First Place Week 2 Day 2

Week 2 – Day 2
Prayer-A Priority in Your Life

Memory Verse: If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” Mark 1:35

Jesus gives us three principles of prayer:
1. Commitment to pray
2. Time to pray
3. Place to pray

STUDY VERSES/QUESTIONS:

Mark 1:21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

29 v And immediately he [1] w left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now x Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and y took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or z oppressed by demons.

33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

34 a And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And b he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

STUDY QUESTIONS

Mark 1:21-34 describes what Jesus did the day before He rose to pray.

1. After reading these verses how do you think Jesus felt?

2. Are you surprised He rose early to pray after such a tough day? Would you be willing to do that?
Why or why not?

3. Jesus prayed in the morning and other times He prayed in the evening and sometimes all night. What is the best time for you to pray?

4. Jesus found a place to pray. Do you have a place to call your own? A place where you can meet the Father and be free to pray?

Make a commitment today to spend time each day in prayer. Ask yourself if you are willing to make the following commitments:

Yes/No – I commit to pray each day
Yes/No – I commit to pray at _______________ time each day for _________ minutes
Yes/No – I commit to pray in _________________room or space to be alone with God

Did you make a commitment? In my study downstairs I have an altar. I can shut the door, I have a few icons—an angel my mother gave me, four tea candles and incense, the Lord’s Prayer on a Cross and pink rose that my mom-in-law gave me and both my grandmother’s rosaries. It isn’t the icons that I pray to—it sets the ambience and takes my mind away from all the other things and people I need to finish, please, quell, etc.

I have a small cushion for my knees to rest on so I can kneel before the Lord. When my knees creak and start hurting I contemplate the Cross and the pain that Jesus felt for me and I feel that it is a joy to experience some of that pain to be thankful for all He did for me. I also kneel at night and cleanse my conscious, lift my family in prayer and think of three things for which I am grateful for that day. Sometimes it is seeing a bird, other times it is the answer to a serious request. Many times, it is for the strength to brush my teeth! Start small but stay with it and your will reap the rewards from our Most High God.

Be blessed Beloved until tomorrow, Sister, Lisa