Prayer Basics

for

Adults
Lesson 4: When Should We Pray?
(A study guide resource built to accompany the book Prayer Basics: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Prayer and brought to you by the Office of Prayer and Spiritual Care, a ministry of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.)

The Office of Prayer and Spiritual Care

Equipping the Church... ...Answering the Call

2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org.

Prayer Basics For Adults (A Study Guide)

LESSON 4: When Should We Pray? All the Time! STUDY TEXT:
Psalm 102:1-8,12,13,18-22; Nehemiah 12; Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:1-4; Romans 1:18,23; Colossians 2:6,7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18 Our commitment to prayer must be constant priority; both the best of times and the worst of times can distract us from Gods plan for our lives. Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus (NIV).

LESSON FOCUS:

KEY VERSE: 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18

Open the Study

DISCUSSION STARTER: Brainstorm with students to answer this question: Name ten things it would be unsafe or unwise to put off once you realize they need to be done? (Less serious examples include filling an empty tank of gas or shopping for an anniversary or birthday gift for a spouse. More serious situations might involve changing the smoke alarm batteries, going to the doctor to check out a symptom that seems serious, or confronting a friend about a bad habit or risky behavior.) Discuss what the consequences might be if you decided to procrastinate on each of these items. Talk about which ones would be most serious to ignore, and why. EXPLAIN: Priorities say a lot about who we are and where were at in life. Everyday decisions on how we spend time, money, and energy speak volumes as to whats most important to us. Yet we also find ourselves in unexpected situations that demand quick, and often dramatic, decisions. Those decisions, and how we proceed once theyve been made, also serve to describe us and define our values. Nowhere is this more true than in our relationship with Godand specifically with regard to our prayer lives. Prayer is the foundation of that relationship, so it must be at the top of the list on our daily agenda. But we also face urgent momentstimes when we need to talk to God right away. In both cases, we have an incredible promise: God is waiting to hear from us. So whether youre sitting alone in your room or facing a crisis that needs immediate attention, its always the right time to pray.

2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org

Examine the Word 1. Seek God During the Hard Times

ILLUSTRATION: Display a small fan. (A large piece of cardboard or similar will work for this illustration if you wave it up and down to produce the effect of a fan.) Have a volunteer stand at the far end of the room as far from the fan as possible. Ask him or her to describe how well the breeze from the fan can be felt at that distance. Then have the volunteer walk slowly toward the fan before finally placing his or her face right up to the front of it. As this is going on, the volunteer should describe how the breeze feels. Explain that the fan didnt speed up or somehow develop the ability to move more air. Instead, the location of the volunteer is what changed; he or she moved closer. In the same way, there are times when we feel like God is very far away. But when we move closer to God by focusing on Him and talking to Him regularly, it becomes increasingly clear that, as always, He is there. And He is just as powerful and concerned about us as ever. EXPLAIN: There are a number of situations and challenges in life that can potentially threaten or even undermine our desire to seek God during the difficult moments. Three of them are outlined below. For each, read the Scriptures and/or discuss the questions provided. Avoid the trap of bitterness. ASK: How do people respond when theyve been let down, betrayed, or feel like they have been treated unjustly? (Note that bitterness is one of the most common responses. People get angry at others, at life, or even at God. Obviously, a reaction like this will only harm our walk with Him. The better choice is to reject anger and bitterness, and trust God for solutions, knowing that He always has our best interests in view.) EXPLAIN: We have two choices when hard times strike: We can allow bitterness to draw us away from God. Or we can call out to God for help, and trust Him to work out the challenges we face in His way and according to His timetable. READ: Psalm 102:1-8,12,13,18-22 ASK: Can you relate to the feelings of the Psalmist here? Explain. (Note that while we may not face the same situations, we all encounter times when life is unfair. Some choose to be angry with God as a result; yet the wise choice is to trust Him and cry out to Him in prayer. When we reject bitterness and look to God, we will not be disappointed.) Dont let fear overwhelm you.
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org

