Prayer

Big Idea:  We can go to God in prayer with the things weighing heavy on us.

Scripture: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

Warm-up:

-Has there ever been anything in your life that you have worried about? What was it?

-Do you ever get nervous about things coming up in life? School? Big games? What do you do when you get nervous?

Game Time Discussion:

Read the following scripture aloud: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

-2 Timothy 1:7

–We all have things in our life that make us nervous, that we worry about. During these times, God wants us to come to Him in prayer. He doesn’t want us to shrink back, worry, be anxious and defeated. God wants us to come to Him and ask Him to help us with what we are struggling with.

-What are some things that you are worrying about today, are afraid of today, are nervous about today, that you can ask God to help you with?

Concluding Thought: Prayer can be a hard thing to understand and figure out. But at its core, it is about a relationship with God and communication with God. It is about asking God what is best for us, asking God for help to accomplish it, and sharing with God what we are struggling with and need help with. Sometimes, as competitors, we don’t like to admit we need help or that we are struggling with anything. But God already knows we are. God is a loving Father that wants us to come to Him with our struggles and ask for help. He wants to help us. God’s Word tells us that when we come to Him and ask for help and tell Him what is on our minds, He will give us peace because we know He has it under control.

Game Time Challenge: God knows everything that you are going through. He’s waiting on you to ask Him to help. He’s waiting on you to come to Him in every situation and pray to Him. As God’s Word tells us above, God does not give us a spirit of fear but one of power. I challenge you today to turn your fears into prayers and thank God for the power you have through Him.

 Prayer: God, thank you for being a God that allows us to communicate with you. Thank you for being a God that desires us to come to you with our problems, our worries, and our fears. God, we ask you take everything that we are struggling with today, and help us through your Spirit to overcome it. God, we reject the fear that we know does not come from you and we welcome your spirit of power, love, and sound mind. In Jesus name, Amen.

Extended reading: Matthew 6:9-15