For the last couple of years, our YBL Jackson small groups have engaged in growing in our prayer life. It has been great to hear the stories of men that have seen God move in incredible ways as they have prayed faithfully to the Lord.
So…why would I write a blog on this idea? Good question. I was sitting with a group of YBL guys a few weeks ago discussing how COVID has frustrated every part of their lives. As the conversation went on, one of the men said, “The only way that I have been able to survive is through prayer. I’ve realized I cannot fix this, and this is where God has me so I’m going to spend more time talking to Him about it than complaining.” Yes…I needed to hear that, and I am sure that many of us can say the same.
Below you will find the information that I gave our group leaders in January of this year. As we enter the final quarter of 2020, our focus is on praying for one big thing in our work life. Would you join us in this journey of growing in prayer? Would you write down what you are praying for in your work life and commit to praying about it every day? In a crazy season of life, work, and family due to COVID, we can complain, or we can pray. Let’s choose to pray!
2020 Groups Focus – Prayer
Our goal for 2020 is to see men engaging God in prayer in a deeper way.
- Live it – make it an active part of your group meeting (more than just prayer request time)
- Model it – let group members see you involved in prayer
- Stretched by it – stories of what God is doing
Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.
I Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.
“To pray is to accept that we are, and always will be, wholly dependent on God for everything.” – Tim Keller
Strategy
January – April — “One Big Thing” you are asking God to do in personal life in these four months
- Ask every group member to share their one thing that you can be praying with them about.
- Give them your one thing and ask them to pray with you.
- Let them see you write it down.
- Accountability – ask for permission to ask each other about the one thing, share stories of God’s work during group meetings
May – August — “One Big Thing” you are asking God to do in your work life in these four months
- Ask every group member to share their one thing that you can be praying with them about.
- Give them your one thing and ask them to pray with you.
- Let them see you write it down.
- Accountability – ask for permission to ask each other about the one thing, share stories of God’s work during group meetings
September – December — “One Big Thing” you are asking God to do in your family life in these four months
- Ask every group member to share their one thing that you can be praying with them about.
- Give them your one thing and ask them to pray with you.
- Let them see you write it down.
- Accountability – ask for permission to ask each other about the one thing, share stories of God’s work during group meetings