerned about each of our lives. This particular portion of the Lord s Prayer calls us to worship God, recognize His holiness, and seek Him for courage and strength to reject sin.)...your kingdom come... (These words call us to hold an eternal perspective when we pray. Although we re pressed by the needs and issues of this world, our greater concern must be the advance of God s kingdom priorities.)...your will be done on earth as it is in heaven... (This is, in a sense, the real-life application of the last phrase. As God s kingdom comes, His will and purposes are accomplished. This part of the prayer has a twofold meaning: We pray that God s commands will be honored, and we pray that His plans for the world, salvation, and eternity are accomplished.)...give us today our daily bread... (Jesus encourages us to pray for our needs, inviting us to trust His ability and willingness to provide. However, these are needs, not greeds. This passage calls us to reflect on those basic things required for life. We surrender ourselves to God s care and provision; we are not, however, called to look for a more comfortable lifestyle through our relationship with Him.)...forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors... (Here Jesus moves into the area of our relationships with God and with others. Note that the two are related. The term debts refers to sins. When we ve disobeyed God s commands, our first response must be to confess the wrong and seek forgiveness. However, we also need to ask God if we re withholding forgiveness from others, then respond by forgiving them.)...lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one... (The Christian life involves real spiritual warfare [Ephesians 6:10-18]. It is a battle with an enemy seeking our spiritual destruction. From our point of view, then, prayer serves a fundamental role in the success of this battle. In such spiritual tests, we are powerless to succeed through our own efforts; we need God s help. This passage calls us to pray that God would spare us from harsh tests because we are weak in ourselves, while also recognizing that His power is necessary and available to see us through the tests successfully.) DISCUSS: The invitation found in the Lord s Prayer is clear: Seek God for whatever need you face. (Read each of the Scriptures below, or have students read them in small groups. Note that they represent just a few examples of needs, along with God s assurance that He can meet such a request. Talk about what each tells us about the role of prayer in dealing with these needs, as well as specific steps to take when these needs arise.)

6 Do you need healing? James 5: (This passage provides a straightforward procedure to pursue when sickness comes our way. Get together with spiritual leaders and seek God for a miracle. This provision is rooted in Christ s sacrifice on the cross [Matthew 8:16,17].) Do you need financial help? Philippians 4: (Even Paul faced financial needs. Paul also recognized that God holds unlimited resources to meet those needs and He shares them lovingly.) Do you need help in a relationship? Psalm 34:18. (God is near. He can intervene and restore. This may mean uncomfortable confrontations, as well as humbling requests for forgiveness, yet He gives strength [Luke 6:27-31].) Do you need direction? Jeremiah 29:11-13; James 1:5. (God invites us to look to Him for guidance, reminding us that we re not equipped to pilot the course of our lives in ourselves. He intends and desires to be there for us.) 4. Put Prayer into Action REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Most Christians have at one point or another entered a prayer service or prayer time wondering, What should I pray about? Here are some questions to consider as you develop greater focus in your prayer life. What specific needs or struggles might you hesitate to bring to the Lord? Why? How would you respond to a friend who said she didn t want to pray about a particular issue because she was afraid of what the answer might be? Have you ever hesitated to pray about a particular problem or concern? Why did you hesitate? What should you do if you encounter a crisis so serious that you re afraid to take it to the Lord in prayer? Why can you feel assured that God cares about the simplest or most personal needs in your life, even if others might see these needs as trivial? PONDER: Encourage students to read each biblical prayer below, then think about what the person praying was going through, as well as what feelings, concerns, fears, or joys might have prompted those prayers. Invite students to ponder how they might pray in the same situations. 1 Kings 19:1-18 Nehemiah 1:1-11 Job 1:1-22 Psalm 51:1-12 Psalm 54:1-7 Psalm 119:10-24 Psalm 139:1-24

7 Luke 22:39-46 Luke 23:40-43 Acts 1:15-25 Acts 6:12-15; 7:51-60 (See Acts 7:1-50 for Stephen s full sermon.) PRAYER: Take time at the end of this class session to spend a few minutes in prayer, one for another. Invite students to share the needs weighing on their hearts, and encourage them to note the requests so they can pray for each other in coming days. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.