Jenison Bible Church
Pastor Steven Washburn
You are Welcome here!! We are so glad you are joining us for worship.
Why we struggle to pray
1) Pride.(Luke 18:9–14)
Luke 18:9-14 ESV
a) We are not needy enough– 1 Corinthians 4:7
1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV
b) We often seek to be self-sufficient. James 4:6
James 4:6 ESV
c) Prayer takes Patience (An assault on our pride) Psalm 37:7
Psalm 37:7 ESV
d) Prayer requires. Luke 22:42
Luke 22:42 ESV
James 1:5-8 ESV
2) Unbelief. (James 1:5–8)
a) We do not believe prayer works.
b) We do not believe God hears us.
c) We do not believe he is willing
d) We do not believe prayer is worth it
James 5:13-16 ESV
3) Discouragement. (Jas 5:13–14)
a) Life is too messy (Overwhelming)
b) Disappointment
c) Comparison,
d) Distance because of Sin Guilt & Suffering (Jas 5:15–16).
e) We do not know how to pray.(Luke 11:1)
Luke 11:1 ESV
4) Distraction.
a) Boredom & Forgetfulness.
b) Busyness
c) Diversions & Distractions
d) We forget the real battle Ephesians 6:12
What does prayer do in us?
· Makes us trust God with timing Isaiah 26:3-4 3
Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
· Makes us trust God’s definition of good Psalm 84:11
Psalm 84:11 ESV
· Makes us Trust & Obey1 Peter 3:7
1 Peter 3:7 ESV
· Makes us Rely on God alone Hebrews 11:6
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
· Makes us Trust God for better not instant James 1:2-4
James 1:2-4 ESV
· Makes us Desire the Relationship over the Gift Matthew 7:7-11
Matthew 7:7-11 ESV
· Makes us reorient our desires to be in line with His better priorities Psalm 37:4
Psalm 37:4 ESV
· Makes us place our difficult circumstances in the right hands.
Which of these is most keeping you from prayer?
· Pride
· Unbelief
· Discouragement
· Distraction
What might God be most trying to work in you to trust right now?
· Timing
· Definition of Good
· Obedience
· Trust in God alone
· Waiting for better rather than instant
· Relationship over Receiving
· Reorienting Desires
· Placing life in His hands
This week – two assignments –
· Look at all that God has to say about prayer in the book of James
· Spend some time looking at the prayer life of Daniel