READ: Mark 4:35-41 EXPLAIN: Jesus disciples faced the terrifying prospect of drowning during a sudden storm at sea, and their first response was to focus on their fears. They even questioned Christs compassion: Dont You care if we drown? This wasnt a prayer. Its likely they were simply calling on Him to help bail water. Thats why Jesus responded with such a strong rebukeas well as why they were so amazed at the miracle that followed. DISCUSS: Talk about what situations tend to make people most afraid, and why. Note that some of the most fearful moments occur when we feel as though weve lost control. At such times, we will find peace when we surrender our concerns, and our inadequate personal efforts, to the strong and loving hand of the Lord. Focus on Gods promises. PONDER: Think about the moment in your life when youve been most disappointedwhen your life most profoundly went against all your hopes and expectations. How did that event impact your life? Did it affect your relationship with God in any way? Explain. (Encourage students to ponder these questions personally; invite any to share their own reflections if they wish.) READ: John 14:1-4 EXPLAIN: Jesus prepared His disciples for their biggest challenge of faith. He was about to be arrested, tried, and executed. Everything they believed about Him would be put to the test. The future never looked more grim. Like never before, they would need to trust Gods sovereignty, clinging to one profound hope: Gods promises, fulfilled through Christ, will stand forever. Today, hard times still hold the potential of derailing our faith. The enemy of our souls tempts us to question Gods love, if not His very existence. But prayer is the antidote. Jesus calls us to seek Him, confident in His unfailing promises.

2. Praise God in the Good Times

DISCUSS: Pose the following questions: How would most people today say success is achieved in life? How would you say that success is achieved? Note that it is increasingly common in our society to hear people speak of success lying within themselves; what we achieve depends primarily on our own time, efforts, and talents. As a result, many people are prone to congratulate themselves for the good things in life. But God gives us different instructions.
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org

 Give thanks to God when you succeed. READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 EXPLAIN: This is a common Scripture cited during rough times. And, indeed, God does want us to be thankful to Him through those hard circumstances. But this verse is just as relevant when life is good. Success can actually distract us from God by luring us into a trap of self-reliance. When things go our way, its easy to point toward personal efforts, individual sacrifices, and even the unique talents weve honed over time. Such a perspective, however, is rooted in one of the most destructive enemies of our faith: ingratitude. DISCUSS: Read the following Scriptures, then discuss as a class what each teaches us about the sin of ingratitude. Romans 1:18-23. (Ingratitude insults the Creator of the universe by assuming that we somehow are responsible for the blessings of His creation.) Colossians 2:6,7. (God wants our lives to be characterized by thankfulness. In Pauls writings, thankfulness and prayer are closely related. [See Philippians 4:6.] It is not hard to understand why. Prayer draws the focus away from ourselves and places it on God.) Dont take the little things for granted. DISCUSS: Ask students if theyve ever felt like theyve been taken for granted. Maybe they helped a friend or relative with a project and didnt get so much as a thank-you in return. Or they volunteered for something, then discovered that it was just assumed theyd be doing that task permanently. Talk about how it feels when this happens. Why, in their opinion, might even close friends and relatives take them for granted? Explain that sometimes we just assume someone is there. We forget about their sacrificesand even their feelings. READ: Matthew 7:7-11 EXPLAIN: The request in this passage doesnt involve the miraculous or the profound. Instead, it refers to asking for basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelterthings that often dont get a second thought. And God supplies them faithfully. Its these little areas where we must be careful not to forget about God. Theyre basic to life, a strong reminder that its God who sustains us. Without Him we wouldnt even have what it takes to live. Such provision calls us to pause and say a humble prayer of thanks.
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org

