Study 1: Misunderstandings and Obstacles to Prayer
“Sometimes when we say, "God is silent," what's really going on is that he hasn't told the story the way we wanted it told. He will be silent when we want him to fill in the blanks of the story we are creating. But with his own stories, the ones we live in, he is seldom silent.” ― Paul Miller, A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World
Head
Heart
In the video, we talk about four things that prayer is not. Have you been tempted to think any of these things? In what ways?
Which of the three obstacles to prayer do you struggle with most? Why?
What else keeps you from praying?
Hands
For each of the obstacles you came up with, pray that God would help you trust more in his promises than your feelings. Try and get specific. For example:
“Father, I often feel unworthy to pray to you. I’m ashamed of my apathy and sin. I just screwed up this morning, and the last thing I want to do is come before you. But help me to see that I can boldly come to you because of Christ. Help me to realize the most important thing when I feel unworthy is to come before your throne of grace.”