So,backtotheheartofprayerhowwouldyoudefineprayer?

Whatdoesthewordprayerstirupinyou?Doesitmakeyoufeelcomfortedandatpeace,or
doesitmakeyoufeelnervousandguilty?Writeoutsomeofyourfeelingsaboutprayeras
wejumpintothisstudytogether.

Whenwereallystoptothinkaboutprayer,weshouldquicklyrealizewhataprivilege
it is. God does not have to communicate with us and doesn't need for us to
communicate with Him. But, He chooses to. That's the love of GodHe chooses to
involve us in His work. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants to show
Himselfmightyinourlivesandintercedeonourbehalftimeandtimeagain.
Whenyoureallystoptothinkaboutit,whatamazesyouaboutprayer?

TheheartofprayerissimplytalkingtoGod.Inthisstudy,wearegoingtogetabetter
grasponthisvitalpracticeinourlivesandthenwearegoingtotakeitastepfurther
tocreateastrategyforprayer.Throughthisstudy,youwilllearntostrategicallypray
foryourself,yourspouse,yourkids,yourlostfriends.But,wehavetostartwiththe
basicsandlayafoundationbeforewecanbuilduptolargeprayerstrategies.

BATTLEPLANFORPRAYERWORKBOOKSESSIONONE:DEVOTEDTOPRAYER

Some of the words that came up in your definition might have included: petition,
request,thanksgiving,praise.Ifyoufeelsoled,itwouldbegreatifyouwouldshare
thisdefinitionwithyourgroupnexttimeandhearwhatotherpeoplewrotedownas
well.
IfGodcompiledalistofthetopfiveprayersHehears,whatdoyouthinkwouldmakethe
list?

Mostlikely,thelistyoucompiledrevolvedaroundindividualcrisesorroutinerituals.
Those prayers are important, but God's Word instructs believers to be devoted to
prayer. This means we must move beyond the status quo. As we're beginning this
study,maybeyou'rehesitanttoaddonemorethingtoyouralreadybusyschedule.
Whatisyourgreateststrugglewithprayer?Findingtimetopray?Knowingwhattopray?
Somethingelse?

Prayerisn'tonemorethingtoaddtoyourlist.Prayerempowersthelist.Wearenot
asking you to add something new, but to do what you are already doing relying on
God's power and provision instead. We are challenging you to devote yourself to
prayer.
One of the game changers when it comes to prayer is recognizing how much God
lovesusandwantstohearfromus.WhenwestoptorememberhowmuchGodlongs
forustowalksocloselywithHim,itreallydoeschangeeverything.

Readtheseinstructionsandunpackthemtoday:
1

Firstofall,then,lurgethatpetitions,prayers,intercessions,andthanksgivings
bemadeforeveryone,2forkingsandallthosewhoareinauthority,sothatwe
mayleadatranquilandquietlifeinallgodlinessanddignity.3Thisisgood,and
itpleasesGodourSavior,4whowantseveryonetobesavedandtocometothe
knowledgeofthetruth.
Whatotherwordsarelistedinverse1thatmeanprayer?

TakeamomenttoreadEphesians3:1618:
16

IpraythatHemaygrantyou,accordingtotherichesofHisglory,tobe
strengthenedwithpowerintheinnermanthroughHisSpirit,17andthatthe
Messiahmaydwellinyourheartsthroughfaith.Ipraythatyou,beingrooted
andfirmlyestablishedinlove,18maybeabletocomprehendwithallthesaints
whatisthelengthandwidth,heightanddepthofGod'slove.
Highlightthewordsprayandloveeachtimeyouseethem.
How do you think your prayer life could be impacted if you prayed knowing that you are
"rootedandfirmlyestablishedinlove"?

Prayerdoesn'thavetobesomethingyouarescaredoforanxiousabout.Ifyouremind
yourselfofyoursurefootingintheloveofChrist,yourprayerswillhopefullycomea
littleeasierandbealittlebolder.MayGoddeepenyourgraspofHisloveasyoulearn
toboldlyapproachHiminareneweddevotiontoprayer.

BATTLEPLANFORPRAYERWORKBOOKSESSIONONE:DEVOTEDTOPRAYER

ForwhomspecificallydoesPaulsayweshouldpray?

Thelastversehereiswhatsetsusinawe.WhydoesprayerpleaseGod?

Our God is a good God who longs for His people to come to salvation. We will talk
morelaterinthestudyaboutprayingspecificallyforthosewhoarelost,butfornow
let'sthinkalittlebigger.

Youcametothisstudywithahopetobebetterequippedforprayer.Maybetopray
more often, or to even begin to pray, or perhaps to pray with more intensity and
focus.ItisourhopethatGodwillmoveyoutoawholenewlevelofprayerthrough
yourfocusonitduringthisstudy,butsinceTTimothytellsustoprayforeveryone,we
wouldloveforyoutotakesometimetolistoutthosespecificpeopleyouwanttobe
morestrategicinprayingfor.
Makealistnowinyournotesandthenbesideeachnamewriteonemainthingyouwantto
prayoverthatperson.

