Session VI, Day 3

 To pray Your kingdom come, Your will be done… is to pray a prayer of personal surrender and submission.  We may say the words, but are we being completely honest when we pray that way? 

If we cannot answer with an emphatic “yes” to this question (and I imagine that most of us cannot), does that mean we shouldn’t pray this prayer? 

By no means!

We must continue praying His will be done and remember that God understands us perfectly.  Our requests for His will and our personal affirmations of surrender/submission to Him are never completely honest.  But neither are they completely dishonest.  When we pray for God’s will to be done, perhaps God’s answer is to move us a bit closer to the ideal. (Discussion above adapted from Pray Always, Tony Ash).

ASSIGNMENT:

In the time you’ve allotted for study today, we encourage you to spend in prayer.  We suggest you choose a place where you can be alone and, if you are able, get on your knees as you approach your Father.

If you wish to pray the Lord’s Prayer – pray it mindfully.  Pause after each line/petition and enjoy being in the presence of the One who created you in His image.

We pray that our Father will receive glory and that you will be blessed as you spend time before the throne today.

Lord, teach us to pray

Session VI, Day 2

Today we look into the next phrase "Your will be done."  Have there ever been times that you have been reluctant to pray for God’s will in your life or in the life of someone you love?  Probably most of us want God’s will done – to a point.  But there are these little pockets in life we hold on to.  There are just some things we cannot imagine relinquishing.

We have gone to the Garden of Gethsemane in previous lessons as we’ve studied about prayer and we will do so again now.  There are so many lessons we can learn as we envision our Lord praying through His tears and not obtaining the answers He requested.

ASSIGNMENT: 

2.  By reading Luke 22:39-46, what lessons can we learn about the following?

            a.  suffering

            b.  praying for God’s will

            c.  obedience

            d.  getting a “no” answer for a prayer request

3.  As we linger in the garden with our Lord, it would be a good time to recall His “I am the vine, you are the branches” lesson in John 15.  As we consider that Jesus taught we must abide, trust in, and draw our very life from Him, and as we envision His suffering in the garden -  we recognize that our abiding will include suffering and also must include giving up our own will for the will of our Father.

4.  What are your thoughts on the following statement?  “We cannot participate in the blessings of resurrection without also participating in the agony of Gethsemane and Calvary.”

As you prepare to conclude your time of study today, be mindful of what our Lord Jesus has accomplished for you personally and offer up a prayer of praise and gratitude.

Session VI, Day 1

This week we begin focusing on Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  We will spend our study today looking into the phrase Your kingdom come.  Unfortunately because of the nature of this online study, all the questions you may have regarding the kingdom cannot be addressed.  Hopefully, the passages offered here will help you go deeper, if you are so inclined

 ASSIGNMENT:

1.  Read the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.  What is different in the first three petitions (Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done) and the last three?

2.  Do you consider the sequence of the petitions significant?  Why?

We read in Matthew 3:1 that John the Baptist’s message was:  Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  John’s preaching attracted great crowds of Jews.  These Jews were familiar with Old Testament prophecy that promised the Messiah would usher in an everlasting kingdom with a king like David who would rule from the throne in Jerusalem.  They asked John what they should do.  They were ready for a return to the former glory days of Israel.

In Matthew 4:17, we learn that early in Jesus’ teaching ministry He preached:  Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

In Acts 1:1-3, we read of Jesus’ last meeting (or one of His last meetings) with the disciples shortly before His ascension into heaven.  Luke tells us that He spoke about the things concerning the kingdom of God.

3.  The kingdom the Jews expected was ____________ in nature.  However, the kingdom Jesus spoke of was _______________ in nature. 

4.  Consider the following passages (notice that some indicate the kingdom’s presence in Jesus’ personal ministry and others speak of the “consummated” kingdom in terms of the future):

            a.  Luke 11:20 – interprets Jesus’ casting out the demons as a sign that the kingdom       was present.

            b.  Luke 17:20-21 – indicates the kingdom was present as Jesus was personally present.

            c.  Luke 22:18 – Jesus speaks of the kingdom in terms of the future.

            d.  I Corinthians 15 – Paul addresses questions regarding future resurrection of the saints           when Jesus hands over the kingdom       to…God…(:12-24). Paul then moves on to teaching    about the spiritual nature of the resurrected body (:40-58); in :50 – flesh and blood           cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

5.  How would you describe the kingdom? 

6.  As you pray the petition, Your kingdom come, what are you praying for?

Tony Ash says “the kingdom might best be defined as the rule or reign of God.”  (Pray Always, pg 88).

Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, wrote this:  “The Father is a king who has a kingdom.  The children and heirs of a king have no higher ambition than the glory of their father’s kingdom; in time of war or danger, this becomes their passion, they can think of nothing else.  The children of the Father are here in the enemy’s territory, where the kingdom that is in heaven has not yet been fully manifested.  What is more natural than when they learn to hallow the Father’s name, they cry with deep enthusiasm, “Your kingdom come!”

In closing, read Matthew 6:25-34.  Consider the promises of Jesus regarding provision for our physical needs.  “Camp” on verses 33-34 for a time.  What lessons/implications are here for you, personally?

Session V, Day 3

As we continue our focus on keeping God’s name holy, we will consider two other related phrases.
1. The first one is for His name’s sake. I “Googled” that phrase and printed three pages of scriptures that contain this and/or similar expressions.

Today our reading assignment is lengthy – but there are blessings in that reading as you hear what God says to Ezekiel – and to us.

ASSIGNMENT:
Read Ezekiel 20 (yes, the entire chapter!).
Notice especially the following statements (we found it helpful to underline):
For My names’ sake
You will know that I am the Lord
I did what I did…(to keep My name from being profaned in the eyes of the nation); this sentiment is expressed several times – not always with the same wording.


In the first section – verses 1 – 39 – God describes Israel’s rebellion as He “poured out His wrath on them …. for the sake of His name.” Notice verse 33 and following as God says that He will gather you from the nations… Everything God did/does: the initial call to be His people, the blessings, the discipline, the re-gathering is all ___ ____ _______ ________ and so that all people will know that ____ ____ _____ ______ (since translations vary, you may not find the precise phrase that fits in these blanks; therefore feel free to use your own words as you complete these thoughts.)


2. The second phrase we will consider is in Jesus’ name we pray (a traditional closing for many of our prayers).
We do not find this exact phrase in the New Testament, but the truth it expresses is evident in many passages, as in:
Acts 4:30, Rom. 1:8, and Rom. 16:27, and others.


Paul told the Colossians (in 3:17): And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. I believe Paul is referring to more than a perfunctory “In Jesus’ name we pray.”


We need to be careful about tacking on any memorized phrase to our prayers out of habit. As we learn to be more mindful in our praying, we may find that changing up the wording of our usual closing in our prayers may help us be more mindful of the blessing Jesus secured for us as He gave Himself on the cross. It would certainly be appropriate to include an expression of gratitude at the beginning of our prayers – as we recognize that it is only through the blood of Jesus that we have access to our Father.
It would be good to remind ourselves of the temple curtain that was torn as Jesus died. For generations that temple veil had been a symbolic reminder to every praying Jew that his sin separated him from God. The tearing of that curtain ushered in a new era – now we can enter the presence of our Heavenly Father with confidence because of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.


Recently in our ladies’ class that meets at the building, one of our sisters read the final verse of Paul’s letter to the Romans as she closed our time of intercessory prayer. Rom. 16:27 reads:
…. to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ. Amen


As we close our study on Our Father, hallowed be Your name, we want to leave you with the following thoughts to consider:
We have read several passages over the last couple weeks that have described God’s longing for His children. When we distance ourselves from God and are not mindful of the blessing of our Father/child relationship … consider how He must long for us also.


As we attempt to better understand how we can hallow our Father’s name (when we pray and as we live), consider this: Everything is subordinate to His name, His kingdom, His will. As it becomes more and more our desire to honor Our Father, we will grow to the point that we will go to any length to protect the holiness of His name – even to the point of bringing reproach on our own name and reputation (see what David says about his attitude in Ps. 69:6-9)


May we practice coming into His presence mindfully, pause for a moment and with all our hearts, say to Him, Our Father, hallowed be Your name!


Lord, teach us to pray!

