15/05/2026
Sabbath School Summary
*Practical Prayer*
Lesson 7
Memory Text: Psalm 62:8
*SABBATH: Introduction*
Do you treat prayer as your lifestyle or lifeline? How often, fervently, & expectantly do you pray? Are all your prayers always asking something from God or do you praise Him when praying as well? Or perhaps you pray around the clock; praying in the morning before you eat or partway through your busy day. You may join a prayer group or have felt God’s presence & power through prayer. Don’t treat prayer as an emergency line. It connects us (the branches) to Jesus (the vine). God responds when we pray in His perfect time & way (EW, p. 73).
*SUNDAY: Elijah--Praying in Crisis*
The victory of Elijah on Mount Carmel shows the potency of prayer & the impotence of idols (1 Kings 18). King Ahab, an evil ruler, saw with his eyes the truth that God answers prayers (1 Kings 16:33). This memorable day was met by a surprising event. All the prayers of Elijah was answered but in a moment he allowed the fear of death to overcome his faith in God. Yet, God cared for him in his weak state (1 Kings 19:1-18). God showed Himself to Elijah in a way unlike before. That’s, His ways are not our ways. Don’t waiver in faith (Isa. 55:8-9).
*MONDAY: When Prayers Seem Unanswered*
God answers to our prayers are never early or too late. At times, the waiting period deepens our walk with Him. If you’ve prayed for a long time but things have delayed like Hannah (1 Sam. 1:10-17), trust God (Ps. 62:8). God will answer according to His will (Matt. 7:7, 1 John 5:14). Seek God’s will, not yours (Matt. 6:10: 1 John 5:14-15). Think of your motives (Prov. 16:2) & if you harbor sin (Ps. 66:8). Abide in God, have faith, be humble, persevere, forgive others: God sees the bigger picture (John 15:7, Heb. 11:6; James 4:6, 1 Thess. 5:17-18, Mark 11:25-28, Rom. 8:28, 2 Cor. 12:9).
*TUESDAY: Jesus Teaches Us How to Pray*
Not all prayers are godly like the long & carefully crafted show type prayer of some in Jesus’ time. Jesus gave us a model of prayer (Matt. 6:5-8, Luke 11:1; Matt. 6:5-15). The disciples saw how vital prayer was & how Jesus’ prayer differed from that of the religious leaders. He prayed simply & sincerely (Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:18, 22:41, 24:30, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Luke 11:2-4). We must first acknowledge God as seen in “our Father”; see His holiness, long for His return, surrender to Him, ask for what we need, repent & forgive, avoid evil (Ps. 91), & give all glory to God.
*WEDNESDAY: Praise, Confession, Requests, Thanksgiving*
Prayer is speaking to God to as a friend. We can follow the simple model of prayer when we go to God in secret with our families or as a church (Matt. 6:5-15). Daniel’s prayer in Dan. 9:4-19 shows how admit the holiness or God & the sin of His people. His prayer teaches us 4 components of prayer; praise God (Ps. 100), confess any sin & ask for forgiveness (James. 5:16), make your request know to God & offer your thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6). What things do you need to praise God for, confess to Him, request from Him, and to thank Him for? Why not do it right now?
*THURSDAY: Other Questions About Prayer*
Why pray when God is all-knowing? Why pray when all is well? What is the role of faith in prayer? With him should you pray? God knows our desires but prayer is good for us; it invites us to pause & think about God (Rom. 8:26-27). Second, pride & self-sufficiency can cost us dearly & block our prayers. It’s good to surrender to God (Matt. 5:6, Isa. 44:3). Third, prayer & faith are close allies & must be learnt together (Mark 11:24, Ed, pp. 257, 258). Fourth, prayer with family/small groups (Matt. 6:6, Acts 12:12, James 5:13-16). How should you listen? Read the Bible.
*FRIDAY: Further Thought*
If we focused more on Jesus & less on ourselves, we would experience His presence more profoundly. When we allow our doubts and fears to guide us, we only deepen our confusion. But, approaching God with humility & trust, recognizing our dependence on Him, opens the door for His guidance & light in our lives. Through praise & gratitude, we draw closer to our Creator, joining in the worship that resonates in heaven.
*Keywords*
EW- Early Writings
SC- Steps to Christ.
Ed- Education
Biblical counsel on prayer- Seek God’s will, not your own (Matt. 6:10; 1 John 5:14-15). Consider your motives (Prov. 16:2, James 4:3). Think about whether you have a cherished sin (Ps. 66:18, 1 Pet. 3:12, Prov. 15:29). Abide in God and in His Word (John 15:7). Have faith when you pray (Heb. 11:6, James 1:6, Mark 11:24, Matt. 21:22). Consider the state of your heart (humble or proud) (James 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:6). Persevere (1 Thess. 5:17-18). Forgive others (Mark 11:25-26). Ultimately, God sees the big picture and knows what is best for us (Rom. 8:28, Eph. 3:20, Jer. 29:11-13). Sometimes His answer merely is as it was for Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9, NKJV).
Jesus’ model of prayer- “Our Father in heaven”: Acknowledging your personal relationship with the Father of all. “Hallowed be Your name”: Recognizing God’s holiness makes us come in reverence and respect. “Your kingdom come”: Longing for God’s return and an indwelling of the Holy Spirit until He does so. “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”: Surrendering and praying for God’s will to be done in our lives, trusting that He knows best, rather than merely praying for what we want. “Give us this day our daily bread”: Asking for what we need to live, both physically (food and water) and spiritually (Jesus and His living Word). “Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”: Repenting, seeking forgiveness, and remembering to pardon those who have hurt us as freely as God forgives us. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”: Asking for protection and shelter from the evil in this world (Psalm 91). “For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen”: Acknowledging that all we are, all we have, and all we do belongs to God. He alone deserves our glory and praise (1 Chron. 29:11).
*Discussion Questions*
📌 Which concept in the quotes above inspires you the most? Which concept challenges you the most?
📌 What other lessons can we learn from the prayer lives of others in the Bible? (See Ezra 10:1; 2 Kings 13:4; Jon. 4:2-3; Hab. 3:1; 2 Kings 19:14-19; Jer. 32:16-25, Neh. 1:4-11, 1 Kings 8:22-54, to list just a few.)
📌 What is the role of fasting alongside prayer?
📌 Is there anything new that you would like to change or implement in your prayer life as a result of this week’s lesson? Why not make the changes?
For May 9-15. Happy Sabbath.
*Entire Lesson Summary*
_The Bible shares accounts of individuals who had vibrant, abiding prayer lives and others who didn’t. As we search its pages, we’ll always find someone we can relate to, regardless of the state of our relationship with God. We’ll also find many, many promises that will encourage and guide us in our devotional lives. Spiritual growth should be our goal--our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate example in all things and the Author and Finisher of our faith._
*Inside Story*
*Giving Hope to Maasai People*
Rompas, a 16-year-old Maasai boy in Kenya, decided to pursue education after his baptism, despite facing opposition from his family. He prayed for financial support to attend Bugema University in Uganda, and unexpectedly received help from a visiting politician who offered him more than he asked for. After being accepted into the theology program, Rompas returned home, where the same politician later provided enough funds for three years of tuition. Now an Adventist pastor, he has established six churches and opened one on his father's land, where 33 family members worship every Sabbath. Rompas is passionate about sharing the gospel with the Maasai people and has distributed over 500 Bibles in their language, believing it brings hope to the hopeless.
