Day 287 – Jesus’ Teachings on Prayer

• Prayer is a wonderful gift. Just think for a minute what we do when we pray. We’re speaking to *God*. The Designer, the Creator, the Sustainer of the cosmos… and we have such a personal relationship, through Jesus, that we can come to our Heavenly Father and speak to Him at any time. You might have said a thousand prayers in your lifetime, but that thought should still leave you awestruck.
• At bible studies, it’s a privilege to hear you guys praying, and to pray for you too. How often do you come to God in prayer at different times, in a non-organised situation? Is it a daily part of your life?
• Do you use the prayer suggestions I post each day? Why, or why not?
• If you’re like me, you’ll need to specifically make time for prayer. Sure – I pray silently when I’m walking somewhere, perhaps, but I know that good quality time with God in prayer only really happens when I set aside time for it. What about you?
• List the type of things Jesus says in the familiar words of the Lords Prayer that we looked at today. For example, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” reminds us that we are part of a heavenly family, and that God is worthy of all our praise. What do the other lines allude to?
• In your prayers, how much do you praise God’s name? Consider spending time in prayer where you consciously don’t ask God for anything, but simply thank Him for all He has done for you.
• Look at Luke 11:5-8. It tells the story of a persistent friend looking for some bread. What do you think this means in the context of our praying? Think about the man’s “impudent” knocking as a positive, rather than unwelcome, thing.
• Luke 11:9-13 are some of my favourite verses. Have you ever heard the song “Seek Ye First”? It’s taken from these passages. Consider what good things your own father give you. Then think about how much more your God, your Heavenly Father, wants to bless you in the Holy Spirit. How could these verses be misused to suggest that a prosperity gospel (which is a type of Christian teaching where God will give cars/wealth/etc to everyone will enough faith) is correct? Why is this not correct?
• Do you ever pray for something that you secretly hope won’t come true? For example, a prayer to give you the opportunity to share the gospel with someone? Or do you pray for help avoiding sin, but then do that sin again soon after? Do you get disheartened when your prayer doesn’t get answered in the time-frame you hoped? How can you handle these situations?
• What does the vine illustration in John 15 mean? What do we have if we’re not “abiding” in Jesus?

Prayer is powerful. God calls us to do it. Jesus reminded us many times too.

Prayer is not just time with God to ask Him for things. It is a form of honouring God, and serving Him. It’s also one of God’s intended means of gaining wisdom in situations, which is why we pray before we embark upon major decisions, or before we share our faith, or when we feel weak, or when we want to encourage people around us. God promises that He answers prayer, as long as it is in accordance with His perfect understanding and wisdom. Prayer can also be a way of understanding God’s plans for our lives.

Prayer also comes from a faithful and trusting heart. A regular prayer life is a great indication of a life lived for Jesus, because it is often done in secret, unlike the boastful prayers in public that Matthew warned against.

If you’re struggling with prayer: why it’s important, remembering to spend time doing it, or for the confidence that prayer works, do speak to whomever you meet up with to talk about it.