Session V, Day 2

This is the day that the Lord, our Father, has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

ASSIGNMENT:

The following is taken from Hosea 11:1 ff (some portions have been eliminated for the purpose of our discussion):  When Israel was a youth, I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son.  But the more I called, the further they went from me…I taught Ephraim(Israel) to walk, taking them by the arms, I healed them, bent down to feed them … My people are determined to turn from Me.  How will I give you up Ephraim, How can I hand you over Israel?(adapted from the New American Standard translation)

 We who are parents may be able to identify with the longing God expresses here in Hosea (especially if our children no longer need us as they once did – or if our relationship is strained in some way).  As our children grow up (and perhaps away from us), we remember earlier and perhaps better days.  We remember when they were dependant on us; we remember feeding them as babies, teaching them to walk, to ride a bicycle; we remember how they came to us with all their hurts.

In this passage from Hosea, we get a glimpse into our Heavenly Father’s heart – and we can hear His anguish as He says, How can I possibly give you up?

As you spend some time today with Our Father,  meditate on what His name means to you personally.  Consider the longing He has expressed for His children.  Allow Him to comfort you as a loving Father comforts His children.

Hallowed be Your name

We now turn our attention to the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6.  The word hallowed means “to make or declare holy.” 

1.  What do you think is implied here?  How do we make God holy (hallowed)? 

Tony Ash, Pray Always, says there is a request implied here.  As Christians pray, we are asking God to help us live His holiness through our lives.

Read Exodus 20:1-7.   As God delivered His laws to Moses and the Israelites on Mount Sinai, He first addressed the matter of His honor in the first 3 commandments.  As Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, the very first petition was about honoring God.

2.  There are many ways we may dishonor God’s name.  In our culture’s speech, His name is commonly misused (taken in vain).  Even those of us who revere God’s name and wish to keep it holy, must guard against the language of the world slipping into our vocabulary.  As we pray, hallowed be Your name, we might ask our Father to keep us from taking His name in vain.

Psalm 141:3 reads:  Set a guard over my mouth O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

(We probably all need to memorize this verse!)

3.  Can you think of ways we dishonor God and misuse His name other than by cursing, swearing, etc?

As you pray today,  “be still (cease striving)” and allow yourself to be a child in your Heavenly Father’s arms.  After that time of stillness, envision Him in all His glory, this may be a good time to kneel (or remove your shoes as Moses did at the bush) and hallow His great and glorious name.

Suggested reading:  Psalm 36:5-9

Blessed be the name of our Lord!

Session V, Day 1

Welcome back this beautiful Lord's day.  We will begin our study this week focusing on the preface (Our Father) and individual petitions of the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew’s Gospel.

ASSIGNMENT:

Read Matthew 6:9-13.  (note:  some later manuscripts add: “for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen” at the end of :13).

This prayer has six petitions – beginning with Hallowed be Your name through Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. 

1.  Which petitions would you identify as spiritual and which would you call physical?

2.  Notice the order of the prayer:  Your name, Your kingdom, Your will.  The petitions that follow are       give    us, __________ us,  _________ us and ___________ us (the last two are usually counted as one - for the 6^th petition). 

All things are subordinate to His Name, His Kingdom, His will!!  As we abide in Christ, our desire to honor and submit to Him will take precedence in our prayers and in our lives.

The prayer begins with Our Father who is in heaven.

Andrew Murray, author of With Christ in the School of Prayer, wrote, “a knowledge of God’s Father-love is the first and simplest, but also the last and highest lesson in the school of prayer.”

3.  What do you think Mr. Murray meant by that?

4.  As you think of God – especially as you pray to Him – do you tend to envision Him as a great and mighty King on some far-away throne… or do you have a more intimate picture of a father-figure?

Tony Ash, Pray Always, wrote that the way Jesus referred to God as Father was not customary in Israel at this time.  It is interesting to compare the entries of  Father/father in a concordance.  By far, in the majority of entries in the Old Testament, the “f” is not capitalized and refers to earthly fathers.  However, in the New Testament the majority of entries is spelled with a capital and refers to God, the Father.

5.  Read Jeremiah 3:19-20 and note what this passage says about God’s longing.

 ________________________________________

As you complete your study for today, read I John 3:1-3 and then spend some quiet time with God, focusing especially on the blessing of your Father/child relationship. 

Session IV, Day 3

As we come to the end of another week, may the Lord bless your study of His word.

ASSIGNMENT:

1.  As we continue to focus on John 15:1-17, read :7 and :16 again.  What are the “conditions” placed on the granting of our prayer wishes or requests? 

