Proverbs 15—16: Prayer
IF YOU SURVEYED books on prayer in a Christian bookstore, you'd find varied and often conflicting advice. Some authorities insist that successful prayer is scheduled; others favor impromptu prayer. One writer says fasting should accompany prayer, but another tells us to pray in any circumstance. Still another says that prayer is best done when alone, though someone else urges us to join with others. Some claim that prayer requires careful preparation and thought, while a conflicting authority says prayer should flow spontaneously from our hearts. Wisdom is needed as much for prayer as for any other area of human living. These proverbs furnish us wisdom for bringing our requests to God as we seek to live wisely.
Warming Up to God
What has your pattern of prayer been over recent days, weeks, months, years? Where are you struggling? How are you growing? Spend some time reflecting on your prayer life.
Read Proverbs 15—16. »
Discovering the Word
- In contrast to many books on prayer, Proverbs 15:8 and 15:29 ignore the context and style of praying to focus on another factor. What is it?
- Why is this factor sufficient by itself to account for whether God hears our prayers or not?
- Proverbs 28:13 and other passages tell us that sin is present in everyone. How, then, can we ever be called "upright" or "righteous" in the sense of 15:8 or 15:29?
- What does it mean to commit something to the Lord (16:3)?
- What part do you think prayer plays in committing whatever you do to the Lord?
- Proverbs 16:3 seems to promise unqualified success to those who commit their plans to the Lord. If this is not a "blank check" (and it's probably not), what is presupposed about our plans here?
Applying the Word
- Think a moment about your own prayers. How might you begin praying more wisely?
- In what ways does your character need to change so that your prayers will be those of the righteous?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to teach you how to pray.
For Further Study
Prayer & Listening by Jan Johnson