 Celebrate Gods goodness. RECAP: Note the description of Nehemiah 12, as highlighted in the book: Nehemiah 12 records one of the biggest celebrations in the Bible. Decades before, God had judged the people for their sinfulness by allowing the Babylonians and Persians to remove them from their land. But now He had forgiven them, restored them, and made the way for them to return to Jerusalem. Notice how they celebrated what God had done. People travelled far for the event. There were choirs singing, elaborately arranged to march on the wall. The people purified themselves spiritually. This celebration became so loud that it could be heard in the surrounding areas. REFLECT: Encourage students to reflect for a moment on the good things God has brought into their lives. What are some specific blessings they could name? EXPLAIN: Its no coincidence that Nehemiah was one of the greatest examples of a praying leader in the Old Testament, with over a dozen references to his prayers. Genuine thanksgiving always includes prayer, whether it be worship, praise, meditation, or simple words of gratitude voiced from a sincere heart.

3. Focus on God at All Times

Recognize your need for prayer. READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 EXPLAIN: This verse can seem a bit intimidating. Often we struggle to stay focused in prayer for more than a few minutes. How can we possibly pray nonstop? We must keep an important principle in mind when looking at this verse. Notice that it comes between two other commands, to be joyful always, and give thanks in all circumstances. The reality is, none of these three will always come easily. Sometimes joy seems far away. Other times its hard to give thanks. And, similarly, there are times when prayer can be difficult. So when we see verse 17 in context, we realize that it defines a conceptan attitudethat ought to characterize Gods people. This prayer mind-set can exist even when we arent bowing our heads and voicing a literal prayer. DISCUSS: Challenge students to ponder the situations in life that are most apt to cause them to lose their prayer mind-set. It may not be a crisis, but simply the mundane routine of life. Talk about ways to combat this loss of focus in each situation.
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org

 Dont become complacent. EXPLAIN: Certain situations naturally call us to prayer: a family crisis, a serious illness, a life transition. In those times prayer comes quite easily. But what about the day-to-day grind between the highs and lows? Perhaps its because the need for prayer isnt always immediately obvious, but whatever the reason, maintaining a priority of prayer can be a daily challenge. DISCUSS: Ask students to share personal thoughts and ideas on how to avoid complacency in prayer. A few ideas are presented below. Enter your prayer time with a plan. What requests call for your prayer? What Scriptures might guide your praise and worship? Regard prayer as a vital part of your relationship with God. This principle is worth repeating. Prayer isnt mere duty or repetition. It is conversation between us and our Lord. Avoid limiting prayer to crisis situations. Make prayer a part of your lifestyle; remember that God is more than the source of solutions in hard times. He is our loving Lord and Father. REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Self-analysis can be challenging, even painful. But our pursuit of spiritual maturity calls us to reflect on where we are at today. Where are we strong? Where do we need to grow? Pose the following questions to students, encouraging them to use these questions as a tool for evaluating their maturity in the area of prayer. Do hard times ever cause me to struggle in my relationship with God? How so? In what ways will prayer help me deal with those situations more effectively? Do I give God the credit and praise He deserves for the good things in my life? Why or why not? How is my perspective on life usually affected when Ive spent a lot of time praising and worshiping God? What is the biggest benefit of having a consistent prayer life, other than receiving help with needs and problems? Whats the biggest barrier I face in my efforts to pray regularly? How can I best overcome this barrier? CLOSING ACTIVITY: Close by encouraging students to develop a plan for maintaining a personal prayer life. The following questions can help them formulate such a strategy: What time of the day am I most likely to stay focused as I pray? (Some people are more alert in the morning while others find evening to be a better time.) Where can I goa specific room or other settingthat will offer the most privacy and least distractions to my prayer time? (Consider choosing a place that you can access every day.)
2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org

 What are some distractions I often face as Im trying to focus on prayer? How can I minimize these distractions? What are the most common excuses I struggle with when it comes to having a consistent prayer life? How can I answer these excuses and stay focused on my prayer commitment?

2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal, church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.