Michael Quattlebaum

1.     Has God placed limits on what we can or should pray for?   (John 14:13-17)
2.     Is God limited in how He can or will answer our prayers?  (Malachi 3:6)
3.     Think about some of the issues that are difficult for you to pray about.  If the purpose of our prayer is to have a relationship with God, how can we get past our own embarrassment or frustration and bring it to God?  (Matthew 11:28-30)
4.     In what ways does God purposely limit His response to our prayer because of our motivations?  (James 4:2-3)

God does not limit what we can pray for.  God is not limited by what he can provide (except that which is contrary to who He is).  So why do we limit our relationship with God by holding back those things that we struggle with?  Why do we hold onto pieces of our battle to fight for ourselves when He has freely said to lay it at His feet?  This week, in your prayer life, be committed to bringing before God those things that you have kept for your own personal battle, and free Him to do His work.

1.     Have the right attitude or motivation in coming to the Lord in prayer.  (Matthew 6:1-8; 2 Chronicles 7:11-15 and 1 Kings
2.     Make sure that you have no issues in your life that will hinder your prayers.  (1 Peter 3:7)
3.     Have a pure heart.  (1 Peter 3:12; Proverbs 15:8, 29; 28:9)
4.     We should be committed to prayer.  (Romans 12:9-12; 1 Corinthians 7:5)
5.     Rejoice always.  Then pray.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)
6.     Have sound judgment and a serious approach to prayer (1 Peter 4:7)

Luke 11:1-13

1.     Look at the Lord’s Prayer, and identify the components of the prayer.  What did Jesus include as an example in this model prayer?
2.     After the specifics of the prayer, Jesus gives two examples of individuals praying.  Why were these given along with the example prayer?
3.     Read Romans 8:24-27.  Should we ever worry about whether we are praying in the right way?
4.     In James 5:13-18, we are given a number of specifics that we should pray for.  What does this teach us about how we should pray?  How did Elijah pray in the example that is given?
5.     Read the prayer in Acts 4:23-31.   What is unique about this prayer?  What characteristics does it have?  What were the results of this prayer?
6.     What was changed about how we pray when the Holy Spirit was given to believers?
7.     Prayer Acrostic

• Adoration (Worship)
• Confession (Of Specific Sins)
• Thanksgiving (Our Gratitude)
• Supplication (Specific Requests/Intercession)

Mark 1:35

 1.     When should we pray?

2.     Do the times that we choose to pray impact our lives spiritually?

3.     What can we learn about when we should pray from these examples in scripture?
Acts 10:9

Luke 18:1

Mark 6:44-47

Psalm 5:3

Psalm 88:13

Psalm 141:2

Luke 2:36-37

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

2 Timothy 1:3

4.     In the examples above, what were the motivating factors about when to pray?

How do we as individuals become stronger in our prayer life?   And as a reminder, what is the purpose of prayer?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1.       Why are we told to pray?  What is the purpose of our prayer?  Why is it God’s Will for us to pray?
2.       Read Matthew 7:7-11.  What reasons do these verses give for praying?
3.       Does prayer make a difference in our lives?  How does it impact us?
4.       If you had to identify a single purpose for our lives as believers, what would it be?  What gives our lives meaning?  How does prayer fit into this purpose or God’s Will for our lives?
5.       Do our prayers affect how God deals with us or with His people?   Read Amos 7:1-6.  What do these verses mean?
6.       Read John 17.  Jesus prayed many times to the Father, but this is the only time that we actually have His words recorded for us.  Why did Jesus pray?

Consider this week whether our motivations for prayer are what they should be.  What is my personal purpose for praying?  How can my life and the lives of those around me be impacted by putting God first in my prayers instead of me?

Philippians 4:6

1. Over the next 5 weeks, we will cover the following topics related to prayer.
   • The Purpose of Prayer
   • When should we pray?
   • How should we pray?
   • Prayer Prerequisites
   • Limits of Prayer
2. Share some experiences that you’ve had in your own prayer life.  Has God revealed Himself to you through prayer?
3. Have you ever prayed for something that you felt certain God would grant you, but He did not?  How did that make you feel?
4. Why do we get anxious about our lives?  Why should we pray about specifics?
5. Consider these prayers.  How did prayer impact the lives of those praying in each of these circumstances

• Abraham asking God to spare Sodom for the sake of the righteous (Genesis 18:22-33)
• Elijah praying to God to call down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18)
• Believers praying for Peter’s release (Acts 12:11-17)
• Jesus prays that the cup may pass from Him (Matthew 26:39)