Sharing Devotion by Dr. Charles Stanley

The Priority of Prayer

 

Key Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23

Supporting Scriptures: Psalms 32:8 | Luke 18:1-7 | John 14:6 | Acts 6:4 |Romans 12:12 | 1 Corinthians 10:13 | Philippians 4:19 | Colossians 4:2 | 1 John 1:9

Summary

Prayer is one of the most important activities in our lives because we're actually talking to the sovereign God of the universe who has all power and knowledge.

 

He understands how we feel, knows what we think, and has the power to intervene in every area of life. Yet despite the Lord's willingness to listen and answer our requests, we are not always faithful in prayer. When times are good, we may forget to pray. Or maybe we doubt that God will answer. But the biggest hindrance to prayer is sin. If we're unwilling to acknowledge our sins and ask for the Lord's forgiveness, we'll have no desire to talk to a holy God.

 

Sermon Points

When the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica who were suffering under Roman domination, he told them, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). In other words, prayer should be a priority in our daily lives.

 

What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

Paul was not saying that we should continually mumble prayers every minute of the day. "Without ceasing" means a continuous recurrence. Prayer isn't constant, but it recurs frequently throughout the day. Unceasing prayer is a way of life, not an occasional occurrence prompted by trouble or a quick addition at the end of the day. God wants us to focus our attention on Him consistently.

For instance, in the morning we could ask the Lord for guidance, strength, and wisdom for the day ahead. Then as our children go off to school, we might pray for the Lord's protection. Or perhaps on the way to work, we talk to Him about the challenges we'll face and thank Him for a safe trip. Throughout the rest of the day, we make requests, seek His direction, and give Him thanks until we finally climb into bed.

 

God is ready and willing to listen and answer our prayers.

We can't say anything to the Lord that He doesn't already know. He's not sitting in heaven being secretive about His will for our lives or reluctant to answer our prayers. God proved His love for us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our salvation, and He continues to demonstrate His love by being interested in every facet of our lives.

In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus taught a parable about a judge and a persistent widow, which reminds us that God always hears our prayers and provides for our needs. If we are His children, we don't have to beg Him to listen to us, nor do we need to feel unworthy. We don't deserve His mercy, grace, and love, but He freely gives it because of our relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

 

There is a difference between true and false prayer.

True prayer requires a relationship with God. However, those who have rejected Jesus have no basis for approaching the Lord in prayer because access to Him is only possible through His Son (John 14:6). Therefore, God does not answer their false prayers. No one can bypass Christ and expect that the Lord will grant their requests. However, there is one prayer He always answers. When someone is willing to humble himself, confess his sins, and receive Jesus as his personal Savior, the Lord will forgive him and welcome him into the family of God.

False prayer is all about self and is based on what we think we deserve. Many times it's a monologue focused on what we want from God. But true prayer comes from a sense of humility, realizing that we are accepted on the basis of the Lord's mercy, not by our conduct. It's a dialogue with God because we are not just interested in giving Him our list of requests, but we want to hear from Him.

True prayer is a way to grow in our relationship with the Lord. All relationships require two-way communication. Instead of just speaking our prayer requests, we must also listen to the Lord. Since His Word is the primary way He speaks to us, our prayer times should include Bible reading. When the Lord has an answer for us from His Word, it's amazing how He can take us to the exact Scripture passages we desperately need. However, if we pray yet fail to listen, we'll miss the blessing of hearing from Him and will be no better off than before.

 

Devote yourself to prayer.

Scripture repeatedly tells us to devote ourselves to prayer (Col. 4:2). Devotion requires that we not only set aside uninterrupted time for prayer, but that we also think seriously about what we're asking. We must give God the time and attention He deserves in order to have a growing relationship with Him.

 

Prayer is our most profitable activity.

The time we spend with the Lord affects our lives in a variety of ways.

It's the method God uses to meet our needs (Phil. 4:19).

He comforts us in our times of trial and heartache by assuring us of His presence with us and His willingness to help us.

Prayer is a channel through which we build an intimate relationship with God and sense His unconditional love for us.

The Lord strengthens us in times of temptation as we believe His promises and seek His help (1 Cor. 10:13).

God is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness as we confess our sins to Him in prayer (1 John 1:9).

