Discussion Questions:
1. The last couple of weeks we have been talking about prayer. What are some things that you have prayed for that God has apparently not answered? How do you feel about this? How do you handle it when it seems like your prayers aren’t answered?
2. Read Mark 11:24-25 & 1 Peter 3:7. These verses would seem to indicate that our relationships have some affect on our prayers. What do you think the connection might be? Do you think your ability to pray ever been affected by your relationships?
3. This week we talked about 5 important “Factors” that have significant impact on our prayers.
- Our RELATIONSHIPS matter.
- Our MOTIVES matter.
- Our LIFESTYLE matters.
- Our FAITH matters.
- God’s WILL matters.
Have you ever heard and thought about these factors? In the past when your prayers haven’t been answered have you ever used these factors to evaluate why they may have not been answered? Do you think this may explain why some of your prayers haven’t been answered? Do you think evaluating with this matrix will be important in the future?
4. Which of these factors that we discussed this week do you need to be the most aware of? Why? What can you do to be more cognizant of these factors in the future?
5. What are some ways you’ve seen God work in others lives that have been important in building up your confidence and trust in Him? What are some ways that you have seen God work in your life that has helped to build your faith?
6. Are there some prayers that you have given up on? When you think about all that we have talked about this week do you think you should start praying for these things again?
Final thought: Share with your group some prayer requests that are important to you at this time in your life. Pray through these things together. Finish off your time together having one of your group members read the “Merton Prayer”.
Thomas Merton
“The Merton Prayer”
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you, does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
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