DISCIPLESHIP CHALLENGE Week 5 / Prayer
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” - Samuel Chadwick
We could add prayerless discipleship to the above quote of things the devil does not fear. Prayer is crucial to any discipleship relationship! If we want to see God move mightily through our discipleship, if we want Him to use us to greatly impact the lives of others, and if we want to truly help those we disciple grow in their spiritual maturity - we have to be people of prayer.
This week, as we continue our journey through the Five Essentials of Discipleship, we are going to learn about the essential of PRAYER: unceasingly communing with the Father. Each Essential has one big question to ask in every discipleship meeting. For Prayer, the question is: How can I pray for you?
Through prayer, we hear direction from God, we share our concerns with our Heavenly Father, and we intercede for those we are discipling. One thing we can bank on as we walk through life with others is that there will be times when we are asked questions we cannot answer apart from prayer. We will be faced with situations in our own lives, or in those we are discipling, that will bring us in humble dependence to the Throne Room, seeking the wisdom, endurance, patience, or strength to walk through it in a way that brings glory to God and helps our disciple do the same.
There is a beautiful truth from Scripture that says we can enter that Throne Room “with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). James 1:5 also tells us that if we lack wisdom we can ask God, who “gives generously to all without reproach.”
So, as we strive to make disciples, believers, let us not forget to pray. We have an open connection to the Creator of the Universe, so let’s bring Him into each of our relationships.
So, how can I pray for you this week?
I would love to be lifting you up as we walk through this time together. If you have something I can pray for, please email me at dave@rootscc.com.
Discipleship is too big a task to do on our own.
Luckily, God promises to be with us every step of the way.
With much love,
Pastor Dave
Article To Read:
Video to Watch:
With What Attitude Should We Pray?
Verse to Memorize:
James 5:16 (ESV)
16 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.
Additionals Resources:
Francis Chan on Prayer
If You Don’t Pray, You Won’t Live
How Can I Improve My Prayer Life?