Prayer is our source of guidance as we seek the Lord's direction and listen for His instructions (Ps. 32:8).

God helps us understand His Word as we read and ask Him to speak to our hearts.

Prayer is a shield that protects us from anxiety and worries when we remember that He has full control and provides the grace we need in every situation.

Through prayer, the Lord gives us courage and confidence to face challenges, and reminds us that He puts sovereign limitations on the burden we carry.

Prayer brings God's emotional and physical healing as well as guidance when we're confused about the hurts we experience.

We receive the Holy Spirit's power, which strengthens us to face difficult situations. n Prayer can impact other people anywhere in the world because it creates a holy triangle between us, God, and whomever we pray for.

 

Response

To determine if prayer is a priority, ask yourself: How often do I pray? What prompts or hinders me? How can I make prayer a daily lifestyle?

How confident are you that the Lord will answer your requests? What does God's Word say about His faithfulness in answering prayer?

What do you think would happen if instead of bemoaning your inadequacies, you thanked the Lord for them?

Weekly Stay Focus:

Weekly Stay Focus:

 

To stay focus one must always pray and not to faint. Prayer is the answers to all things.  To stay focus you must have a prayer life. Develop a mind to pray in season and out of season, no matter what. Make sure you are praying to the one true God. When was the last time you prayed fervently? (James 5:16)

 

 

Weekly Life Principle # 4:      (Presence)

 

"The awareness of God's presence energizes us for our work"

 

In a vineyard, the vine and its branches exist in perfect harmony.  The sap the very life of the plant-flows through the vine and into each branches resulting in rich ripe fruits. The branch can't live, let alone thrive, when separated from the vine. Jesus tells us that He is the very source of our life, so any labor we do apart from Him will lack power. We must be tapped into the flow of His Spirit's constant presence for the harvest of our lives to be full of beautiful, lasting fruit that will nourish others. If we're connected to God and drawing life from Him, our work, our prayer life will always be meaningful. Not only does his presence give us purpose, it infuses even the most mundane tasks with value and possibility. He enables us to do the great work of the Kingdom; loving others as He loves us. A pray life can bring this into our lives.

 

 

Weekly Prayer Focus:    Speak Lord Jesus

 

Let the dew of My presence refresh your mind and heart.  So many, many things vie for your attention in this complex world of instant communication. The world has changed enormously since I first gave the command to be still and know that I am God. However, this timeless truth is essential for the well-being of your soul. As dew refreshes grass and flowers during the stillness of the night, so My presence revitalizes your as you sit quietly with me.  A refreshed, revitalized mind is able to sort out what is important and what is not. In its natural condition, your mind easily gets stuck on trivial matters. Like the spinning wheels of a car trapped in mud, the cogs of your brain spin impotently when you focus on a trivial thing. As soon as you start communicating with Me about the matter, your thoughts gain traction and you can move on to more important things. Communicate with Me continually, and I will put My thoughts into your mind.

 

Read:   Psalm 46:10, Luke 10:39-42, 1 Corinthians 14:33

Questions/Answers

1).     Read Mark 1:35, and tell what you think secluded means.

It means a spiritual resting place to be alone with God just as Adam and Eve had before they failed. Coming away.

2).    Read Luke 4:42, do you have a secluded place to pray?

To me it means when I am trying to spend time in prayer or study and can't because of distractions from work or phone calls. Jesus wanted to be alone, but the people wouldn't let Him.

3).    What do prayer promotes?

Prayer that promotes godliness is not merely occasional petitions offered in times of trouble or need but a daily conversation with the Father that springs from love for Him and gratitude for who He is and what He does. It's not a duty but a delight.

4).    Why do you suppose Jesus' prayer life was different?

His prayer life was different because He had a burning desire to be with His Father again; His heart was with the Father, so He prayed all the time.

5).    Why is an intimate prayer life a priority?

We need an intimate prayer life because it keeps us connected to God, and it makes our relationship grows with the Father.

6).    Who prayed for Peter when he was in prison?

The whole church (believers) prayed for Peter in unity.

7).    What is the prayer that moves God?

I believe the prayer that is prayed in faith and trust in God, also, an effective fervent prayer which is motivated by love and deep concern; it is offered with faith.

