In a recent sermon on God's Wisdom for our Self-understanding, I mentioned a handful of prayer prompts that I regularly use in my devotional life. These are basically just questions, written as if God were asking them to me. The point of these prompts is to help expose our true heart condition so that God can guide us into deeper intimacy with himself.
The truth is, we are not very good at making sense of who we are, how we're doing, and what it all means. Our heart is deceptive, particularly when it comes to our own assessment of our life. Consider using these prayer prompts to seek God's help in guiding you to a better, more accurate, view of yourself and your relationship to him.
Discerning the condition of your heart:
Felt needs: What does it feel like you really need right now in order to be content?
Worst case: If everything went terribly wrong right now, how would it go? (And if all of that happened, would you still be okay? Why?)
Distractions: What distractions are keeping you from deeper intimacy with me?
Idol: In what ways might you be idolizing “success” rather than serving me?
Identity: What relationships are concerning you? How do you want to be seen by those people, and why?
Spiritual fruit: What spiritual fruit are you lacking, and why do you think that is? (See the list below.)
Life: What are you hoping I will do in your life in the next week, month, & year?
Looking to God above:
Thanks: What blessings have you neglected to thank me for?
Attributes: Which of my attributes are you most thankful for?
Life to come: What are you most looking forward to in the life to come?
Considering the path ahead:
Supplication: Who else in your life could use my help?
Limits: In what ways can you slow down and do less?
Friendship: Who could you share these heart issues with, and confess your need for God’s mercy & grace where its necessary?
Fruit of the Spirit (List):
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
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