Happy Friday the 13th, friends! Hope you had a great week and are having a lucky day today!
Here are this week’s discussion questions:
Chapter 3: Pray…and Don’t Give Up
*The author says that persistent prayer is not actually about results, but about faith in Christ. Does that change the way you view continual prayer?
*What would you ask Jesus if He was sitting right in front of you? Do you think your questions for Him would be different from your current prayers?
Chapter 4: Pray Hardest When It’s Hardest to Pray
*Jesus gave us a blueprint of prayer when we are going through our darkest days:
- He begged for a way out
- He prayed for God’s will to be done
Do you feel that your desire for “a way out” is a lack of faith? How does knowing Jesus prayed that way encourage you?
*“What I’ve learned, though, is that when I keep praying, when I refuse to give up, when I pray hardest when it’s hardest to pray, I’m changed whether the circumstances change or not” (pg. 76). Sheila says that God likes to be asked so we can come to Him in our pain and honestly pray to Him. Have you found it difficult to pray through the hard times? Do you have a hard time being honest with Him? How would persevering in prayer and honesty change you?
Chapters 5: Pray Through Your Pain
*“To be praying women who determine to pray through the pain of life, we are going to have to fight for our faith. We are going to have to choose to believe that what God says about us is true no matter how loud the lies are” (Pg. 90). What lies are you believing? How can you can choose to believe the truth?
*Sheila asserts that we each have our own story. There are areas of our lives where there has been pain and heartache. She believes these wounded areas are what make us mighty warriors in God’s army. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Scripture of the Week
Luke 11:1-10
Mark 14:35-36
Prayer of the Week
Father God, help us to be women of prayer who desire to invest our lives in your kingdom. Help us to be honest with You in our difficult times, to keep persevering in prayer, and to know that prayer matters. Would You help us to use the wounds in our lives to become mighty warriors in Your army? Help us to stop believing the lies and start living out truth. Thank You for the example Jesus gives us of prayer and for loving us so much that You accept us and listen to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Read Chapters 6-8
While I grew up knowing God wasn’t my genie, I guess I always believed once I prayed for something the “results” (answers) would come pretty quickly thereafter.
Being persistent is difficult in general, but in prayer it can really weigh us down. I think this is because we are often experiencing one or more of the following attacks from the enemy: 1) praying in our own strength, 2) being lazy, or 3) getting discouraged/disappointed. When we’re focused on anything besides God, our focus isn’t clear. Also, if we are focused on getting rather than trusting, it’s going to be so much harder to pray persistently let alone at all.
I’ve always seen asking for “a way out” as selfish not so much a lack of faith. It’s very encouraging that Jesus prayed this prayer; however it makes me evaluate the reason I want a way out – I need to make sure I’m taking myself out of the equation much of the time. 🙃
“What I’ve learned, though, is that when I keep praying, when I refuse to give up, when I pray hardest when it’s hardest to pray, I’m changed whether the circumstances change or not” (pg. 76).
This sentence is so powerful to me! And so true! When times are challenging, it’s harder for me to pray in some ways because I end up venting! On the other hand, it’s easier because I feel so out of control and desperate.
Praying honestly is getting easier for me. I used to not be as honest with my feelings and emotions while praying. I guess I thought God would be disappointed with my attitude…but He knows about it anyway so all of me should really showing up for prayer!
Gradually I’m learning honesty doesn’t always mean coming to Him with the negative side of me. It also means – mostly means – letting Him see my heart. That’s really what He’s after. 😊
I agree that the wounded areas of our lives make us mighty warriors in God’s army. We cannot rely on our own strength, and when we experience pain or heartache and try to handle it on our own, we will only be more exhausted. He helps us give it to Him, and is there right with us, no matter what. He is our strength. He is our hope. He is our peace.
Yesterday I kind of got stuck in my prayers because I realized I was praying with the mindset of wanting to get my prayer answered…and I thought I shouldn’t pray that way. But then I realized “isn’t that part of what prayer is about?” I shouldn’t stop praying just because I want a certain outcome. That’s where praying God’s will be done comes in and also surrender and acceptance. I’ve always thought of it as selfish to pray for a way out but I still prayed that way! I get upset sometimes when God doesn’t answer the way I want or when things are really difficult and He doesn’t change them… that sounds childish but it’s true. I think life is just constantly unraveling our will out of the equation – not that we even necessarily change our desires but that we surrender them to His. There’s so much we don’t know and I’m realizing that I have to understand that God knows all and He is working things and just hope that I do change through praying and staying connected to Him.