DISCIPLINED FOR PRAYER

STRUGGLING TOWARD THESPIRITUAL EXERCISE OF PRAYER

Session Three

Session Three OBJECTIVES

! Consider prayer as a struggle.

! See the benefits of desperation in the prayer struggle.

! Embrace discipline in the prayer struggle.

The STRUGGLE

The Biblical Reason

The Theological Reason

The Experiential Reason

Colossians 4:12

Pride

We just don’t.

“Both our flesh and our culture scream against spending an hour on our knees

beside a desk piled with papers. It is un-American to be so impractical as to

devote oneself to prayer and meditation two hours a day.”

~ John Piper

“Is it not...true that by and large we are better at organizing than agonizing? Better at

administrating than interceding? Better at fellowship than fasting? Better at

entertainment than worship? Better at theological articulation than spiritual

adoration? Better--God help us!--at preaching than at praying?”

~ D.A. Carson

Little to No DESPERATION

Not Desperate for Help

Pain providentially wroughtthat presses us to pray, oughtin thanks not be forgot.

“A pastor who feels competent in himself to produce eternal fruit--which is the only kind that matters--knows neither God or himself. A pastor

who does not know the rhythm of desperation and deliverance must have his sights set only on

what man can achieve.” ~ John Piper

Little to No DESPERATION

Not Desperate for Fellowship

Our souls languish when we do not linger in God’s presence.

Little to No DISCIPLINE

“We do not drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer.”

~ D.A. Carson

“O! the starting-holes that the heart hath in the time of prayer; none knows how many bye-ways the heart hath, and back-lanes, to

slip away from the presence of God.” ~ John Bunyan

Little to No DISCIPLINE

Make a Prayer Exercise Program

Procure Some Prayer Exercise Equipment

Find a Prayer Exercise Partner

“The true rich fruit of spontaneity grows in the garden that is well tended by the

discipline of schedule.”~ John Piper

TAKE-AWAYS

• Pray for help to pray.

• Pray for Spirit-driven desperation and discipline.

• Make appointments to pray at a set time, every day, for a minimum amount of time.

Grunts Warriors• Don’t relax. It takes hardly

any work to get out of shape, a much work to get back in shape.