DISCIPLESHIP 2: ESTABLISHING A DEVOTIONAL HABIT

 

  1. Prayer and the early church

1)      Prayer birthed the church           (Luke 24: 49)

Daily prayer                                          (Acts 1: 42)

 

2)      Prayer – a powerful force          (Acts 4: 23, 24, 31)

(Acts 6: 1 – 4)

  1. Devotional Prayer – A daily Habit

We frequently pray but:

á          My Morning Prayer time is no longer a daily habit

á          ItŐs easier to read my bible than pray every day

á          We need to get back to school with Jesus.

 

So:

1)      Set aside time for prayer
Decide what must be removed so that prayer can take its place
e.g. sleep 30 minutes earlier to wake up 30 minutes earlier

2)      Fellowship with Jesus

 

6 Part Plan for Prayer

 

1.       Thanksgiving and Praise (offering up yourself)

1.1.  Daily purpose in praise                                (Ps 100: 4)

1.1.1.      Praise Him for who He is

1.1.2.      Praise Him for what He has done

1.2.  Offer up your body to the Lord            (Rom 12: 1)
Kneel or sit with a humble heart

1.3.  Sing a new song                                                (Ps 96: 1)

1.4.  Worship Him in Spirit                                  (John 4: 23)

 

2.       Confession and Cleansing (offering up your heart)

2.1.  Invite a search                                                     (Ps 139: 23 – 24)

2.2.  DonŐt be deceived

2.2.1.      Hurting Hearts

2.2.2.      Hardened Hearts

2.2.3.      Heavy Hearts

2.3.  Set a guard over your mouth                   (Ps 19: 14)
Words are powerful – know when to speak.

2.4.  Keep the goal in view

 

3.       Order and Obedience (offering up your day)

3.1.  Surrender your day to God                       (Ps 37: 5,7)

3.2.  Show child like need                                                       (Ps 3: 6,7)

3.2.1.      Ask for specific guidance         (Ps 25: 4,5)

3.2.2.      Obey instructions                             (John 4: 34)

4.       Family and Church (offering up those near and dear)

4.1.  Name your family members daily       (Job 1: 1-5)

4.2.  Open to your larger family                       (Isaiah 58: 7)

4.3.  Remember the FatherŐs family              (Eph 3: 14, 15)

4.4.  Include the single                                             (Ps 68: 5, 6)

5.       Intercession in reaching the world for Jesus

5.1.  NB: Prayer Problems:

5.1.1.      Wrong ideas about prayer

5.1.2.      Doubt and Discouragement

5.1.3.      Wrong motives

5.2.  What is intercession?

5.2.1.      Praying on behalf of others

5.2.2.      Praying with power and direction of Holy Spirit

5.2.3.      Knowing there will be divine results

5.3.  Intercession and Spiritual warfare

 

 

START NOW AND GOD WILL BLESS.

 

* Notes taken from The Shepherd's Staff; Published by World Map 1993, Section A4 "Establishing a Devotional Habit"