Talking Points:
- It is so easy to spend all of our prayer time on selfish things. But is that biblical?
- In Mark 14:36, we see Jesus ask God to take away his future suffering on the cross, which seems like one of the most selfish prayers he could have prayed.
- Jesus finished His prayer by saying “but your will be done, not mine” which shows us that no matter our prayer, our heart should be one of submitting to God’s will.
- But most importantly, God wants us to pray to Him, even if it seems a little selfish. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “Never stop praying”.
Discussion:
- How often do you pray? What do you typically pray about?
- Have you ever prayed selfishly? How did it make you feel afterward, and what did you learn from that experience?
- What is the most selfish prayer you have ever prayed? Was it answered? How often do you end prayers with “yet your will be done, not mine”?
- Read Mark 14:36. Imagine you are in Jesus’ shoes, what do you think you would be praying for? Do you think He was justified in praying that?
- In what ways can prayer help us develop a heart of submission to God’s will? Are there any habits or practices we can adopt to cultivate this attitude in our prayer life?
- Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18. What do you think it means by “Never Stop Praying”? Can you think of a situation where you shouldn’t pray?
See Also: