“QUESTIONS ABOUT PRAYER” GROWING IN PRAYER “QUESTIONS ABOUT PRAYER” Selected Scripture

THOUGHT: A healthy relationship with God requires a healthy habit of praying.  

1. The Bible says God knows all things and is sovereign over all things. If this true, then why pray?

Psalm 139:1-6

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my

thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

4  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Matthew 6:8

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

2 Kings 20:4-6

4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to

Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer;

I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will

add fifteen years to your life I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this

city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”

Exodus 32:10

10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I

may make a great nation of you.”

2. I prayed for my family member to be healed; however, instead of being healed, they died.

Why did God not answer my prayer?

Matthew 21:22

22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

Mark 11:24

22 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:14

14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

1 John 5:14-15

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

3. Is it okay that I sometime struggle with doubt when I pray?

Mark 9:22-24

22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us

and help us. ” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’ and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

James 4:6

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

4. I have had many starts and stops as it relates to prayer.

Why is developing a healthy habit of praying so hard?

1 Timothy 4:7-8

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is

of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

5. Does God only hear my prayers when I end them by saying: “In Jesus’ Name”?

John 14:13

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 16:23

23 In that day you will ask nothing of me 23  In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

1 Timothy 2:5

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

6. What is the relationship between personal holiness and effective prayer?

Psalm 66:18

18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

1 Peter 3:7

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker

vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Isaiah 1:5-17

5 Why will you still be struck down. Why will you continue to rebel 5 Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds;

they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.

7 Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land;

it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.

8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

9 If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom 10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices 11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and

the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.

12 “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?

13 Bring no more vain offerings, incense is an abomination to me 13 Bring no more vain offerings, incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations-

I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

14 You new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will

not listen; your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,

17 learn to do good; seek justice, correction oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.