How to Pray When You Lose Your Way

Key Points and Main Ideas

Introduction

• Common overwhelming situations: new job, becoming an entrepreneur, getting married, having a child
• Importance of understanding how to navigate these life changes through prayer

Key Text: 1 Kings 3: Solomon's Prayer

• Solomon's story: David's successor, overwhelmed by his new role as king
• Solomon's prayer focuses on wisdom and discernment over material gains

Purpose of Prayer

• Prayer's purpose is not to get God to do our will, but to align ourselves with His will
• Model Prayer (often mistakenly called the Lord's Prayer) is a template for seeking God's kingdom and His will

The Model Prayer (Matthew 6)

• Begins with an acknowledgment of God's holiness and desire for His kingdom to come (Matthew 6:9-13)
• Our requests should focus first on God's will, not our own desires
• The phrase 'Thy kingdom come' implies asking for God's authority and will to be established in all aspects of our lives

Kingdom of God

• 'Kingdom' means the King’s dominion: God having authority over our lives
• True purpose of prayer: asking God to rule over our thoughts, actions, and decisions
• Example: story from London about how everything in a kingdom belongs to the royal family

Solomon's Specific Prayer

• Recognized God's mercy towards David despite his faults
• Solomon didn't ask for long life, riches, or the defeat of enemies
• Requested an understanding heart to judge people rightly

Practical Application

• Prayer model: Ask for wisdom to fulfill God's purpose in a way that pleases Him and serves others
• Examples of roles where this prayer applies: parent, teacher, entrepreneur, spouse

Misconceptions and Correct Priorities

• It's common to mistakenly think we are here to please people and serve God; the reality is to please God and serve people
• Depression often comes from self-absorption, whereas serving others aligns us with our true purpose

Biblical Examples and Principles

• Joseph in Genesis: wise in managing resources, sold food instead of giving it away
• Proverbs 11:26: advocating for selling good things to people

Conclusion

• Yielding to God's authority transforms our lives and purpose
• When we align our lives to please God and serve others, we receive bonuses like wealth and influence as a byproduct
• Encouragement to make this kind of prayer a daily habit

Practical Prayer

• Dear Lord, give me the wisdom to do the thing You put me on this Earth to do in a way that pleases You and serves the people You put me here to serve.

Final Thought

• Seeking God’s kingdom means yielding completely to His authority and serving others as a reflection of serving Him.
• Emphasize continual alignment with God’s will to remain faithful and purpose-driven.