DOES GOD ALWAYS ANSWER P RAYE R? Steve Briggs STUDY GUIDE

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1 DOES GOD ALWAYS ANSWER P RAYE R? Steve Briggs STUDY GUIDE

2 Does God Always Answer Prayer? A Seven Week Study Guide This Study Guide is designed to help facilitate both group settings and individual study between group meetings. The questions are simply suggestions and others can be added for other topics as the group and its leaders are led. The subject of prayer is broad and the Holy Spirit should be your guide for where he wants the group to focus. There is no magic to 7 sessions feel free to expand or reduce as desired. The purpose is twofold: To encourage an active pursuit of a closer relationship with Him and we can only do that if we give Him some of our time and listen to Him carefully and thoughtfully. To join others in pursuing His will and HIs best for our lives which comes when we are together, seeking Him. We suggest making notes about time in prayer and time in the Word. We call it My IRS List and pages for notes are included in this study. I Insights List any wisdom gleaned from your time in prayer and in the Word. Perhaps the thoughts in this book, perhaps the specific Scriptures listed, perhaps other Scripture verses, and perhaps a perspective in dealing with a problem you or others in the group for whom you are praying are facing. You may glean new insights from your friends in the group as they discuss their own IRS lists. R Reminders Most of us have heard a lot about prayer over the years but often have forgotten much of what we have learned. Many times study brings those ideas back into focus for reflection. S- Surprises God does not do things the way we think and many times He will surprise us with a Wow I never knew that or So that s what that means! Developing and sharing your IRS list can become a great way of developing your spiritual muscles. Maintain a humble spirit and encourage others to test or challenge what you have heard to seek a full hearing of the mind of Christ on any topic. Always seek to align with His Word as the source of truth. 1

3 Week One: Opening Meeting Read Many Questions before the first meeting Group Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever questioned whether God answers prayer or not? Discuss your personal experiences with the group. 2. Have you ever had a prayer answered? What did that look like describe the experience. Did you think it was from God or just happened? 3. How do you feel about the balance between our character and our comfort when it comes to God answering our prayers? 4. Do you believe the Bible is true, inerrant, infallible? If not, why not? 5. Do you see paradoxes in Christianity? (Suggestions: grace versus justice; predestination versus free will; to gain your life you must lose it; to be strong you must be weak there are certainly others.) Individual time between meetings 1. This week set aside a time for prayer each day at a time when you are mentally alert and not tired. Let s start with a 5 minute commitment if you are not in the habit of praying regularly. Take one minute and pray about whatever is on your mind. Take longer if needed, of course. Be quiet for at least 2 minutes and listen. Then, pray for one minute by saying thanks for whatever comes to mind and for whatever His answer will be to your prayers, even though you don t know what they will be. In the last minute make your IRS List on whatever has come to mind during this time. 2. Read next week s assignment Sometimes No 2

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5 Week Two: Read Sometimes No Group Discussion Questions 1. Review any IRS notes for the week from any willing to share. 2. Discuss your individual prayer time this last week. How did you feel before, during and after? 3. Moses request to go to the Promised Land was rejected? What do you think about that? 4. David got up and moved on when the baby died. Could you? 5. Paul realized his pride could become a problem. How are you doing with pride? How is your pride holding up with committing to prayer time each day? 6. Job s experience was remarkable. How does seeing God change everything? Have you had such an experience? How can you go about searching for it? 7. What do you think was going on with Jesus when He asked to let the cup pass? Individual time between meetings 1. This week set aside some time for time in His Word and prayer each day. Read the Bible before you pray whatever Scripture seems best perhaps a review of passages from the book, perhaps the One Year Bible reading for the day. 2. Before you pray for anything specific, ask God what He wants you to know today from the Scripture you read. Begin your IRS notes to remember and share. 3. After you have prayed about whatever is on your mind, listen for a while. 4. Make more IRS notes. 5. Read next week s assignment Missed Connections numbers One and Two 4

