Prayer: The Breath and Power for Spiritual Climbing

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer Teaches Us Humility

Prayer is a humbling act that reminds us we cannot do life alone and must rely on God’s help, both in our daily struggles and in the larger journey of faith. When we ask God for help, or even ask others to pray for us, we acknowledge our limitations and our need for community, opening ourselves to God’s grace and the support of others. Humility does not come naturally, but prayer is the spiritual practice that gently forces us to lay down our pride and admit our dependence on God. In those moments when we reach out—whether to God or to a trusted friend for prayer—we are shaped into people who trust, who build community, and who recognize that every good thing comes from God. [34:17]

2 Thessalonians 3:1 (ESV)
"Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you."

Reflection: When was the last time you humbly asked someone to pray for you about something specific? Who could you reach out to today for prayer support in an area where you need God’s help?

Day 2: Prayer Is Our Spiritual Weapon

Prayer is not just a comfort but a powerful tool for spiritual battle, equipping us to face the challenges and opposition that arise when we follow Christ. Just as climbers must train and prepare for the dangers of Everest, we must recognize that spiritual issues require spiritual solutions, and prayer is the means by which we invite God to fight for us and with us. When we encounter resistance—whether in relationships, work, or personal struggles—prayer is the way we access God’s strength and protection, rather than relying solely on worldly strategies. Asking others to pray with us in these battles is not weakness, but wisdom, as we join together in faith to seek God’s intervention. [39:53]

2 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (ESV)
"And that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are facing opposition or difficulty? Who can you ask to pray with you, inviting God to fight on your behalf?

Day 3: Prayer Releases God’s Power

Prayer is the channel through which God’s miraculous power is released, transforming lives and situations that seem impossible by human standards. No one is too far gone for God’s love to reach, and the act of praying for others—especially those we might be tempted to write off—opens the door for God to do what only He can do. Whether it’s freedom from addiction, a changed heart, or a restored relationship, God delights in answering bold, faith-filled prayers that align with His heart for redemption. As we pray for the lost and the broken, we participate in God’s mission to bring hope and new life to everyone, no matter their past. [43:34]

James 5:16 (ESV)
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Who in your life have you considered “too far gone” or beyond hope? Will you commit to praying boldly for them this week, trusting God’s power to work in their life?

Day 4: Prayer Connects Us to God’s Love

Through prayer, we experience a deep connection to God’s love—a love that has always been present but often feels distant until we intentionally reach out to Him. Just as an IV brings life-giving medicine to a sick body, prayer taps us into the source of spiritual life and healing, restoring what is broken and bringing peace that surpasses understanding. When we pray, we are not just speaking words; we are opening ourselves to the transforming presence of God, who fills the emptiness and brings order to our chaos. If you feel like something is missing in your life, prayer is the way to reconnect with the love that was built into you from the beginning. [49:41]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel disconnected or empty? Take time today to pray honestly to God about it, and ask Him to fill you with His love and peace.

Day 5: Prayer Is Simple and Transformative

Prayer is not meant to be complicated or reserved for the spiritually elite; it is a simple, honest conversation with God that anyone can begin at any time. By telling God what you need, thanking Him for what He’s already done, and trusting Him with the outcome, you open yourself to His peace and transformation—even if your circumstances don’t change immediately. The more you practice prayer, the more confident and connected you become in your faith, and the more you see God at work in and around you. Whether you are a seasoned believer or just beginning to seek God, prayer is the breath of spiritual life that changes everything. [51:22]

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Reflection: What is one specific need or desire you have been hesitant to bring to God in prayer? Will you take a step of faith today and talk to Him about it, trusting Him with the outcome?

Sermon Summary

Breathing is essential for life, just as prayer is essential for the spiritual life of a Christian. Just as climbers on Mount Everest cannot survive without air, we cannot thrive spiritually without prayer. Prayer is not just a religious activity; it is the very breath of our souls, the way we connect with God, receive His strength, and experience His love. In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul humbly asks for prayer, showing us that even the most spiritually mature need help and community. Humility is at the heart of prayer—admitting we cannot do life alone and that we need God’s help and the support of others.

