Embracing Prayer: A Lifestyle of Connection with God

Summary

### Summary

Prayer is not merely a concept to be understood but a practice to be lived out daily. It is a lifestyle, a continuous conversation with God, akin to spending time with a close friend. Throughout this series, we have explored why we should pray, the obstacles that prevent us from praying, and the tools that aid us in prayer. Today, we delve into the four types of prayer every believer should engage in, as exemplified in Daniel 9:4-19.

In Genesis 4, we see the first instance of people acknowledging God, marking the beginning of communal prayer. Prayer is not just a ritualistic task but an intimate dialogue with God, who desires to interact with us despite our shortcomings. The devil often deceives us into thinking our sins disqualify us from approaching God, but Scripture assures us that God listens and reaches out to us regardless of our past.

Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 is a profound example of the four pillars of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Daniel begins by acknowledging God's greatness and faithfulness, then moves to confess the sins of Israel, recognizing their rebellion and disobedience. He acknowledges God's righteousness and the consequences of their actions but also appeals to God's mercy and forgiveness. Daniel's prayer is a model for us, showing how we can transform a brief prayer time into a deeper, more meaningful conversation with God.

### Key Takeaways

1. Prayer as a Lifestyle: Prayer should be an integral part of our daily lives, not just a task to check off our to-do list. It is a continuous, intimate conversation with God, much like spending time with a close friend. This perspective transforms prayer from a duty into a delight, fostering a deeper relationship with God. [01:16]

2. God Listens Despite Our Sins: The devil often tries to convince us that our sins disqualify us from approaching God. However, Scripture assures us that God listens to us despite our past mistakes. This truth encourages us to come boldly to God's throne of grace, knowing that He is always ready to hear and respond to us. [02:25]

3. The Four Pillars of Prayer: Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 exemplifies the four essential types of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. By incorporating these elements into our prayer life, we can deepen our connection with God and experience a more comprehensive and fulfilling prayer time. [03:22]

4. Confession and Repentance: Confession is a crucial aspect of prayer, as it acknowledges our sins and shortcomings before God. Daniel's prayer highlights the importance of confessing not only personal sins but also the collective sins of our community. This act of repentance opens the door for God's mercy and forgiveness to flow into our lives. [06:09]

5. Appealing to God's Mercy: In his prayer, Daniel appeals to God's mercy and forgiveness, recognizing that their requests are not based on their righteousness but on God's great mercy. This teaches us to approach God with humility, acknowledging our dependence on His grace and mercy rather than our own merits. [08:15]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[01:16] - Prayer as a Lifestyle
[02:25] - God Listens Despite Our Sins
[03:22] - Introduction to Daniel's Prayer
[04:11] - Survey on Prayer Habits
[05:09] - Adoration in Prayer
[06:09] - Confession and Repentance
[07:14] - Acknowledging God's Righteousness
[08:15] - Appealing to God's Mercy
[09:08] - Prayer for God's Favor
[10:06] - Persistent Prayer
[11:58] - Seeking God's Intervention
[13:00] - The Power of Confession
[14:47] - Humility in Prayer
[16:38] - God's Unfailing Love
[18:23] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Daniel 9:4-19

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the four types of prayer that Daniel exemplifies in his prayer in Daniel 9:4-19? [03:22]
2. How does Daniel begin his prayer in Daniel 9:4-19, and what does this reveal about his view of God? [05:09]
3. What specific sins does Daniel confess on behalf of Israel in his prayer? [06:09]
4. How does Daniel appeal to God's mercy in his prayer, and what reasons does he give for God to listen and act? [08:15]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Daniel includes adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication in his prayer? How do these elements contribute to a deeper prayer life? [03:22]
2. How does the devil's deception about our sins disqualifying us from approaching God affect our prayer life, and how does Scripture counter this lie? [02:25]
3. What does Daniel's acknowledgment of God's righteousness and the consequences of Israel's actions teach us about the relationship between sin, confession, and God's justice? [07:14]
4. In what ways does Daniel's prayer model humility and dependence on God's mercy rather than personal or communal righteousness? [08:15]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current prayer habits. How can you transform your prayer time from a task to a continuous, intimate conversation with God? [01:16]
2. Have you ever felt that your sins disqualify you from approaching God? How can the truth that God listens despite our past mistakes encourage you to pray more boldly? [02:25]
3. Daniel's prayer includes adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Which of these elements do you find most challenging to incorporate into your prayer life, and why? [03:22]
4. Think about a time when you confessed your sins to God. How did this act of confession and repentance impact your relationship with Him? [06:09]
5. Daniel appeals to God's mercy and forgiveness, recognizing that their requests are based on God's great mercy. How can you approach God with humility in your prayers, acknowledging your dependence on His grace? [08:15]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to seek God's mercy and forgiveness. How can you incorporate this into your prayer time this week?
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to view prayer as a lifestyle and not just a ritualistic task? What practical steps can you take together to foster a deeper prayer life? [01:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as a Continuous Conversation
Prayer is not just a task to be completed but a continuous, intimate conversation with God. It is akin to spending time with a close friend, where the relationship deepens through regular, heartfelt communication. This perspective transforms prayer from a duty into a delight, fostering a deeper relationship with God. When we view prayer as a lifestyle, it becomes an integral part of our daily lives, not just something to check off our to-do list. This shift in perspective can lead to a more fulfilling and consistent prayer life. [01:16]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine in a way that feels natural and continuous, rather than forced or obligatory?

