Prayer challenge day 1:

Pragmatics of Prayer
This daily supplement is meant to help us get there on our prayer goals we discussed yesterday. As we joined
the first church in that upper room, we found them, constantly devoting themselves to prayer for that period of
10 days after Christs ascension and before the Spirits arrival.

Heres the basic bottom-lineI want to grow in my prayer life, and I want you to also! Gods heart to us in
Jeremiah 33:3 ought to stir our anticipation of Gods power released through prayer.

Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
(Whoa, and wow!!)

In yesterdays membership class, we reviewed the factoid that disciple shares the same root as discipline.
In other words, becoming a true follower doesnt come without some intentional tactics. As Paul says in
1 Timothy 4:7, Discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness.

And part of getting it done consistently is having a routine and/or regular place for prayer.

Certainly were not about boxing your prayers inas 1Thessalonians says, pray without ceasing. (By the way,
thats an entire verse if youre looking to show off your Bible memory with your small group!)

Some Ideas to Consider:

1. Get a list of paper and inventory all the items that God might have
you in prayer about. Divide the list into either 7 equal sections, or
into 7 obvious categories.

2. Take five or seven 3x5 index cards and label the cards, one for
each day of the week. Take your potential prayer list and transfer
each item onto the appropriate card. I took a 3x5 for each of my
kiddos and noted the primary character issues that I thought needed
prayer and attention. I also included a summary of how God had
made them and was refining them. This can help us turn our mentality
toward an offensive battle, and not simply or merely a reactionary
onewhere things get dealt with because were forced to, instead
of having chosen to do so.

3. Put the card in the path of one of your normal routines.

By the coffee pot. Turn on the pot, and during the brew time,
voila, prayer time.

Put them next to the mirror or vanity to pull out each morning
as youre doing your routine. Every time you pull out the razor
guys, pull out the prayers. Ladies, when you apply mascara,
apply prayer too! If youve got a commute of even 10 minutes,
redeem that space and time by praying. And dont be afraid
to go verbal. Ive found that praying out loud in my car helps
me stay focused. (And its not bad prep for those growing in the
area of public prayingsome of us need to take a step
toward that in our small groups, etc.) Remember in Acts the
church devoted itself to prayer (Acts 2:42).
 Maybe if youre a shift worker there are regular breaks you can use to lift those needs
to the Lord. Bottom-line, sometimes it is more effective to add prayer to an already
occurring regular routine than to try and carve or find more time out of an already
busy life. Again, Id never want to sell the Lord short by trying to get you to go
minimalbut if aint getting done now, small victories are more helpful than grandiose
failures.

4. Get a tool that will help guide your prayers. Christian high school seniors are oftengiven
Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highestan outstanding daily to focus anyones
attention and prayertime upward. Grab a copy or get it online at numerous sites, such as
http://www.rbc.org/utmost.

One prayer guide that Ive LOVED is John Baillies Diary of Private Prayer. He was a Scottish
teacher and theologian and wrote in a manner that, though old, is fresh compared to our words
and phrases. Ive attached a copy of one of
his entries. There is a morning and evening
reading for each day of the month. So while
this isnt to replace your own prayer, I find it
kindles prayergiving a wide array of items
to consider as we grow in our prayers. (Youll
find used copies on Amazon starting at $3.50.)

SoIll stop writing and lets start praying!

Together for Christ,

Prayer challenge day 2
Strive for the Specific

One of the typical traps we face when trying to turn up the heat on our prayer life is the lack of specifics. But to
take it to the next level, weve got to get beyond vanilla.

What do you mean?

Yknow, the God bless my marriage prayer. Ill give you the fact that its short and to the point, and that
youve just gotten another checkmark in the challengebut I think that is far from the potency our prayer might
really have. So whats the key?

Specifics. It will not only grow the length of time wed take in prayerbut also the depth.

A better prayer? God, I need to learn to be more thoughtful with my bride. Help me please Lord notice, would
you prompt me, to see those even small things I might do to demonstrate my love. Or maybe, Lord, I find
myself being especially critical of how my husband is acting. If there is something in me that is making me critical,
Lord help me see thatI know you are so patient with memore than I deserve. Let the love and grace and
mercy you extend to me be reflected in my interactions.

The more specific the prayer, the more specific the answer.

