Wednesday, November 1, 2006

IDEA: Prayer is essential but it is difficult.

Most people, Christians and non-Christians, pray every day. Non-Christians pray to “dear old Somebody.” Christians pray to God through Jesus Christ. From surveys done, people say that they pray. What do you think that consists of?

I. Jesus spent all night in prayer. Noted Christians spend two or three hours a day in prayer. There are religious orders that pray for 24 hours with individuals in that order praying for 3 or 4 hours at a time.

Do you admire Christians who can spend concentrated periods of time in prayer?

Do you find it difficult?

The disciples at crucial times in Jesus’ ministry fell asleep when they should have “watched and prayed.” Can you sympathize with them?

Why is it difficult for us to spend longer periods of time in prayer?

II. When you have prayed for a longer time, were there practices that you had that made that period more significant?