Deepening Our Prayer Life Through the Lord's Prayer
Summary
In this session of our 40 Days of Prayer series, we delve into the profound depths of the Lord's Prayer, a model given by Jesus to guide us in our prayer life. Jesus emphasized that this prayer is not a formula to be recited mindlessly but a pattern to follow, addressing every aspect of our lives. The Lord's Prayer is a pathway composed of ten steps, each designed to deepen our relationship with God.
The first step is the Prayer of Connection, where we remember how much God loves us. This is encapsulated in the phrase "Our Father in Heaven," reminding us that prayer is about relationship, not just requests. God's love is inexhaustible, and we are encouraged to let our roots grow deep into His marvelous love, experiencing its length, width, depth, and height.
The second step is the Prayer of Refocusing, where we tell God how much we love Him. This is an act of worship, focusing on God's character and His names, which reveal His nature as our Creator, Savior, Shepherd, and more. By hallowing His name, we express gratitude for His deeds and build our faith.
The third step is the Prayer of Cooperation, where we offer our lives for God's purposes, praying "Your kingdom come." This is about aligning our lives with God's plans, which are always for our good, even when life is tough. It's a daily attitude of seeking God's kingdom in every aspect of our lives.
The fourth step is the Prayer of Surrender, where we give God our pain and sorrow, praying "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This is a surrender of our will to God's, trusting Him with our deepest hurts and desires, just as Jesus did in Gethsemane.
The fifth step is the Prayer of Dependence, where we trust God to meet all our needs, asking for "our daily bread." This teaches us to rely on God daily, not just for our physical needs but for emotional, spiritual, and mental sustenance as well.
As we practice these steps, we grow in our understanding and experience of God's love, aligning our lives with His will and depending on Him for our needs. This pattern of prayer is a powerful tool for spiritual growth and intimacy with God.
Key Takeaways:
1. Prayer of Connection: Begin your prayers by remembering God's immense love for you. This foundational step is about relationship, not requests. God's love is inexhaustible, and understanding its dimensions can transform your prayer life. [04:12]
2. Prayer of Refocusing: Before presenting your needs, spend time in worship, focusing on who God is. His names reveal His character—Creator, Savior, Shepherd—and remind us of His faithfulness and love. This builds our faith and gratitude. [06:27]
3. Prayer of Cooperation: Offer your life for God's purposes, trusting His plans over your own. This daily attitude aligns your life with God's kingdom, bringing hope and purpose even in difficult times. [08:59]
4. Prayer of Surrender: Give God your pain and sorrow, trusting His will over your desires. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, surrendering to God's will brings comfort and strength in our deepest struggles. [11:48]
5. Prayer of Dependence: Trust God to meet your daily needs, relying on Him for sustenance in every area of life. This dependence fosters a continual relationship with God, teaching us to live one day at a time. [14:07]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:12] - Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
- [02:59] - Praying the Lord's Prayer Together
- [03:59] - Step 1: Prayer of Connection
- [06:12] - Step 2: Prayer of Refocusing
- [08:41] - Step 3: Prayer of Cooperation
- [11:32] - Step 4: Prayer of Surrender
- [14:07] - Step 5: Prayer of Dependence
- [16:43] - Practicing the Pattern of Prayer
- [21:18] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Lord's Prayer
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord's Prayer)
2. Romans 8:28 (God works for the good of those who love Him)
3. Ephesians 3:17-19 (Understanding the dimensions of God's love)
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the phrase "Our Father in Heaven" signify about our relationship with God according to the sermon? ([04:12])
2. How does the sermon describe the significance of God's names in the Prayer of Refocusing? ([06:27])
3. What is the purpose of the Prayer of Cooperation as explained in the sermon? ([08:59])
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of surrender in the Prayer of Surrender? ([11:48])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding God's love can transform one's prayer life? ([04:58])
2. How does the sermon explain the importance of aligning one's life with God's kingdom in the Prayer of Cooperation? ([09:16])
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between surrendering to God's will and experiencing comfort and strength? ([12:19])
4. How does the sermon describe the role of daily dependence on God in the Prayer of Dependence? ([14:07])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt deeply connected to God's love. How can you incorporate the Prayer of Connection into your daily routine to strengthen that relationship? ([04:12])
2. Consider the names of God mentioned in the sermon. Which name resonates most with you right now, and how can you focus on that aspect of God's character in your prayers this week? ([06:27])
3. Think about an area of your life where you struggle to align with God's purposes. What steps can you take to practice the Prayer of Cooperation in that area? ([09:16])
4. Identify a personal pain or sorrow you are currently facing. How can you practice the Prayer of Surrender to trust God's will in this situation? ([11:48])
5. What are some specific needs you have today? How can you practice the Prayer of Dependence by bringing these needs to God and trusting Him for provision? ([14:07])
6. Reflect on a past experience where you saw God work things out for your good. How can this memory encourage you to trust in God's plans during challenging times? ([10:06])
7. How can you make the practice of these prayer steps a regular part of your spiritual life to foster growth and intimacy with God? ([16:43])
Devotional
Day 1: Rooted in God's Love
In the Prayer of Connection, we are reminded of the profound love God has for us, encapsulated in the phrase "Our Father in Heaven." This step emphasizes that prayer is fundamentally about relationship rather than requests. God's love is inexhaustible, and as we let our roots grow deep into His marvelous love, we begin to experience its length, width, depth, and height. This understanding transforms our prayer life, allowing us to approach God with confidence and intimacy, knowing that we are deeply loved and cherished. [04:12]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of God's love for you today, and how might this change the way you approach Him in prayer?