Now,ifyouhaven'talreadydonethis,takeafewminutestodojustthatprayabouteach
personandthewordyouwroteforeachperson.

Wewouldloveforyoutobookmarkthispagesomehowsoyoucancomebacktothis
listoverthenextfewweeks,notonlytoremembertokeepprayingforthesepeople
andthespecificitemforeachperson,buttoalsowatchandseehowGodwillwork
andmovethroughthoseprayers.

Paulcommandedbelieverstobedevotedtoprayer(Rom.12:14Col.4:2).Whilethat
sounds like a noble concept, what does that really mean? What does that type of
devotionlooklike?
The Greek word for devotion Paul uses is proskartereo in these verses. The word is
usedtentimesintheNewTestament;fiveofthemareassociatedwithprayerandfive
arenot.Tohelpusunderstandthistypeofprayerdevotion,let'slookathowtheverb
isusedeachtime.
In the following verses, the translation of proskartereo is in bold. Notice how it is
used.Inyournotes,foreachversemakeanoteaboutwhatthisteachesusconcerning
beingdevotedtoprayeranddiscussyourobservationsthenexttimeyoumeetasa
group.

Allthesewerecontinuallyunitedinprayer,alongwiththewomen,including
MarythemotherofJesus,andHisbrothers(Acts1:14)

Andtheydevotedthemselvestotheapostles'teaching,tothefellowship,to
thebreakingofbread,andtotheprayers(Acts2:42).

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry (Acts
6:4)

Rejoiceinhope;bepatientinaffliction;bepersistentinprayer(Rom,12:12)

Devoteyourselvestoprayer;stayalertinitwiththanksgiving(Col.4:2)

Afterstudyingtheaboveverses,howwouldyoudescribewhatitmeanstobedevotedto
prayer?

What have been the major prayer catalysts in your personal life? In other words, what
thingshavecausedyoutobecomemoredevotedtoprayer?

BATTLEPLANFORPRAYERWORKBOOKSESSIONONE:DEVOTEDTOPRAYER

Then even Simon himself believed. Arid after he was baptized, he went
around constantly with Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs
andgreatmiraclesthatwerebeingperformed(Acts8:13).

Whentheangelwhospoketohimhadgone,hecalledtwoofhishousehold
slavesandadevoutsoldier,whowasoneofthosewhoattendedhim(Acts
10:7)

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God's public
servants,continuallyattendingtothesetasks(Rom.13:15)

Whatwouldneedtochangeinyourlifeforyoutobemoredevotedtoprayer?

If it meant positively transforming your life and empowering your spiritual impact on
others,wouldyoubewillingtomakethosechanges?

Outoftheseverses,whathelpsyoumostconcerningbeingdevotedtoprayer?

Devotion involves committing to something consistently and frequently. To be

consistentlydevotedtoprayer,wehavetotrainourselvesinthispractice.Itdoesnot
comenaturally.WemusttrainourselvestobeinconstantcommunionwithGod.

In addition to the verses that used proskartereo (devoted') concerning prayer, there
are five other usages of the word in the New Testament. Studying these verses can
actuallyhelpusgetabetterhandleonhowtobecomedevotedtoprayer.

StopnowtoprayandaskGodforhelptorepurposeyourlifeasonewhoisdevotedto
prayer.

In the following verses, the usage of proskartareo is in bold. In your notes, for each
versemakenotesofhowthishelpsyoubetterunderstandbeing"devoted"toprayer.

ThenHetoldHisdisciplestohaveasmallboatreadyforHim,sothecrowd
wouldnotcrushHim(Mark3:9)

BATTLEPLANFORPRAYERWORKBOOKSESSIONONE:DEVOTEDTOPRAYER

When most people think of Jesus' prayer life, they default to the teaching we
commonly refer to as the Lord's Prayer, While we will dive deep into this pivotal
prayer template later in this study, Jesus' prayer ministry was not isolated to this
famousteaching.Infact,Hisentireministrywassaturatedinprayer.

Read the following passages that describe the prayer life of Jesus. For each verse, make
notesofwhatimpactsyouconcerningHisexample.

AtwhattimesofdaydidJesuspray?

[Earlystagesofministry]Intheearlymorning,whileitwasstilldark,Jesus
gotup,leftthehouse,andwentawaytoasecludedplace,andwaspraying
there(Mark1:35).

[Beforemakingtheselectionofthetwelvedisciples]Itwasatthistimethat
Hewentofftothemountaintopray,andHespentthewholenightinprayer
toGod(Luke6:12).

[Afterfeedingthe5,000]AfterHehadsentthecrowdsaway,Hewentupon
the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there
alone(Matt14:23).

[BeforeHiscrucifixion]AndHecameoutandproceededaswasHiscustom
totheMountofOlives;andthedisciplesalsofollowedHim.WhenHearrived
attheplace,Hesaidtothem,"Praythatyoumaynotenterintotemptation."
AndHewithdrewfromthemaboutastone'sthrow,andHekneltdownand
begantopray(Luke22:3941).

WhataresomeoftheaspectsofJesus'prayerlifethatimpactyoumost?

