activities for adult bible study related to prayer

Prayer is not saying to a distant God, 'Do this and that,' but prayer is basically getting to know God. A boy prays, 'Oh God, I want to pass that examination,' or a girl prays, 'Oh God, don't let me be the only girl who doesn't get asked by a boy to the basketball game.' And if she happens to be the only one who doesn't get the invitation, she may say in despair, 'Oh, I don't believe in prayer it just doesn't work.' As a result, her whole spiritual life may become a mess because she has not been taught the true nature of prayer. When they find themselves in desperate need they pray, and they do not get an answer. Many people have been taught that prayer is a cheap way to get anything.

Intercession is where we stop asking for something just for ourselves and our little circle and begin to plead with God for blessings for others.

It's associated with the image of a pumpkin with a cut-out face, or the picture of the Puritans hunting turkeys in the fields, or the Puritans bowing their heads in thanksgiving. The child then learns about Thanksgiving Day in school. Now secondly, as a child develops a little, he's taught to say 'thank you,' and he's taught not only to say it to his parents, but he's taught to say to God, 'Father, we thank Thee for this food.' As your prayer life develops, it should go beyond this. When you're asking for something, your praying is the lowest form of prayer. It is possible to say things that are theologically wrong, and yet if the heart is right toward God, He can sort out the difficulties.īut this is baby prayer. And I'm quite sure that God is able, if the heart is right, to give us this day our jelly bread. Now this is understandable because little children do not know these words. One of the boys said, 'Harold be Thy name' instead of 'Hallowed be Thy name.' Another said, 'Give us this day our jelly bread.' Another said, 'Lead us not into Penn Station.' Another said, 'Deliver us from eagles.' Then one time she called up her pupils one by one and asked each one to repeat the Lord's Prayer. Some time ago, a school teacher in New York taught the Lord's Prayer to her class, and they all learned it. 'Bless Papa and Mama, and make me a good little boy.' And then, 'I pray the Lord my soul to keep.' When you were first taught to pray as children, your prayers were primarily to ask God for things. As the soul grows, the prayer life deepens.įirst of all, chronologically, a prayer is nothing more than petition. Prayer is the growth of a soul as we come in contact with God. Your body can be in any condition, but if your soul is bold, upright, defiant against God, you know nothing about prayer. But it doesn't make any difference in what horizontal, vertical, or oblong direction your carcass happens to be if your soul is not down before God, you are not praying. Hezekiah prayed in bed with his face turned to the wall. Jesus prayed with His eyes lifted to heaven He prayed prostrate on the ground. How did they pray in the Bible? I believe you can find nine different physical positions in the Bible.

Now there is no doubt that God is not interested in the physical attitude of prayer.

Activities for adult bible study related to prayer