Goal: To Have Everyone Pray Each Day – Preferably in the Morning
Jesus Prayed Before Engaging in Activity (Luke 5:15-16)
- “The news about him spread. The crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
- Jesus felt he had to stay connected to his Father over and above ministry. Jesus prayed because he wanted to be dependent/obedient to his Father. Jesus felt that activity before or w/o prayer would leave him disconnected from his Father.
- Jesus wanted his Father to influence his decisions. He said, “By myself I can do nothing; . . . . I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5:30).
Jesus Prayed Before Making Large Decisions
- “Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray. He spent the night praying. When morning came, he called his disciples together and chose twelve of them, whom he called Apostles” (Luke 6:12-13).
- Jesus wanted/felt the need to seek his Father’s will before choosing the Apostles.
Be Faithful in Prayer
- Paul said, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom 12:12)
- These two examples from the life of Jesus confirm the value/need for prayer.
- Prayer will:
- Draw us closer to Jesus
- Change us – Build Godly instincts in our minds and hearts which will:
- Help/show us how to relate and love people
- Increase the peace in our lives
- Help us make better decisions
- Be invaluable if we want to be transformed (Romans 12:2)
- Inspire us to share the Gospel
- Our “old self” is opposed to prayer. So, discipline is critical. Willpower needed!
- Why in the Morning? Because our prayer will carryover into our day.
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus often withdrew to pray before ministry or for large decisions?
- Did Jesus need to pray? (See I. A. and II. A. from page 1)
- What benefit do you think Jesus received when he went off to pray?
2. How is your prayer life right now?
- When you wake up, what is the first thing you do?
- How often do you slip into the demands of the day and miss prayer?
- What kind of fruit is your prayer life producing?
- Do you feel you are being transformed into Christ (Romans 12:2)
- Are you more kind, loving, patient; more able to resist some sin area?
- Can you make a promise to get your prayer time in each day? In the morning?
3. How can we help each other to make prayer a top priority?
- Come up with some suggestions. (Examples below)
- Small Group Accountability
- Couples/Family Prayer
- Read a chapter form Scripture each day
- Use a chart to record your prayer each day
- Try to be practical.
4. Give some examples – When was your prayer most powerful; anointed; blessed; fruitful; transforming; encouraging; inspirational; etc.?
5. Based on Luke 6:12-16, how can we improve our significant decision-making?
- How many of us analyze the situation weigh the options, maybe consult a spouse, expert, or friend, then decide – but without prayer?
- Are there any decisions you’re making now that you should bring to the Lord?
- Where does it say in Scripture to “draw Straws” in making decisions?