3.  As we abide in Christ (and continue to grow spiritually), we should catch His vision and our prayers will reflect that vision.  In one sentence, what would you say is (not “was”) the mission of Christ Jesus?

2.  So far this week we have limited our study to John 15.  For you, personally, what does it mean to abide/remain in Christ?  (Feel free to think “outside the box”)

3.  Read Romans 8:28-29.  Can you make the same statement (with confidence and from a personal perspective) that Paul makes here?  Notice that he says we know… (not “we hope”).  Rewrite those verses – use your own words – as you form a personal statement of your faith and trust in God, our Father.

Lord, teach us to pray

Session IV, Day 2

As we continue our study of prayer today, we'll continue our focus on the gospel of John.

ASSIGNMENT:

Read John 15:1-17 again today.

1.  In your notebook copy the following list of metaphors.  Out to the side of each pair, list the attributes they have in common.

God/gardener

Jesus/vine

Christ’s followers/branches

2.  What is/are the fruit(s) described in :7 and :8?

*Discussion Question*

(Please click the "Let's Discuss" link on the right to share your ideas on the discussion board and read the thoughts of the fellow studiers.  This discussion thread will be under the title "Wishes")

3.  As we abide (NASB)/remain(NIV) in Christ, what do you think would be the focus of our wish(es) (:7)?

The following quote has been adapted from a commentary on John’s Gospel by B.F. Westcott: 

“The blessings of union with Christ are shown in prayer fulfilled and fruit borne.

 ‘Ask whatever you wish’ is related to ‘abide in my words…’

The petitions of the true disciple are echoes of Christ’s words, so to speak.

Their prayer is His teaching transformed into a supplication which will be heard.

It is important to notice how the promise of the absolute fulfillments of prayer

is connected with the personal fellowship of the believer with Christ.”

4.  Using your own words, how would you summarize Mr. Westcott’s statement?

Session IV, Day 1

Our plans were to begin focusing today on each line/petition of the Lord’s Prayer.  However, before we do that, let’s revisit John 15.  On Wednesday, 9/29, we read John 15:1-11 and discussed :7 and :8 briefly.  Today we want to go a little deeper.

ASSIGNMENT:

READ John 15:1-17

1.  Thumb through the chapters before and after John 15.  What is the timeframe?

 2.  How might the timing influence what Jesus is saying to His disciples?

 Jesus begins this discourse in John 15:1 by saying I am the true vine…

Throughout the Old Testament, the vine has been a symbol of Israel. 

Psalms 80:8ff describe Israel as a vine which was brought out of Egypt and planted in Cannan.

In Old Testament prophecy, the metaphor of the vine is most often used in a negative way.  In Isaiah 5, a vineyard that only produces bad fruit is likened to Israel; and in Ezekiel 15, the vine is described as useless.

3.  As Jesus says that He is the true vine, what are the implications here?

4.  Read through these seventeen verses again and write down what you see as key words.  Which one of these occurs the most?

Session III, Day 3

Pray to your Father

Last week (on Monday, Sept. 27) we looked at some warnings Jesus gave His disciples immediately before and after He gave them the Lord’s prayer in Matt 6.  He warned them about giving, praying, and fasting in order to impress others.  He warned them about praying on the street corners and in the synagogues as the hypocrites did; instead, He advised that they go into a room (NASB: inner room), close the door and pray to your Father.

Today we want to consider what it means to pray to our Father.  You might ask, “Aren’t all Christian prayers offered to God?  Probably most are – but as we pray out loud before others, our praying may be more for others than to God.  We must always be mindful that our prayers are offered to God – whether in our closets or before others. 

Our intent as we pray should never be to impress others, to teach a lesson, or remind God of things He already knows.  (notice what Jesus says about what our Father knows – Mt. 6:8). 

As we pray publicly, we recognize that it is hard NOT to consider the impression/impact our prayers make on others.  Nevertheless, we must always be mindful we are praying to our Father.

We may have experienced times of praying when God seemed far away.  We may not sense His presence each time we pray, but we need to remember that God listens and answers our prayers because of who we are through Jesus and not because of our eloquence or depth of feeling.  