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7 Week Three: Read Missed Connections Focus on Numbers One and Two Group Discussion Questions 1. Review any IRS notes for the week from any willing to share. 2. Discuss your individual prayer time. How did you feel before, during and after? 3. Discuss forgiveness what does it mean to you? When was the last time you had to forgive something big and how did it go? Were you really able to forgive or are you still quietly holding the pain inside? Are you truly happy when good things happen for those who have wronged you? 4. Discuss perseverance What have you asked God for but given up on? Why have you given up? Should you return to prayer, should you assume the answer is no, or do you now recognize the request was not consistent with God s will? Individual time between meetings 1. This week set aside some time for Scripture and prayer each day. 2. Read His word first then listen a while then pray. 3. This time ask Him to reveal to you any person you have not fully forgiven. Ask Him to help you do so. 4. Ask Him to help you persevere in spending time with Him and thank Him for spending time with you. 5. Make your IRS notes as you go. Review your previous IRS notes any particular note stick out for further consideration? 6. Read next week s assignment Missed Connections Numbers Three, Four, and Five. 7. Listen for Him to speak to you through the day. When you encounter a situation that makes you frustrated or angry, pause before you speak and ask Him to direct your thoughts and words. 6

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9 Week Four: Reread Missed Connections Focus on Numbers Three, Four and Five Group Discussion Questions 1. Review any IRS notes for the week from any willing to share. 2. Discuss your individual prayer time. How did you feel before, during and after? Are you beginning to hear? 3. Did you find some areas of lack of forgiveness to deal with? Why has it persisted? 4. Are there issues where you will now persist in prayer? Would you like others to join your prayer? Make notes of prayer requests from others in the group. 5. How do you feel about the issue of sin? Why do we not talk about it much? Are we born good but tend to mess up or are we born evil and have to work to be good (this could be a trick question watch out for the work part!)? 6. How do you feel about the Law? Is it regressive, restrictive, unrealistic? Or is it freeing, encouraging, life-giving? 7. What are the idols in your life? Think about where you spend your money to find out what is important to you. Do you tithe or have you settled in that He understands how tight the budget is? What is in your life that would devastate you if it were gone finances, appearance, power? How far down the list is your relationship with God? Individual time between meetings 1. This week set aside some time for Scripture and prayer each day. 2. Begin with His word and listen carefully for what He is saying. 3. Begin your prayer by thinking about Him and offering praise to Him for who He is. Continue by praying for those in your group who indicated they wanted you to join in a particular prayer. 4. Ask Him to reveal to you any sin in your life where you have not repented and turned away. Ask Him to help you with things you do that you know are wrong but you are struggling to leave behind. Ask Him to let you see Him more clearly so you can change your point of view. 5. Make your IRS notes as you go. Review your previous IRS notes any particular note stick out for further consideration? 6. Read next week s assignment Missed Connections Numbers Six through Twelve. 7. Listen for Him to speak through the day. When you encounter a situation that makes you frustrated or angry, pause before you speak and ask Him to direct your thoughts and words. Make notes to share as appropriate. 8

