Refocusing Our Lives Through Intimate Prayer

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we reflected on the importance of prayer as a means to refocus our lives on Jesus. We began by acknowledging the presence of God among us, reminding ourselves that we are here with purpose, to experience His love and care. As we navigate the highs and lows of life, it is crucial to remember that God is with us, offering peace and joy even in the midst of challenges.

We explored the concept of spiritual blurriness, where despite knowing God and participating in church activities, our souls may still feel unfocused. This led us to consider how we can refocus our faith, particularly through the practice of prayer. Drawing from Luke 11, we examined how Jesus modeled a life of prayer, emphasizing that prayer is not a magical solution but a vital source of life and connection with God.

Prayer, as Jesus demonstrated, is about intimacy with the Father. It is a space where we can be fully known and loved by God, where we can pour out our hearts and listen for His voice. This intimate connection is not just about asking for what we want but aligning our hearts with God's will and joining Him in His work.

As we step into a new year, we are invited to cultivate a life of prayer, following Jesus' example. This involves prioritizing prayer, cherishing it as a cherished connection with God, and allowing it to transform us. Prayer changes us, lifting our eyes to God's perspective and aligning our desires with His purposes.

In practical terms, we are encouraged to find moments of solitude and quietness, to pour out our burdens to God, and to listen for His guidance. By doing so, we allow God to refocus our vision and reshape our lives according to His will.

Key Takeaways:

1. Presence of God: Recognize that God's presence is with us, offering love and care amidst life's challenges. We are here with purpose, to experience His peace and joy. [08:20]

2. Spiritual Blurriness: Despite knowing God, our souls can feel unfocused. We must work against spiritual drift by refocusing our faith and following Jesus more closely. [31:06]

3. Prayer as Intimacy: Prayer is an intimate connection with the Father, where we are fully known and loved. It is not just about asking for what we want but aligning our hearts with God's will. [46:47]

4. Following Jesus' Example: Jesus modeled a life of prayer, emphasizing its importance. We are called to prioritize and cherish prayer, allowing it to transform us and align us with God's purposes. [42:13]

5. Joining God's Work: Prayer is about joining God in His work, allowing Him to change our hearts and perspectives. It is not about wielding God to our plans but being transformed by His presence. [53:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [08:20] - Presence of God
- [23:16] - Prayers for the Brokenhearted
- [31:06] - Spiritual Blurriness
- [32:22] - Refocusing Our Faith
- [34:08] - The Gift of Prayer
- [36:07] - Jesus Teaches Prayer
- [37:50] - Persistence in Prayer
- [39:13] - Refocused Faith
- [42:13] - Following Jesus' Example
- [46:47] - Intimacy with the Father
- [51:06] - Cherishing Prayer
- [53:47] - Joining God's Work
- [56:17] - Correcting Blurry Vision
- [59:05] - Application and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 11:1-13

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 11:1, what were the disciples asking Jesus to teach them, and why might this have been significant for them? [36:07]

2. How does Jesus describe the nature of prayer in Luke 11:2-4, and what key elements does He include in His model prayer? [36:47]

3. What story does Jesus use in Luke 11:5-8 to illustrate persistence in prayer, and what is the main point of this story? [37:50]

4. According to the sermon, what does the pastor suggest is the effect of prayer on the person who prays? [41:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why do you think Jesus emphasized the importance of persistence in prayer through the story of the friend at midnight? How does this relate to our understanding of God's character? [37:50]

2. The sermon mentioned "spiritual blurriness" as a condition where our souls feel unfocused. How does the practice of prayer help to refocus our spiritual vision according to the pastor? [31:06]

3. In what ways does the pastor suggest that prayer is an intimate connection with the Father, and how does this intimacy transform our relationship with God? [46:47]

4. How does the pastor describe the role of prayer in joining God's work and aligning our desires with His purposes? What does this imply about the nature of prayer? [53:47]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Do you find it to be a cherished connection with God or more of a chore? What steps can you take to make prayer a more meaningful part of your daily routine? [51:06]

2. The pastor spoke about finding moments of solitude and quietness to pour out our burdens to God. What practical changes can you make in your schedule to create these moments of solitude? [59:05]

