CLOSER: DRAWING NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD
Part 1: “The Door Is Always Open”
PRAYER CHANGES US IN UNEXPECTED WAYS
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying.Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Prayer changes people. Paul knew this and that is why he encouraged the believers in Thessalonica to never stop praying. Always being joyful and being thankful in all circumstances are possible when we are grounded in prayer because we are trusting that God will provide. This reminds us that our dependence needs to be in God alone.
Psalm 91:14-15, “The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.”
Prayer develops our trust in God. The Psalmist boldly declares that the Lord promises He will rescue, will protect, will answer, will be with us in trouble, and will rescue and honor. If we do not have a foundation of trust built through prayer, we are unable to rest in the assurances of God found in this passage.
Jeremiah 33:2-3, “This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.”
Prayer positions us to receive and understand “remarkable secrets… about things to come.” God spoke to and through Jeremiah to promise that He would open minds to understand about things that were to come. That kind of understanding is something that cannot be explained, but only experienced as we grow closer to God through prayer. God’s messages to Jeremiah in chapter 33 remind us that there are consequences for our actions, but God loves His people and His desire is to be merciful and bless them.
1 Peter 5:14-15, “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for..”
Prayer builds our confidence in knowing that God hears and answers. Peter shared with the early believers that they could be confident and know that God heard their prayers and He would answer. As He heard and answered their prayers, we can trust that He hears our prayers and will give us what we ask, when we ask according to what is in His will for us.
WHEN WE DEVELOP A HABIT OF PRAYER, OF SEEKING GOD FIRST IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES, THE NATURAL RESULT IS LIFE CHANGE. PRAYER FIRST, TAKES OUR WILL AND PLACES IT IN SUBMISSIONTO GOD’S PLAN. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE GOD CAN SURPRISE US, BRINGING THINGS TOGETHER IN WAYS WE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED AND WHEN HE DOES, IT IS OUR JOB TO PROCLAIM HIS GLORY TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN.
Matthew 26:40-41, “Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Prayer is protection. As Jesus was trying to explain to His disciples, prayer will strengthen both our body and our spirit so that we are better prepared to withstand temptation and to fight from a place of victory, rather than succumb under the pressure of life.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
Prayer is powerful. It changes us and has the potential to change our circumstances, if we allow it. How have you experienced this power in your life?
Take some time to read James 5:13-18.
What stands out for you in this passage about prayer? Can you think of some practices you can put into place to enhance your prayer life? Discuss with your small group.
Consistency in prayer can be challenging when we do not realize it is just like having a conversation with a friend. God does not judge your words, He is looking at your heart. Take some time to talk in your small group or with trusted Christian friends about how they grow in prayer. Some ideas are journaling prayers, reading Scripture as prayer, or having an accountability partner to pray with to develop a habit of prayer. Ask God to help you and trust Him to meet you in your need.
There are many great “pray-ers” in Scripture. They knew and tapped into the power of prayer. Prayer changes our response. David gave us many examples of prayer through all the Psalms that he left us. He knew how to cry out to God at all times, in times of need as well as times of praise, and wrote those prayers down for us.
Can you recall a time where prayer changed your response? Reflect on that time and discuss it with your small group.
Find a Psalm of David to read and write out to meditate on this week. Share which Psalm you chose and why with your small group. Read and try to memorize Psalm 145:18 and rest in the truth that the Lord is indeed close to all who call on Him.
Write out the Psalm you chose and post it where you can see it this week. Read it daily and as you do, allow it to shift your responses as unexpected circumstances arrive. Lean into allowing the practice of prayer to change you from the inside out.
Prayer is something we get to use to bless others. God has not blessed us with the gift of prayer to only keep it for ourselves, but to give it away as we intercede for others. As we cover others in prayer, we receive unexpected blessings.
Read 1 Timothy 2:1-8.
What are some benefits you can think of when we intercede for others? Can you recall a time when you prayed for someone else and it helped to strengthen your own faith? Elaborate on how and why these things are benefits as well as any experiences and discuss with your small group.
Take some time to imagine how God is working through your prayers, not only to change your circumstances, but to most importantly change you and help you grow in intimacy with Him. Commit to praying every day for the next 30 days and do your best to journal a few thoughts each day to document your prayer journey and the change you see in your life and your faith.
