Aligning Our Will: The Transformative Power of Prayer

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound and transformative nature of prayer as taught by Jesus. The disciples, despite their lifelong practice of prayer, recognized something uniquely powerful in the way Jesus prayed. They asked Him to teach them, and in response, Jesus provided a lesson that challenges our conventional understanding of prayer. He began by highlighting what not to do, cautioning against the performative and repetitive prayers of the hypocrites and pagans. Jesus emphasized the importance of sincerity and intimacy in prayer, urging us to find a private space to connect with our heavenly Father.

Jesus taught that prayer is not about informing God of our needs, as He already knows them. Instead, prayer is about aligning our will with God's will. This alignment is crucial because it shifts our focus from our desires to God's greater purpose. Jesus illustrated this through His own life, particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He submitted to God's will despite His personal anguish. This submission is the essence of prayer, inviting us to trust in God's plan, which is often larger than our immediate concerns.

The key to effective prayer lies in recognizing who God is and who we are in relation to Him. By addressing God as our Father, we enter into a personal and relational dialogue, acknowledging His greatness and our dependence on Him. This approach re-centers us, reminding us of our place in the grand narrative of God's creation. It encourages us to surrender our will, allowing God to work through us and in us.

Key Takeaways:

- Prayer as Alignment: Prayer is not about changing God's mind but aligning our will with His. Jesus taught that our prayers should begin with a focus on God's kingdom and His will, rather than our own desires. This realignment helps us see beyond our immediate needs and trust in God's greater plan. [26:12]

- Intimacy in Prayer: Jesus emphasized the importance of private, sincere prayer. By finding a quiet place to pray, we can engage in a more intimate conversation with God, free from distractions and pretense. This intimacy allows us to pour out our hearts and be truly seen by our heavenly Father. [11:18]

- God's Knowledge and Our Trust: Jesus reminded us that God already knows our needs before we ask. This knowledge invites us to trust in His provision and focus our prayers on seeking His will. It challenges us to move beyond a transactional view of prayer to a relational one. [15:49]

- The Role of Submission: True prayer involves a posture of submission to God's will. Jesus modeled this in the Garden of Gethsemane, demonstrating that even in our struggles, we are called to trust in God's plan. This submission is not about losing our desires but finding fulfillment in God's purpose. [27:14]

- Prayer's Transformative Power: When we pray as Jesus instructed, it transforms us. It shifts our perspective, helping us understand our role in God's story. This transformation is the true reward of prayer, as it aligns us with God's heart and His mission in the world. [34:06]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - The Disciples' Request
[01:09] - The Challenge of Prayer
[02:39] - The Reality of Unanswered Prayers
[04:32] - How Not to Pray
[06:10] - The Importance of Where and Why
[08:23] - The Call to Private Prayer
[09:49] - Addressing God as Father
[12:31] - Avoiding Empty Repetition
[15:34] - God's Knowledge of Our Needs
[18:51] - The Model Prayer
[21:38] - Acknowledging God's Greatness
[25:11] - Aligning with God's Will
[27:31] - Jesus' Example of Submission
[32:22] - Practicing Prayer the Jesus Way

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:5-13 - The Lord's Prayer
2. Luke 11:1-4 - Jesus Teaches on Prayer
3. Matthew 26:36-46 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

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Observation Questions:

1. What did the disciples notice about Jesus' way of praying that prompted them to ask Him to teach them? [00:28]

2. According to the sermon, what are some of the wrong ways to pray that Jesus highlighted? [04:32]

3. How does Jesus instruct us to address God in prayer, and why is this significant? [10:29]

4. What does Jesus say about God's knowledge of our needs before we pray? [15:49]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might Jesus have started His teaching on prayer by explaining how not to pray? What does this suggest about the common practices of prayer at the time? [04:32]

2. How does addressing God as "Father" change the nature of our prayers and our relationship with Him? [10:52]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that prayer is more about aligning with God's will than presenting our requests? [26:12]

4. How does Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane serve as a model for submission in prayer? [27:14]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current prayer habits. Are there any aspects of your prayer life that resemble the "wrong ways" Jesus mentioned? How can you change these habits? [04:32]

