Family Focus (FF5) Prayer is a priority

 The family watched Andy Hawthorne -Reflecting at 60 – 12 things he has learnt:

Jo decided to take each of the 12 things and turn them into 12 bible studies for Family Focus (FF5). The 12 things are as follows:

1. More prayer
2. God provides
3. Leadership is lonely
4. Ministry runs on two tracks
5. Keep Jesus central
6. Passionate people change the world
7. Addition is good, multiplication is amazing
8. Division is disastrous
9. The older you get the faster it goes!
10. Marriage good – everything good
11. Need mates on mission
12. Best is yet to come

Opening Prayer

Bible Reading:

1Thessalonians 5:16-18, Colossians 4:2, Philippians 4:6, Luke 6:12

Introduction

• Andy Hawthorne ( Message Trust) reflecting at 60
• 12 Things he has learnt
• First thing: More Prayer = More Blessing
• More Prayer = More Breakthrough
• Andy wished he had prayer days from the beginning
• It took 5 years to have monthly prayer days
• Just started prayer house – 24/7 – likely to be a game changer
• Andy wished he prayed more
• Fascinating disciples request – teach them how to pray – Lord’s prayer
• Jesus source/ foundation – intimacy with the father = authority
• Prayer greater priority

Question 1

How do you feel about your prayer life today/ now?

Video: Skitguys – The skinny on prayer:

In the video we saw 3 bad ways of praying: Falling asleep, religious & long lists

We saw one good way of praying: Using the Lord’s Prayer as a template

No time to Pray Poem

Andy Hawthorne stated that prayer is foundational, and that prayer needs to be a greater priority

The ‘No time to pray’ poem helps us realise the need to make prayer a priority:

No Time To Pray

I got up early one morning

And rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn’t take time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task,

“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.

He answered, “You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didn’t show me;

He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I tried to come into God’s presence;

I used all my keys at the lock;

God gently and lovingly chided,

“My child you didn’t knock.”

I woke up early this morning,

And paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

Author unknown

Discussion

• Prayer is key
• Prayer room/ prayer closets/ prayer together & PrayerTime on Facebook
• What can you do to improve your prayer life?

Prayer Time

Let’s pray & listen to God for his help to make prayer a priority

Written by Jo Jo