Studies on Prayer: Vol. 2عينة

Public prayers are sometimes the most dangerous words to speak. The current trend is to open a public meeting in prayer, but not to be specific to a certain God or religion. According to Jesus, that would not be a prayer God would honor. Prayer has often been used in public places, even churches, to promote personal agendas. How sad to bow our heads before the Father and never utter a word that He could acknowledge. Jesus angered people by teaching a parable about prayer because they knew it was directed at them. The principles taught in His parable are timeless because the sins Jesus addressed are repeated in every generation.

1. How does Luke describe the people to whom Jesus addressed His parable (verse 18:9)? What are the cautions to our own prayer lives?

2. Read Proverbs 3:32–35. Why is it so important to pray from a genuine relationship with God?

3. What cautions and/or encouragements do you want to apply to your own prayer life from Jesus’ parable?

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” —John Bunyan