Study Guide

Commissioned Living and Prayer

“What does Great Commission living mean for your personal vision for praying?”

Every person exists for the purpose of glorifying God and doing his will. His will involves the Great Commission. The message of faith is a fantastic adventure in trusting him. It is up to each believer to spread the gospel. The disciples were great examples of obedience to live commissioned lives. Paul was chief of the apostles and chief in prayer. He was convinced of the absolute necessity of prayer as a great force in the world and a factor in the progress of spreading the gospel. In Paul’s view there was no success without it. Witnessing is the greatest kingdom work God permits a person to do, for it is the activity most comparable to the ministry of Jesus who came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Therefore responsibility begins with me to pray without ceasing for acceptance of the Good News to the ends of the earth.

React and expand on Chuck Lindquist’s answer.

Chuck said; “Think of prayer and commissioned living. Blaise Pascal said one time: In prayer God is giving his people the ‘dignity of causality.’ Now that doesn’t mean we become the creators of things exactly. We don’t create the kingdom of God on God’s behalf but he dignifies us by inviting us to be a part of his action plan and activity and program around the world.... God invites us to be a part of the cause, to be part of His agenda for all people everywhere. That is commissioned living.”

As we participate in prayer and live out our lives we pray that we can lift the dignity of others so they too can participate in the “dignity of causality.”

Part I
How am I presently conducting my prayer life?

Where do I currently rate myself in my prayer life on a scale of one to ten, one being poor and ten being superior?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Why do I rate myself at this level?

I believe I can still improve in approaching God with greater faith, trust, desire and fervency with the help of Holy Spirit. It is the entire person, soul, mind and body that needs to flow like a stream in communication with God. God willing, I will continue to mature in my prayer life.

What am I doing presently that could be considered strengths in my prayer life?

Having a prayer list, consistency and effort to improve are three ways that I consider strengths.

What are weaknesses in my prayer life?

I still believe I can improve my understanding, trust, desire and fervency for praying.

Part II
What can I include in my vision?

Where on the scale of one to ten would I like to be with my praying in one year?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

What do I personally and passionately want to happen in my prayer life?

I want the quality of my prayer time to be improved. This would include understanding, trust, desire, fervency of praying and knowing specific needs for those I’m praying.

What are my own needs and aspirations I want included in my personal prayers?

A time of confession and repentance will be included with requests for health, safety, relationships, wisdom in decision making, guidance in writing projects, increase in faith and trust.

How can I make the most impact for God’s kingdom through prayer?

I want to pray sincere specific prayers for God’s kingdom.

How will the World Mission Prayer League be included in my prayers?

Both the people at the headquarters of WMPL and those on the field around the world will be included in my prayers.

Who are the most important people I want to include in my prayers?

Those on my prepared prayer list.

What will be the people groups or boundaries of my prayer life? (Be specific. A person can’t pray for everyone in the world.)

Those world leaders in the news, those names coming to me through WMPL and other mission organizations and people who are personally known to me.

What geographical boundaries do I have in my prayers?

Primarily it will be for those countries in which I have served.

How far ahead is my prayer life going to focus? (Just today - weeks - months - years?)

I like to focus up to about one year ahead.

Part III
What plans do I have for my prayer life?

I will have a private daily one-hour prayer session that will include Bible reading, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication that leads to an unceasing contact with God.

Part IV
What will be the strategy for my prayer life?

I will be reading Scripture and searching prayer books to enhance my communication with God through speaking praise, confession, thank, requests and listening so that prayer becomes a continuous lifestyle.

Part V
How can I turn my prayer vision for my life into action?

What is my plan of action to improve my prayer life?

The more I write and teach about prayer the more I understand and improve my own prayer life.

How much of my financial income am I willing to invest in books and other possible resources?

As much as is reasonable within our family budget.

Whom can I ask to coach and train me and keep me accountable to working my plan?

Coaching and training will change according to my location. My wife helps keep me accountable.

When do I plan to begin my strategy?

Immediately!

Part VI
What obstacles do I face?

What hinders my prayer life?

Interruptions from a changed schedule, lack of perseverance and living outside my relationship with God can all hinder my prayer life.

Are the people on my prayer list making it difficult to pray for them? What can I do about it?

They are not telling specifically what to pray for in their lives.

What are the critical environmental problems (location and other interruptions) affecting my praying?

I am blessed with a designated place that is used for my private prayer time.

How do I overcome these problems?

I will continue to set prayer time as a priority and not let other activities disrupt praying. I also need to keep updating my daily prayer list by have others keep informing me of their concerns.

Part VII
How will I know when I’m successful in prayer?

How will I know if I have a successful prayer life?

I will continue to abide in Jesus and stay connected to the vine. He promises to bear fruit through me and my prayerful praying. I will expect to hear and see some answers to prayers.

What are possible measures of success?

God’s scorecard is different than the world’s scorecard. It is faithfulness. He promises my prayers will be significant.

Part VIII
How will I celebrate when I’m successful at praying?

What will my response be when I know that God has answered my specific prayers?

I will praise God and share a verbal witness about answers with others.

Endnotes
[1] E.M. Bounds, The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1990) p.39.

2 Martin Luther, The Large Catechism (Translated by F. Bente and  W. H. T. Dau Triglot Concordia: The
Symbolical Books of the Ev. Lutheran Church. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921), pp. 565.

3 Walter Wangerin, Jr, Whole Prayer: Speaking and Listening to God. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998) p. 205.

4 Walter Wangerin, Jr, Whole Prayer: Speaking and Listening to God. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1998) p. 29.