Study 1: Consistency = Praying Without Ceasing

Head

Heart

1. Before you watched the video, what would have been your instinctive reaction to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18?

2. What keeps you from keeping God near you all the time? Are there situations where you especially feel far from God on a day to day basis? Write those down and make a note of them.

Hands

1. Pray and thank God that he is with you at all times and in every circumstance.

2. Ask him to direct your heart to him throughout today.

3. Take a few moments to remind yourself to include God in your day today. For example:

   1. Set reminders on your phone to go off every hour that say things like, “Ask for God’s help,” “Thank God,” “Confess a sin.” When those reminders come up, don’t even stop what you’re doing, but just pray.

   2. Or, write those reminders on sticky notes and leave them around your kitchen or bathroom, on your car dashboard, or on your desk at work. 

Study 2: Praying all the time

Head

Re-watch the video – pay close attention to second half.

Heart

1. Can you think of a time in your life when God felt really close to you? What was it like to bring the Lord with you into every situation of every day?

2. Do you feel close to God on a moment by moment basis right now? If not, what is keeping you from him?

Hands

1. Write out some All-The-Time Prayer reminders. 

   1. Go to your answers from yesterday’s “Heart” section. 

   2. Where you feel far from God on a day-to-day basis is a great place to start. For example, if you feel far from God when you worry about your kids, make that one of your All-The-Time Prayer reminders.

2. Next, plan for a way to remind yourself of them. 

   1. Keep them in the back of your mind so that when you see them in your life, you take a moment to pray.

   2. Here’s a tip: write them on a sticky note where you work. This way, you will see them all the time and can take a moment to go over them; eventually they will become second nature.

   3. Or, download a prayer app, such as “Prayer Notebook” or some other similar one, onto your smartphone and use that. Set daily reminders so you can glance over them, get them in the back of your mind, and respond in prayer when you see them in daily life.  

3. The following table has some examples that I modified from my own All-The-Time Prayer Reminders. These are just a place to start, so take time to make them more specific to you and your life. Once you get used to recognizing three or four categories and praying throughout the day, add categories and situations as the Spirit puts on your heart.

Study 3: Private Prayer Time

Head 

Heart

1. Do you spend time privately praying, regularly? Why or why not?

2. What change could you make to be more consistent? 

Hands

1. Pick a time (look at your calendar, set reminders on your phone, set an alarm to get up) to pray regularly.

2. Use this time to do your “prayer homework;” if you’ve fallen behind, go back to week 1 and start again, going day by day through the exercises.

3. Try the One Year “Prayer Fitness” plan.

Study 4: Prayer With Others

Head

Read each passage and answer the questions:

1. Matthew 6:9-14: Why is it significant that Jesus uses the plural (“Our Father…” “give us today our daily bread…” “forgive us our debts…”) in the Lord’s prayer?  

2. Acts 2:42: What do you think it means that the early Christians “devoted themselves...to prayer”? 

3. 1 Corinthians 14:13-19:  “What does Paul mean by speaking in tongues?” is the less important question. More important is what Paul says clearly, especially in verses 17 and 19. According to Paul, what is the purpose of public prayer?

Heart

1. Do you pray with others? Why or why not?

2. When you are around others praying, do you try to pray along with them in your heart?

3. In prayer meetings, prayer groups or small groups, do you pray out loud when you have a chance? Why or why not?

4. What could help you pray more with others?

5. What could you do to help others feel more comfortable praying with you?

Hands

1. Worship is like going to the gym to see a physical trainer: you are not the spectator! In other words, don’t go to the gym just to admire the trainer working out; that’s weird. The trainer is there to lead you through your workout. So don’t go to church just to hear someone else pray. The prayer leader is there to lead you in praying.

   1. This next Sunday, intentionally pray along with the prayer leader.

   2. Try praying during the worship service when it’s not a planned corporate prayer. For example, pray for Jon as he’s preaching, that he would have confidence, be free of distractions, have energy, and that the Holy Spirit would work through him.

2. If you are not already part of a small group, plan to join one this coming year.

3. Consider coming early on Sunday mornings before the service (8:45) and participate in the pre-service prayer time.