WEEK ONE: Day One..... A HEART FOR BLESSING IN PRAYER

" God desires for us to have a heart for prayer."

Our Scripture passages for today are:   PSALM 5: 3 ,  MATTHEW 6:5-15 , and HEBREWS 11:6    You may click on each passage and go directly to the passages via an online Bible and I'm using the NIV but you can use any translation you prefer.    There's a tool there on the page of each passage to select the version of the Bible that you wish to read OR you can click on the icon for speaker below the passage and have it read to you! 

KEY TRUTHS:

• Jesus devoted the early morning to prayer.
• God regards those who earnestly and wholeheartedly seek Him.
• Our relationship with God and with others influences the effectiveness of our prayers.

DAY ONE:  The Journey Begins!

Hearing from God

1.  Think about your typical day.. your usual routine of waking up, preparing for the day, and fulfilling your responsibilities.  What things make it difficult for you to spend time in prayer?

2.  God's Word challenges and inspires us to make prayer a part of everyday life.   Read the following scriptures, and write down what you learn about prayer.

• Psalm 5:3, Psalm 88:13
• Matthew 6:5-15
• Mark 1:35-38
• James 5:16

(At this point, you may want to take a break and come back for more!)

3.  God provides great encouragement and instruction for us whenever we desire to seek Him.  His Word sets a clear path for us to follow.  Ready the following scriptures, and identify the hope and instruction that God provides us when we seek to know Him.

•  Deuteronomy 4:29
•  I Chronicles 28:9
•  2 Chronicles 16:9
•  Psalm 119:2
•  Hebrews 11:6

  

Responding to God:  "Yes, but how?"

4.  Getting started is often the hardest part of any challenge.  God's Word provides inspiration to help us move beyond the starting line.  Read the following scriptures, and jot down phrases that can help you start on your quest to develop a heart for prayer.

• Jeremiah 33:3
• Matthew 7:7-8
• James 4:3
• I Peter 5:8-9

5. Here are three simple steps you can take to begin your journey toward a daily devotional time with God.  Commit to do these three simple things this week.  When you have completed a task, put a check next to the task below.

• Obtain a notebook or booklet that will become your daily prayer journal.   Use this journal to list your prayer concerns and the many ways the Lord answers your prayers.   (or if you want to do this online then here are some suggestions for where to keep your online journal) 1.  Penzu (online journal, may have costs)   2.Yahoo Calendar (free!)
•  Dedicate a specific time of day for your time with the Lord.  Consider it an appointment that you must keep.
•  Dedicate a specific place for your devotional time.  Choose a place that minimizes interruptions and distractions.

"May I be careful to maintain a constant, habitual sense of Thee in my mind; to live and act as in Thy presence; to think often of Thee.  May I ever remember that I am in the presence of the great and Holy God."  ~ Susanna Wesley

 

"Linda has been a Christian for twenty years.  She actively serves the Lord in her church and works hard to be a good parent to her three children, ages three, five and nine.  Her husband,  Dave, seldom goes to church and resents the time she is away with the kids at church.  Linda has tried several times to establish a daily devotional habit but with limited success.  Her part-time job and her roles as mother, wife, and Sunday School teacher demand more time than she has to give.  She often wakes up more tired than when she went to bed.  Linda lives with a nagging sense of guilt about not spending time in prayer."  (Written by Elizabeth George, that author of this book!)    

If Linda came to you and expressed her frustration about finding a daily time for prayer, how would you respond?  Jot down your thoughts in your journal (online or written).

SUMMARY

For many believers, early morning is ideal for spending time with God in prayer and Bible study.  God's Word tells us that anyone who earnestly seeks God will find Him and hear from Him.  May the Lord bless you as you begin this journey.

Today, Lord, the prayer of my heart is:

The entire blog entry here was written by Elizabeth George, the author of our book...  WOMAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART (I'm using the old workbook that came with my book and you can click on those words, workbook and book to have what I'm using).  There's also a KINDLE edition of the book that came with my workbook.  Click on the word KINDLE for that option. 

Click on the following links if you would like to get a copy of her devotional book or read about her ministry, play her daily inspirations, or just browse the pages for other topics and her ministries.

 

If you have any prayer requests or comments...  please feel free to comment.   Thank you for your time here today and I hope to see you again tomorrow!

If you'd like to listen to a worship song about prayer, here is one for today:

"Hear our Prayer" with lyrics by Hillsong