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Have you ever prayed for something that seemed selfish or self-serving? Maybe you’ve asked God for a promotion at work, or for a better car, or for a solution to a personal problem. While it’s normal to pray for personal needs and desires, it’s important to remember that our prayers should ultimately be aligned with God’s will.

In Mark 14:36, we see Jesus asking God to take away his future suffering on the cross, which could be interpreted as a selfish prayer. However, Jesus finishes his prayer by saying “but your will be done, not mine”. This shows us that no matter what we pray for, our hearts should be one of submission to God’s will.

Here are a few lessons we can learn from this passage about praying in accordance with God’s will:

Lesson 1: It’s okay to pray for personal needs

Jesus’ prayer in Mark 14:36 shows us that it’s okay to pray for personal needs and desires. After all, God cares about every aspect of our lives and wants us to bring our concerns to Him in prayer. However, we need to remember that our prayers should ultimately be focused on God’s will, rather than our own.

Lesson 2: We should always seek God’s will

In Jesus’ prayer, he shows us that even if we’re praying for something that seems selfish, we should still seek God’s will in the situation. This means that we should be willing to submit to His plan, even if it’s not what we would choose for ourselves.

Lesson 3: Prayer helps us develop a heart of submission

As we pray and seek God’s will, we develop a heart of submission to Him. This means that we become more willing to trust Him and His plan, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Prayer helps us remember that God is in control, and that He has our best interests at heart.

Lesson 4: Never stop praying

Finally, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “never stop praying”. This means that we should be in constant communication with God, bringing our concerns, needs, and desires to Him in prayer. By doing so, we develop a deeper relationship with Him and become more attuned to His will for our lives.

In conclusion, it’s okay to pray for personal needs, but our prayers should ultimately be focused on God’s will. By seeking His plan and submitting to it, we develop a heart of submission and trust in Him. And, by never stopping our prayers, we deepen our relationship with God and become more attuned to His will for our lives.

Talking Points:
  • It is so easy to spend all of our prayer time on selfish things. But is that biblical?
  • In Mark 14:36, we see Jesus ask God to take away his future suffering on the cross, which seems like one of the most selfish prayers he could have prayed.
  • Jesus finished His prayer by saying “but your will be done, not mine” which shows us that no matter our prayer, our heart should be one of submitting to God’s will.
  • But most importantly, God wants us to pray to Him, even if it seems a little selfish. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “Never stop praying”.
Discussion:
  1. How often do you pray? What do you typically pray about?
  2. Have you ever prayed selfishly? How did it make you feel afterward, and what did you learn from that experience?
  3. What is the most selfish prayer you have ever prayed? Was it answered? How often do you end prayers with “yet your will be done, not mine”?
  4. Read Mark 14:36. Imagine you are in Jesus’ shoes, what do you think you would be praying for? Do you think He was justified in praying that?
  5. In what ways can prayer help us develop a heart of submission to God’s will? Are there any habits or practices we can adopt to cultivate this attitude in our prayer life?
  6. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18. What do you think it means by “Never Stop Praying”? Can you think of a situation where you shouldn’t pray?

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