2017 is the year of Prayer at CDG. The Sunday morning Adult Bible Study Group after a series titled "Prayer Begins With Relationship now looks at the question Prayer Does It Make Any Difference? We are using a book by the same title written by Philip Yancey. In his book Philip explores the intimate place where God and humans meet in Prayer. Polls reveal that 90 percent of people pray. Yet prayer, which should be the most nourishing and uplifting time of the believer’s day, can also be frustrating, confusing, and fraught with mystery. Writing as a fellow pilgrim, Yancey probes such questions as: •Is God listening? •Why should God care about me? •If God knows everything, what’s the point of prayer? •Why do answers to prayer seem so inconsistent? •Why does God sometimes seem close and sometimes seem far away? •How can I make prayer more satisfying? Yancey tackles the tough questions and in the process comes up with a fresh new approach to this timeless topic. “I have learned to pray as a privilege, not a duty,” he says, and he invites you to join him on this all-important journey. These are my notes for the study. The audio of the study is at the end of the notes.
I asked what to pray without ceasing means on Quora last week here are some of the answers:
I have at times struggled with prayer. I do not like this about me. I can go a day or two without it, and when I am, I am reminded that prayer should be a habit.
I have always taken the verse to mean that there should not be periods in your life marked by prayerlessness. That you should not stop praying. Not that you should only and always pray, perhaps, but that you should not give up on it.
To me, it means that connection with the divine is not like a faucet that turns off and on. It’s continuous. Seamless. And it implies to me that my life itself is a form of prayer, as to how I live it. Even my breathing in, and my breathing out: with awareness, this too is prayer.
I read another answer yesterday that nicely encapsulates it:
Wake up, begin prayer.
Go to bed, end prayer.
As a follower of Christ, all that I do should be done in His name: my work, my play, my parenting—all should reflect Him and His teachings. In so doing, I am communicating with God both my obedience and devotion but also my willingness to do more.
If the purpose of all this is to return to live with our God once more, and prayer is communication with God, isn’t living with God a de facto prayer without ceasing?
ASSESSING GOD’S LOVE
When put into difficult situations, even committed believers understandably question God’s actions. Job was no exception. Though he was certain he was guilty of no wrongdoing, he still wondered if God was angry at him or seeking some kind of vengeance. Often, as in the case of Job, external circumstances fail as reliable indicators of God’s attitude toward us.
Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This verse states plainly that Christ’s death ultimately proved God’s love. Believers do not have to depend on comfortable circumstances as a barometer indicating right standing with the Lord. All that was necessary to demonstrate God’s unwavering love has already been done. While questions about the purpose for adversity and pain persist, the New Testament points to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ultimate, objective, steadfast and concrete proof of the love of God.
Jesus, sometimes it is hard to trust during suffering. When I am in uncomfortable circumstances, help me to lean into your love for stability and security. Amen.
When put into difficult situations, even committed believers understandably question God’s actions. Job was no exception. Though he was certain he was guilty of no wrongdoing, he still wondered if God was angry at him or seeking some kind of vengeance. Often, as in the case of Job, external circumstances fail as reliable indicators of God’s attitude toward us.
Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This verse states plainly that Christ’s death ultimately proved God’s love. Believers do not have to depend on comfortable circumstances as a barometer indicating right standing with the Lord. All that was necessary to demonstrate God’s unwavering love has already been done. While questions about the purpose for adversity and pain persist, the New Testament points to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ultimate, objective, steadfast and concrete proof of the love of God.
Jesus, sometimes it is hard to trust during suffering. When I am in uncomfortable circumstances, help me to lean into your love for stability and security. Amen.
My friend Da’rrell’s story
A man of God, a COGIC pastor for over 20 years, a father of 3 adult children, a successful businessman. Has had multiple open heart surgeries, suffers with chronic back pain, takes tons of medication everyday. He has few hours each day where he can function because of the medications that he takes. He can’t work anymore, but he does preach on occasion. In addition to his ongoing health issues he now has three new ones. Fatty liver, gallstones, an umbilical hernia. He doesn’t blame God but he wonders what’s happening. He often talks about the fact that he is not afraid of dying. In fact he told God this past week when he woke up with angina, which is indicative of congestive heart failure, that if this is it I’m ready to go. All he really wants to do is see his youngest daughter graduate from college in 3 years. Here is an example of someone who has tremendous faith in God, in fact he teaches and preaches it, who has for years prayed for relief from pain and illness. He admits that he gets angry, frustrated and very lonely when dealing with the chronic pain. Nevertheless he constantly prays and we pray each time that we talk. Never stop praying no matter what. Your view will change from what you see through your eyes to what God sees.
We’ve been talking about how to respond to what we think are unanswered prayers and I think that last week we concluded that we really can’t explain why some prayers are answered in miraculous fashion, some slowly over time, and some don’t get answered or appear to be answered. It’s a mystery knows only to God and we must always default to Him because we can always count on Him being good, faithful, and loving us no matter what. When it seems that our prayers aren’t answered we should continue to pray because prayer does make a difference.
While we know all these things we are still left with the mystery and we are still confused why some are healed and others not, why some people get the resources they pray for and others not. Why some are saved in a tragedy and others not. Why Christian, who pray, have trials and non-Christians prosper. Yes we know that there will come a day when those roles will be reversed and reversed eternally it doesn’t stop us from wondering why.
What To Pray For
We should always pray our heart’s desire. While we know that God’s Will will be done in the end we should still pray for what’s on our heart.
Psalm 37:4 (NLT)4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Psalm 20:4 (NLT)4 May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.
