Editor’s note: For today’s devotion, we’re sharing Closer by Christine Caine and Lisa Harper session one Bible study. Grab your Bible and enjoy! (And, PSA: Save the date for the Closer Online Bible Study in the New Year starting January 11th!)
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God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with is. ~ Attributed to John Wesley
Watch Session One Video
Scripture covered in this session:
Colossians 4:2–3; Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Luke 10:21–22; Hebrews 7:24–25
As you watch the video for this session, use the outline below to take notes on anything that stands out to you.
Much like Christine, we often come into prayer with preconceived notions or anxieties, thinking there are right and wrong ways to pray.
Try to make your first thought a prayer: Good morning, Holy Spirit.
We are taught in Scripture to:
Pray without ceasing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Persist in prayer and joyfully celebrate having direct access to God.
Jesus prays joyfully in Luke 10 and then teaches the disciples how to pray in Luke 11.
Jesus invites us to call God “Abba” (Father) in prayer, signaling familial intimacy with God.
Much like the picture of Lisa’s mother praying for her, Jesus prays for us.
Breath prayer in the Celtic tradition is also called the prayer of the sanctified imagination.
Group Discussion
30–45 minutes
Discuss some or all of the questions below together. As the leader, feel free to select the questions that will be the most meaningful to your group.
1. What was prayer like in your faith tradition growing up? Is it the same for you today? How has your faith tradition’s perspective on prayer affected your personal prayer life (for good or for bad)?
Christine said, “I think one of the most misunderstood practices is the one of prayer. Of all the things that should be the simplest, most authentic, the easiest, and an overflow of who we are, it ought to be prayer. And yet, I truly think it’s one of the things we complicate the most.”
2. In Luke 11:1, the disciples say to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Why do you think even Jesus’ disciples struggled to know how to pray? In what ways has prayer been complicated for you?
Lisa said, “There is no other religion that I’m aware of that you can go to the creator God of that religion and talk to them like a heavenly Father and intimate friend, a comforter, a healer.”
3. In both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, Jesus instructs His followers to address God as “Father.” When you pray, do you picture God as close as a parent? Is the image of God as Father a comfort to you or is it more of a hurdle to overcome? How do you interact with this image?
4. First Thessalonians 5:17 invites us to “pray without ceasing” (ESV). This is not a call to neglect all daily tasks except prayer, but rather, to notice God’s presence in our daily lives. In what specific ways, as you look back over the past week, have you noticed, or perhaps are noticing now upon reflection, that God was with you?
5. Hebrews 7:25 tells us Jesus “always lives to intercede for them.” The “them” in this verse is all who come to Him. Imagine Jesus praying on your behalf. What emotions does that image evoke for you?
The Greek word for breath is pneuma. In the New Testament, this word is also used to name the Holy Spirit: τὸ Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα.
6. Practice breath prayer together as a group. Set a timer for one minute. In your own time, breathe in the breath of God and think to yourself, Holy Spirit. As you exhale, say to yourself, I give You all my anxieties and worries. After the time is up, reflect on the experience together. What did it feel like?
Call to Action
Leader, the group will participate in prayer of the sanctified imagination to close your time together. You will need at least one small item per person. These items can be anything you find around your home or office.
The practice of the prayer of the sanctified imagination reminds us that prayer can be simple and anchored to our daily lives.
Have each group member choose an item that is in the bag or on the table in front of them. Spend one to two minutes holding the object in your hand and contemplating its simplicity and reminder of daily life.
As you consider the item, think about always being in the posture of prayer. What prayer does the item bring to mind?
Invite each person to briefly share how the object they chose inspired them to pray.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for inviting us to pray without ceasing. Thank You that every good gift comes from You, even and especially the ordinary, everyday moments in life. Please remind us this week of Your presence and prompt us to pray in the quiet, in the hectic, and in everything in between. As we come to You in prayer this week, relieve us of our anxieties and our hesitations to come to You fully. And help us to see You as our loving Father, ready to hear from us and be with us as we pray. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Excerpted with permission from Closer by Lisa Harper & Christine Caine, copyright Christine Caine and Lisa Harper.
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Your Turn
Do you think there’s a right way and a wrong way to pray? What about starting every day with Good morning, Holy Spirit. Keep talking to God today. He loves you and wants to talk with you! P.S. Remember to save the date for the Closer Online Bible Study starting January 11th! ~ Devotionals Daily