Study Guide

Beliefs and Prayer

“What are a couple of major beliefs you hold about prayer?”

The Word of God causes me to pray. My prayers are a response to what God has done for me.

React and expand on Chuck Lindquist’s answer.

Chuck believes it is the command and invitation of God to pray. It is intelligent to pray and enjoy God to the fullest. It takes the entire person to pray. No one can have divided allegiance to God and do the work of praying. The whole heart, the whole brain and the whole spirit can and should be in the matter of praying.

Questions to Ponder:

List five major personal beliefs you hold to be true about God. After doing this try to explain or match how each belief influences your belief about prayer.

Beliefs about God
  1. The Triune God is the true and only God.
  2. God made peace between the world and himself through Jesus.
  3. God is a God of love.
  4. God is a God who listens.
  5. God is a God who speaks.

Beliefs about Prayer

  1. Therefore I direct my prayers to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  2. Prayer does not earn me God’s grace, Jesus did.
  3. Therefore he cares for me, my desires and concerns.
  4. Therefore I can communicate directly with him.
  5. Therefore I listen and look for his answers.

What are five or more additional beliefs you have about prayer?

I believe…

  • my faith in him and prayer are inseparable companions.
  • faith in God and trust in the Lord form the foundation of prayer.
  • the stronger the need or desire, the stronger the prayer.
  • prayer is the most appropriate thing to do when there is trouble.
  • I can learn how to pray by studying God’s word, praying, reading books on prayer and having personal Christian teachers as coaches.
  • when I don’t feel like praying I can choose to pray anyway.
  • I do not have the gift of praying in tongues and that is okay.
  • humility and obedience are important in receiving answers to prayer.
  • Jesus is the bridge to God the Father.
  • I should start everything with prayer.
  • God listens to my prayers.
  • I can communicate anytime and anywhere with God.
  • a person brings problems, concerns and desires to God, not the answers.
  • perseverance is needed in prayer.
  • prayer can be a regular daily habit.
  • I need a private place to pray.
  • I need a written prayer list to assist with my prayers.
  • praising God and thanking God are different. Both are important.
  • prayer may sometimes be hard work.
  • I should only pray for what is God’s will.
  • I need the prayer support of other Christians.
  • prayer is a privilege and not a problem.
  • the key to missions is prayer.
  • God always answers my prayers