Prayer is also our means of spiritual battle. Just as climbers must train and prepare for the challenges of Everest, we must use spiritual tools to face the challenges and opposition that come when we follow Christ. The world pushes back when we put God first, and prayer is the way we fight back—not with our own strength, but by inviting God’s power into our situations. We are reminded that many of the struggles we face—whether in our jobs, families, or personal lives—are not just practical problems but spiritual battles that require spiritual solutions.

God’s power is released through prayer. Miracles happen, hearts are changed, and even those who seem farthest from God can be transformed. No one is too far gone for God’s love and power. We are called to pray bold, even seemingly impossible prayers for those around us, trusting that God can do what we cannot. For those who feel hopeless or lost, prayer is the first step toward hope and transformation. It is through prayer that we experience the love of God in a tangible way, like tapping into a life-giving IV when we are at our weakest.

Prayer is simple and practical: tell God what you need, thank Him for what He’s done, and trust that His peace and love will guard your heart. Whether you are a seasoned believer or someone searching for hope, the invitation is the same—breathe in the life of God through prayer, and let Him change you and those around you.

Key Takeaways

1. Prayer Teaches Humility True humility is not natural; it is learned through dependence on God and others. When we ask for prayer, we admit our limitations and our need for help, just as Paul did with the Thessalonians. This act of vulnerability opens us to God’s grace and builds authentic community, reminding us that faith is not a solo journey but a shared one. [31:09]
2. Prayer Is Our Spiritual Weapon Life’s deepest struggles are often spiritual in nature, requiring spiritual tools. Just as climbers must train specifically for Everest, we must approach our challenges with prayer, not just practical solutions. When we pray, we invite God to fight for us, recognizing that some battles are beyond our own strength and understanding. [39:05]
3. Prayer Releases God’s Power God’s power is not limited by our circumstances or by the people we think are beyond hope. Through prayer, miracles happen—addictions are broken, hearts are changed, and the impossible becomes possible. We are called to pray bold prayers for those around us, believing that God can reach anyone, no matter how far they seem. [41:34]
4. Prayer Connects Us to God’s Love Prayer is the way we experience the love of God in a real and personal way. Like an IV that brings life to a sick body, prayer taps us into the source of spiritual life and healing. The more we pray, the more we sense God’s presence, peace, and love, which brings order and wholeness to our lives. [47:17]
5. Prayer Is Simple and Transformative Prayer does not require special words or rituals; it is simply telling God what we need, thanking Him for what He’s done, and trusting Him with the outcome. This practice brings peace that surpasses understanding and changes us from the inside out, regardless of whether our circumstances change immediately.

** [50:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:16] - The Everest Story: Climbing Without Oxygen
[29:20] - The Necessity of Air and Prayer
[30:29] - Paul’s Humble Request for Prayer
[31:09] - Learning Humility Through Prayer
[32:41] - Personal Stories of Humility
[33:41] - Prayer as Dependence on God
[35:11] - Prayer Teaches Us to Fight
[36:07] - The Training Required for Spiritual Battles
[38:11] - Spiritual Pushback and the Need for Prayer
[40:38] - Prayer Releases God’s Power
[41:56] - No One Is Too Far Gone
[46:39] - Prayer Connects Us to God’s Love
[49:57] - Practical Steps for Prayer
[52:37] - Responding in Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (ESV) — > Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) — > Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Observation Questions

In 2 Thessalonians 3:1, what specific things does Paul ask the church to pray for?
According to the sermon, why is it significant that Paul, a spiritual leader, asks others to pray for him? [[31:09]]
What does Philippians 4:6-7 say will happen when we bring our needs to God with thanksgiving?
The sermon compares prayer to breathing for a Christian. What does this analogy suggest about the role of prayer in our lives? [[29:20]]

Interpretation Questions

What does Paul’s request for prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 reveal about the importance of humility and community in the Christian life? [[31:09]]
The sermon says that prayer is our “spiritual weapon.” How does this idea change the way we might approach challenges or opposition in our lives? [[39:05]]
According to Philippians 4:6-7, what is the relationship between prayer, thanksgiving, and experiencing God’s peace? How might this look in real life?
The pastor shared a story about people who seemed “too far gone” but were changed by God’s power. What does this teach us about the potential impact of prayer for others? [[41:56]]

