Study on Prayer

I've posted all three parts of the prayer study I used with my Sunday School class. You can either scroll down the page for all of them, or click on the appropriate links. I hope it blesses someone.

What is prayer?

Why should we pray?

What are the results of prayer?

Prayer - What is prayer?

“Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord.” ~ CARM

“Prayer is the practice of the presence of God.” That is the definition of prayer in a nutshell. But what does it mean? Think about your closest relationship. What does it mean to be in that person’s presence? What do you do together?

• You confide in each other.


• You congratulate each other on jobs well done.


• You thank them for things they’ve done for you.


• You ask advice or for help.


• You say you’re sorry.


• You hang out, just enjoying being together.
  
  That’s how our relationship with God should be.

• You confide in each other. You tell God your deepest hurts, highest dreams, and greatest longings. (See Jeremiah 33:3)


• You congratulate each other. This is what we do when we praise God, when we admire and enjoy His creation. (See Psalm 71:8, Psalm 72:18, Psalm 92:1, Isaiah 63:7, and Matthew 15:31. See also Zephaniah 3:17 and Matthew 25:20-21)


• You are thankful. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Matthew 25:34-40)


• You seek advice. This is not reciprocal as God knows and sees everything and does not need our advice. He does, however, long to give us help in our time of need. (Psalm 18:6, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 33:20, Hebrews 4:16, and James 1:5)


• You apologize. Again, this one is not reciprocal as God does no wrong. However, in order to keep our relationships strong we must “clear the air” so to speak. In our relationship with God we must confess our sins and repent. (Psalm 51:10 and 1 John 1:9)


• You enjoy being together. (Psalm 16:11, Matthew 28:20, and 1 John 3:19)
  
  
  

Why should we pray?

“Since the power of prayer is in the One Who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” ~ Max Lucado in He Still Moves Stones

“Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” ~ John Bunyan

We are commanded to pray.

• Should pray always. (Luke 18:1)


• Be…faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)


• Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)


• You do not have, because you do not ask God. (James 4:2)

Jesus gave us an example.

• The Model Prayer (Luke 11:1-5)



• For Peter (Luke 22:32)



• Before feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000 ( John 6:1-15 and Mark 8:1-9)



• He prayed often. (Luke 5:16)



• Early in the morning (Mark 1:35)



• All night (Luke 6:12)



• In the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46)

(If Jesus, the very Son of God, felt a need to be in communion with the Father, then surely we humans need it even more.)

Prayer shows our dependence on God. (John 15:5)

We are priests between the lost and God.

• 1 Samuel 12:23



• Ezekiel 22:30



• 1 Timothy 2:1-4

God acts in response to prayer.

• Moses prayed for the people to be spared and God spared them. (Exodus 32:7-14)



• Elijah prayed for no rain and it didn’t rain for three years, not until he then asked for rain. (James 5:17-18)



• Hannah prayed for a son and received him. (1 Samuel 1)



• David prayed for forgiveness and God gave it. (Psalm 51)



• Jonah prayed for mercy and received it. (Jonah 2)



• Peter prayed that Tabitha would be raised from the dead, and she was. (Acts 9)



• God offers the same to us. (See Psalm 37:4, Matthew 21:22, and James 5:16)

Results of Prayer

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." ~ Samuel Chadwick

• Our sins are forgiven. (1 John 1:9)



• Our hearts and minds are renewed. (Psalm 51:10, Isaiah 40:31, 2 Corinthians 4:16, and Romans 12:2)



• We have peace. (Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:6-7)



• We have hope. (Romans 15:13)



• We get strength. (Psalm 59:16, Isaiah 40:31, and Philippians 4:13)



• We are delivered. (Psalm 34:17)



• We receive direction and guidance. (Isaiah 30:21 and Proverbs 3:5-6)



• We are encouraged. (Psalm 10:17 and Hebrews 4:16)



• We demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)



• We become like Jesus. (1 Corinthians 2:16 and 2 Corinthians 3:16-18)