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11 Week Five: Reread Missed Connections Focus on Numbers Six through Twelve Group Discussion Questions 1. Review any IRS notes for the week from any willing to share. Discuss your individual prayer time. What insights did you receive from the Scriptures you read and from the prayer time itself? 2. What other areas of missed connections hit home with you? 3. How do you check your motives when you pray? 4. How do you feel about confessing your sins to one another? Have you tried it? If so, how did it go? 5. How is your concern for the poor? Do you see them as equals with you before God? 6. How is your faith? Do you have faith that you have faith? 7. Are you abiding with God? What does that look like for you? 8. Share prayer requests with each other and report on previous requests as appropriate. Individual time between meetings 1. This week set aside some time for Scripture and prayer each day. 2. Read, listen and praise Him. 3. Pray for those in your group. 4. Pray for help with all areas where you are missing Him. Ask His help in each and ask Him to reveal any area where you are blind. 5. Thank Him for His grace and mercy in dealing with all your issues on the cross. Declare you are free from the burden of all your mistakes through His sacrifice. Speak it out loud. 6. When you hear some negative thoughts coming you are a mess, you made that same mistake again, you will never amount to anything stop that train of thought by speaking out and saying That is NOT TRUE and I will NOT ACCEPT it. Declare that you are a child of God and only He can run your life, that you are loved by the Creator of the universe and are beautiful in His sight and that is all that matters. 7. Ask Him to help you with the issues you are facing. Ask Him to help you trust His decisions about each concern. 8. Listen some more. Make notes. 9. Read next week s assignment And Sometimes Yes. 10. At random times throughout the day pause and say hello. Say a quick thank you for all He does for you. 11. Listen to Him in times of stress and ask Him to help you through them. 12. Make your IRS notes as you go. Review your previous IRS notes any particular note stick out for further consideration? 10

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13 Week Six: Read And Sometimes Yes Group Discussion Questions 1. Review any IRS notes for the week from any willing to share. Discuss your individual prayer time. What insights did you receive from the Scriptures you read and from the prayer time itself? 2. Have you personally experienced miraculous answers to prayer? Do you have friends who have? Share the stories with the group. 3. Can you see God s hand in your life in even the everyday things that seem to make your life enjoyable? Have you thought that He is involved in every single breath you take? Discuss why you don t or how you can? 4. How do you feel about the cross? About the resurrection? Prefer not to talk about it because it seems illogical or arcane? How does it affect your faith when you focus on Christ s sacrifice? Do you sense His pain His love? 5. Share prayer requests with each other and report on previous requests as appropriate. Individual time between meetings 1. This week set aside some time for Scripture and prayer each day. 2. Read, listen and praise Him. 3. Pray for those in your group. 4. Thank Him for your yes s. Thank Him for the no s. Thank Him for your life and its many pleasures and comforts. Ask Him to help you with your difficulties to get through them, to learn from them. 5. Ask His Spirit to pray for you (He already is) and to guide your prayers. 6. Listen some more. 7. Make your IRS notes as you go. Review your previous IRS notes any particular note stick out for further consideration? 8. Check how long your prayer time is. 9. Read next week s assignment Pray Anyway. 12

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15 Week Seven: Read Pray Anyway Group Discussion Questions 1. Review any IRS notes for the week from any willing to share. Discuss your individual prayer time. What insights did you receive from the Scriptures you read and from the prayer time itself? 2. Discuss perspective. Do you really believe in eternity? Why is it so hard to remember it? How can you think more of the bigger picture? How can you help each other do so without sounding pompous? 3. What does it mean to trust God totally? Do you find it hard to do so? Why or why not? 4. Discuss the format of The Lord s Prayer as a tool to help with prayer. What do the words of the prayer convey to you? 5. Share prayer requests with each other and report on previous requests as appropriate. Individual time between meetings 1. This week set aside some time for Scripture and prayer each day. 2. Read, listen and praise Him. 3. Pray for others in your group. 4. If helpful, use The Lord s Prayer as a template to cover all you want to say. Spend a little more time on places you are struggling and ask Him to help you. 5. Always say thanks and always give Him praise. 6. Listen some more. 7. Make your IRS notes as you go. Review your previous IRS notes any particular note stick out for further consideration? 8. Continue listening and talking to Him more each day and rejoice and be thankful. May your time with Him be the highlight of your day every day! 14

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elites indeed God was leading them to the very land that held God s promise God understood their humanity. God realized that their overbearing focus

elites indeed God was leading them to the very land that held God s promise God understood their humanity. God realized that their overbearing focus Praying with Beads In the book of Exodus we read of the Israelites leaving Egypt. They were headed for the Promised Land, a land that God had set aside for them, a land filled with opportunity. The Israelites