Application Questions

When was the last time you asked someone to pray for you? Was it easy or hard to do? What keeps you from asking for prayer when you need it? [[31:09]]
The sermon says that prayer is the way we “fight back” against spiritual challenges. Think of a current struggle in your life—how could you start using prayer as your first response instead of your last resort? [[39:05]]
Is there someone in your life who feels “too far gone” or hopeless? What would it look like to pray bold, specific prayers for that person this week? [[41:56]]
The pastor described prayer as “tapping into an IV” of God’s love and strength. When have you felt spiritually empty or weak? How could you make prayer a regular way to “breathe in” God’s presence during those times? [[47:17]]
Philippians 4:6-7 gives a simple pattern for prayer: tell God what you need, thank Him for what He’s done, and trust Him with the outcome. Which of these steps is hardest for you, and why? [[50:09]]
The sermon challenged us to pray for others, not just ourselves. Who is one person you can commit to pray for every day this week? How will you remember to do it? [[44:02]]
The pastor said that prayer builds authentic community and reminds us that faith is not a solo journey. How can your small group support each other in prayer more intentionally? [[34:41]]

Sermon Clips

What prayer actually does is when we pray to God, it forces us to ask for help to God for something that we can't do ourselves. And you need to know the premise of faith is understanding that you can't do it. You need God's help, both existentially within this life and the next, but then also practically day to day here. [00:33:41] (28 seconds) #PrayerEquipsForBattle

Here's a third thing. Prayer releases God's power. Prayer releases God's power. And here's what you need to know if you're new here at Compass City, if you're logging in and you're watching us maybe for the first time. Here at Compass City, we believe in miracles. We believe in spiritual things, right? In fact, this is the point where when people that are in process spiritually, they're not there yet with what I believe and maybe what you believe. You need to know that this is the moment where we cross over and we say, we believe in spiritual things. We believe in the things that science can't prove. [00:40:43] (38 seconds)

And so because of that, as a Christian, the people around you, we are supposed to be praying for. Praying those absolutely impossible prayers like Lord, change their heart, free them from addiction, free them from their brokenness, heal their hearts. You pray these prayers that you even feel stupid in the moment praying for because it's those moments that God is really moving. [00:44:21] (25 seconds)

And then on the other side of things, the other person that I think sometimes is in this room is the person who's completely hopeless. What I love is that Compass City is a place where people can come and find hope. And I know there's a lot of people that come here today and they come here today for different options and different reasons. They may not say they're hopeless, but there's something wrong. There's something missing. There's something they're struggling with. And the church stereotypically has been the place where you can find some sort of answer. Well, I want you to know today, there is the answer. And that answer has always been Christ. It always will be Christ. [00:44:46] (40 seconds)

But there's something to the fact when you tap into that IV, you feel so much better. Prayer is that for us with God's love. Like, it sounds so weird as a man when we talk about connecting to God's love. But it is like, in the same way, air is the breath that we breathe to make us survive, the love of God has been built into us forever. And it was separated from us with the fall of man and the sin that you and I commit. When we tap back into the love of God, which has been there the whole time, it feels like everything comes back into order. If you're missing something in your life, I would bet tapping back into the love of God would change things. And how we do that is through prayer. [00:48:55] (59 seconds)

And then what Philippians 4, 6 says, if you present your request to God, tell him what you need, thank him for what he's already done, then what it says, it says, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. You experience the love of God. And it doesn't necessarily change and answer the prayer request in a moment, but what it does, it changes you in the moment. [00:50:58] (28 seconds)

``So as we wrap up this whole series of Ascend, yes, spiritual disciplines are good, you've got to die to yourself, all these things, but you've got to begin to breathe in as a follower of Jesus, and that is through prayer. If you're a follower of Jesus this morning, that means you must contend for the people around you that don't have faith but need it. For those that are not Christians here, your first step is to cry out to God as a father because you need him. When you do this, the love of God comes and changes everything. When you do this, the love of God comes and changes the person that you're praying for. It's not if, it's just when. And so we must contend for those that are around us. We must pray for those. We must submit ourselves to God, tell him what we need, thank him for what he's done, and in a moment in time, we connect. [00:51:26] (69 seconds)

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