Sunday, September 24, 2023

Today, I encourage you to pause and consider how God is inviting you to live out the weekend message in the coming days.

To begin, take a few moments to sit quietly before God. Set aside any distractions, close your eyes, and take a few slow, deep breaths. With each exhalation, give him your worries and concerns and let his peace wash over you.

Next, take some time to read the verses below and explore the questions that follow. You can do this on your own or with others.

Matthew 6:7
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.”

Mark 1:35
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Romans 8:26-27
²⁶ And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

What do you learn about God in these verses?

What do you learn about prayer?

What do you think God may be trying to teach you through these verses?

Finally, consider recording your responses in a journal, whether digital or hardcopy. It's a great way to be able to look back on the adventure God has you on.

Prayer:
Lord, you are magnificent! You love us so much that you want to connect with us through prayer, but so often I don’t carve out quality time for it. Help me to set aside time to connect with you Lord and get to know you better. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

John 14:26
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

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Discussion Questions:

Icebreaker: Share a time when you initially weren’t confident in your skills, but ultimately things were easier than you expected.

What are some of the reasons people may not go to God in prayer?

Read Matthew 6:7-13. What do you learn from Jesus about prayer in this passage?

When life gets busy, do you spend more or less time with God? Why do you think this is?

Do you have a regular place, time, and plan for prayer? If so, share what has worked for you. If not, what is a specific place and time where you could try using the PRAY acronym for the next week?

This post was written by Kelly Pagel, Director of the LivingItOut Devotional.