Airplane Mode: When the Answer is No

Mark 14:35-36

Intro:

When did a parent, friend, or coach say "No" to you – and you were later glad they did!

Read Jeremiah 33:3. God answers prayer – but there are thousands of reasons why God might say "No" to some prayers.


Scripture Discussion & Application:

What does Jeremiah 33:3 tell us about God's heart for prayer? Does this verse tell us that God will always answer in the way we expect?

Read Hebrews 4:13. How can this verse help explain why God may have said "Wait," "Grow," or "No" to one of your prayers?

Read Provers 2:8. Think of a time where you prayed for something that God did not give you. Why was it better this way or how something else He gave you instead far outweighed what you asked for?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. What does it say about the purpose of our troubles? How have your troubles helped you grow?

Read Romans 8:28 and Psalm 25:10. When God says "No," what should we keep in mind?
(We should trust that God does everything out of goodness and love.)

Read mark 14:35-36. What is surprising about this situation to you? When might you pray this way?

Read Psalm 9:10. What is the promise and expectation in this verse? (Even when God does not answer our prayers the way we hope, he gives us the grace to handle his answer.) Have you experienced this?

Next Steps:

How will you begin to trust God's plan(s)?

In what area do you need to ask for God's grace to handle a "No"?

What do you need to passionately ask God for, and then trust his plan with?

"Pray passionately. Work hard. Trust God." – Which one do you need to move forward with the most this week?


How to Pray This Week:

Use Jesus' model of prayer:

1. Affirm God's power. "Father, I know you can do anything."
2. Ask with passion. "Please give me what I ask."
3. Accept God's plan. "Your will be done."


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Happenings

21 Days of Prayer - Be sure to participate in our church's 21 days of prayer. Use the guide from the cards you received on Sunday, or follow along on Facebook.

Night of Prayer - January 27th at 5pm

What: This is the church-wide culmination of our annual 21 days of prayer. After uniting in prayer as individuals/families/rGroups for 21 dis, we'll set the tone for the rest of the year by gathering everyone together for worship in song and prayer. We'll praise God in song, and then small groups will break out and pray through the topics on our prayer guides. Childcare will be provided for children 0-3 years old; children 4 and up are invited to attend with their families.

Where: Each campus will hold a simultaneous, one-hour night of prayer.

Why: We know prayer is a lifestyle, not just a one-off event. The night of prayer will help us envision what it looks like to continue to faithfully pray through the topics in our prayer guides throughout the year, whether individually or in our families or rGroups. This Night of Prayer is both an end and a beginning, as we commission out the entire church to Confess, Change and Act all year long.