Week of June 15, 2025
Week 3 Physical Praying
In this third week of the message series on prayer, we consider the impact of the physical on the spiritual, focusing on how prayer is influenced/enhanced by place, posture, and preparation (especially fasting).
Monday | Places | Luke 5:15-16, 6:12, 9:28, 22:39 (Garden of Gethsemane)
We can certainly pray anywhere and everywhere because the presence of God is not limited to places like church buildings. Yet place can matter to our souls. The Gospel of Luke puts a special emphasis on Jesus’ places of prayer. Where did Jesus like to go? Why might mountains or other high places have been favorites for people to pray through the ages? What are the advantages of finding places of beauty, silence, and solitude for prayer, as did Jesus? Besides your own home, what, if any, places in the Chippewa Valley are your favorite places to pray (or could you try out)?
Tuesday | Postures | 1 Timothy 2:8, Psalm 141:2
Obviously, we can assume any posture for prayer because what really matters is addressing God from the heart. But what we do with our bodies can enhance our praying, and today’s Scriptures focus on raising our hands to God (historically most often done in the standing position, with palms open to receive). Why might this have become the most common?
Wednesday | Postures | 2 Chronicles 6:12-15, Daniel 6:10-12, Matthew 26:36-39
Here we see Solomon, Daniel, and Jesus taking the postures of respectively kneeling and being fully prostrate before God. What would Solomon’s and Daniel’s kneeling have signified? What about Jesus being face down before his heavenly Father? How might a regular practice of kneeling impact your praying? What is your favorite prayer posture?
Thursday | Preparation | Nehemiah 1:1-7, Daniel 9:1-6
Throughout the Scriptures, we find fasting and prayer as connected to one another in seasons of especially seeking God’s intervention. In these passages, Nehemiah fasted and prayed for his people remaining in Israel and especially for the rebuilding of the city walls of Jerusalem. Likewise, Daniel prayed for the redemption of Jerusalem from first Babylonian and then Persian control. In what ways might fasting be good preparation for passionate and persistent prayer? What is the primary attitude that came into both men’s fasting practice (see Nehemiah 1:6 and Daniel 9:5)? Describe what their spiritual hunger was for. If you’ve had fasting experiences, in what ways did it increase your hunger for God and his kingdom?
Friday | Preparation | Matthew 6:16-18, Acts 13:1-3
Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount taught “When you fast …” (not if!). Why do you think that many modern Christians have neglected fasting? What does this suggest about our hunger (or lack thereof) for God and his intervention? What was the focus of the fasting and prayer in Acts 13? What have you so desired that you engaged in fasting and/or prayer over a season of passionate and persistent intercession? What do you think that you should be fasting and praying for now?
