Prayer
We’ve been looking at the 4 spiritual walls of Family Church. Last week, Pete spoke about scripture and this week, we’re looking at prayer. Prayer stems from our great need of a great God. And yet it is an area of our walk with Christ in which we all struggle at some point. So we look at prayer in a simple format today; what is prayer; why do we pray; and what do we pray for? We’ll be using the Davidic prayer as a model prayer to answer these questions. When we’re praying on our own and in the church community, we become the church.
Scripture
Psalm 86:1-17 ESV A Prayer of David. Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. 8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Bible Study Questions
Our great need
David was hunted and his life was at risk because of ungodly men. It’s at this time that he asks God to incline His ear to David so that He will hear David’s prayers. What does this tell us about why we need to pray?
Psalm 86:1 ESV A Prayer of David. Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Psalm 86:2 ESV Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Psalm 86:16 ESV Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.
Our of earnestness
When you read the whole of Psalm 86, David’s sincerity and authenticity flow out of the Psalm. What does this tell you about how we should pray?
Psalm 86:2 ESV Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Psalm 86:7 ESV In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
Psalm 86:16 ESV Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.
The frequency of prayer
Early in the Psalm, David gives us a clue as to how often we are to pray. How often do you think we should be praying? What does this mean in our lives and how can we go about ensuring that we are doing as we are told?
Psalm 86:3 ESV Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV pray without ceasing,
The attitude of gratitude
The Psalm speaks greatly of the manner in which we pray, specifically that we are to pray thankfully for all that God is, has done, and is doing in our lives. Why is an attitude of gratitude so important in our prayer life?
Psalm 86:12 ESV I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Humility from above
David’s prayer oozes humility. He was God’s chosen king. Yet he was not angry about his situation, and he did not demand better circumstances. What can we learn from David in this prayer?
John 5:19 ESV So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
A prayer in faith
A lot of pastors and seemingly mature Christians exercise fake faith in prayer, making their prayers seem like demands on God - expecting them to come true. This is extremely dangerous and not what is meant by praying in faith. What do you think praying in faith means?
Luke 22:42 ESV saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Worthy of prayer
The Psalm tells us about things that are worthy of prayer. In the Psalm, I count no less than four powerful things to pray for, worthy of prayer. Can you identify them from these verses?
Psalm 86:2 ESV Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Psalm 86:4 ESV Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Psalm 86:11 ESV Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86:9 ESV All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.