3. Consider a time when you experienced "spiritual blurriness." How did you address it, and how might prayer help you refocus your faith in similar situations in the future? [31:06]

4. Jesus modeled a life of prayer. How can you follow His example in your daily life, and what specific actions can you take to prioritize prayer? [42:13]

5. The sermon emphasized joining God in His work through prayer. Identify one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to align your desires with His purposes. How can prayer help you in this process? [53:47]

6. Reflect on the pastor's story about needing someone outside himself to correct his blurry vision. How can you seek guidance from God or others to help you see more clearly in your spiritual journey? [56:17]

7. The pastor encouraged pouring out a burden to God and listening for His voice. What is one burden you are currently carrying, and how can you bring it to God in prayer this week? [59:05]

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing God's Presence in Daily Life
In the midst of life's challenges, it is essential to recognize that God's presence is always with us, offering love, care, peace, and joy. This understanding gives us purpose and helps us navigate both the highs and lows of our journey. By acknowledging His presence, we can find solace and strength, knowing that we are never alone. This awareness invites us to live intentionally, seeking to experience His peace and joy in every moment. [08:20]

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific situation today can you consciously acknowledge God's presence and invite His peace and joy into your heart?


Day 2: Overcoming Spiritual Blurriness
Despite being involved in church activities and knowing God, our souls can sometimes feel unfocused, leading to spiritual blurriness. This state can cause us to drift away from our faith, making it crucial to refocus and realign ourselves with Jesus. By actively working against this drift, we can deepen our relationship with God and follow Jesus more closely. This involves intentional practices that help us stay grounded in our faith and connected to God's purpose for our lives. [31:06]

"Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." (Hebrews 2:1, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your spiritual life that feels blurry or unfocused. What practical step can you take today to refocus and draw closer to Jesus?


Day 3: Cultivating Intimacy with God through Prayer
Prayer is more than just asking for what we want; it is an intimate connection with the Father, where we are fully known and loved. Through prayer, we align our hearts with God's will and join Him in His work. This intimate relationship allows us to pour out our hearts and listen for His voice, transforming us and aligning our desires with His purposes. By prioritizing prayer, we can experience a deeper connection with God and allow His presence to change us. [46:47]

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (1 John 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create a sacred space in your daily routine to cultivate intimacy with God through prayer, allowing Him to transform your heart and align your desires with His will?


Day 4: Embracing Jesus' Example of a Prayerful Life
Jesus modeled a life of prayer, emphasizing its importance as a source of life and connection with God. By following His example, we are called to prioritize and cherish prayer, allowing it to transform us and align us with God's purposes. This involves making prayer a central part of our lives, not as a ritual, but as a cherished connection with God that shapes our thoughts, actions, and perspectives. [42:13]

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." (Mark 1:35, ESV)

Reflection: What specific changes can you make in your daily schedule to prioritize prayer, following Jesus' example, and allowing it to transform your life?


Day 5: Joining God in His Work through Prayer
Prayer is not about wielding God to our plans but about joining Him in His work and allowing Him to change our hearts and perspectives. Through prayer, we invite God to reshape our lives according to His will, aligning our desires with His purposes. This transformative process helps us see the world through God's eyes and participate in His mission, becoming active participants in His work. [53:47]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use prayer today to join God in His work, allowing Him to change your perspective and align your actions with His purposes?

Quotes

Reflecting from the very first verse of psalm 107 give thanks to the lord for he is good his faithful love endures forever it goes on to talk about the exiles who have been gathered that god has pulled them back together there's a lot goes on in our world and in our lives I know there's a lot happening in each of your lives there's a lot of great things that have happened and taken place there's some challenging things that have taken place in some of your lives as well grief and loss high moments and great things I just want to remind you this morning that the very presence of god is here in this place and that he is meeting each and every one of you here that you are not here by accident but you're here on purpose to experience a god who loves you and who walks with you and who cares deeply for you so let us this morning worship the god who who loves you and who cares deeply for you us and who is here with us and among us. [00:06:25] (77 seconds)


