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Habit # 3: Deliberating Prayer
Habit # 3:
Deliberating Prayer
The Seven Spiritual Habits of a Maturing Messianic Jewish Faith
Repeating the Series Theme:
Discipline is an active pursuit toward personal development.
Spiritual Discipline is living out G-d's expectations for his people to learn of him
and to actively accustom themselves to living their lives his way!
The third spiritual habit is Deliberating Prayer. Setting aside specific
time each day for intentional, unhurried and well thought out prayer is
a sign of a maturing faith. If we really believe the Scriptures
teaching to take our concerns to G-d, then we must make prayer a clear
priority in our schedule, both personal prayer as well as communal
prayer with others.
Big Idea: G-d expects us to prioritize intentional prayer!
1) How do the Scriptures describe Deliberating Prayer?
a) It is Relational (relax and unhurried in the presence of G-d)
- Genesis 3:8-10, 5:21-24 - Walking with G-d
- Psalm 23 - Being Encouraged by G-d
- Matthew 26:38-42 - Being Strengthened by G-d
b) It is Intercessional (this requires personal humility and selflessness)
- Genesis 25:21 - interceding on behalf of spouses
- Numbers 14:11-20 - Interceding on behalf of unbelievers
- Matthew 5:43-44 - Interceding on behalf of enemies
c) It is Tenacious
- 1 Kings 18:42-46 - Don't give up
- Daniel 9:1-5, 20-23 - Pray with Passion and Repentance
- Luke 18:1-8 - Pray with Expectation for G-d to act
- Acts 9:10-19 - Pray for personal needs and personal restoration
d) It is Frequent
- Psalm 88:1 - Daily
- Daniel 6:10 - Regularly and consistently - They could set a clock by Daniel
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Without pausing! Maintaining an attitude of prayer
2) What are Scriptural Models of Prayer
a) Individual Personal Prayer - Genesis 12:8; Psalm 5:1-3; Matthew
6:5-15
Individual prayer can be done anywhere, anytime; we must consider our
motivations and also check to be sure our relationships are right; sin
blocks our prayer
b) Communal Group Prayer - Lev 23:1-3; Esther 4:16; Matt 18:20; Acts 12:11-12;
James 5:13-16
There is power in communal prayer; we are commanded to pray together and to pray for one another in groups.
3) What blocks our prayer - Sin! - Psalm 66:18; James 5:13-16
4) A Model to Adopt for Effective Prayer
The following is a plan you can follow in your prayer time which follows the simple
acronym ACTS:
Adoration - Praising G-d for what you appreciate about Him
Confession - Agreeing with G-d that you have sinned and done wrong
Thanksgiving - Telling G-d thanks for the things He has done for you
Supplication - Asking G-d for specific requests regarding yourself and others
Some people use a list to help them keep track of their prayer requests. Others use
a diary or journal. These are helpful tools to keep track not only of the requests you
wish to talk with G-d about, but they also can bring great encouragement as you see
G-d answer your prayers over time.
Application: Often we fall into the habit of taking our
concerns to others without really wrestling with G-d about them
ourselves. In reality we seek the comfort of others instead of the
comfort of G-d.
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| Category: The Seven Spiritual Habits of a Maturing Messianic Jewish Faith | Added by: admin (03.10.2010)
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