8).    What is a fervent prayer?

As said earlier, fervent prayer is motivated by love and deep concern and is offered with enthusiasm, feeling, and faith. This is not a casual listing of requests, but prayer that flows from the heart over a pressing need. For example, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was in agony and "praying very fervently" (Luke 22:44).

9).    What is the difference between fervent prayers and repetitious  prayers?

I believe repetitious prayers is just not having faith in God, so we think we must keep praying the same prayer over and over and over again; the fervent prayer prays in faith with tenacity.

10).  How many people it takes to agree in a prayer?

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19).

Bible Study: “The Seven Habits of a godly life.” Week # 1:

(By Dr. Charles Stanley)

Prayer:

 

Father God in heaven, we come to You and praise You as we come. We honor Your Majesty always. You are worthy of all praises. We have learn that prayer is communication and fellowship with You; Our relationship with You is very important to us. Please continue to teach us how to pray and to pray always and not faint as we walk this life before You. Father, always keep our eyes open to You; thank You for the Holy Spirit who teaches us. This we pray in Jesus' name. AMEN.

 

Subject Lesson:        (A Life of Prayer):

 

Let's recap and then study more on the life of prayer; Good subject, amen.

 

We see this modeled by Jesus. Although the disciples and the crowds did not understand why He withdrew when there was so much good He could do, Jesus knew that prayer was an important priority of His life.

Mark 1:35 "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there."

Luke 4:42 "When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them."

Prayer that promotes godliness is not merely occasional petitions offered in times of trouble or need but a daily conversation with the Father that springs from love for Him and gratitude for who He is and what He does. It's not a duty but a delight.

Jesus' disciples observed that His prayers were very different from the ritualistic prayers that were so common in that day. Seeing how He spoke so personally with His heavenly Father prompted them to ask Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1).

Since we live in a world filled with temptations, trials, heartaches, burdens, and sin, an intimate prayer life should be a priority because it keeps us connected to almighty God and sensitive to His will. Whatever we do will be accomplished on our knees as we submit to the Lord, give Him our time, and listen for His instruction.

 

Prayer That Moves God:

 

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19, Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 7:7; 18:19; 21:22, Luke22:44, 2 Corinthians 5:8

 

Many people wonder why their prayers aren't answered, and some even give up praying because it hasn't worked.

There are a variety of reasons why God doesn't respond to our prayers. Perhaps something in our lives is preventing Him from answering, or maybe our request is not according to His will. However, another reason for unanswered prayer is that we may not be praying to the one true God, but to a god whom we've fashioned according to our own preferences and desires.

Acts 12:1-19 records an example of how the Lord answered the fervent prayers of His people and shows us how we too can pray effectively.

When King Herod mistreated the believers in Jerusalem and had James put to death, he saw that it pleased the Jews, many of whom hated the Christians and considered them a cult. Therefore, he decided to imprison Peter and assign four squads of soldiers to guard him. Each squad consisted of two soldiers who were chained to Peter on each side and two who were stationed outside. The squads were rotated every six hours to ensure that he could not escape. Herod's intention was to bring Peter before the Jews after Passover and put him to death.

In response to Peter's imprisonment, the Christians gathered together in Mary's house to pray. Their faith was probably wavering because James had already been killed, and now they were facing the loss of Peter. Verse 5 sums up the situation: "So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God."

Prayer that moves God is offered "to God."

The first element of effective prayer is that it be directed to the one true God. The Jerusalem church and all of us who are believers in Christ can confidently bring our requests to the Lord because we know the One to whom we pray.

However, many people today say they believe in God and pray to Him, but in reality, their prayers are directed to a deity whom they have created in their own minds. He suits their lifestyle and is in agreement with whatever they request. Furthermore, this self-made god doesn't convict them of sin, righteousness, or a coming judgment. If anyone questions them about the nature of their god or what they ask of him, they often become defensive, declaring that their religion is a private affair and no one else's business.

The one true God is holy and righteous, hates sin, and will one day judge every person. He is the Creator of the world, and the one who condemned the earth by sending a flood. He has given us the Ten Commandments as His righteous standard, the encouraging psalms of David, and prophecies regarding the future through His prophets. And ultimately, He has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord through whom we have the forgiveness of our sins. Our God loves us unconditionally but will not tolerate sin in our lives because He knows it's destructive. He alone has the power to answer our prayers and fulfill His promise to give us eternal life with Him forever in heaven.

