Chapter One
session 1 welcome to the
throne room
For You Alone
When you hear the word prayer, what comes to your mind?
Check all the boxes that apply.
boring
a last resort
not my thing
a psychological exercise
fun
refreshing
conversation
for the spiritually elite
sleep-inducing
calming
time-consuming
difficult
a wish list
a waste of time
a stress reliever
rewarding
frustrating
a mealtime requirement
Prayer is often defined as "a conversation with God." And so it
is, but it's also much more. Prayer is the spiritual union of the
believer with God. In prayer you acknowledge who God is and who
you are. Through prayer you experience God's presence, God's forgiveness,
and the release of God's power, which enables you to do
his will in your life and in his world. Prayer is action. Prayer is the
secret to a powerful and rewarding Christian life.
Carry on an ongoing conversation with God about the
daily stuff of life Do not worry about "proper" praying, just talk to God. Share your hurts, share your sorrows.
Share your joys-freely and openly When we do this, we will discover something of inestimable value.
We will discover that by praying we learn to pray. Richard Foster, Prayer
For You and God's Word
Read Ephesians 2:1-10. As you read, take the "you" in this passage
personally. Recognize who you were and who you now are.
Satan does not want you to discover who you are. He wants you to
think you're still the person you used to be. He wants you to believe
that you are powerless and alone-but these verses reveal something
very different.
1. What was your former condition (verse 1)? Note the use of
the past tense in verses 1 and 2. What kind of lifestyle did
you lead in your former condition (verse 3)?
2. What is your present condition (verse 5)?
3. What changes have occurred in your life because of this
change in your condition?
4. What motivated God to change your condition (verse 4)?
5. What is your present spiritual position in Christ, that is, where are you seated spiritually (verse 6)?
6. What was God's purpose in raising you to this position
(verse 7)?
7. How did you get into this new position in Christ (verse 8)?
8. What purpose does God have for you now (verse 10)?
9. Is this a new concept for you? If this truth were to penetrate
your heart, how would it affect your prayer life?
10. List three practical, everyday ways you can respond to God
in gratitude for your new position with Christ.
What marvelous love God has for you! Not only has he saved
you, making you alive in Christ, but he has also spiritually seated
you by his side in heaven, giving you immediate and continual
access to him through prayer. God is always available to you. So,
come on. Welcome to the throne room.
You complain that it is hard for you to pray, to experience
the love of Jesus Where you are most human, most
yourself, weakest, there Jesus lives. Bringing your fearful
self home is bringing Jesus home. Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice Of Love
For You and Others
As a believer, you are "raised" with Christ and "seated" with
God (Ephesians 2:6), right in the throne room, which gives you
incredible access to the Father. Why? Why would God put you
there? As a group, read Hebrews 10:19-25 to discover the reason.
1. What does "the Most Holy Place" in verse 19 refer to (see
also Hebrews 9:24)?
2. In Old Testament times, God's people had access to him
through the high priest. Who is your "great priest" (verse
21), and when did he enter the Most Holy Place (Acts
1:9-11; Hebrews 4:14)?
(Continues.)
