During the weekend message, we were reminded that many people have misconceptions and perceptions of who God is. Some people falsely treat God like a vending machine, just there to give us what we need right when we need it. Others mistakenly see God as watching and waiting for us to mess up so He can punish us. Some mistakenly believe that God is never satisfied with our prayers or the time we spend with Him. Of course, Scripture teaches us something entirely differently. Scripture teaches us that God loves every single person and is interested in every aspect of our lives. Even more, God invites us to talk to Him in prayer. Today, we will dive into Scripture to discover what God says about growing in our relationships with Him through prayer.
What holds people back from growing in their prayer lives?
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1. Read Matthew 7:9-11. What does this passage of Scripture reveal to us about God?
Matthew 7:9-11
“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
2. Read Matthew 7:7-8. What does Jesus teach us about how to approach God in prayer, according to this passage of Scripture?
Matthew 7:7-8
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
3. Read Psalm 37:4. How does this passage of Scripture help you to understand what it means to seek God when we pray?
Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.
4. Look back at Matthew 7:7-8, which is listed above. What is the promise for those who ask, seek, and knock, according to this passage of Scripture?
1. How has God proven Himself to be a good gift-giver in your own life? How does this understanding impact your prayer life?
2. When it comes to not just asking, but also seeking God and His kingdom, what is one area you can grow?
3. What does it look like to “keep on knocking” like Jesus called us to in Matthew 7 in our world today?
During the weekend message, we were challenged to pick one person who is far from God and commit to praying for them every single day until they give their life to Jesus. Who have you chosen to be praying for? Share that person with your group. When everyone has finished, pray together. Pray for each one of these people to one day commit their lives to Christ and become fully devoted followers of Christ.
We acknowledged earlier that people often have misconceptions about God, false beliefs about who God is and His character. These misconceptions can impact our prayer lives if we allow them to. Today, we will set aside these misconceptions and turn to what Scripture teaches about God. The truths that we will study today about God are essential for us to carry with us as we turn to God in prayer.
When we pray, we are not praying to a God who might be able to work in our lives. We are praying to the all-powerful God who can do anything. He is more than able to work in our lives when we turn to Him in prayer.
1. Read Matthew 19:26.
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
2. What does this passage of Scripture teach about God’s power?
3. How have you experienced God’s power displayed in your own life?
4. How does remembering that God is all-powerful impact your prayer life?
Not only is God all-powerful and everywhere, He is also all-knowing. He knows everything. He knows each one of us better than we know ourselves, and He knows what we need. This is the God whom we pray to when we turn to Him in prayer.
1. Read Matthew 6:7-8.
Matthew 6:7-8
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
2. What do we learn about God from this passage of Scripture?
3. Since God knows what we need before we even ask Him, how do you expect Him to respond to your prayers?
4. How does remembering that God knows what you need impact your prayer life?
Unlike us human beings, who can only be in one place at a time, God is not limited by time or space. God is everywhere. That means He is with us every single second of every single day. When we pray, we are praying to our God who is with us right now.
1. Read Jeremiah 23:23-24.
Jeremiah 23:23-24
23 Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. 24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.
2. What does this passage of Scripture reveal about God?
3. What feelings does God’s presence and nearness bring as you think about the truth that He is everywhere?
4. How does remembering that God is everywhere impact your prayer life?
Now that you have studied these three attributes of God, take a few moments to reflect. Which of these characteristics of God stands out to you the most? Why? Share your answers to these questions with your group. Over the next week, commit to memorizing the Scripture related to the attribute of God that you shared so that you can keep it in mind every time you pause to talk to God and pray.
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