Tag Archives: why pray?

True or False: Worry is Part of my Personality

true, but what else are you saying? If this is another way of saying “this is just the way I am and I cannot change”, then it is false. If this is another way of saying “I am, by nature, sinful”, then it is true.

Regardless of whether a sin is part of your genes or not, the Bible is clear: we are all sinful and naturally alienated from God.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. – Ephesians 2:1-3

But praise be to God who does not leave us there:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2: 4-10

28. List five specific steps of biblical action a person suffering from fear and worry should take.

  1. Forgive others.

    Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32

  2. Bask in God’s truth.

    Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

  3. Rejoice in the Lord, pray always with thanksgiving.

    Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7

  4. Think purely.

    Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9

  5. Avoid situations which bring worry and fear if possible. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3

True or False: If I Don’t See Prayer Answered, There Is No God

false

8. List three reasons – with scriptural references – why, under certain circumstances, you may not receive what you ask for in prayer.

1. He will not answer you if you pray in doubt.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:6-7

2. God’s grace is enough.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was giving me a form in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, So that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:7-10

3.God’s will may play out on a level above our understanding.

My father, if it is possible, maintenance cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. Matthew 26:39b

 

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

True or False: Prayer Doesn’t Actually Work

false; it may not be in our timing (and we may be praying our own will rather than His)

7. List five reasons – with scripture references – for the importance of prayer.

1. Prayer is important because it is God’s will for you.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

2. Prayer is important because it results in the fulfillment of desires of people who fear him.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.  Psalm 146:18-19

3. Persistent prayer is important because God responds by bringing about justice.

Then Jesus told his disciples comparable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “in a certain town that was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a window in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this window keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her complaining!'” And the Lord said, “listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8

4. Prayer is important because God hears.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him. I John 5:14-15

5. Prayer is important because it is a good work which is in line with God’s will.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4