Praying when all is well (Eph1:13-23)

Summary: We need to pray not only when we feel a need for something, but also when all is well. If it is tough to be specific, then we need to fuel the fires of our prayer with scripture. This means we need to have a clear strategy in our prayer life, remembering to pray for the really important things and not to get bogged down in minor details. This should lead us to pray especially for wisdom and understanding in all areas of life.

Open (5 - 10 minutes)

1. What area of your life do you have a strategy (school, sports, job, dating, marriage, etc.) and why?

Dig (20 - 25 minutes) Ephesians 1:13-23

2. What motivated Paul to pray for the Ephesians?

3. How come Paul didn’t pray for things such as Junias’ cold, Apollos’ ingrown toe nail, or things such as these?

4. Why did Paul ask that the Ephesians' hearts would continue to be enlightened?

5. How did Paul’s immersion in the word of God guide and influence his prayers for the Ephesians?

6. In what ways would Paul’s prayer that they know God power help them?

7. How would you rate the importance of prayer in Paul’s ministry to the Ephesians? low, medium, high? Why?

Apply (20 - 25 minutes)

8. How much, if any, “strategy” have you used in your prayer life? None / a little / some / a lot

9. How much has the word of God played a part in your prayer life? None / a little / some / a lot

10. What changes has this study encouraged you to make in your prayer life?

11. Since God's power is available to you, what do you need to do to take hold of it this week? What can you do to help someone else take hold of it this week?

12. Make a list of one or two people whom you could pray for this week from the group, and make a commitment to follow up with them on it. Say something like - “I commit to pray for you concerning . . . this week.” Call them and let them know when you pray.

Prayer