Prayer and Fasting - Message Study Questions

Message Summary

Jesus teaches us not to pray to impress other people. There is nothing wrong with praying in public and with others when done for the right reasons and motives. And it’s not what you say over and over, it’s about a conversation between you and God. Prayer is the power of communication. Prayer is speaking to God with honesty, transparency, and dependency, and prayer is listening to God. Self-righteousness, pride, or arrogance won’t get God’s response. The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew chapter 6 is really a guide to prayer which should start with praise and worship for the Almighty—our heavenly father. Then we seek to align our will with God’s, which requires us to listen. Then petition for our daily needs. Search your conscience and ask God to forgive your sins. And be sure to forgive others by name. Then, acknowledging our total dependency, we ask God’s help to overcome temptations from within and without—asking God’s protection for our mind, body, and heart. This isn’t a prescription, it’s an outline. It’s not the content, it’s the coverage. And fasting is not about the showmanship, it’s about connecting with God. Fasting is the spiritual discipline of giving something up to focus on God instead. Through fasting, we grow closer to God.

1. Do you have a special place where you seriously pray to God? Can you share with the group where it is? How often do you visit your “prayer closet”?
   

2. Growing up, how did your family view and practice prayer? How has that impacted your prayer life today?
   

Consider This

A disciple is a follower of Jesus. Not just walking behind him, but applying his teachings to your life.

1. What can you learn from reading Matthew 6:7? Is it acceptable to pray repeatedly for the same thing?
   

2. List some things you can learn about God from Matthew 6:6, 8, and 9.
   

3. Read Matthew 6:10. How do you align your will with God’s? Why is this important?
   

4. God answers prayer requests yes, no, wait and sometimes with another direction. Read 1 John 5:14-15, James 1:6-8, and Mark 11:24 and list some truths about prayer requests.

5. According to John 1:12, Hebrews 4:14-16, what gives us the right to pray to the Creator of the universe? How confident are you when you pray?
   

6. What are some other things that might hinder our prayers according to the following

   • Psalm 66:18
   • 1 Peter 3:7
   • James 4:2c-3
   • Mark 11:25
     

7. If God always knows what we need, why do we need to pray?
   

8. What happens when we ask God for forgiveness, according to 1 John 1:9?
   

9. Read Matthew 6:12, 14-15. What offenses are most difficult to forgive? Why is it so important to forgive others who have wronged you?
   

Moving Forward – Application

1. How can you slow down and listen to God this week?
   

2. What changes do you need to make to your prayer life this week?
   

3. Have you ever used a prayer journal to record your prayer requests and God’s answers? If so, what spiritual benefits did you receive from that discipline? Could you begin a prayer journal or maintain the one you have this week?
   

4. Fasting is the spiritual discipline of giving something up to focus on God instead. Fasting will draw you closer to God. And fasting often unleashes God’s miraculous power. Can you plan a fast for this week or in the near future?