Study of Prayer - Dana Patterson - 12-16-2020
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class focused on the conditions for effective prayer, emphasizing humility, alignment with God's will, and the importance of motives. The teacher highlighted passages like James 4:2-3, which warn against praying with selfish desires, and 1 John 3:22, which stresses the need for obedience to God's commandments. Examples such as Balaam's interaction with Balak were used to illustrate how wrong motives or worldly distractions can hinder prayer. The lesson also addressed the misconception that prayer is a transactional act, instead framing it as a relationship rooted in trust and submission to God’s will. The teacher stressed that while God can be influenced, He is not an ATM, and prayers must reflect a desire to align with His purposes rather than demand personal outcomes.
Key Scriptures
you ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend on your passions