2. Consider the idea of addressing God as "Father." How does this perspective affect your approach to prayer, especially if you have had a challenging relationship with your earthly father? [10:52]

3. Think about a recent situation where you prayed for a specific outcome. How might your prayer have changed if you focused on aligning with God's will instead of your own desires? [26:12]

4. Jesus emphasized the importance of private, sincere prayer. What steps can you take to create a dedicated time and space for intimate prayer with God? [11:18]

5. Reflect on a time when you felt your prayers were not answered. How can the understanding that God knows your needs before you ask change your perspective on unanswered prayers? [15:49]

6. Jesus modeled submission to God's will in the Garden of Gethsemane. Is there an area in your life where you struggle to submit to God's will? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him? [27:14]

7. How can you incorporate the practice of declaring God's greatness and surrendering your will into your daily prayer routine? What might be the impact of this practice on your spiritual life? [34:59]

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning Our Will with God's Purpose
Prayer is not about changing God's mind but aligning our will with His. Jesus taught that our prayers should begin with a focus on God's kingdom and His will, rather than our own desires. This realignment helps us see beyond our immediate needs and trust in God's greater plan. [26:12]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: What is one desire or plan you have that you need to surrender to God today, trusting in His greater purpose?


Day 2: The Intimacy of Private Prayer
Jesus emphasized the importance of private, sincere prayer. By finding a quiet place to pray, we can engage in a more intimate conversation with God, free from distractions and pretense. This intimacy allows us to pour out our hearts and be truly seen by our heavenly Father. [11:18]

Matthew 6:6 (ESV): "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Reflection: Identify a specific time and place today where you can be alone with God. How can you make this a regular practice to deepen your relationship with Him?


Day 3: Trusting in God's Knowledge and Provision
Jesus reminded us that God already knows our needs before we ask. This knowledge invites us to trust in His provision and focus our prayers on seeking His will. It challenges us to move beyond a transactional view of prayer to a relational one. [15:49]

Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV): "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."

Reflection: What is one need or worry you have today that you can entrust to God, knowing He already understands and cares for you?


Day 4: The Role of Submission in Prayer
True prayer involves a posture of submission to God's will. Jesus modeled this in the Garden of Gethsemane, demonstrating that even in our struggles, we are called to trust in God's plan. This submission is not about losing our desires but finding fulfillment in God's purpose. [27:14]

Luke 22:42 (ESV): "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Reflection: Consider a struggle or challenge you are facing. How can you submit this situation to God, trusting in His wisdom and timing?


Day 5: Experiencing Prayer's Transformative Power
When we pray as Jesus instructed, it transforms us. It shifts our perspective, helping us understand our role in God's story. This transformation is the true reward of prayer, as it aligns us with God's heart and His mission in the world. [34:06]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent prayer experience. How did it change your perspective or understanding of God's work in your life? How can you seek this transformation more intentionally in your daily prayers?

Quotes

"After watching and listening to Him pray, they concluded that, it's kinda funny, they concluded that maybe they'd been doing it wrong, that they had been praying the wrong way even though they had been praying their entire lives. They'd been brought up praying portions of the psalms, combinations of some Old Testament writings, they'd been taught to pray by their fathers and their mothers and their religious leaders, so they were actually still praying the way they had been taught to pray as children, reciting memorized prayers, and then Jesus came along and well, if He was praying correctly, I mean if that's the way it was done they had a lot to learn." [00:32:06]

"Jesus begins by pointing out the hypocrisy of so many people who pray the wrong way. In fact, here's how He begins His lesson on how to pray. Here's what He says, He says, 'And when you pray.' Again, here's the don't do. 'Do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.' And this is the part about Jesus that you have to love, He had no tolerance for pretenders, He had no tolerance for pretension, people who thought they were better than other people." [00:48:04]

"Jesus instructs us to pray to God our unseen Father. Jesus instructs us to pray to God not Him, not His mama, not the saints, not the Falcons and not even the Cowboys, sorry, I just could not resist, but maybe I should have because this really is important. Jesus instructs us to address our prayers directly to God, but He's even more specific than that, Jesus instructed them, He instructs us to address our unseen God in relational terms. He says, I want you to pray to your Father who is unseen, our heavenly Father, our Father in heaven." [00:51:11]

