Prayer - Week 3
INTRODUCTION
Open in prayer, and then read this passage of Scripture with your Group. Jesus said:
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours …” Mark 11:22-24
MAIN IDEA
Prayer is one of the primary ways that we express our faith in God. When you think about it, it’s a little crazy – this idea of talking to an invisible person. That kind of stuff can get you placed in a psych ward. But still there is something very natural about it, right? Think about all the times that you’ve been in an emergency situation, and felt the impulse to cry out to God for help.
That’s not just an issue of upbringing, and what we’ve been taught. It’s actually hard-coded into our DNA. The Bible only goes four chapters before it says, “At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” Why? Because they knew that God created them, and they knew that they still needed Him.
We pray because we believe that God hears us, and because there is power in prayer that’s beyond the power we have through our own effort. But believing in the power of prayer is only the beginning. As believers and followers, we get to devote ourselves to the practice of prayer. And the practice of prayer is all about consistency.
DISCUSSION
- What results have you personally experienced as a result of prayer?
- What’s the current role of prayer in your daily life?
- What are the biggest obstacles in your prayer life?
- What improvements would you like to see in your approach to prayer?
MONDAY TEST
- Pray consistently! Don’t worry too much about the length of time, or the quality of the words. Instead, just prioritize praying daily. Daniel 6:10
- Pick a place! Try to designate a physical location for your prayer time. Someplace with minimal distractions, where you can focus on just God’s voice. Matthew 6:6
- Pray with power! Remember God’s given you the faith to move mountains. Pray like it. James 5:16
THIS WEEK’S PRAYER
Father, thank you for listening every time I call. I’m praying because I have faith that you hear me, and that you have given me a powerful spiritual voice. It’s powerful because of You, not me. So I ask for the boldness to pray the big prayers! In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
LEADER TIP
What a great week to extend your time of prayer with your Group a bit? Here’s an idea: Maybe go around the room and receive prayer requests. If there are a few people in your Group who are comfortable praying out loud, spread them out and just pray for each request one by one.