Key Points

  • Just as it is healthy to grow physically, so spiritual growth gives us spiritual health and vitality.
  • There are some habits that we can practice to help our spiritual growth.
  • The first habit starts with G - Go to God regularly in prayer. Prayer is a conversation in which you talk to someone you love, who is God.
  • A helpful acronym that you could use to help you think about how to pray is this: Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield.

Verses

1 John 3:1, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

John 16:24, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

Questions

  1. Why would you think it would be important to talk with God regularly?
  2. Think about a music group, a favorite team, or a person that you love. In what ways do you praise that person? 
  3. Read Psalm 146:1-2. How is praising God similar?
  4. It is humbling to ask for forgiveness. Read 1 John 1:9. Why do you think confession is important and helpful? It's amazing to think that God wants us to ask Him for our needs to be met! He hears us and He answers. God is just like the best parent - sometimes He says yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait. Talk about why God would answer in different ways. 
  5. The yield sign instructs us to wait for other cars to pass. Yielding to God means to wait for His direction and guidance. Is there an area in your life in which you need to yield to God? 
  6. When would there be a good, regular time that you could set aside to talk with God in prayer? 
  7. What next step can you take in the practice of going to God regularly in prayer? Pray about that right now, asking for God's help. 

Close in prayer.