Filled with love of God, we ask of God the life-giving answers only He can give – not only for ourselves, but especially for all those He is calling us to love.

Accompanying Blog: “My Impossible Prayer List“

Accompanying Video Lesson:

So, ASK of God! Passionately, patiently, respectfully, persistently, regularly…

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 NLT

Lesson 6: Praying for Friends, Co-Workers, and Community

We invite you to a “Day of Prayer” on Saturday, October 24.

There are good biblical precedents for setting aside time away for prayer. (Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-4, 42, 4:23-31,12:6-19)

“And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying… All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer…“ Acts 1:13-14 ESV

But time set aside from time could be difficult, even for the early believers. With so many activities—important ones—clamoring for our time, real prayer is considered more a luxury than a necessity. How much more so spending a day in prayer!

“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” Matthew 26:40-41 ESV

Four reasons to set aside time for prayer…

1. CALLING
   1. “Come to me…” – Isaiah 55:1-3, Matthew 11:28-30, John 6:37-38, 7:37-38
   2. That commanding inner need to pray continually: – Luke 5:16; 18:1; Acts 1:14; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
2. CONVICTION…truth, hope, faith
   1. We believe: “With God NOTHING is impossible.”
   2. We hope: God’s design, desire and purposes have become our life breath!
   3. We act in faith, praying before the answer is given, resting in His promises.
3. CONNCTION…love, availability, sacrifice
   1. There’s something different about praying for someone you’ve invested in and connected with personally. When we wake up to how deeply our lives are entwined, O how we pray!
   2. Examples of connections that led to passionate praying:
      1. Jesus (Luke 19:41-46; John 17:9-19; Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:14-16)
      2. Paul (Romans 9:1-3; Philippians 4:1-7)
      3. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 8:18-9:1)
4. CIRCUMSTANCES
   1. Desires & dreams developing, momentum building (Matthew 9:37-38)
   2. Dreams dissolving leaving us desperate and over-whelmed (Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46)