THE PATH OF DISCIPLINED GRACE A S T U D Y O F “C E L E B R A T I O N O F D I S C I P L I N E ”

B Y R I C H A R D J . F O S T E R

PRAYER

“To pray is to change… The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ.” p. 33

PRAYER CHANGES…“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3

In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts after him: to desire the things he desires, to love the things he loves, to will the things he wills. p.33

Read Mark 1:35, Acts 6:4, Daniel 6:10 then see the examples of praying people on p. 34. This should begin to elevate our view of prayer from being a mere component of our spiritual life to the central practice of our spiritual life. To be a believer is to pray.

Prayer changes ____.

Is our universe unchangeable?

Let us examine: Exodus 32:7-14 Jonah 3:1-10 Isaiah 38:1-4

“God chose a different style of governing the world, a partnership which relies on human agency and choice. God granted the favored human species the “dignity of causality,” – C.S. Lewis

Prayer changes the __________ of situations.

LEARNING TO PRAYHow can we learn to pray in accordance to God’s will? How does John 15:7 affect your answer?

The work of intercession, sometimes called the prayer of faith, pre-supposes that the prayer of guidance is perpetually ascending to the Father. We must hear, know, and obey the will of God before we pray it into the lives of others. p. 39

Does Foster’s analogy of the TV on p. 39 challenge you? How do we tune into God?

Listening to the Lord is the first thing, the second thing, and the third thing necessary for successful intercession… the beginning point then in learning to pray for others is to listen for guidance p.39

A CONVERSATION WITH THE FATHERJesus taught that our faith should be like that of a child so what are some characteristics of a child-like faith?

1. ___________________2. ___________________3. ___________________

Do these words describe our faith?

Children do not find it difficult or complicated to talk to their parents, nor do they feel embarrassed to bring the simplest need to their attention. Neither should we hesitate to bring the simplest requests confidently to the Father. p.41

PRAYER TACTICSWhat word does Foster introduce as “opening the door to faith?” _________________

Consider how you decide where you want to go out and dine. In a small way we replicate the taste and experience within our mind and decide if that is what we want. For the same reasons personal development courses have taught the power of using our imagination by visualizing our goals for decades. This works because our mental imagery creates a pattern in our brains just as if we had physically performed the action. How might this relate to spiritual development?

What is your impression of his example of praying for friend’s marriage to be restored? Notice the detail and persistence of these prayers.

What is a Flash Prayer?

FINAL ENCOURAGEMENTWe must never wait until we feel like praying before we pray for others. Prayer is like any other work; we may not feel like working, but once we have been at it for a bit, we begin to feel like working. We may not feel like practicing the piano, but once we play for a while, we feel like doing it. In the same way, our prayer muscles need to be limbered up a bit and once the blood-flow of intercession begins, we will find that we feel like praying. p.45

Psalm 3:3-5But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me