The Importance of Prayer’s Promises
Building Your Prayer Life–part 5
DAY 1
This week we’ll look at God’s promises regarding prayer. There are generally three kinds of promises: unconditional, conditional, and principles of prayer.
Today, we’ll look at unconditional promises.
1. In the verses below, write down what our part in prayer is and what God to do.
Psalms 50:15 “… and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
Matthew 18:19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
John 14:14 “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
2. What do these verses tell you about God’s desire to answer prayer?
3. In what ways are these verses “invitations” from God?
4. What is your reaction to these verses?
DAY 2
Yesterday we looked at some of God’s unconditional promises about prayer. They are broad invitations to take God at His word, to walk with Him. When we do He promises to open doors for us in ways we would not otherwise walk through.
Today we’ll look at conditional promises regarding prayer.
1. In the following verse, write down what our part is, and what God promises if we’ll do our part:
Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
c. How would you know if you were “delighting in the Lord?”
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
(Note: the verb, “remain” means to “live in” or “abide.” The context of this verse is the analogy of Jesus being the vine and we are the branches. The idea is, “it’s a bad idea for the branch if it cuts itself off from the vine.”)
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
c. How would you know if you were “abiding” in the vine (In Jesus and in His word)
Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
c. (Note: Jesus is not interested in having us literally “cast mountains into the sea.” He is using a proverbial form of speech, meaning, “You can deal with the ‘big difficulties’ in your life through the power of prayer and faith.”)
d. What role does faith and doubt play regarding the “mountains” in our lives?
1 John 3:21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
c. Are there any commands you know you are disobeying?
d. Is there an area of life where you are doing what is not pleasing to Him?
DAY 3
We continue with some of God’s conditional promises in prayer.
1. In the verses below, write down our part and God’s part.
1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
c. How are you doing regarding God’s will? As best as you know, are you walking in His will? Are you doing what He wants?
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
Psalms 32:6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
Jeremiah 29:7 “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
(Note: This verse was given to the people who were about to be taken into captivity. Their temptation would be to be resentful and bitter toward their captors. Instead, God gives them a challenge!)
a. Our part:
b. God’s part:
2. Which of today’s verses strikes you the most?
3. Are there any of the “Our parts” above to which you need to give some attention?
DAY 4
We usually think of “prayer” as a “Christmas List” we write out for Santa Claus. Though God does grant us some of our requests, He is much more interested in using prayer to draw us to Himself, relationally, and as our “first thing,” our top priority. This is a loooooong, life-long process.
1. Next to the verses below, write down what God is wanting from us, through the process of prayer.
Jeremiah 29:13
Psalm 62:8
Psalm 65:2
Psalm 95:6
Psalm 145:18
Isaiah 56:7
1 Chronicles 16:11
Hosea 14:1-3
Hebrews 4:16
Psalm 27:8
Amos 5:4
2. Which of these verses strikes you the most? Why?
3. From today’s verses, what do you see God trying to do in your life?
4. How can you cooperate with what He is doing?
DAY 5
God uses prayer to direct us, rebuke us, and correct us. Life sometimes “stops” until we give attention to an area of our life God is intent on changing!
1. In the following verses, write in the correlation between what we need to do and how God views our prayers or answers to our prayer:
Zephaniah 3:9
1 Peter 3:7
Matthew 26:41
Acts 8:22
Acts 22:16
Romans 12:12
1 Peter 3:7
1 Peter 4:7
1 Chronicles 28:19
2 Chronicles 7:14
Zephaniah 2:3
Matthew 6:33
Malachi 3:6-12
2. Sometimes, “heaven’s windows” get shut until we respond to God. Which of today’s verses struck you the most?
3. What action step(s) do you need to take in light of today’s study?