Rhythm of Prayer
Brazos Pointe Living Room Podcast: Snowstorms, Raiment, and True Connection
Introductory Discussion: (5-10min)
Open It:
- Do you think prayer is simple or difficult? Why?
Experts land on both sides of this issue. 16th century nun, St. Teresa of Avila used to shake her hour glass to get the sand to drain quicker so her prayer time could be completed. She found prayer difficult at times. Pete Grieg, author of the the book, How to Pray, says that the best way to pray is to "Keep is simple. Keep it real, and keep it up." So, what's the truth? Is prayer hard or is it simple? Well . . . the answer is "Yes." It is both.
- What part of prayer comes easy for you? Which parts are more difficult?
- Prayer is communication with God. How does a lack of intentional communication hurt a relationship?
Prayer Guide
This week we will practice the Rhythm of Prayer by using a P.R.A.Y. model for prayer.
P - Pause & Praise
R - Reflect & Repent
A - Ask
Y - Yield
Pause & Praise (5-10min)
PAUSE & PRAISE Explanation:
The "PAUSE & PRAISE" portion of the prayer model helps to center our hearts. This intentional practice helps us set aside the worries of our day so we can give God our attention. As we focus on His character in praising Him, we gain a grateful perspective and begin to look at our own circumstances differently.
Pause Instructions:
Pause together for a moment. Sit in the quiet (or with soft music in the background) while one member of the group reads Psalm 27:1-6 aloud. Read deliberately and slowly. Encourage members to settle in to the rhythms and meanings of the text.
Psalm 27:1-6
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour a me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Psalm 27:1-6
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour a me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Praise Instructions:
Group members will share one praise they have for God. If anyone is unsure of what to say, encourage them to use this "31 Days of Praise" document.
Reflect & Repent (25-30min)
REFLECT & REPENT Explanation
The "REFLECT & REPENT" portion of the prayer model is about communication. We aim to spend a few moments listening to God by reading the Bible, His Word, and then we respond to Him by reflecting on what He has said to us. A proper response will lead us to repentance and obedience.
REFLECT & REPENT Instructions:
Choose one of the 3 verses below, read it on your own, then journal or write personal responses and impressions of the things God shows you. Focus on one passage/verse or work through all of them. The goal is to practice some one on one time with God.
John 15:1-17 - The Vine and the Branches
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Psalm 9 - I Will Give Thanks to the Lord
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
For you have upheld my right and my cause,
sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.
The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
that I may declare your praises
in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.
The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
Strike them with terror, Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
For you have upheld my right and my cause,
sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.
The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
that I may declare your praises
in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.
The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
Strike them with terror, Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.
Psalm 51 - David's Repentance after Adultery with Bathsheba
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is b a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is b a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Ask (5-10min)
ASK Explanation:
The "ASK" portion of the prayer model is intercession. It's about making our requests known and sharing our concerns with God. These requests can be for ourselves, our neighbors, the nations, and the next generation. They could include our personal worries and concerns, local or global missions or concerns about world health, government, spiritual battles, etc. We bring requests to our Father as beloved children, unhindered by decorum, knowing that He can be trusted to know what is best even when we aren't sure what to ask.
ASK Activity Instructions:
Each group member should receive a piece of paper, sticky notes, or index card to write one specific prayer request. (Let the group decide if they want to sign them or keep the requests anonymous.)
Once everyone has written their request, they should be collected, mixed up, and redistributed randomly. Make sure no one receives their own request.
Next, each person will pray for the request in their hand. Decide together if you will pray aloud or silently.
Bonus Option: Members could put the request somewhere that would remind them to pray for the request throughout the week, and check in on it at your next meeting.
Once everyone has written their request, they should be collected, mixed up, and redistributed randomly. Make sure no one receives their own request.
Next, each person will pray for the request in their hand. Decide together if you will pray aloud or silently.
Bonus Option: Members could put the request somewhere that would remind them to pray for the request throughout the week, and check in on it at your next meeting.
Yield (5-10min)
YIELD Explanation:
The YIELD portion of the prayer model is about obedience. To "yield" to God is to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. This is where we say, "Yes!" to God and look for ways to follow Him in obedience.
YIELD Activity Instructions:
Discuss together what God has shown you during this session. Encourage those who are willing to share what their next step is. (By the way, this is not just a discussion. God is present and you're still communicating with Him so, it's also prayer.)
How will they respond to God's voice faithfully this week?
Is there someone in your group or something your group can do to support each other in these godly efforts?
CLOSE by reciting the BPF Prayer of Surrender together:
Dear God,
I surrender my whole self.
I surrender my fears, my assumptions, and my comfort.
Help me to be bold and confident in You.
Grow my love for those who need Jesus.
Help me to steward my connections and my story.
Amen.
How will they respond to God's voice faithfully this week?
Is there someone in your group or something your group can do to support each other in these godly efforts?
CLOSE by reciting the BPF Prayer of Surrender together:
Dear God,
I surrender my whole self.
I surrender my fears, my assumptions, and my comfort.
Help me to be bold and confident in You.
Grow my love for those who need Jesus.
Help me to steward my connections and my story.
Amen.