Deepening Our Relationship with God Through Prayer
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the importance of seeking God's guidance and cultivating a personal relationship with Him. Drawing from the biblical accounts of David and Jesus, I emphasized the significance of prayer and fasting in seeking God's guidance. I highlighted how David, despite his flaws, constantly positioned himself to hear from God, and how Jesus, when not ministering to people, was developing His relationship with His Father in Heaven. I also touched on the concept of life's seasons and how we move from one to another, emphasizing the importance of inquiring of God when making decisions in our lives.
In the second part of the sermon, I delved deeper into the idea of cultivating a personal relationship with God. I used David's Psalms as an example of how raw and personal our relationship with God can be. I also stressed the importance of dedicating time to cultivate our spiritual life and relationship with God, just as Jesus and David did. I concluded by encouraging everyone to position themselves to hear what the Spirit would say and to go deeper in their relationship with God.
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of positioning ourselves to hear from God, especially during life's challenging seasons. #!!21:45!!#
- The significance of inquiring of God when making decisions in our lives, rather than trying to navigate life without His guidance. #!!22:26!!#
- The need to dedicate time to cultivate our spiritual life and relationship with God, following the examples of Jesus and David. #!!15:14!!#
- The power of raw and personal relationship with God, as exemplified by David's Psalms. #!!17:23!!#
- The call to go deeper in our relationship with God, recognizing the richness of being in relationship with Him. #!!23:35!!#
Study Guide
Takeaways from the sermon:
1. Seeking God's guidance is crucial in making decisions. Jesus, as our model, always consulted God before making any decisions. This is a reminder that we should also seek God's guidance in our lives, especially when faced with big decisions. ([07:46])
2. Prayer is the key to seeking God's guidance. It's not about reciting written prayers, but about having a heartfelt conversation with God. It's about pouring out our lives and seeking His help. ([09:48])
3. We are all called to go deeper in our relationship with God. Cultivating our spiritual life and our relationship with God is a continuous journey. The closer we are to God, the clearer we can hear His guidance. ([23:35])
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 6:12-13
2. 1 Samuel 23:1-5
Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 6:12-13, what did Jesus do before making a big decision?
2. In 1 Samuel 23:1-5, how did David seek God's guidance when faced with a difficult situation?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What can we learn from Jesus' actions in Luke 6:12-13 about seeking God's guidance?
2. How does David's conversation with God in 1 Samuel 23:1-5 illustrate the importance of prayer in seeking God's guidance?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a recent decision where you sought God's guidance? How did you go about it?
2. How can you make prayer a more integral part of your decision-making process?
3. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God and be more attuned to His guidance?
4. Can you share a time when you felt God's guidance in your life? How did it impact your decision?
5. How can you encourage others in your life to seek God's guidance in their decisions?
Devotional
Day 1: Cultivating a Deeper Relationship with God
We are all called to go deeper in our relationship with God, to cultivate our spiritual life and to position ourselves to hear what the Spirit would say. This is a constant call for every believer, regardless of where we are in our faith journey. It is in this deep, intimate relationship with God that we rediscover the richness of being in relationship with Him ([23:03]).
Psalm 42:1-2 - "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
Reflection: How are you intentionally cultivating your relationship with God? What steps can you take to go deeper in your relationship with Him?
Day 2: The Importance of Spending Time with God
Just as Jesus and David spent time cultivating their relationship with God, we too must dedicate time to developing our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is in these moments of intentional communion with God that we are able to hear His voice and receive His guidance ([15:14]).
Psalm 63:1 - "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."
Reflection: How much time are you dedicating to cultivating your spiritual life and your relationship with God? How can you make more time for God in your daily routine?
Day 3: Recognizing Our Brokenness
David, despite his flaws and sins, was a man after God's own heart because he recognized his deep need for God. He was not afraid to lay bare his brokenness before God, trusting in God's mercy and grace ([19:20]).
Psalm 51:10 - "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Reflection: How do you acknowledge your brokenness and need for God in your life? How can you cultivate a heart that is open and transparent before God?
Day 4: Inquiring of God in Decision Making
David constantly sought God's guidance in his life, especially when making decisions. He understood the importance of inquiring of God and listening to His voice. This is a practice that we too should adopt in our lives ([18:47]).
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: How often do you inquire of God when making decisions in your life? How can you incorporate this practice more in your daily life?
Day 5: Trusting God in Difficult Situations
David trusted God even in the most difficult and dangerous situations. He understood that God was not silent and that He would guide him through the challenges. We too can trust God in our difficult situations, knowing that He will guide us ([11:01]).
Psalm 9:9-10 - "The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."
Reflection: How do you trust God in your difficult situations? How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God during challenging times?
Quotes
1. "There's a constant call to just go deeper with God. We're all in this boat together and we're all called by God to position ourselves or reorient our lives back to God. By doing that, we rediscover the richness of being in relationship with God for our lives." - 23:35
2. "As we live our lives, we're moving, we seem to be on a pilgrimage and we're moving from one season to another. The older you get, I think you begin to learn that actually we're not in control, even though we like to try and have control." - 03:47
3. "Today specifically we're talking about seeking God's guidance for our lives. It's one thing to seek but the reason we seek God's guidance is because we actually want to receive something. It's got to be a two-way thing." - 05:41
4. "David was a flawed human being, he committed adultery, he committed murder, yet God still loved and stayed in relationship with David. And you know why? Because David was a person who recognized his deep flawed reality, he recognized his deep need." - 19:20
5. "Are you inquiring of God when it comes to the decisions you're making in your life? So many people try to navigate life without even asking God, without even believing in God, just thinking that God's some Transcendent blurb of something up there somewhere when in actual fact God showed us who he is in the man Jesus Christ." - 22:26
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