Deepening Our Relationship with God Through Prayer

Devotional

Day 1: Humility as the Foundation of Prayer

True prayer begins with humbling ourselves before God, acknowledging our dependence on Him and surrendering our own control. When we come to God in humility, we recognize that we cannot do life in our own strength and that we need His presence and guidance in every step. This attitude of surrender is not about false humility, but about honestly admitting our need for God’s help and inviting Him to lead us. As we prepare for a season of prayer, let us start by saying, “God, if You’re not in this, we can’t do it.” [05:43]

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV)
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain or command the locust to devour the land or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to let go of control and humbly ask God for help today?

Day 2: Making Prayer a Priority

Prayer can easily slip down our list of priorities amidst the busyness of life, but God calls us to be faithful and devoted in prayer. When we neglect prayer, we often feel distant from God, but when we make time to pray, we draw closer to Him and open ourselves to His work in our lives. The Bible urges us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer, reminding us that prayer is not just a task but a vital connection with God. Let us choose to put prayer first, even when life is full of demands. [07:57]

Romans 12:12 (ESV)
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to make prayer a consistent priority, even in your busiest moments?

Day 3: Seeking God’s Will Above Our Own

Prayer is not only about bringing our requests to God, but also about seeking His face and aligning our hearts with His will. Even Jesus, facing the cross, prayed for God’s will to be done above His own desires. When we seek God’s face, we ask Him what He wants us to do, laying down our own plans and trusting that His ways are higher. This act of seeking is an invitation to let God lead, even when it means surrendering our preferences. [09:52]

Mark 14:36 (ESV)
“And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’”

Reflection: Is there a decision or situation where you need to pause and ask God, “What is Your will for me here?” Will you pray that prayer today?

Day 4: Turning from Sin and Embracing Repentance

As we seek God’s face, He lovingly reveals areas in our lives that need to change, calling us to turn from our wicked ways. Repentance is more than feeling sorry—it is a turning away from what draws us from God and a return to Him. God’s conviction is not condemnation, but an invitation to freedom and abundant life. When we ask God to search our hearts, He will show us what needs to change, and He gives us the grace to turn and follow Him. [14:07]

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Reflection: Will you courageously ask God to search your heart today and show you anything you need to turn from? What is one step you can take in response?

Day 5: Persevering in Prayer for Revival

God calls us not only to pray, but to keep praying with persistence, especially as we seek revival and a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. Sometimes answers come quickly, but often we are called to persevere, trusting that God hears and will move in His time. The history of the church shows that every great movement of God is rooted in persistent, united prayer. Let us be a people who keep pressing in, asking God to “do it again” in our generation, believing that our prayers can change our community and world. [21:01]

Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV)
“O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.”

Reflection: What is one area—personal, family, church, or community—where you feel called to persevere in prayer for breakthrough or revival? Will you commit to keep praying for it this week?

Sermon Summary

In this season, God has been stirring hearts and redirecting our gatherings, leading us to a significant moment for our church and community. As we prepare to enter a focused week of prayer, it’s clear that God is inviting us to go deeper, not just in our routines, but in our relationship with Him. The passage from 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 has been a recurring theme, highlighting four essential attitudes for unlocking the power of prayer: humility, prayerfulness, seeking God’s face, and turning from our wicked ways.

Humility is the foundation. It’s about acknowledging our dependence on God, recognising that we are not in control, and surrendering our plans to His will. Like Moses in Exodus 33, we must say, “If Your presence doesn’t go with us, don’t send us.” This posture of surrender is not about false humility, but a genuine recognition that without God, our efforts are empty.

Prayer itself must become a priority, not an afterthought. Life is busy, and it’s easy for prayer to slip down the agenda. Yet, Scripture calls us to be faithful, devoted, and persistent in prayer. When we neglect prayer, we drift from God; when we prioritise it, we draw near and open ourselves to His leading.

Seeking God’s face means more than asking for things—it’s about pursuing His will above our own. Even Jesus, in the garden, prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” This is a call to lay down our preferences and desires, trusting that God’s plans are higher and better.

