Prayer Study-Session 12 (4/1/07)

Study Guide for Chapter 19: “What To Pray For” in Philip Yancey’s book, “Prayer, Does It Make Any Difference?”

When you are at a loss about what to pray for, remember these suggestions. For this week, write out a sentence prayer for each of the sections of Chapter 19.

A. A verse to memorize: Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

B. Book/Bible Study

1. Heart’s Desire: “God invites us to ask plainly for what we need”. It’s OK to pray for what you really want, instead of just praying for what you think you should want. What do you want to ask of God today?
   
   
2. Lament: There is a time to grieve and weep.
   
   
3. Confession: Self explanatory.
   
   
4. Peace: John 15 suggests we can only produce spiritual fruit when we rest (abide) in Christ, not when we go it alone apart from the vine. What burden are you carrying?
   
   
5. God’s Presence: Don’t pray for God to be with you. Pray thankfully that He is with you and trust that He is.
   
   
6. Compassion: Pray that God will enlarge your heart and expand your circle of His love as you pray for others.
   
   
7. Gratitude: What are you grateful for today?
   
   
8. Faith: Ask for faith (fidelity), not just “bold childlike faith” that some desired change will occur. Ephesians 2:8,9 says even faith is a gift from God.
   
   
9. Grace: In this sense, ask for God’s gift of strength to live victoriously in whatever situation you find yourself.
   
   
10. Preparations: Are you ready for death? Pray for help in living life in preparation for your inevitable death.

Prayer Study-Session Ten (3/18/07)

Study Guide for Chapter 16: “Unanswered Prayer-Whose Fault?” and Chapter 17: “Unanswered Prayer-Living With The Mystery”. (in Prayer—Does It Make Any Difference?, by Philip Yancey)

These two chapters start a new section on “Prayer Dilemmas”. One dictionary defines “dilemma” as a “situation with unsatisfactory choices” or “a situation in which somebody must choose one of two or more unsatisfactory alternatives”.

We are thus forewarned that this will be a difficult section. We are not likely to finish it with the one thing we want—a clear, convincing, settled, and satisfactory doctrine of prayer.

Nevertheless, just as preparing a delicious meal also involves the chores of clearing the table and washing the dishes, there are some things we have to expect to do in order to complete the entire task. To get the whole picture, we can’t ignore this section.

Chapter 14: “Unanswered Prayer-Whose Fault?”

A verse to memorize: Mark 11:24 (NIV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. and James 4:3 (NIV) When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Book/Bible Study

1. It appears that for Yancey and others there is a problem with both unanswered prayers and with the inconsistency of how God answers prayers. Which is more troublesome to you?

2. What are some of the factors in unanswered prayers that may be “our fault”?

3. We’ve all heard “Be careful what you pray for, you may get it.” What can be some blessings of unanswered prayer?

4. Respond to the last paragraph on page 231.

Chapter 17: “Unanswered Prayer-Living With The Mystery”

1. List some aspects of your life today that make you predisposed to be less patient and less tolerant of having to wait.

2. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (made into a song by Pete Seeger and recorded by numerous artists in the 60’s and later) is this truth, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. How does this truth fit in with the concept of waiting?

3. Why might God answer our prayers differently from what we desire?

4. Look at Yancey’s conclusion on unanswered prayer in the last paragraph on page 247. Could this be a satisfactory answer for you?

C. Class Discussion

1. How do you deal with the dilemma posed by a loving God inconsistently answering prayer?
   
2. Your questions and comments

Extra: From a blogger who calls herself "The Anchoress" comes a link to this delightful piece on faith and prayer in the midst of pain.

Prayer Study-Session Eight (3/4/07)

Study Guide for Chapter 12: “Yearning for Fluency” and Chapter 13: “Prayer Grammar”.

This week we enter Part Three of “Prayer—Does it make any difference?”, by Philip Yancey. Coming after Part One, “Keeping Company With God” and Part Two, “Unraveling The Mysteries”, this section, “The Language of Prayer” brings us back to earth. Less theological and more practical, it offers some insights that can help us develop a more consistent and satisfying prayer life.

Because they don’t answer our most immediate questions about prayer, we could be tempted to slide over these four chapters and get to the “good stuff” in the next part , “Prayer Dilemmas”. I’m reminded of the brief time I took piano lessons (as an adult). I wanted to understand the theory behind chords and harmony; and I got bored with the routine of practicing every day.

Much like learning to play an instrument involves practice, Yancey treats learning to pray like learning a foreign language. It takes practice, a routine, and eventually submersion into a world where that language is spoken. Still, as one who has a learned a “second language”, I know that what is “second” to me is native to someone else. Without moving to a French-speaking country, I could never be able to converse fluently with someone for whom French is their native language.

The two chapters for this week help us start to develop fluency in prayer with the One for whom it is the native language.

Chapter 12: “Yearning for Fluency”

A. A verse to memorize: Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

B. Book/Bible Study

1. Write out the Henri Nouwen quotation at the head of the chapter and respond to it.

2. What expectations might one have about prayer that are unrealistic and need to be adjusted?

3. Distinguish prayer (as Yancey describes it in the last sentence on page 166) from the secular meditation technique of emptying the mind.

Chapter 13: “Prayer Grammar”

A. A memorized verse: Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

B. Book/Bible Study

1. Yancey talks about the prayers of the Bible as templates for prayers. How could you use them as templates for your prayers?
   
2. Have you ever used any of these other templates to aid you in prayer? [hymns, poems, formulas for prayer like “A.C.T.S.” [Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication]? If so, how did they help?

C. Class Discussion

1. Explain the title of this chapter as Yancey describes it.
   
2. Your questions and comments