Are you seeking to enrich your prayer life and experience a more profound connection with God? A praying life isn’t just about reciting words; it’s about cultivating a relationship, understanding God’s story, and living in His presence. This A Praying Life Study Guide offers a structured approach to explore the transformative power of prayer, drawing insights from relevant resources and scriptures.
Week 1: Introduction – The Foundation of Prayer
This week sets the stage for our journey into prayer.
Reading Assignment: “A Praying Life” Chapters 1 & 2
Discussion Points:
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Frustration with Prayer: Have you ever felt frustrated with your prayer life or doubted its effectiveness?
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Dependence on God: Miller suggests that we often rely on ourselves instead of God. Do you live a life that is dependent upon God?
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Challenges to a Vibrant Prayer Life: What difficulties hinder a vibrant prayer life?
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Isolated vs. Intertwined Prayer Life: Explore the differences between an isolated prayer life and one that’s intertwined with your daily life.
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Essential Attitude: What attitude of the heart is most necessary for a praying life?
Week 2: Learning to Pray Like a Child – Embracing Humility
This week, we delve into the importance of approaching God with childlike faith and humility.
Reading Assignment: “A Praying Life” Section 1: Chapters 3-8
Discussion Points:
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Identity and Prayer: Why does placing our identity in things other than God lead Christians away from prayer?
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Dependence and Prayer: How does spending time in prayer increase your dependence on God?
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The Power of Helplessness: Miller suggests strong Christians pray more because they realize their weakness. Do you see your weaknesses as a prerequisite to being a strong Christian?
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Continuous Prayer: What does it mean to pray continuously, and how does “poverty of spirit” fuel this type of prayer?
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Anxiety as a Doorway: How should anxiety be the doorway to prayer, leading us to rest on God?
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Areas for Continuous Prayer: In what areas of your life do you need to be more “continuously” in prayer?
Week 3: Learning to Trust Again – Overcoming Cynicism
This week addresses the challenges of cynicism and how to cultivate trust in God’s promises.
Reading Assignment: “A Praying Life” Part 2 (Chapters 9-11)
Discussion Points:
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The Danger of Cynicism: Why is cynicism so dangerous, and how does it shape your view of God and reality?
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Cures for Cynicism: What are the cures Jesus offers for cynicism, and how can you apply them in your life?
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Developing an Eye for Jesus: What does “looking for Jesus” mean to you, and where do you seek Him?
Week 4: Learning to Ask Your Father – Approaching God with Boldness
This week encourages us to boldly ask God for our needs and desires while aligning our will with His.
Reading Assignment: “A Praying Life” Part 3 (Chapters 12-18)
Discussion Points:
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Secularism and Prayer: Do you think you’ve ever marginalized prayer due to an underlying secular worldview?
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God as Infinite-Personal: What does it look like to pray to a God who is both infinite and personal?
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God’s Involvement: When have you seen God involved in the details of your life?
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Extravagant Promises: How do we avoid the dangers of not asking and asking selfishly? (James 4:2-3)
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Praying Differently: How does someone who is abiding in Christ pray differently from someone who is not?
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Surrender and Will: How might we pray, think, and act differently if we focus on Jesus in every situation?
Week 5: Living in Your Father’s Story – Understanding God’s Perspective
This week emphasizes the importance of understanding God’s overarching story and how our individual lives fit into it.
Reading Assignment: “A Praying Life” Chapters 19-27
Discussion Points:
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God’s Sovereignty: Why is a deep awareness of God’s sovereignty crucial to seeing the stories He is weaving?
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Prayer vs. Other Methods: What does prayer do that all other methods can’t?
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Faith and Prayer: What does it look like to pray in faith?
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Unanswered Prayer: How does Miller distinguish between raw faith and being disrespectful to God?
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God in the Story: What is our reward when we hang in there with God during ambiguity?
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Living in Gospel Stories: How does living in a gospel story make us more authentic people?
Week 6: Praying in Real Life – Practical Application
This final week provides practical tools and strategies for incorporating prayer into our everyday lives.
Reading Assignment: “A Praying Life” Chapters 28-34
Discussion Points:
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Prayer Tools: What might some of the benefits be for writing down our prayer requests?
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Prayer Systems: According to Miller, why do we need a prayer system, and in what ways should we be careful about systems?
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Prayer Cards: What are some overall guidelines for creating a prayer card?
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Prayer Work: What is the three-step pattern for God answering our prayers?
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Listening to God: What do we miss when we focus on “Word Only” or “Spirit Only”?
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Prayer Journaling: How does journaling help us to see the story God is writing for us?
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Unfinished Stories: In your own words, list what God did for Israel through their unfinished story.
This a praying life study guide is a roadmap to a richer, more meaningful prayer life. By engaging with these readings, questions, and discussions, you can deepen your connection with God and experience the transformative power of prayer in your life. Embrace the journey, and may your prayer life flourish!
