Session Two

Ditches

In this session, we’re going to learn how corporate prayer can be like digging ditches and waiting for God to fill them with water: an investment into a future move of God.

  1. Read chapter 2 of the book The Prayers of Many

  2. Watch the following video before going through the interactive section below with your small group

 

Teaching Video 02: Prayer is like digging ditches

 

Small Group Section

Discuss

  • Mike Betts suggests that the ditches we dig in prayer are always filled with the water that God provides. How does this statement change our attitude and approach to corporate prayer?

  • It is easy to look at prayer in a ‘cause and effect’ way, whereas Mike Betts suggests that it is not a linear process but more like a seed being planted in hope of fruit to come. How do you view prayer? 

  • When you pray, is your focus more on God or on the things you are asking Him to do? What role does worship play in shifting your focus?

 

Review

  • In approaching prayer, we must not be limited by the way our culture thinks: rational, logical, empirical.

  • As we work hard in corporate prayer we are digging ditches that prepare the way for God to do what He wants to do.

  • If in prayer we want to hear the voice of God, it is important that our focus is not on the urgent matters but on God.

 

Pray

Set aside some time to pray. 

Use the first half for prayerful worship - no requests or petitions, just lots of adoring prayers about God’s character and promises.

Halfway through, switch to asking God for things BUT every request must be based on a promise or attribute mentioned in the first half of your time (hint: making notes helps).

 

Prayer Tip

First focusing on God when we pray sounds simple but it doesn’t always come naturally. Find out why building this pattern into our prayers is important.

Lloyd explains more in the video.

 
 
 

Extra

In the book Mike Betts says, “Our prayers will never articulate fully what is possible as a result of them being prayed.” In other words, God isn’t limited in His response to our prayers by the words we have used - there isn’t a formula. 

Read Ephesians 3:20. Do you feel as free in your prayer language as you would when speaking to a friend or family member?