In contrast, a man-made god has no power to answer prayer and can offer no assurance of heaven. Although many people have discounted the reality of hell and have tried to find comfort in saying their god is one of love who welcomes everyone into heaven, they have no foundation for such a hope. All their prayers are useless and have no effect on their lives.

Prayer that moves God is offered fervently:

From a human perspective, there was no hope for Peter, who was going to be executed the next day, but God answered the prayers of the Christians who were interceding on his behalf. An angel appeared in the jail cell, awakened Peter, and told him to quickly follow him. Immediately his chains fell off, and as he followed the angel past the first and second guard, the iron-gate opened by itself. Peter found himself on a street--then the angel suddenly disappeared. Then he realized this was not a vision but that he'd been rescued by God.

After making his way to Mary's house, Peter knocked on the gate, but the servant girl who answered was so surprised that she ran back to the group without letting Peter in. Yet the Christians who had been fervently praying for Peter had a hard time believing that the Lord had actually answered their prayer until they saw him with their own eyes.

Fervent prayer is motivated by love and deep concern and is offered with enthusiasm, feeling, and faith. This is not a casual listing of requests, but prayer that flows from the heart over a pressing need. For example, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was in agony and "praying very fervently" (Luke 22:44). It's also persistent prayer that doesn't stop asking, seeking, and knocking until God answers (Matthew 7:7).

Praying fervently for others may involve requests for deliverance from a situation, but it could also include praying that the Lord would block or hinder someone from continuing down a dangerous or destructive path. Having a prayer list helps us remember the needs of others and provides a written record of how the Lord has answered our requests and worked in our lives.

Prayer that moves God is made according to His will and in agreement with fellow believers:

When we have a burden on our heart, we should seek out someone who can pray with us. A prayer partner offers encouragement, support, guidance, and accountability. ( According to Matthew 18:19), God answers requests when two people agree in prayer about anything that is according to His will.

Prayer is the most powerful thing we can do, and God desires to answer our prayers when we come to Him with a clean heart. But sin in our lives hinders our requests. The Lord will not answer petitions that help us continue down a path of disobedience because that will not benefit us. Therefore, we should always seek to make requests according to God's desires and ask Him to block anything that interferes with His will for our lives. And as we faithfully pray, He will give us a discerning spirit to know the truth and insight we need for life.

Week #1

Questions:

1).     Read Mark 1:35, and tell what you think secluded means.

2).    Read Luke 4:42, do you have a secluded place to pray?

3).    What do prayer promotes?

4).    Why do you suppose Jesus' prayer life was different?

5).    Why is an intimate prayer life a priority?

6).    Who prayed for Peter when he was in prison?

7).    What is the prayer that moves God?

8).    What is a fervent prayer?

9).    What is the difference between fervent prayers and repetitious  prayers?

10).  How many people it takes to agree in a prayer?

 

Weekly Stay Focus:

Weekly Life Principle:

Weekly reading assignments: (Hebrews 1-2)

Weekly Prayer Focus:

From Chosendia's Desk: NEXT BIBLE STUDY:

From Chosendia's Desk: NEXT BIBLE STUDY:

From Chosendia's Desk: NEXT BIBLE STUDY:

From Chosendia's Desk: NEXT BIBLE STUDY:

Bible Study: “The Seven Habits of a godly life.”

(By Dr. Charles Stanley)

Introduction:

Prayer:

Our heavenly Father, we come to You asking for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom as we study this lesson. Open the eyes of our heart to receive what You have for us, and then help us to live accordingly in Jesus' name. AMEN.

 

What is a godly life, and how is it achieved?

 

SUMMARY:

These are important questions because as believers,  we are called to live sanctified lives that are fully surrendered to Christ. Although we know that this is God's will for us and that He's working toward this purpose in our lives, we have a responsibility in the process as well. What we habitually do has tremendous influence on whether we will have a godly life.

 

SERMON POINTS:

 

There are seven habits that will help us in our pursuit of godly living. A habit is a recurring and often subconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition. A godly life is one that is no longer seeking satisfaction through a sinful lifestyle but is now surrendered to God and His will.