Turning from our wicked ways is a call to repentance, not just for the obvious sins, but for the subtle ones—pride, greed, judgment—that can take root in our hearts. True repentance is not just feeling sorry, but turning away from what draws us from God and moving toward Him. God’s conviction is always for our good, never for condemnation.

Finally, persistence in prayer is vital. Sometimes God answers immediately; other times, He calls us to keep pressing in. We may not understand why, but we are called to persevere, trusting that God is at work. As we gather to pray—whether at 6am or 7pm, in person or online—we are sowing seeds for revival, believing that God will move in our midst and in our community.

Key Takeaways

1. Humility is the gateway to effective prayer. True humility is not self-deprecation, but a deep acknowledgment of our dependence on God and our inability to accomplish anything of eternal value without Him. Like Moses, we must refuse to move forward without God’s presence, making surrender our starting point. This posture opens our hearts to receive from God and aligns us with His purposes. [05:43]
2. Prayer must be a non-negotiable priority, not a background activity. When prayer is neglected, spiritual dryness and distance from God follow; when it is prioritised, intimacy and clarity return. Faithfulness in prayer is not about quantity, but about consistency and intentionality, even when distractions and busyness press in. The call is to be devoted, watchful, and thankful in our prayer lives. [07:57]
3. Seeking God’s face means pursuing His will above our own, even when it costs us. Jesus Himself modelled this in Gethsemane, surrendering His desires to the Father’s plan. This kind of seeking requires honesty, vulnerability, and a willingness to let go of our own agendas, trusting that God’s will is ultimately for our good and His glory. [09:52]
4. Repentance is more than feeling sorry—it is a decisive turning away from anything that separates us from God. This includes not only obvious sins, but also the subtle attitudes and habits that hinder our relationship with Him. God’s conviction is an invitation to freedom, not condemnation, and responding to it leads to deeper intimacy and transformation. [14:07]
5. Persistence in prayer is essential, even when answers are delayed or unclear. God sometimes calls us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, not because He is reluctant, but because perseverance shapes our faith and prepares us for what He wants to do. Praying together as a church is a powerful force for change, and history shows that every great move of God is birthed in persistent, united prayer. [21:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - God’s Recent Leading and the Significance of This Season
[02:04] - The Call to Persevering Prayer
[03:30] - Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
[05:43] - The First Key: Humility in Prayer
[07:00] - Depending on God’s Presence
[07:57] - Making Prayer a Priority Amidst Busyness
[09:52] - Seeking God’s Face and Will
[12:04] - Turning from Wicked Ways: The Call to Repentance
[12:52] - Recognising Subtle Sins and God’s Conviction
[14:07] - The Meaning and Power of Repentance
[16:49] - Responding to Conviction and the Invitation to Salvation
[21:01] - The Mystery and Necessity of Persistent Prayer
[24:55] - Practical Invitation to Join in Prayer
[27:16] - Closing and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) — > “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Exodus 33:15 (ESV) — > “And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.’”

Mark 14:36 (ESV) — > “And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’”

