The 28-Day Prayer Journey Week 1 — Introduction: The Practice of Prayer

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. — 1 John 5:14

You have a God who created all of this beauty who is waiting to talk to you wherever you are whenever you want to… and that’s good news! ~ Chrystal Evans Hurst

Hello, OBS friends! Welcome to week one of The 28-Day Prayer Journey Online Bible Study with Chrystal Evans Hurst! We have been chomping at the bit to get started because what we all need now is prayer. We need to be reminded to pray, know what to pray, and develop a plan to pray… and Chrystal is just the one to lead us into that conversation.

In case you’re new to our community, my name is Laurie McClure and I’m the editor at FaithGateway and one of your OBS leaders. I’m a long-time Jesus follower but I still feel like I’m getting to know Him more each year. I love Bible study which is probably a little bit genetic since I was born into a family full of preachers and Bible nerds. I crave sand between my toes, ice-cold Perrier, apples with peanut butter, movie theatre popcorn, and Diet cherry ginger ale. Organizing is my super power. I also am terrible at putting on liquid eye-liner and magnetic eyelashes, but I know all the lyrics to most ‘80’s Michael Jackson songs and little-known fact: I once was a Gospel artist’s back-up singer! I am so honored to shepherd you through this study…

Now, let’s get started!

Anyone got some stuff going on these days? Big stuff? I know I’ve got some stuff. I have a PhD in worrying and lately it’s been for my kids. You know how it goes… lots of tears, lots of mama-worry, lots of praying.

More than anything right now, we need to pray, my friends! We need to know the Lord in a deeper way, to know His voice, to hear from Him, to worship Him. Our families need prayer. Our friends need prayer. Our country needs prayer! The Church needs prayer!

Chrystal’s going to nail down four facets of prayer. She breaks it down into easy, digestible steps, which can be broken down by the acronym P.R.A.Y.:

Session 1 – Introduction to the entire study and what’s to come

Session 2 – (P week) praise and giving thanks

Session 3 – (R week) repentance and confession

Session 4 – (A week) asking and learning to request boldly

Session 5 – (Y week) , and yielding, or learning to surrender.

Prayer. What I love about Chrystal’s teaching in this study is her reinforcement that it’s simply a conversation between you and the Father, and it is possible to build better prayer habits, or rhythms… little by little, day by day.

It’s not hard. It’s not complicated. It doesn’t necessarily require a specific time, or place, or equipment. This is for all of us. You can roll out of bed and pray, or pray waiting to pick up your kids from school, or pray on your lunch break, or in between meetings. The kitchen table works. So does the driver’s seat or your office chair or picnic table at the park. Just get with God who’s waiting for you because He loves you so much!

Can you imagine being described for all eternity as a “friend of God” as Abraham was (in Isaiah 41:8)? That’s ours if we want it. We can be God’s friend if we choose to be.

Prayer is the key to conversation with the Creator of the universe. It is the key that unlocks our ability to know what the God who created us and everything we see thinks about us and the lives that we live. But, it’s a key that often we don’t use. ~ Chrystal

We need to receive His help, connection, and counsel. We get to enjoy Him – His presence, His love, His kindness, His friendship. Consistency is the key in any relationship, so let’s start doing it!

Pray without ceasing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Just talk to Him.

Wherever you are.

Whatever you’re doing.

Are we making prayer a priority… to have that ongoing conversation with God that unlocks a level of intimacy that we won’t know otherwise? ~ Chrystal

Pray about everything. Everything.

Prayer is the way you can plug into the power, perception, and purpose that can only be found in God’s presence. It’s a gift that will help you and me to experience God’s love more fully and to return His love in genuine relationship. It’s the key that unlocks connection, belonging, wisdom, counsel, and help. ~ Chrystal

We’ve got some stuff going on, friends. This isn’t easy, but we’ve got a Friend in God and He’s ready and willing to walk with us and let us do life alongside Him. How incredible is that?!

Are you ready?

AMEN!

This week in your study:

1. Watch the video for session one of The 28-Day Prayer Journey on our study home page and take notes in your study guide on pages 1-9 but DON’T GO AWAY just yet! Hang out for the conversation with our OBS community afterward!
2. Grab your Bible and enjoy your personal study this week on pages 11-28.
3. Join the conversations about this week’s teaching and get to know our community in our private Facebook group.
4. If you’ve purchased to book, wonderful! Hang on, because we’re going to read it at the end of the study experience.

Scriptures this Week

Genesis 1:27
John 3:16
1 John 5:14
Joshua 1:9
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Philippians 4:6
Psalm 139:14
Isaiah 41:8
Exodus 34:29
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Luke 1:46-55

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, we love You, we need You, we worship You! Thank You for this study. Thank You for inviting us to enter into a deeper relationship with You, to talk with You about everything going on in our lives. Help us to bring it all to you, to ask You for help, to praise You, to confess to You so our consciences are clear, to thank You for all You do are all You are. Help us to stay near You and to become more like You. We love You!