On the other hand, we may have times when we are acutely aware of our Father’s presence – however, the emotional intensity of our prayers does not cause God to listen more intently nor cause Him to be more inclined to answer.  We cannot measure the validity of our prayers or our spiritual maturity based on any kind of personal “high” that we do or do not experience as we worship or pray.

As we come before the throne, let’s try to “come mindfully” and enjoy being in God’s presence.  Psalms 16:11 says that He will fill me with joy in His presence.  Occasionally as you pray, be content to just be in His presence and refrain from asking for anything specific other than a time of quietness and calm in His presence.  Always remember that you are praying to, and in the presence of our Father.

ASSIGNMENT:

Be Still and Know that I Am God

Turn to Psalm 46.  Before you read this passage, consider the following:

1)  Many translations include the word, selah, after verses 3, 7, and 11 in Psalm 46.  The Bible Dictionary says this about selah:  it is “a word of unknown origin and meaning found in certain psalms.”

Some believe selah could have been a notation for a musical rest when chanting the psalm; or a reminder for the reader to pause and reflect on what preceded a selah. 

2)  Notice verse 10:  Be still and know that I am God.  That verse may have challenged some of us with ADD-type tendencies!  However, a look at the Hebrew may clarify the meaning of “Be still”.

Be still from the Hebrew, raphah, has several shades of meaning in the Old Testament.  Among those, we find raphah can mean:

that which is slack;

or to let drop;

or to be disheartened or weak. 

In this verse, Be still is referring to a “spiritual disposition of divine dependence.”  It is NOT about being still, physically, but about dependence upon God who is the I AM.  The NASB translates it as cease striving and know that I am God.  In other words, “chill and depend upon God!”

Now you are ready to READ PSALM 46!!  Observe the selahs, consider what it means to have God as your refuge and strength; your ever-present help in trouble in times of calamity.  As you read verse10, take a deep breath and be mindful of being in God’s presence, ask Him to quiet your soul as you commit to placing your trust in Him.  Cease Striving!!

Today as you conclude your time of study, turn your eyes upon your Lord.  Enter His presence mindfully.  Forget your “lists of needs.”  Remember what Jesus said about that in Matt 6:9. 

                         

You may discover that the most precious times of prayer are those times in which you say very little – but times when you have a clear sense of God’s presence and Who He Is!

Lord, teach us to pray.

Session III, Day 2

Today we continue with our overview of the Lord’s Prayer.

ASSIGNMENT:

READ Matt. 6:9-13

Our Daily Bread

Some have suggested that the bread here may be spiritual bread, after all Jesus identified Himself as the bread of life in John 6.  Tony Ash, Pray Always, disagrees.  He reasons that the Lord’s Prayer is meant to include the entire scope of human needs.  In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus frequently deals with human needs – and often those needs relate to food. 

This petition for daily bread could be understood to cover all human needs; such as those related to safety, health, jobs, family relationships, etc.

1.  Read Luke 9:23-24.  What is similar in this passage and in Matt. 6:11?

2.  What is at least one of the lessons here?

3.  Read Matt. 6:25-34.  What message did you take away from that reading for yourself for today?

Forgive our Sins

3.  Although Jesus does not specifically say in His prayer that we ask for forgiveness daily – this would be a good thing.  Why?

As we Forgive

4.  On the other hand, what is the advantage of extending forgiveness daily? 

Fred Hartley (Lord, Teach us to Pray, pg 27) says this about daily forgiveness:  “This part of the (prayer) pattern helps us to pull the weeds of bitterness and resentment from the garden of our hearts every day – before they have the opportunity to grow into life-destroying bushes or trees.”

Lead us not into Temptation

5.  The last petition,  Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one, has prompted many questions – especially in light of what scripture teaches about God tempting man (James1:13-15 is just one example).  

*Discussion Question*

(Please click the "Let's Discuss" link on the right to share your ideas on the discussion board and read the thoughts of the fellow studiers.  This discussion thread will be under the title "Temptation")

What are your thoughts on this last petition?

Today as you conclude your study, pray the Lord’s prayer and focus on your needs – especially in light of some of your daily needs (you might want to thank God for specific provisions).  Also consider what God’s forgiveness and the sacrifice of Jesus mean in your life.  It might be a good time to specifically name people whom you need to forgive in this prayer.  You may commit before God that you are forgiving them or you may need to ask for the love and courage you lack in extending forgiveness to them.  

