Beyond the Weekend: Powerful Prayers
Powerful Prayers A 7-Week Series | May 10–June 21
What does it really mean to pray?
Prayer is one of those things most people think about but aren't sure they're doing right. Is God actually listening? Does it matter what you say? Does prayer even work?
This series digs into some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible. From the Lord's Prayer to Daniel's cry in a crisis, we'll see what happens when ordinary people bring their real lives to God.
Whether you've prayed your whole life or you're not even sure God is real, this series is for you.
Adoration
Read: 1 Kings 8:22-23
Listen: 1 Kings 8
Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 1 Kings 8:23
The temple stands complete, gleaming on Mount Zion. Gold covers the interior walls and doors. Bronze pillars flank the entrance. Cedar beams stretch across the ceiling. Solomon gathers all of Israel. The priests place the ark of the covenant in the Holy Place, and God’s cloud of glory fills the temple. King Solomon steps before the altar, spreads his hands toward heaven, and begins to pray. His first words aren't a request or thank you but worship. "There is no God like you." Not anywhere. Nothing compares. Solomon worships God for keeping his covenant of love.
We often begin prayer with requests for help or with thanks. Both are good and right. But Solomon models something we tend to skip. Before anything else, we can adore God for who he is. We all worship something, and that worship shapes us. We might worship a career, success, relationships, security, or our kids. But these finite things will eventually disappoint us or run out. God is infinite and limitless. Fixing our hearts on him—declaring his worthiness before we bring him our needs—shifts and reorients our hearts. Adoring God makes us more alive because we were made to worship him.
PRAYER DAY #22: This week we are using the ACTS model to pray. A is for Adoration. Pick one characteristic of how God has revealed himself—Father, King, Savior—and declare it back to him. Use Solomon’s opening words as you start: “There is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You are ________.”