Elijah, among many other biblical characters, gives us a glimpse into the power of specific prayers. In the duel
with the 450 prophets of Baal, God answers in some very specific ways licking up the altar with fire, even after it
was doused with water (1 Kings 18:24-28). In another situation, Elijah prayed that it would not rain and it
didnt. He prayed again and, after a 3-1/2 year drought, it rained (1 Kings 18:41-45). Whether it be David or
Moses or PaulGods Word models ministry encounters characterized by the details.

Here are a few specific jump starts

Q: Do you have regular specific prayers for your children/family members. Not Lord, bless Jake. But
Lord help me teach Jake self-control. Lord, how do I do that? When will I?
Q: Is there a vice/habit/addiction that is sin or compromises Gods best for our lives (Gal. 5:13)? Do you
smoke? Overeat? Overspend? Have you got a critical spirit? If you drink, to you crave it? Are you in
control of it? And the list goes on. Get at the details.
Q: Is there a key life relationship in crisis? Hows your marriage? If its not in crisis, whats the next step or
stage of growth? If it is, whats the next step in growth and maturity? (Jill and I just saw Fireproof, the
movie on Sunday night. I went reluctantly, but left very thankful Id seen ita great reminder about the
importance of sacrifice and service to one another in marriage.)
Q: Wheres the next hill youd take in your walk with Christ? Maybe it is the simple goal of consistent
prayerprayer with a spouse, perhaps.

And what was the point again? Be specific. That will take our prayers beyond the flippant exercise and into the
realm of John 14:12 and Jeremiah 33:3. What do you say? Day 2keep it going!!

Together for Christ,

Prayer challenge day 3
From Cowardly to Confidently

Gods got enough on His plate that He doesnt really need or have time to take my prayer requests. Right? Wrong!
Well, thenumthere are more spiritual people in line in front of me. God probably takes His calls in order of how holy is the
petitioners heart. And Ive got a ways to go before Im a Peter or Paul.

Wrong.
Maybe my requests really arent that big a deal to Him. In the scope of activities, events, and crises occurring on planet earth does
God truly care about my new job or my bills or my math grade?
Listen, any number of reasons could stand in the way of the welcome weve been grantedcould cause us to retreat into a
cowardly posture for prayer instead of the bold one were given in Gods Word.

And the counter point? Hebrews 4:14-16. This is a keeperunderline it, memorize it, meditate upon ittake advantage of
it. In it, God gives us hopeand as it relates to prayer, it reminds us of the help we have through Christ.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all
things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
As wed unpack this passage, we find four great reminders for day three of our prayer challenge. We

PRAY WITH A SETTLED CONFESSION (V. 14)

And whats that confession? Notice the present tense truth, since we have a great high priest. Not we will have or
might hope to have a high priest, but we have. Hold fast, Hebrews saysdont let go of the great news weve been
given. Remember, as weve discussed the transition that is taking place in Acts, Christs work as our sacrifice is
finished (John 19:30), and He now is seated on the throne constantly making intercession for the saints
(Hebrews 7:25). It is settled.
PRAY TO A SYMPATHETIC COUNSELOR (V. 15)
Christ understands our frameHe emptied Himself and took on flesh (Philippians 2:7-8). He faced the things we face,
yet was without sin. And the amazing take-away from Hebrews 4?! He then/now CAN sympathize with our
weakness. Too often we let satan use our failures or weaknesses to keep us away from the very place we must run when
were strugglingto the throne. God is not some grumpy guy waiting to unleash a bolt of lighting on your life but one
who says, Come unto me (Matthew 11:28) and cast your cares upon Me (1 Peter 5:7). Wow
PRAY WITH A STRONG CONFIDENCE (V. 16)
And this is the part I LOVE!! Right now, wherever youre reading thisGod is speaking these words, His words to you
let us. Let us what? Draw near. Dont stay distant, dont let anything distract or deter you from coming to the Lord in
prayer. And notice now this fantastic truth, we are to draw near withdrum rollconfidence. Not arrogance, but
confidence in the offer thats been extended to Gods kids, for such we are (1 John 3:1).
PRAY AND RECEIVE SUFFICIENT CARE (V. 16)
Before the throne of grace, then, and not on our own, is where we ultimately find what we need mostthe grace and
mercy of God. Question againwhen do we find this grace and mercy? In time of need. Dont judge the worthiness
of your need, just bring it to God with a sincere and humble heart. Bring it to Him and let Him decide how to handle it,
how Hed help. In time of need.
No excusesonly amazing truth about what awaits those who turn to the Lord regularly through prayer. Loved ones, let us lay
hold of the riches that are ours through Christ (Philippians 4:19)! Lets come not as cowards, but with confidence.
Together for Christ,
So hows the revised prayer gig going? Found a time or spot to pray? Trying anything new to take the next step toward something
more? Keep it goingremember, its the only thing recorded by Scripture that the disciples asked Christ to teach them about. Not,
How does one perform cool miracles? or How do you go about changing water to wine? but Lord, teach us how to pray
(Luke 11:1)