Observation Questions

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, what four actions does God call His people to take before He promises to hear, forgive, and heal?
According to the sermon, what does Moses ask of God in Exodus 33:15, and why is this significant for us today? [[07:00]]
How does Jesus model seeking God’s will in Mark 14:36, and what does this reveal about His attitude in prayer? [[09:52]]
The sermon mentions both obvious and subtle sins. What are some examples of each that were discussed? [[12:52]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think humility is described as the foundation for effective prayer, rather than just one of many important attitudes? [[05:43]]
The sermon says that prayer can easily slip down our agenda. What are some reasons this happens, and what are the consequences when it does? [[07:57]]
When the sermon talks about “seeking God’s face,” what does it mean to pursue God’s will above our own, and why is this sometimes difficult? [[09:52]]
The difference between conviction and condemnation is highlighted in the sermon. How does understanding this difference affect the way we respond to God’s prompting about sin? [[16:49]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to start with humility, acknowledging our dependence on God. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to surrender control? What would it look like to pray, “God, if you’re not in this, I don’t want to go”? [[07:00]]
Think about your daily or weekly routine. Where does prayer fit in? Are there specific distractions or habits that push prayer down your agenda? What is one practical change you could make this week to prioritise prayer? [[07:57]]
When you pray, do you tend to focus more on asking God for things or on seeking His will? How could you shift your prayers to be more about “not my will, but Yours be done”? [[09:52]]
The sermon talks about turning from both obvious and subtle sins, like pride or judgment. Is there a “subtle” attitude or habit God might be highlighting in your life right now? How can you respond to His conviction rather than feeling condemned? [[12:52]] [[16:49]]
Repentance is described as turning away from what draws us from God and moving toward Him. Is there something you need to turn away from this week? What support or accountability might help you do this? [[14:07]]
Persistence in prayer is encouraged, even when answers are delayed. Is there something you’ve been praying for that you’re tempted to give up on? How can you keep pressing in, and who could you invite to pray with you for encouragement? [[21:01]]
The sermon invites everyone to join in united prayer as a church. What would it look like for you to participate in this—whether it’s joining a prayer meeting, praying with others, or setting aside time at home? What might be holding you back, and how can you take a step forward this week? [[24:55]]

Sermon Clips

But ultimately in the great big scheme of things things will end the way God has chosen them to end. That we know at the end of time Jesus will return. And that the new Jerusalem and those of us who are followers of Jesus will be taken up into the kingdom of heaven. So we know that that is definitely going to happen. But we need to acknowledge that we need God's help in our day to day life. [00:05:51] (31 seconds) #PrioritizePrayer

And I've always found actually that at the times where I felt most distant from god is when I haven't been praying regularly and setting aside time when I prioritize watching an episode on netflix or prime or sky or something like that overspending time in prayer none of those things are bad but if they take priority and push out your prayer life i suggest we take heed of these verses. [00:08:34] (22 seconds) #AbundantLifeInJesus

Many times I've tried to do things in my own strength and ignored what God has said and they haven't gone well but you see even Jesus understood that he had to do God's will... We need to acknowledge that actually there is a higher power in the world than us. And we need to lay things at the feet of God and say, God, let your will be done. Let your will be done. We need to acknowledge that. [00:10:33] (72 seconds) #PrayForRevival

If you pray that prayer, if you ask God to do that, he's going to do it. He's going to search you. And he's not just going to look at the outside because God looks at everything. He knows our ways, he knows our thoughts, he knows our motives. He's going to search us and he is going to show us the things that we need to stop. And then we have a choice. Then the choice is ours. Do we stop them? Do we not? [00:14:20] (35 seconds) #PowerOfPrayingChurch

God doesn't do condemnation. He does conviction. He will bring to mind things that we need to deal with. He does not condemn us. Conviction is completely different. You see conviction says hey you've done this wrong. [00:17:24] (16 seconds)

Remember last week we said that that jesus came so that we will have life in abundance being a christian isn't boring hey i've done the 18 to 30s holidays i've done all of those things my kids cannot believe how many pubs i'm barred from in london and i tell you nothing of that life compares to the life that i have with jesus it is not boring so there were the four areas humble prayer seek his face and turn from our wicked ways over the four areas that God drew me to from those verses. [00:18:56] (49 seconds)

The devil is terrified of praying people is terrified of a church that prays why because he knows hopefully that that church is seeking god's face seeking his will seeking his guidance and if god tells us something it will happen and the devil can do nothing to stop it and so we are coming into a time of prayer and can i encourage you i know six o 'clock in the morning it exists i haven't seen it well i do see it but but you know for those of you that got kids you're well aware that it exists it's kind of nearly lunch time but but but six o 'clock in the morning exists and i know it's gonna be painful and i know it's gonna be hard but let's drag ourselves up put a decent top on don't worry about your bottoms it's on zoom just don't fall off your chair put a decent top on move this way so Put a hat on if you're worried about your hair, and get on Zoom. [00:24:08] (69 seconds)

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