Day 6 | The Penetrating Power of Prayer

8/17/2018

Prayer is God’s way of letting us partner with him to accomplish his purposes on earth. Jesus said we would do even greater things than he did. How is that possible? Simple. Through prayer. Like spiritual missiles, your prayers release the power of God into the most hopeless situations. They penetrate places where no man or woman can go, whether that’s a closed, international border, or the hardened heart of a skeptic. Prayer makes the impossible possible. So pray!

 

		I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.
		John 14:12 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 5 | Desire and Delight

8/16/2018

God delights in answering the prayers of those who delight in him. What can you ask for? Ask for what you want. The Bible says, “He fulfills the desires of those who reverence and trust him,” Psalm 145:19 (TLB). He doesn’t just fill the needs—he fulfills the desires. Why? Because if you reverence God and find delight in him, your desires will line up with his will.

 

		Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
		Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 4 | Ask Your Father

8/15/2018

Prayer is God's chosen method of meeting your needs. Some people think, “God knows what I need so I don't need to ask. He'll just give it to me when I need it.” That's not true. The Bible teaches that there are some things God has promised to do only if we pray. What are you lacking right now simply because you've never asked God for it?

 

		I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
		John 16:23–24 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 3 | Pray Your Way to Peace

8/14/2018

Worry is focusing on your fears instead of focusing on God. And worry never solves anything; it just makes your problems look bigger. The more you worry, the less peace you have. But the Bible says prayer is the pathway to peace. It’s the only way to put things into their proper perspective.

 

		Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
		Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 2 | Stay in Touch

8/13/2018

How do you stay connected to your best friend? Conversation. We love to talk to the people who love us most. What can you talk to a friend about? Anything! That’s what friends are for. Prayer is conversation with God. And God is the best friend you will ever have. In fact, he chose you to be his friend. He wants to hear from you because he loves you. He cares about every detail of your life. There is nothing too big or too small for his attention. So, go ahead… talk his ear off. God never gets tired of hearing—or answering—your prayers.

 

		I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
		John 15:15–16 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 1 | Your Lifeline to God

8/12/2018

Prayer is God’s idea. He created you to pray—it’s part of your human makeup. Prayer keeps you connected to God, like a branch on a vine. It keeps you tapped into your source of life. It’s your way of saying, “God, I need your help! I’m totally dependent on you.” A branch that’s separated from the vine cannot bear fruit. It simply withers and dies. But a branch that’s connected remains strong and hardy through all the seasons of life, even the most desolate of winters. Stay connected to God in prayer. It’s the only way to live.

 

		I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
		John 15:5–7 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Forgiving Those Who Hurt You

If we fail to get this particular petition we really miss the whole message of the Lord's prayer.

We usually think of John the Baptist as a prophet and a martyr, and yet our Lord’s disciples remembered him as a man of prayer. John was a "miracle baby," he was filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born, and yet he had to pray. He was privileged to introduce the Messiah to Israel, and yet he had to pray. Jesus said that John was the greatest of the prophets (Luke 7:28), and yet John had to depend on prayer. If prayer was that vital to a man who had these many advantages, how much more important it ought to be to us who do not have these advantages!

John’s disciples had to pray and Jesus’ disciples wanted to learn better how to pray. They did not ask the Master to teach them how to preach or do great signs; they asked Him to teach them to pray. We today sometimes think that we would be better Christians if only we had been with Jesus when He was on earth, but this is not likely. The disciples were with Him and yet they failed many times! They could perform miracles, and yet they wanted to learn to pray.