Day 2: Worship Through Refocusing
The Prayer of Refocusing invites us to tell God how much we love Him, focusing on His character and His names, which reveal His nature as our Creator, Savior, Shepherd, and more. By hallowing His name, we express gratitude for His deeds and build our faith. This act of worship shifts our perspective from our needs to who God is, reminding us of His faithfulness and love. It is a powerful way to start our prayers, grounding us in the reality of God's unchanging nature and His promises. [06:27]
Psalm 29:2 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."
Reflection: What specific attributes of God can you focus on today to deepen your worship and gratitude during prayer?
Day 3: Aligning with God's Kingdom
In the Prayer of Cooperation, we offer our lives for God's purposes, praying "Your kingdom come." This step is about aligning our lives with God's plans, which are always for our good, even when life is tough. By seeking God's kingdom in every aspect of our lives, we adopt a daily attitude of trust and hope, knowing that His plans bring purpose and fulfillment. This alignment with God's kingdom allows us to live with a sense of mission and direction, even in challenging times. [08:59]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to align more closely with God's kingdom, and how can you take a step towards that alignment today?
Day 4: Surrendering to God's Will
The Prayer of Surrender involves giving God our pain and sorrow, praying "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This step is about surrendering our will to God's, trusting Him with our deepest hurts and desires, just as Jesus did in Gethsemane. Surrendering to God's will brings comfort and strength in our deepest struggles, allowing us to experience His peace and guidance. It is an act of trust that acknowledges God's sovereignty and goodness, even when we don't understand His ways. [11:48]
Luke 22:42 (ESV): "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to surrender to God's will, and what would it look like to trust Him with it today?
Day 5: Daily Dependence on God
The Prayer of Dependence teaches us to trust God to meet all our needs, asking for "our daily bread." This step encourages us to rely on God daily, not just for our physical needs but for emotional, spiritual, and mental sustenance as well. By depending on God, we foster a continual relationship with Him, learning to live one day at a time. This dependence is a reminder of our need for God's provision and presence in every area of our lives, cultivating a heart of gratitude and trust. [14:07]
Matthew 6:11 (ESV): "Give us this day our daily bread."
Reflection: What is one specific need you have today that you can trust God to provide, and how can you express your dependence on Him in prayer?
Quotes
The Lord's Prayer is a pattern for prayer; it's a model. You need to know this model because it addresses everything you need in life. If you learn the model of the Lord's Prayer, you'll know how to pray and what to pray for. [00:02:40]
The first thing I do in prayer, I remember how much God loves me. I remember how much God loves me. That's what the first phrase is all about in the Lord's Prayer, our Father in Heaven. Now I call this first phrase the prayer of connection, connecting to your Father in heaven. [00:04:12]
God's love for you is inexhaustible. The Bible says it like this: may your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is. [00:04:54]
Before you ask anything from God, you need to spend a few moments in worship, focusing on God, not your problem, worshipping God for who he is and how much he loves you, and thanking him for what he has done and talking to him by name. [00:06:35]
God is your Creator who made you. He's your father who loves you. He's your savior who forgives you, and he's your Shepherd who guides you. He feeds you, he leads you. The Bible tells us that God is your shield who hides and protects you from harm. [00:06:56]
I offer my life to be used for God's purposes, not for my purposes, not for my plans, but his plans. And you see this in the next phrase of the Lord's Prayer, and it's a simple phrase, it's three words: your kingdom come. I call this the prayer of cooperation. [00:08:48]
Even when life is tough and confusing, even when you can't make sense of the troubles you're going through, you can be confident that God is watching out for you, that God is working everything out for your good. [00:09:51]
I give God my pain and sorrow, all your problems, your pain, your difficulties, all of the hurt in your life when you pray the pattern of prayer Jesus gives us. I call this phrase the prayer of surrender. Jesus says your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [00:11:29]
God wants to comfort you in your grief. He wants to support you in your pain. He wants to give you strength when you feel weak and you feel like you can't go on and you're ready to give up and you're discouraged or defeated or in doubt or despondent or even in despair. [00:11:56]
I trust God to meet all my needs. I call this the prayer of dependence. When Jesus says give us this day our daily bread, he is expressing total dependence upon the father. Now you've told the father that you love him and you've told God your father that you've surrendered to his will. [00:14:07]
Tell them about the challenges you're facing today. Tell them about the needs that you have. Tell them about the fears and the worries nagging you. Give us this day our daily bread. That bread represents everything you need in life emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally. [00:14:46]
Jesus is teaching us to ask for daily bread because God wants you to depend on him daily, one day at a time. If God met all of your needs at once and he said here's everything you need for the rest of your life, you wouldn't need to trust him anymore. [00:15:52]
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