Day 2: God Listens Despite Our Sins
The devil often tries to convince us that our sins disqualify us from approaching God. However, Scripture assures us that God listens to us despite our past mistakes. This truth encourages us to come boldly to God's throne of grace, knowing that He is always ready to hear and respond to us. Understanding that God’s love and mercy are greater than our sins can transform our approach to prayer, making it a place of refuge rather than a source of guilt. [02:25]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: What past mistakes or sins are holding you back from approaching God in prayer? Can you ask God to help you overcome these barriers today?

Day 3: The Four Pillars of Prayer
Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 exemplifies the four essential types of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. By incorporating these elements into our prayer life, we can deepen our connection with God and experience a more comprehensive and fulfilling prayer time. Adoration acknowledges God's greatness, confession admits our sins, thanksgiving expresses our gratitude, and supplication presents our requests. This balanced approach ensures that our prayers are not just about asking for things but also about building a relationship with God. [03:22]

Philippians 4:6 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Reflection: Which of the four pillars of prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) do you find most challenging to incorporate into your prayer life? How can you make a conscious effort to include it in your next prayer time?

Day 4: Confession and Repentance
Confession is a crucial aspect of prayer, as it acknowledges our sins and shortcomings before God. Daniel's prayer highlights the importance of confessing not only personal sins but also the collective sins of our community. This act of repentance opens the door for God's mercy and forgiveness to flow into our lives. By regularly practicing confession, we maintain a humble heart and a clear conscience, which allows us to grow closer to God and experience His grace more fully. [06:09]

1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin or area of your life that you need to confess to God today? How can you make confession a regular part of your prayer routine?

Day 5: Appealing to God's Mercy
In his prayer, Daniel appeals to God's mercy and forgiveness, recognizing that their requests are not based on their righteousness but on God's great mercy. This teaches us to approach God with humility, acknowledging our dependence on His grace and mercy rather than our own merits. By focusing on God's character rather than our own worthiness, we can pray with greater confidence and trust in His willingness to help us. [08:15]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God's mercy rather than your own efforts? How can you express this dependence in your prayers today?

Quotes

1. "Prayer is not something that you learn about, but it's something that you do. It's a lifestyle. So we started off with this series, why should we pray, right? Second week was why don't we pray? Third week was the tools that we ought to use to pray. And today we're going to focus on four types of prayer that every believer should have." [00:00] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Our setting this morning is like this, and it's been like this through this entire series, because I want you to grasp that prayer is not just a tool that you must do, kind of put it off your checklist, but it's more of a getting together with a good friend. Just imagine your best friend sitting over there, and you're sitting over here, and you're spending hours and hours talking. Reminiscing, questioning, looking to the future. Just imagine having that relationship with God." [01:16] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Many of us, sadly, and this is a trick of the devil, and that is, well, you sinned. You did all these things, and now you just want to talk to God? Do you think God is listening? I don't know about you, but I had those questions very early on in my life, and every now and then they still pop up, right? After all you did, after all you said, you still think God is listening to you? You cannot believe that the Almighty Creator is listening to you." [02:25] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So we know that he does listen, and many times what we think is a hindrance to us for coming to the throne of the Lord is actually a way of God saying, you know what, even though, and despite all the things that you've done, I will still listen. I will still listen, and I will still reach out to you. We saw this last week in the life of Jonah, right? God said, go this way, he went that way, and he couldn't care less. He wasn't like, oh God, I want to hear you as I flee from you. Jonah never said that. He couldn't, like, he was gone. He wanted to take off." [03:22] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "In the survey that was sent out, one of the questions was, how long do you pray every day? How much time do you spend praying every day? Do you know what the number one answer was? Don't single yourself out. Right? I've said this. Don't do that. The number one answer was between five and ten minutes. Most of you, the majority said, I pray daily, regularly, between five and ten minutes. I'm not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I'm just saying that is the temperature that I got from our people that said, you know what, my prayer life is about condensed, is about that long." [04:11] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Obviously, each and every one of us, when we pray, we can always say, you know what? I wish I could pray longer. Right? I wish I could pray more. Today, we're going to look at four types of prayer that if you tackle each and every one of them, your five minutes can turn into 20 minutes just like that." [04:11] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled. We have not obeyed the Lord, our God, or kept the laws he gave us through his servants, the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your laws and turned away, refusing to obey you. Therefore, the curses and sworn judgments written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out in us, because we have sinned against you." [06:09] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "You have fulfilled the words spoken against you, against us, and against our rulers, by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all these disasters have come upon us. Yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord, our God, by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth." [07:14] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear, open your eyes, and see the desolation of the city that bears your name. We do not make requests from you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Listen. Lord, forgive. Lord, hear and act. For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name." [08:15] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The Lord, did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us. For the Lord, our God, is righteous in everything he does, yet we have not obeyed him. Now, Lord, our God, who brought your people out of Egypt, with a mighty hand, and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us." [07:14] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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