Spiritual Disciplines ~ Pray: Pause

Today, we will continue to discuss the importance of pausing in prayer to deepen our connection with God. We will dive into the P.R.A.Y., an acrostic that is to P to pause, R to rejoice, A to ask, and Y to yield. We will emphasize the P, which means to pause, and the significance of taking a moment to pause and recenter our hearts to God’s presence. Showing how we do this and why it is essential to do this to break through the shallows of life and drudge through the midlands to get to the deep place in our being where we can be still and know He is God. As we break through distractions and worries, trust in God and seek Him intentionally to experience authentic communion.

Recording

((Audio Only))

Study Guide

Take the sermon further with friends and family with these discussion questions.

1 – What does it mean to pause as you begin to pray, and why is it important?
– Application: How can you integrate an intentional pause into your daily life to practice being in the presence of God?

2 – How does the concept discussed of the levels of being the ‘Shallows, Midlands, and Depths’ relate to our prayer life?
– Application: How have you experienced the different levels of depth in your personal prayers, and what steps can you take to move toward the depths?

3 – What are some practical steps to eliminate distractions and focus on God during prayer?
– Application: What distractions do you personally face in your prayer life, and how can you take steps to minimize them?

4 – How does trusting God in the midst of our worries and anxieties help us deepen our prayer life?
– Application: What worries and anxieties are currently weighing you down, and how can you surrender them to God in prayer?

5 – What are breathe prayers and how can they help us stay focused and have a deeper connection with God?
– Application:  What are some breath prayers that you can incorporate into your daily prayer practice, and how do you think they will help you maintain focus and connection with God?

Scripture References

Psalm 23:1, 27:14, 130
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Proverbs 20:27
John 7:38
Ephesians 6:10-18
Hebrews 4:16
Philippians 4:8
Matthew 6:8, 31-33
Luke 21:34
Mark 4:19