Session III, Day 1

This week we will do an overview of the Lord’s Prayer and briefly consider each of the six petitions in that prayer. You may recall that last week we said there are three petitions that focus on God and three that focus on man’s needs. Beginning next week we will do a more in-depth study of each of those six petitions.

In case you are still a little groggy on this Monday morning, your first question is a trivial one and won’t require much brain power – just a little attention to repetitive phrases.  (Note it might be helpful to make a hard copy of this week’s lessons in order to fill in the blanks.)

ASSIGNMENT:


READ MATTHEW 6:1-18
1. In these 18 verses Jesus uses the phrase ____ __________ (a two- word phrase) eight times. He uses a similar phrase ____ __________ _______ (3 words) one time and ____ __________ one time.


Our Father
2. Consider the way Jesus begins His prayer. What does this tell us about our relationship with God?
Although there are some references to God as “Father” in the Old Testament, that term was not frequently used. The disciples may not have been accustomed to hearing the religious leaders of the day address God in such a way as they prayed. As the disciples observed the depth of fellowship and relationship between Jesus and His Father, it may have been this observation that prompted them to ask Jesus: Lord, teach us to pray in Luke 11.


3. READ LUKE11:11-13. Here Jesus contrasts earthly fathers with our heavenly Father; how do their gifts compare?
From this passage, what would you say the best gift is?
READ MATT. 7:11, Jesus says that our Father gives ______ _______ to those who ______ _______. This view of God stresses His caring and kindness and conveys the idea of intimacy with Him.


Hallowed be Your Name
4. Hallowed means to make or declare holy. Zondervan Bible study notes tell us that the name of the Lord is the manifestation of His character and is synonymous with the Lord Himself. So the first petition of the prayer is a petition of praise. We will explore this more in a couple weeks.


Your Name, Your Kingdom, Your Will
5. Most of our prayers tend to be self-centered. These three “Your” statements may form a safeguard for our prayers and keep us more God-centered, kingdom-minded, and submissive.


As you conclude your study for today, consider praying without asking for anything. You might begin your prayer time with Our Father and deliberately focus on your Father/daughter or son relationship with God. As you move on to hallowed be Your Name, spend some time praising Him. If you find this difficult, you might find some of the praises of Psalm 63 (or other psalms) helpful. We suggest you close your prayer time by offering yourself - your thoughts and your motives on this day for the sake of His glory.

Session II, Day 3

In Zondervan’s introduction to Luke (both NIV and NASB Study Bibles), eight themes are attributed to this gospel. One of the eight themes mentioned is an “emphasis on prayer, especially Jesus’ praying before important occasions.” Today we have selected a few scriptures from that gospel for you to consider.

ASSIGNMENT:
Read the following passages from Luke and make a list in your notebook of key points that describe something about the prayer life of Jesus:
Luke 5:15-16
Luke 6:12 (notice also the activities of the days preceding and following this prayer)
Luke 22:31-32
Luke 22:39-46 (notice His posture, and descriptions of His emotional state)


Based upon those passages, consider the following:
1. It is difficult for us to “wrap our minds around” the truth that Jesus was both divine and human. With that in mind, do you think He mainly prayed in order to be an example for His disciples – or was prayer necessary for Him, personally, as He faced so many challenges?


2. Read about the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13. Do you think there was ever the possibility that Jesus could have succumbed to the temptations of the devil? Could this have been a possibility in Jesus’ own mind or do you think He knew up front He would never sin?


3. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:39-45). Do you think He could have thrown up His hands and told the Father, “no way can I do this?” Do you think it may have been a fear of Jesus’ that He might not be able to follow through with the sacrifice of His life?


Consider these questions as you read this passage again and notice the agony described there. You may be moved to spend some time thanking Our Father for such a sacrifice!!


4. Read again from Luke 22:31-32 – Jesus tells Peter He prayed for him.


5. Please read the following and notice what these passages say about Jesus interceding for us:
Hebrews 7:25
Romans 8:34


Have you ever marveled at the thought that Jesus always lives to intercede for you?  Have you wondered if He might pray for you by name and about specific details in your life?


6. Using the Luke 22 passage as a guide, write a possible prayer Jesus might pray for you today. Be specific.

Lord, teach us to pray