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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.)
LESSON FOCUS:
EXPLAIN: Its 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 were 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 doesnt seem to come easily.
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org
EXPLAIN: No one likes to feel as if someone they love doesnt 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 Gods eyes. (READ: Matthew 22:21). (Explain that while this verse doesnt intend to define prayer as a formula for getting anything we want [see 1 John 5:14], its a good reminder of the power available to each of us when we pray. Were not at the bottom of Gods 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 Gods 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 Im 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, were invited to lay aside anxiety by giving our needs to the Lord. But the passage doesnt end there. See how verse 7 describes His peace as transcend[ing] all understanding. Some situations do leave us feeling as though peace is impossiblethe 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.)
...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 Lords 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 were pressed by the needs and issues of this world, our greater concern must be the advance of Gods 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 Gods kingdom comes, His will and purposes are accomplished. This part of the prayer has a twofold meaning: We pray that Gods 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 Gods 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 weve disobeyed Gods commands, our first response must be to confess the wrong and seek forgiveness. However, we also need to ask God if were 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 Gods 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 Lords 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 Gods 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.)
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org
Do you need healing? James 5:14-16. (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 Christs sacrifice on the cross [Matthew 8:16,17].) Do you need financial help? Philippians 4:14-19. (Even Paul faced financial needs. Paul also recognized that God holds unlimited resources to meet those needsand 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 were not equipped to pilot the course of our lives in ourselves. He intends and desires to be there for us.)
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org
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 Stephens 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.
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org 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.