Lesson 110: Prayer and Dependence
Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:9-13, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 4:14-16
Teaching Points:
Prayer: Communicating With God and Trusting Him
Key Thought: Prayer is more than asking God for things. It is communicating with Him, expressing our dependence upon Him, seeking His kingdom, and trusting His wisdom and timing.
1. Prayer Is Communication With God
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
Prayer is one of the great privileges God has given His people. We can speak to God openly and honestly, bringing our concerns, needs, thanksgiving, and desires before Him.
But prayer is also an expression of dependence. When we pray, we acknowledge that we are not sufficient in ourselves. We need God—not merely His blessings, but God Himself.
Application: Don’t wait until you have a crisis to pray. Develop a daily habit of communicating with God and acknowledging your dependence upon Him.
2. Seek God’s Kingdom Before Your Personal Desires
Jesus taught His disciples:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
— Matthew 6:33
Our natural tendency is to make prayer primarily about what we want: our health, finances, relationships, plans, and circumstances.
Jesus gives us a different priority. We are to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first.
This does not mean that we cannot bring our personal needs to God. Jesus specifically taught us to ask for our daily bread. But our desires should be brought under God’s greater purposes.
Application: Before asking, “Lord, what do I want You to do for me?” ask, “Lord, what would bring glory to You, and how can I serve Your kingdom?”
3. Prayer Changes Our Perspective
Prayer does not always immediately change our circumstances. Sometimes we pray for a situation and nothing appears to change.
Yet prayer can change us.
When we bring our burdens to God, we are reminded that He is greater than our problems. We begin to see our circumstances from the perspective of God’s character, sovereignty, wisdom, and promises.
Paul wrote:
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
— Philippians 4:6
And then he describes the result:
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:7
The circumstances may remain, but our hearts can be different because we have placed those circumstances in God’s hands.
Application: When you pray about a difficult situation, don’t only ask God to change the situation. Ask Him to change your perspective and help you trust Him in the situation.
4. Because of Christ, We Can Approach God With Confidence
Prayer is possible because of what Christ has accomplished for us.
Hebrews tells us:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
— Hebrews 4:16
We do not approach God because we are worthy in ourselves. We approach Him because Jesus Christ has opened the way.
The throne of God is described as a throne of grace. That means that when we come to God in our need, we are not coming to a reluctant God who must be persuaded to listen. We are coming to our gracious God through Christ.
Application: Don’t allow guilt, fear, or a sense of unworthiness to keep you from prayer. Come to God through Christ. Bring your needs to Him and seek His mercy and grace.
5. Persistent Prayer Demonstrates Trust
Jesus taught His disciples to pray persistently.
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
— Luke 18:1
Persistent prayer does not mean that we are trying to convince God to give us something He does not want to give us. Rather, persistence demonstrates that we continue to trust God even when His answer or timing is not what we expected.
Sometimes God answers quickly. Sometimes He makes us wait. Sometimes His answer is different from what we requested.
In every case, prayer gives us the opportunity to say, “Lord, I trust You. You know what I do not know. Your wisdom is greater than mine, and Your timing is better than mine.”
Application: Keep praying even when you don’t see immediate results. Persistence is an expression of faith in God’s character.
Conclusion
Prayer is not simply a way to get things from God. It is a relationship of communication, dependence, submission, trust, and fellowship with God.
When we pray:
- We communicate with God.
- We acknowledge our dependence upon Him.
- We seek His kingdom before our own desires.
- We allow Him to change our perspective.
- Through Christ, we approach His throne with confidence.
- And through persistent prayer, we demonstrate our trust in His wisdom and timing.
The goal of prayer is not merely to get God to change our circumstances. It is also to bring our hearts into submission to God and greater confidence in Him.
Prayer
Father, thank You that through Jesus Christ we can come into Your presence. Teach us to pray—not merely asking for what we want, but seeking Your kingdom and Your will. Help us to depend upon You when we do not understand our circumstances. Give us confidence to approach Your throne of grace, and give us perseverance when
Discussion Questions:
- Why pray if God already knows what we need?
- How can prayer change our desires?
- What does it mean to pray according to God’s will?
Practical Application:
- Begin your prayer time with worship before making requests.
- Give one persistent concern to God and refuse to carry it alone.