If there is something that we want we should not be afraid of telling God. Jesus taught us to pray for what we want or need. “Give us this day our daily bread” We shouldn’t worry about the things we really need but Jesus never said don’t pray about them.
Philippians 4:6 (NLT)6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Here’s a statement from page 268 “God, I know you have your own purposes and undoubtedly have a plan for this person, but I’ll tell you straight out what I would like to see happen. In prayers for healing, as in all prayers of request, we should honestly present the problem and tell God our heart’s desire”.
Talking about praying for physical healing which, if we’re honest are the majority of prayer requests. Yes we hear requests for jobs, or resources the vast majority of requests are for physical healing. Mikey talked a little bit about studies that have shown that prayer does play a role in healing. Not the miracles but in healing. Faith works, it aligns body, mind, and spirit and that is all important in the healing processes God has already built into our bodies. There is a lot more information on this in our book in Chapter 18, Prayer and Physical Healing”.
We Should Not Be Afraid to Complain or Lament (a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.)
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| Photo credit My Utmost For His Highet |
God won’t come down on us for complaining or lamenting. Mary and Martha complained to Jesus that if he had come in time Lazarus wouldn’t haven't died. Now we know that Jesus said He didn’t go so that God would be glorified but Mary and Martha didn’t know that so when they saw Him they said if He had come their brother wouldn’t have died.
John 11:20-22 (NLT)20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
John 11:32 (NLT)32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
He wasn’t upset that they were complaining that He didn’t come He had compassion on them for their sadness.
John 11:33 (NKJV)33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
We all want happy endings to our trials and some Christians think that the endings are not happy that we don’t have enough faith or that there is some sin keeping that from happening, kind of like Job’s friends who said that he was going through the things he was dealing with because he had sinned, when in fact he hadn’t. Jesus was crucified. All of the Apostles were martyred except John who died in prison, but we are all blessed because of them and what they did in their lives.
God doesn’t have a problem with our complaining. The book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah, is one long cry expression of grief and sorrow. Eugene Peterson, who wrote the paraphrase of the Bible, The Message Bible, calculated that tw0-thirds of the psalms qualify as laments. That’s about 100 of the 150 Psalms. David complains about his enemies and wants God to take care of them.
We all have things that frustrate or anger us too. It may be people, or life circumstances, or an illness, and addictions, a relative, a boss, a job, something and need to vent. Yes we can vent to a friend or family member but they may not be able to do anything about it. We can always vent to God and leave it to him, rather than taking things into our own hands.
We Want To Make Sure That We Haven’t Done Anything To Disrupt The Relationship
Sin can disrupt the relationship. The only thing that can restore it is to confess because when we do we know that God will forgive us and restore the relationship.
1 John 1:8-9 (NKJV)8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We can also always count on Jesus mediating for us too when we sin.
Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
And He is the Righteous One. I just wrote a blog post “Who Is God? - Jehovah-Tsidkenu (tit-ten-nu) The Lord Our Righteousness One
Jeremiah 23:6 (NLT) And this will be his name: ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.
Here’s a neat story starting on page 270. The Catholic archbishop of Manila liked to tell the story of a woman who attended his weekly audience to inform him sha had a message from God. He brushed her off several times, but she kept coming back. Finally he said, “We Catholics have strict rules governing visions and messages from God. I need to test your authenticity. I want you to go back and ask God about a particular sin I recently confessed in private. If you ask God and he tells you the answer, I’ll know your vision is genuine.” The next week she returned and he quizzed her, a bit nervously, “Well, did you ask God about my sin?” “I did.”, “And did God answer?” “Yes.” “What did he say?” “God said that he couldn’t remember.”
Prayer Should Bring Peace
James 5:16 (NKJV)16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Fervent means having or displaying passionate intensity. We know also that David and others say cry out which may mean a loud scream or may mean fervency. Crying out and fervency in prayer will still result in what you happens after prayer and that’s peace or contentment or confidence.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jesus talked about peace in the face of trouble
John 14:25-27 (NKJV)25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Peace is an amazing thing. When you have peace you can think more clearly as you work through problems. Peace also help keep you healthy. Stress, fear, tension, worry all can lead to physical ailments.
We Have God’s Presence When We Pray Even When We Don’t Feel It Or It Doesn’t Look Like It.
Because Jesus kept His promise of sending the Holy Spirit we can be assured of God’s presence when we pray.
John 14:15-18, 25-26 (NKJV)15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Luke 24:49 (NKJV)49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV)16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Story of the leaper on page 273
If You Want To See Answered Prayer Start Praying For Others
When we are hurting or have a difficult decision to make or in the midst of a trial our vision is squarely on us most times. When we start to consider the plight of others and pray for them our view changes from us to others which is what God would really have us do. Paul talks about the fact that we receive answers so that we can be of comfort to others.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NKJV)3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
We Should Always Pray With Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)16 Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
There’s the story in our book on page 275 of the man who was severly burned at six years old who has undergone more than 60 surgeries so far in his life. Philip asked him what gives him the courage to keep going and he answered “I am alive! I am alive! I am alive! I didn’t miss out on living and that is good enough for me”. How many of us can have that kind of outlook on life. We whine over little things like a cold or the flu, or a hangnail, or a traffic accident.
Medical research has discovered that gratitude is the one emotional trait most likely to benefit physical health and recovery. Grateful people tend to be happier and more satisfied with they lives and may actually live longer.
We can even ask for a spirit of gratitude no matter what’s going on.
Bible Study Audio
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