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Unstoppable Church
How to Pray: When You Don’t Feel Like Praying
Ever wondered if prayer actually works—or how to even do it? It seems like a good thing, but you don’t want to get it wrong. What if it's simpler than you think? Let's learn How to Pray together.
Locations & Times
Unstoppable Church
8623 Tullahoma Hwy, Estill Springs, TN 37330, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
Message Notes
How to Pray
When You Don’t Feel Like Praying
Amy Groeschel
“… ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
Prayer is how we live in complete dependence on our heavenly Father.
Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
petitionary prayer: asking for ourselves
intercessory prayer: asking for others
“Sometimes prayer doesn’t appeal to us. Prayer can be neatly placed in the ‘boring, but important’ category of life, alongside Leviticus, algebra, and flossing.” —Pete Greig, Founder 24-7 Prayer
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NIV
In what areas are you prayerless?
We don’t need self-discipline to pray more; we simply need to learn greater dependence on God.
Powerful Prayer Principles
Be specific.
Be persistent.
Be expectant.
Be yourself.
Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24So Jesus went with him. … Mark 5:22-24 NIV
27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Mark 5:27-29 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
… If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died— more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 NIV
How to Pray
When You Don’t Feel Like Praying
Amy Groeschel
“… ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
Prayer is how we live in complete dependence on our heavenly Father.
Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
petitionary prayer: asking for ourselves
intercessory prayer: asking for others
“Sometimes prayer doesn’t appeal to us. Prayer can be neatly placed in the ‘boring, but important’ category of life, alongside Leviticus, algebra, and flossing.” —Pete Greig, Founder 24-7 Prayer
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NIV
In what areas are you prayerless?
We don’t need self-discipline to pray more; we simply need to learn greater dependence on God.
Powerful Prayer Principles
Be specific.
Be persistent.
Be expectant.
Be yourself.
Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24So Jesus went with him. … Mark 5:22-24 NIV
27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Mark 5:27-29 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
… If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died— more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 NIV
TALK-IT-OVER Notes
The Purpose of Prayer
Message Summary
Prayer is talking with God, which requires submitting to a holy King. It is also where we learn complete dependence on our heavenly Father. If prayer feels challenging, remember that we don’t need self-discipline to pray more; we simply need to learn greater dependence on God. As you pray, be specific, be persistent, be expectant, and be yourself.
Key Scripture
“… ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
Additional Scriptures
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
• Matthew 7:7 NIV
• Mark 5:22-24, 27-29 NIV
• Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
• Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 NIV
Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
• What are some things you need every day?
Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.
• Think about your journey in talking with God through prayer. How has it changed over time? What do you know about God now that you didn’t know when you first started praying?
• Read Matthew 6:9-13. How might these verses influence your view of petitionary prayer (asking for yourself) and intercessory prayer (asking for others)?
Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.
• Share about a time when your prayers reflected a genuine dependence on God. What was that situation like?
• In what areas of your life have you become prayerless? How will you reengage by being specific, persistent, and expectant in the weeks and months to come?
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the many ways You care for us. We want our prayers to reflect our full dependence on You. As we pray for ourselves and for others, please show us where we need to be more specific, persistent, and expectant. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
• Consider where you’ve become prayerless and set a time to pray over that specific situation every day this week.
• Start the Bible Plan 7 Biblical Prayers and How to Pray Them Today using Plans With Friends: www.go2.lc/prayers
• Consider how you could love others by serving on the weekend or with a Local Mission Partner.
The Purpose of Prayer
Message Summary
Prayer is talking with God, which requires submitting to a holy King. It is also where we learn complete dependence on our heavenly Father. If prayer feels challenging, remember that we don’t need self-discipline to pray more; we simply need to learn greater dependence on God. As you pray, be specific, be persistent, be expectant, and be yourself.
Key Scripture
“… ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
Additional Scriptures
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
• Matthew 7:7 NIV
• Mark 5:22-24, 27-29 NIV
• Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
• Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 NIV
Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
• What are some things you need every day?
Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.
• Think about your journey in talking with God through prayer. How has it changed over time? What do you know about God now that you didn’t know when you first started praying?
• Read Matthew 6:9-13. How might these verses influence your view of petitionary prayer (asking for yourself) and intercessory prayer (asking for others)?
Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.
• Share about a time when your prayers reflected a genuine dependence on God. What was that situation like?
• In what areas of your life have you become prayerless? How will you reengage by being specific, persistent, and expectant in the weeks and months to come?
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the many ways You care for us. We want our prayers to reflect our full dependence on You. As we pray for ourselves and for others, please show us where we need to be more specific, persistent, and expectant. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
• Consider where you’ve become prayerless and set a time to pray over that specific situation every day this week.
• Start the Bible Plan 7 Biblical Prayers and How to Pray Them Today using Plans With Friends: www.go2.lc/prayers
• Consider how you could love others by serving on the weekend or with a Local Mission Partner.
Giving
If giving is a part of your worship you may give at the link below, or text any amount to 931-771-8477
https://www.kindridgiving.com/App/Form/41b0120e-8e13-4095-a72b-44c42e8fb1cdWatch Online
If you missed something, or just want to dig in more, you can rewatch this message on our website.
https://unstoppable.church/watch/how-to-pray/