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The Hardest Prayer…. …You Will Ever Pray. Hard Prayers. Hannah (1 Sam. 1) David (Psa. 22) Simon (Acts 8:22) Paul (2 Cor. 12). The Daily Challenge. God has a will for my life I have a will for my life Those two wills are often in conflict with each other
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The Hardest Prayer… …You Will Ever Pray
Hard Prayers • Hannah (1 Sam. 1) • David (Psa. 22) • Simon (Acts 8:22) • Paul (2 Cor. 12)
The Daily Challenge • God has a will for my life • I have a will for my life • Those two wills are often in conflict with each other • When there is a conflict, either God’s will or my will, prevails (Mt. 21:30-31)
God Has A Will For Me • God has a permissive will: what he allows in his mind (Acts 14:16) • God has a providential will: what he provides with his care (Rom. 15:32; 1 Cor. 1:1; 4:19; Jas. 4:15; Ac. 21:14) • God has a prescriptive will: what he reveals in his scripture (Jn. 7:17; Eph. 5:17; Heb. 10:9-10)
Our Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer • We learn how to pray from Jesus • What Jesus prayed in the garden was: genuine (Mt. 26:37-38) earnest (Mt. 26:44; Lk. 22:44) self-less(Mt. 26:39,42)
Our Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer • What Jesus prayed in the garden is… • Seldom prayed today • Seldom meant today • Seldom answered today
“Your Will Be Done” • It is hard to pray, “Your will be done” because it means giving up control of your own life • We must let God call the shots (Prov. 3:5-8) In the past 24 hours, who has been in charge, you or the Lord?
“Your Will Be Done” • It is hard to pray, “Your will be done” because we often doubt that God wants the best for us • We must trust that God knows all and knows best (Mk. 14:36; Rom. 11:33)
“Your Will Be Done” • It is hard to pray, “Your will be done” because God’s will sometimes involves suffering and pain • We must obey at all costs; only after the cross comes the crown (Heb. 5:8; 1 Pet. 3:17; 4:19)
“Your Will Be Done” • It is hard to pray, “Your will be done” because you are praying against the status quo • We must do our Father’s will, not the will of the world (Rom. 12:2; 1 Jn. 2:15-17)
Doing God’s Will • Heaven on earth (Mt. 6:10) • Jesus’ family (Mk. 3:35) • From the heart (Eph. 6:6) • With steadfastness (Heb. 10:36) • Rewarded in heaven (Mt. 7:21)
A Simple Prayer O Lord, not my will, but your will be done, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else, in Jesus name, amen.