Prayer challenge Day 4

Part of what makes Prayer Hard

It is October, and so in many ways what makes maintaining prayer difficult, what can delay our answers, is all around us
the demonic. No, Im not trying to spook you or give undeserved attention to our adversary, but would remind us

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

While we only have hints at what is truly happening in the heavenlies, Daniel, chapter 10, offers some insight. After
praying about the needs of Israel, an answer is immediately sent. But when Gods messenger finally arrives with the
response, 21 days have passed. The messenger is Gabriel, and his description reveals the battle that can delay Gods
answers to our prayers.

Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself be-
fore your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia
was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been
left there with the kings of Persia (Daniel 10:12-13).

Notice, Daniels prayers were heard, from the first day. And so it wasnt that God didnt hear or was hesitant to
respond, it is that our battle isnt simply against whats seen, but what is unseen. Our response? As Paul goes on to say in
Ephesians, chapter six, we are to put on the full armor of Godwe are to do battle through prayer, to learn the lessons
of persistence over time. Remember the woman before the judge in Luke 18:1-8? That passage offers a lesson not on the
Lords non-responsive nature, but on the character of consistent prayer He longs to see among His people.

When we pray we are engaging in an intense battlewe are engaging the battle between two kingdoms. And prayer is
our vital link from the front-linesit is the connection we not only must make, but keep. I like how John Piper puts it:

Life is war. Thats not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth.
Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and
unbelief. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the
kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of front-line forces, and gives God the glory of a
limitless Provider. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for
more comforts in the den.

Some of us have perhaps been praying a long time about an issue, a topic, a relationshipkeep it going! Some have
been asking for God to save a family member, bring back a wandering prodigal, open a door, renew a marriagekeep
it going. God hears and answers. Just remember, too, that His answers are always more wise than our requests
sometimes there is a reason for letting us learn some key lesson over time. Perseverance? Laboring in prayer?
Contentment? Humility? Faithfulness?

As you see the ghouls littering front yards and aisles at nearly every store, remember, Thats rightour battle isnt
merely against flesh and blood, and press in to prayer.

Together for Christ & His Kingdom,

Prayer challenge day 5
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHhH

Although weve all experienced it, parents probably know the following phrase particularly well:

Is anyone even listening to me!

Its frustrating when youre trying to have a conversation or share somethingonly to discoverno one is listening.
And no surprise, God isnt really fired up either when His kids dont listen. We may say, I hear you. But hearing
and listening are different animals.

Throughout the Scriptures, we find God chiding His people because they werent listening. They heard Him, but they
didnt truly understand or act upon His Word.

Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you;

O Israel, if you would listen to Me!
Psalm 81:1

They have ears, but they do not hear.

Psalm 135:18a

Although we typically think of prayer as us saying stuff to God, prayer is communication, and communication is
two-way. But that seems to beg the question, Are you saying, setting me up, suggesting that God may speak to
me/us?

Yup.

Maybe this Acts thing, this Holy Spirit study has gone too far? Is that what youre saying? God has not only
spoken, but continues to speak through His living and active Word. And thats the listen part of prayer. We read
and meditate upon His Word, praying about what the Spirit might be prompting within our spiritwe are allowing
the Lord to speak to us as wed listen for understanding.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,

And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 7:24

God is speaking, through His Spirit, through His Word. Questionare we listening? Have you ever been around
someone who has a hard time not talking? Sometimes, I wonder if thats what were like when were praying.

I remember being struck by one of my seminary profs who would often pray with long pauses in between his words.
Professor Grudem. Yes. What are you doing? And the answer? Listening. He wasnt doing what he was
doing so someone would ask the question, he was doing it to be sure he was not going one-way in his communication
with God.

Sohow about it?

Ive written enoughIm stopping to listen !

Looking forward to Sunday!