Prayer  

"To pray is to change . . . If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives."--Richard J. Foster

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:6,7.

Introduction: If prayer is supposed to be communication between the Lord and His children, why is it that so many of us are experiencing a one-way conversation? Doesn't He hear our prayers? Doesn't He speak to us so clearly that we know exactly what He said?
  Too often, prayer is seen as asking God for something--"Lord, help Aunt Millie's cancer and help me not get angry so much and remember missionaries everywhere." But prayer is so much more than asking God for something. It's a continual communion with our Maker, it's expressing our love and gratitude for His mercy and grace; it's confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness; it's recognizing His holiness and worthiness to be lifted up in our life and church; it's waiting in silence for Him to speak; it's bowing before Him and earnestly seeking to know His heart and will.
  Prayer is communion with God and if our prayer is froma broken and contrite heart, we can't help but see the glory of God and change. This is why Paul admonishes us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Our prayer life shouldn't end when we finish our morning devotions. Prayer must saturate our minds with the will and Word of God.
  Much confusion has arisen in Christianity regarding prayer because of our human desire to immediately and completely know the will of God. Time is spent seeking His will, which is good, but we have forgotten God is calling us first to seek Him. If our primary focus in prayer is knowing God's will, we'll be repeatedly disappointed. On the other hand, if our primary focus is knowing God, then the revelation of His will is automatic. Why?
  Whenever we want to know what someone else wants or doesn't want, likes or dislikes, needs or doesn't need, it's best to get to know the person. If a husband wants to know what his wife likes, wants, and needs, he'll fail if he gives her a written form to fill out. He knows what she needs and wants by knowing her, by sharing with her, by complimenting her, by encouraging her, and by ministering to her. By knowing the person, we know what they want. Know God--know His will.

Lesson Questions:

1. Many believe the events in the universe are set, and therefore, prayer is an unneeded exercise. How does scripture disprove this, and reveal that prayer has a profound impact on the Kingdom of God? James 5:15-18; 1 Samuel 1:11,17; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:14.

2. Is it possible to change God's mind through prayer? Exodus 32:11-14; Luke 11:5-8.

3. What does scripture say regarding the private time we should spend in prayer? Mark 1:35; Psalms 63:1; Matthew 6:6; Luke 9:18.
Note: In Matthew 26:40, Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to watch and pray with Him for one hour, just before He went to the cross. It seems His belief was that an hour of prayer was the expected time we should spend in prayer. We can see this in His statement, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"

4. What should be the Christian's constant attitude toward prayer? Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:8.

5. What does the parable of Luke 18:1-8 teach us about prayer?

6. Explain the importance of knowing God's will prior to interceding for a person or situation. James 4:1-3; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14,15.

7. How does forgiving others affect our prayers? Matthew 6:14,15; Proverbs 28:9.

8. What are the foundational principles of prayer, as found in Matthew 6:9-13?

9. What attitudes does Matthew 6:5-8 warn against in the Christian's prayer life? Also see Luke 18:11.