 

1. A Life of Prayer. We see this modeled by Jesus. Although the disciples and the crowds did not understand why He withdrew when there was so much good He could do, Jesus knew that prayer was an important priority of His life.

Mark 1:35 "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there."

Luke 4:42 "When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them."

Prayer that promotes godliness is not merely occasional petitions offered in times of trouble or need but a daily conversation with the Father that springs from love for Him and gratitude for who He is and what He does. It's not a duty but a delight.

Jesus' disciples observed that His prayers were very different from the ritualistic prayers that were so common in that day. Seeing how He spoke so personally with His heavenly Father prompted them to ask Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1).

Since we live in a world filled with temptations, trials, heartaches, burdens, and sin, an intimate prayer life should be a priority because it keeps us connected to almighty God and sensitive to His will. Whatever we do will be accomplished on our knees as we submit to the Lord, give Him our time, and listen for His instruction.

2. Faith. Psalm 103:19 says, "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all." God controls everything—not only what happens but why and how it happens as well. His sovereignty is our firm foundation for believing and trusting Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 offers this advice: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

The only other option to faith is fretting. A godly life is one that steps beyond worry and into trust. Each time a situation causes us to fret, we should stop and remember who's in charge. If God's sovereignty rules over all, we have no reason to worry. The evidence of our faith is the absence of worry.

Trust in the Lord also builds intimacy with Him. As we talk and listen to Him and respond in obedience, He guides us, and we develop closeness with Him both in our heart and in our thinking.

3. Meditation on the Word of God. The psalmist said, "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches" (Ps. 63:6). Meditation includes reading Scripture, thinking about it, seeking to apply what God says, asking Him questions, and surrendering any issues He brings to mind. It's like looking in the mirror of God's Word to see what He says, but then looking beyond the mirror to see Him.

As we focus on the Lord, worries and concerns drift away, and our minds are freed from the contamination of the things that do us no good. Psalm 119:133 should be our prayer: "Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me."

Meditation keeps us alert and sensitive to whatever God wants to do in our lives. That's why it's so important to set aside a time to be alone with Him in His Word. As we read and think about what the Lord says, He speaks to our hearts. If we want God to fill our minds with His Word, we must guard against letting the world dominate our thoughts. It's easy to be occupied from morning until evening with the things of this world without giving much thought to God. However, taking time to be alone with the Lord to meditate on His Word is essential if we want to live a godly life. Each day we must choose whether to carry the Lord or the world with us.

4. Obedience. Moses told the nation of Israel, "If you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I commanded you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth" (Deuteronomy 28:1).  In a similar way, we walk on a higher level than the world when we live in obedience to God. It's not a matter of looking down on others but choosing to live by God's standards rather than following the world's lifestyle.

5. Dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Every believer in Jesus is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but the apostle Paul also tells us to "be filled with the Spirit"  (Ephesians 5:18). The Greek verb signifies that this is a continuous action of filling. It means to live in obedience to Him, relying on Him to equip, empower, strengthen, teach, and guide us each day. Only as we depend on the Spirit will we be and do what God desires.

6. Giving to God and others. We have a promise in Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." We can never out give God. But by not giving, we are claiming that we really don't need Him but can manage on our own. Only God can predict and provide for our future needs.

7. Forgiving other people. Forgiveness may not be easy, but it's what the Lord commands (Eph. 4:32). Even if someone betrays us, we must forgive and trust God to take care of the situation

 

This is Dr. Charles Stanley's layout of his study; we will add to the study for a more understanding of each spiritual habits of a godly life.  We will have prayers, questions, weekly stay focus,  weekly Prayer Focus,  weekly reading assignment (book of Hebrews 1-13),   and a weekly life principle from Dr. Stanley's (30 Life Principles guide). They are so encouraging to know. I look forward to this study in God's Word.

 

Table of Content:

 

Week # 1………….A Life of Prayer

Week # 2…………Faith/Trust

Week # 3…………Meditation on the Word of God

Week # 4…………Obedience

Week # 5…………Dependence upon the Holy Spirit

Week # 6…………Giving to God and others

Week # 7…………Forgiving other people

Week # 8………..Conclusion

 

Let's study!