Beyond the Weekend: Powerful Prayers
Powerful Prayers A 7-Week Series | May 10–June 21
What does it really mean to pray?
Prayer is one of those things most people think about but aren't sure they're doing right. Is God actually listening? Does it matter what you say? Does prayer even work?
This series digs into some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible. From the Lord's Prayer to Daniel's cry in a crisis, we'll see what happens when ordinary people bring their real lives to God.
Whether you've prayed your whole life or you're not even sure God is real, this series is for you.
Jesus Withdraws to Pray
This year in Beyond the Weekend, journey through different biblical models of prayer—one each month. June’s focus is being still before God.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16
As Jesus’s popularity increases, more people press to get his attention and access his healing power. Despite the growing demands on his time, his devotion to the Father through prayer has stayed the same. As the crowds press in, Jesus withdraws to isolated places to pray. He is filled with compassion for people and deeply devoted to ushering in his kingdom upon this earth. Yet, this commitment does not keep him from extended times of solitude and prayer, where he dwells with and pours out his heart to his heavenly Father.
Few, if any, of us know the sort of press that Jesus faced throughout his public ministry. People were cutting actual holes through roofs to get to him (see Luke 5:17–26)! And yet, this persistent press did not keep him from faithfully being still before the Father in prayer. Jesus’s example should remind us of the importance of being quiet and still with God. He did not just flippantly wish for times of prayer. Rather, he scheduled such times and reoriented his days around being with the Father. If we are going to engage in similar rhythms of prayer and quiet, then we need to prioritize the way of life that Jesus himself practiced. Though life may get busy, it is our responsibility to carve out space and time to be still before God.
PRAYER DAY #40: We often fail to grow because we fail to plan. Establishing a plan for when and where you will spend time in prayer can help you grow in your prayer journey. Schedule time on your calendar to be still before God this week. Ask him for the strength, wisdom, and courage to faithfully engage such time.
How have you been growing in prayer throughout this 50 Days of Prayer challenge? We would love to hear. Please share a sentence or two with us HERE.
