Audacious Prayer
SEARCH ME
ICEBREAKER – Tell about a time you searched for something but could not find it, only to find it at an unusual time or place.
Psalm 139:1–6, 13-17, 23-24 1You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. 2You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. 5You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain… 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be… 17How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you…. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
1. How long has God known us? How well does God know us? How does God feel about us?
2. How do you feel about God knowing what we are going to do before we do it?
3. Why would God be so interested in us?
4. If God already knows all of this about me why do you think I should I ask Him to search me? (Psalm 139:23-24)
5. How can God’s knowledge of us help us to best bring the most fulfillment into our lives?
Psalms 46:10 Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
1 Chronicles 28:9–10 9“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
Psalm 26:2 Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
6. How does one begin to allow God to search them?
7. Why is it important in our service to God to know our own heart’s condition?
8. What kind of “house” is God moving you to build with courage and action? (1 Chronicles 28:10)
Jeremiah 17:9–10 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Genesis 4:5–7 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
9. What is the danger of not being shown our faults? Why would anyone want to be shown their faults? (Genesis 4:6-7)
10. Why is God-centered self-examination important in all our relationships? (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)
1 Corinthians 11:27–29 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
11. What do you think are the signs that we may be ignoring or rejecting God’s involvement in our lives?
Matthew 26:39–46 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
12. How did Jesus bare his soul to God to help him to fulfill His mission? How can baring your soul to God help you deal with your reality?
13. How does God respond when you bring your problems and anxieties to Him? (Luke 11:9-13, Luke 22:43, 1 Peter 5:6-7)
Luke 11:9–13 (NIV) 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 22:43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
14.Take a moment of silent prayer to ask God to search your heart and turn any thoughts as a prayer to God.