"Gentlemen, He was saying, look, I want you to find a place where you can have a private conversation with your heavenly Father. I want you to find a place where you can say what needs to be said in whatever tone you need to use, whatever words you feel are appropriate, I want you to pray in private so you're not distracted. I want you to pray in private so you can pour out your heart. And then your Father, your Father who sees what is done in secret. This is amazing. According to Jesus, according to Jesus, God sees you praying alone with the door closed." [00:55:02]

"Jesus gives us another not to, but He shifts His attention away from their religious leaders to the Romans and their pagan priests, He says, now here's something else not to do when you pray. 'And when you pray do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.' That Greek term babbling actually sounds like babbling. The Greek term there is (speaking in foreign language). He says, don't keep (speaking in foreign language) don't say the same thing over and over and over. Repetition doesn't move God, link their style doesn't impress God, He's not looking for the right word or even the right words." [00:59:47]

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. So what did you say? (mumbles) Wait a minute, will you? Okay, He already knows? Yeah, He already knows. Well, if He already knows then what's the next question that comes out of our mouth? If He already knows, then why ask or why pray? Have you ever wondered that? I think that that's exactly the question that Jesus wanted them to ask. I think He's got them right where He wants them, He's got us right where He wants us, this is the question He wants us to look up and ask, well, if God already knows me, and if God knows what I need, why in the world should I even pray?" [01:03:55]

"The point or the purpose of prayer is to align or realign ourselves with God's will, with God's purpose. The purpose of prayer, the purpose of prayer is to surrender our will not to impose it. Heavenly Father, before I ask anything I want you to know that what I want, I want what you want, your will be done. Prayer is not about moving God, but being moved by God, it's not about convincing Him to do our bidding, but allowing Him to get us to the place where we are willing to do His." [01:18:15]

"Jesus in this moment teaching His disciples to pray, teaching us to pray, Jesus is inviting us to pray and to live as He prayed, and to live as He lived, submitted to the will of our heavenly Father. To be blunt and to be maybe a little personal, according to Jesus if we pray with any other posture than a posture of submission to His will, His agenda, we aren't doing it right. This is why I like to pray on my knees when I can, and my dad taught me this. Now in our culture we don't bow our knee to anyone, right? I mean we're Americans, but Jesus says you should bow out of gratitude, out of gratitude that you can address your King as your Father, we should bow out of recognition that His will should be done even when it conflicts with ours." [01:21:50]

"When we pause to reflect on who God is, we gain a better understanding of who we are and why we're here. We gain a better understanding of the relationship between the Creator and the created. This is the place in prayer where we recenter, this is where we regain our bearings, this is where we remember the broader context of our lives, our little lives that are, well, they're only made significant not because of what we accomplish or how long we live, they're made significant because of whose image bear, and whose children we are." [01:32:45]

"If you quit praying because God didn't answer your prayer as legitimate as your prayer was maybe the healing of a friend or a parent, so you quit praying because God didn't answer your prayer and then you just gave up on God altogether, what does that say about your view of God? You assumed unanswered prayer said something about God, but really it says something about your view of God. If there is a God, God should answer my prayer, God didn't answer my prayer, my very legitimate prayer, so clearly God doesn't answer prayer, God doesn't care, I'm not even sure God is there." [01:48:34]

"What if prayer begins with recognizing and submitting? What if we're to begin by remembering who God is and who we aren't? So His will takes precedent over ours. To press this just a bit further, the reason and I know this is personal and you might be right in the middle of a situation like this, the reason you find yourself from time to time praying or trying to pray your way out of a situation that you behaved your way into, the reason you find yourself in that situation from time to time is because you don't begin your day this way, you don't begin your prayers this way, you don't begin surrendered to your Father's will." [01:54:52]

"Between now and next time, and next time we'll get to the us part, the give us part, the part that we usually begin with, right? But anyway, between now and next time I want you to try praying this way, the Jesus way, alone, undistracted, informal, short, begin by addressing God as Father, take a moment to reflect on His greatness and His goodness to you, His closeness, the fact that He's infinite and yet intimate, and then tell Him that His deal, His agenda, His kingdom is gonna be your priority all day long." [02:14:42]

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Transcript
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