Having unfocused vision can be a bit frightful when this isn't supposed to be happening. I'm supposed to be able to see clearly, and especially when it happens so quickly. Unclear and unfocused sight causes concern for us. And it really makes me to stop and ponder and worry that how many of us, having physical sight that might be clear and okay and manageable and good, how might we have a spiritual blurriness within our souls? We know God. We know us. We know about God. [00:31:06] (48 seconds)


Prayer is not this wishing well or this slot machine. It is most certainly no surefire way to get what we want exactly in life. If only it was, but it's not. Rather, prayer is this treasure. It's this source of life. It infuses the soul of a person that is in communion with the Father. It's so often this real conversation, this raw conversation, this conversation with the Father. And it helps us to realize and to recognize the presence of God. [00:34:44] (36 seconds)


What I want us to recognize in this passage of Luke chapter 11 is that following Jesus, this aiming to refocus our lives around Him, to refocus our vision, to refocus our lives, to refocus our actions and our words and our deeds, we might say this from Luke chapter 11, is that a refocused faith, a faith and a life that is refocused on the presence and the goodness and the work of God, a refocused faith cultivates a life of prayer. [00:39:20] (39 seconds)


Jesus is not going around simply teaching the people that they ought to be people of prayer. You ought to pray. You ought to pray. You ought to pray, and then Jesus goes about his merry way, never praying. What Jesus does is Jesus becomes this person of prayer. In his living, and breathing, and doing, and being a person of prayer, they begin to take notice. Jesus, you're praying. Can you teach us how to do that? Jesus begins to model this life of prayer. [00:42:51] (39 seconds)


To live into this life of prayer to follow Jesus is to pray we pray to follow his example and we do so because secondly we recognize this is that prayer is intimate connection with the Father prayer prayer is this intimate connection, this intimate relationship with the Father with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the creator of heaven and earth growing up I grew up in a little country church and those people much like you would sing their little hearts out and as I was writing this week I was reminded of a song words go like this there is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God a place where sin cannot molest near to the heart of God there is a place of comfort sweet near to the heart of God a place where we our Savior meet near to the heart of God there is a place of full release near to the heart of God a place where all is joy and peace near to the heart of God oh Jesus blessed redeemer sent from the heart of God hold us who wait before thee near to the heart of God when you and I engage in prayer in heart prayer we are coming near to the heart of the Father [00:46:47] (122 seconds)


When you and I engage in a life of prayer, when you and I step into this place of prayer, you're not just stepping into just saying words to God because you're supposed to. You're stepping in to this intimate place of connection with the Father who is in heaven, who knows you and sees you and loves you and calls you to come near to himself. As Jesus is even teaching these disciples to pray, Jesus doesn't have this elaborate beginning of prayer, oh God, the creator of heaven and earth and your high royal majesty. He says, our Father, this real close connection with his dad. [00:49:50] (50 seconds)


Prayer is joining with God in what it is that he wants to do. I don't know about you, but I know that there are times that I show up, and I'm like, okay, I got a plan. It's going to be great, I promise, right? We're going to do this, and we're going to do this, and we're going to do this, and then this is going to be the outcome, right? Lord, I got a plan, Lord. Lord, I know there's a lot of problems around, but I think... I've got a solution, Lord, and I think I can help you fix it, Lord. [00:52:31] (33 seconds)


When we engage in prayer, God begins to engage with our lives and our hearts, and he begins to change our hearts towards his. He begins to change our desires and our wants and our wishes. He begins to change the way we see things, the way we respond. You see, Jesus models in Luke chapter 11, Jesus models in Matthew chapter 6, prayer as yielding to God's kingdom, yielding to his plan, and yielding to his will. God's purposes. [00:53:30] (44 seconds)


Prayer is not this tool that we are given to try to wield God to our plan, but to be changed by our time in his presence, and to go out and live as he has called each one of us to live. Prayer is linking our arms and our hearts with the Father's heart, privately to be sent out publicly to share and to show Christ to a world through our words and through our deeds. [00:55:24] (35 seconds)


Let us be reminded that He calls us to pour out our hearts to Him, to listen for His voice, to spend time quietly in His presence, to hear Him, and to pray about joining God in His mission to bring His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Let's be reminded that we are invited to step into rhythms of prayer and solitude in the presence of God. [00:58:10] (31 seconds)


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Transcript
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