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Core Training 201 | Developing H.A.B.I.T.S. Week Three: Prayer and Fasting In our second week of training we talked about Bible engagement, and how that grows our relationship with God. What next steps have you taken this week to engage the Bible? What insights have you had as you’ve experienced God’s Word through Scripture? Discussion

1. What has been your experience of prayer? 2. How did you come to understand prayer and the intent of praying?

How would it feel to enter into prayer with confidence and assurance—certain that God heard you and that your prayers would make a difference? Prayer is not just asking God to do something. Prayer is relational as you communicate with God. Prayer is not only talking with God, it is also listening . To surrender daily means pray first , not as a last resort. What is the Heart of Prayer? Pray with passionate devotion . “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Colossians 4:2 NLT “Be devoted to one another in honor; never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.”

Romans 12:10-13 AMP Pray with confidence . “Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”

Ephesians 3:12 NLT

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“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

Psalm 145:18 NIV Pray with hopeful expectation . “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV “You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.”

Acts 2:28 NIV “O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but You. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly.”

Psalm 5:1-3 NLT “I am praying to You because I know You will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.”

Psalm 17:6 NLT Pray with an unhindered heart . “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

Psalm 66:18 NIV “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”

1 Peter 3:7 NLT

Areas of sin that hinder prayer: - Unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18)

- Selfishness (James 4:3)

- Unforgiveness (Mark 11:25)

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- Praying to impress others (Matthew 6:5-8)

- Discord in home (1 Peter 3:7) Pray with authority . “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is Son of God.”

1 John 5:4-5 NLT “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Luke 10:19 ESV “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:12 ESV “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7 ESV “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:41 NIV “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

Ephesians 6:11 ESV Discussion

1. As we walk through these scriptures how is your definition of prayer expanding? Types of Prayer: Solitude - being alone with God in a place of silence, giving God our undivided attention, so that we can hear and receive from Him. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Luke 5:16 NIV “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:6 NIV

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Corporate - praying together with other Christ followers in small groups or larger bodies of people. "For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20 NIV “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Acts 1:14 NIV “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”

Philippians 1:9-10 NLT “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

James 5:16 NIV Unceasing - continual dependence upon and communion with the Father. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

Luke 6:12 NIV Prayer is to be a way of life . It should be instant and intimate communication. To pray without ceasing means:

- when you are tempted, you hold the temptation before God and ask for His help. - when you experience something good and beautiful, you immediately thank God. - when you meet someone who does not know Christ, you pray for God to draw that

person to Himself and to use you to be a faithful witness. - when you encounter trouble, you turn to God as your Deliverer.

Thus life becomes a continually ascending prayer: all life's thoughts, deeds and circumstances become an opportunity to commune with your Heavenly Father. In that way you constantly set your mind "on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."

Colossians 3:2 NIV

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“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

Romans 8:26 NIV Helpful Prayer Postures: Kneeling shows God that you are entering into His presence or asking Him for something. Standing shows God that you are unashamed to stand for Christ. Walking shows God that you are "on the move" for Him, ready for His battle plans. Bowing shows God that you honor Him and feel humble because of who He is. Prostrate, lying flat on your face or back, shows God that you are in awe of Him and are desperate and hungry for Him to come and be with you. Uplifted hands show God that you are reaching toward Him in praise or asking for something with arms open to receive it. Fasting: Saying no to what the flesh desires to obtain what the Spirit desires. “So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.”

Acts 13:3 NLT

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.”

Matthew 4:1-2 NLT “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:16-18 NLT

Sabbath: The gift to enter into God’s pace and priority. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I am gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”

Matthew 11:28-30 TPT

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Different ways to engage: 1) Acronyms to guide your conversation with God P.R.A.Y.

• Praise: We're to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (see Psalm 100:4). Sit quietly and thank God for who He is and what He has done.

• Repent: A helpful reminder comes from Psalm 66:18: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." A spiritual cleansing is needed in order to come nearer to the throne of God.

• Ask: We're not telling God anything new — "All my longings lie open before you, O Lord: my sighing is not hidden from you" (Psalm 38:9). Even so, He gives us access to talk to Him about our needs and frustrations and our requests for others.

• Yield: The fact that we have brought our prayer list before God indicates our trust that He will, in His time and in His way, show us the way we should go (see Psalm 143:8).

A.C.T.S.

• Adoration: Tell God how wonderful He is; worship Him • Confession: Admit your sins, cry out your brokenness, ask for forgiveness • Thanksgiving: Say “Thank you” for all God has done in your life • Supplication: Make your requests to God for yourself and others

2) Use the Lord’s Prayer as a guide

• Declaring God’s greatness • Surrender you will for His will • Acknowledge your dependence on Him

3) Pray scripture 4) Journal for those that prefer to write out your prayers and how God speaks Truth to you Practice Prayer Discussion

1. What are your insights? 2. How have you experienced God through prayer today?

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Week Three Summary

As we train ourselves to pray, remember: 1. Prayer is all about relationship with God. 2. Pray with passionate devotion. 3. Pray with confidence. 4. Pray with hopeful expectation. 5. Pray with an unhindered heart. 6. Pray with authority.

Remember, there are different types of prayer and different ways to engage, and so you can practice dialoguing with God in many different ways. Developing H.A.B.I.T.S. this week:

1. Keep track of prayer requests in a journal each night and pray through them before going to sleep.

2. Review the scriptures listed in these notes, but do so as prayers to God for what you desire in your own life and relationship with Him.

3. Pick three days this week, and turn some of your drive-time into prayer-time. 4. Try a 24 hour fast sometime this month after you ask God the focus of your fasting

time. It is all about choosing to rely less and less on our strength and understanding and depend wholeheartedly on HIS POWER (Holy Spirit), which is IN us and works THROUGH us.