InwhatkindsofsituationsdidJesussetasidetimetopray?

Not only did Jesus teach on the importance of prayer, He modeled this devotion to
prayer.
HaveyoueverwonderedwhyJesusneededtopray?IfJesuswasGod,whydidHeneedto
taketimetopray?

Although Jesus was fully God while He was on earth, Scripture also teaches that He
'keptincreasinginwisdomandstature,andinfavorwithGodandmen'(Luke2:52).
Prayer was Jesus communication to God the Father while He lived on earth. Prayer
was His means, along with the Holy Spirit, of knowing and carrying out God's will,
PrayerwasavitalpartoftheintimatefellowshipbetweenGodtheFatherandChrist
HisSon.

BATTLEPLANFORPRAYERWORKBOOKSESSIONONE:DEVOTEDTOPRAYER

Thinkofthemostimportantrelationshipinyourlife.Howstrongwouldthatrelationshipbe
ifthecommunicationbetweenyoustoppedtoday?

BasedonJesus'prayerlife,whatistheprimaryfunctionofprayer?

ItisourhopeandprayerthatyoudivedeepintothetopicofprayerthoughthisBible
Study.Wehaveafeelingthatyouarehopingandprayingthesamething.Godwillbe
faithfulasyoufocusonthisoverthesenexteightweeks.Itisalsoourprayer,though,
that you leave at the end of this study with a firm grasp on how to pray for those
aroundyouyourfriends,familymembers,thelost,thoseinauthorityoveryou,and
moreinastrategicway.
Todothat,wehavedevelopedasortofroadmapintheformofaPrayerStrategy
Target.

If Jesus, the Son of God, was constantly dependent upon the Father through prayer, how
couldwepossiblythinkitisnotnecessaryforus?

Asyouclosetoday,prayandaskGodtoshowyousomechangesyouneedtomaketo
become more consistent and dependent upon Him in prayer. (Hint: Being a part of
this study is a huge step in the right direction. God will be faithful as you work to
becomedevotedtoprayer.)

Wewillworkthroughthistargettogetheroverthecomingweeksineach'Day5ofour
homework.Bytheendofthestudyyouwillknowhowtoutilizethistargetandpray
specificallyandstrategicallyforothers.
We want to start today with the vertical and horizontal lines on the target. They
representthecross.PrayerbeginswiththecrossofJesusChrist.
ThecrossallowsusaccesstotheFather.

BATTLEPLANFORPRAYERWORKBOOKSESSIONONE:DEVOTEDTOPRAYER

John14:6says:Jesussaidtohim,Iamtheway,andthetruth,andthelife;no
onecomestotheFatherbutthroughMe."

OurrelationshiptoGodthroughJesusisthekeytohealthyandeffectiveprayers.We
needtobeverticallyalignedwithGodthroughthecrossbeforewecandoanything
else.

As Scripture says, 'He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in
righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and
renewingbytheHolySpirit,whomHepouredoutuponusrichlythroughJesusChrist
ourSavior,sothatbeingjustifiedbyHisgracewewouldbemadeheirsaccordingto
thehopeofeternallife"(Titus3:57).

Withthisinmind,itisimportanttomakesurewesubmittoGod'splanandaresaved
God'swaythroughJesus,notonourown.Jesussaid,'Truly,truly,Isaytoyourunless
oneisbornagainhecannotseethekingdomofGod'(John3:3).Salvationcomesfrom
theLord,notman.ItisaspiritualtransformationGodbringsaboutwithinsomeone's
heart and life. No individual or church can manufacture it. But God does it as we
repentandtrustChristalonebyfaith.
WeunderstandthatinthisBiblestudysettingwearespeakingtoalldifferentkindsof
people. Nonbelievers, seekers, new believers, seasoned Christians, wayward
Christiansyounameit.Nomatterwhereyouare,though,takeamomentandstop
andevaluateyourrelationshipwithJesus.
Ifyouaren'tcertainofyourrelationshiptoGodthroughJesus,wouldyoureachoutto
yoursmallgroupleaderorsomeoneonyourchurchstafftobegintotalkthisoutwith
them?Theywillbehonoredtohelpyou.
Ifyou'verepentedandtrustedJesusChristasyourLordandSavior,thisisthefoundationfor
a strong prayer life. If you are clear in your heart that you have salvation, would you
considerprayingandthankingCodforthisincrediblegift?Also,askGodiftherearespecific
areasofyourrelationshipwithHimthatmightneedatuneup.AllowHimtoworkandwrite
outanynotesorprayersonthattopicbelow.

BATTLEPLANFORPRAYERWORKBOOKSESSIONONE:DEVOTEDTOPRAYER

Nowdosomethingthatmightnotseemsoobvious.Prayaboutyourprayerlife.Writeouta
descriptionofthekindofprayerwarrioryoudesiretobecome,thenprayovereachaspect
aridaskGodtomakethatarealityinyou.

MayGoddoagreatandlastingworkinyourheartanddrawyoudeeperandcloser
intoalovingrelationshipwithHimlikeneverbefore!