Chapter 9 What difference does it make?
What surprised you? Confused you? Troubled you? What new insights did you gain?
Yancey seems to be struggling about whether prayer makes a difference or not. It did in the USSR and South Africa, and Romania, but not with the holocaust. Do you struggle with this as well?
What did he mean on page 116 by saying: “I must remember that God’s kingdom is not an adjunct to US politics.”
We live on a planet ruled by powers intent on block and perverting the will of God. (p117) Do we think of evil powers ruling the world? Does he mean devils, or something else?
Do you believe that prayer in the face of evil will prevail.
Why are action and contemplation important? Why is “and” the most important word in the phrase? To which do you usually rely on most?
“The message is clear, history belongs to the intercessors who believe the future into being.” (p130) Do you agree?
Most important sentence to me, p130, “What would happen it we followed literally Jesus Command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us?” Do you do this? Why don’t we do this? What if we did it in Church? The enemies of our country?
What difference doesprayer make?
Chapter 10 Does prayer change God?
What surprised you? Confused you? Troubled you? What new insights did you gain?
Does Yancey think prayer changes God?
Is God changeless or does God change? Does it trouble you that Scripture seems to agree with both statements?
Is a willingness to change essential to relationship? Does our love for God change God?
If God is outside time, can I pray for things that have happened before? Does my prayer for past events have an effect on these events?
Is there a quote that stands out for you?
Does prayer change God?
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Prayer is a humbling experience. "A risky enterprise" (pg. 126). I don't have control of my world. I don't get what I want. My focus is on unreasonable people who oppose me, or situations I cannot change.
Pg. 126-127, Patient in Adversity, reminds me: "We cannot force our will on others...We present our request and pray..."I am at the end of my knowledge, God,...I need your help, your guidance."
Page 140 "I try to get my mind off myself, to empty it."
I figure that when it is empty, God will fill it with guidance on what I should do---for example, pray for my enemies.
Praying today, I remembered that God restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his fairweather friends.
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