I want to use a teaching tool that R. A. Torrey utilized, that of asking questions…

• Why do we pray in the form of A.C.T.S.?
• Did Christ expect us to follow His “model-prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13) every time we prayed?
• What did Paul mean when he said we should pray with all kinds of prayers (Ephesians 6:18)?
• Have you ever looked at the way David prayed, when he was in the midst of difficulties (cf Psalm 3-7, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 22, 25, 27, 28, 31, 35), just to name a few?
• How did David start all of these prayers?
• Why didn’t he begin with adoration?
• When you are in distress, do many of your prayers start off like David’s too?
• Did you notice that many of his OTHER Psalms do, in fact, start off with praise (cf Psalm 8, 18, 19, 23, 29, 30, 32, 34), just to name a few?
• How did he end all of his prayers that STARTED in great distress?
• Why did David praise God at the end of all of these prayers?
• When you pray, in the midst of troubles, do your prayers end like David’s?
• Do your prayers end with hope?
• Do you get off your knees with the problems gone?
• Do you get off your knees with the problems still there, but the anxiety gone? Why or why not?
• Look again, in every one of these prayers, how did David end them?
• Look again at your prayers, do you end them the same way as David? Why or why not?
• Do you think it is possible to get off your knees with the problems STILL in your face, but the anxiety gone?
• Looking at Psalm 5:1-2, how has David been praying?
• Have you ever prayed with groaning (or meditating), and with crying out to the Lord?
• Assuming David has been praying, groaning, meditating and/or crying out to the Lord all night, how is he praying in verse 3?
• If your version says, “eagerly watch,” “looking up” or “keeping watch” or a derivative of any of those, how would you say David was praying, if “wait in expectation” was the way your version ended?
• When you pray, and are in the midst of distress, what is your expectation?
• What do you think 1 John 5:14-15 says your expectation should be?
• What is David doing in Psalm 5:4?
• When you are praying because of great distress in your life, do you remember God’s character?
• How do you think, remembering God’s character, would help you in your praying?
• Look at James 1:6, do you doubt (or waiver) when you pray, in the midst of distress?
• What does James 1:7 say about doubting when you pray?
• Going back to Psalm 5:4, what do you think will keep you from doubting?
• In Psalm 5:8, what is the “twist” that David takes in his prayer?
• How does Psalm 5:8 agree with and support 1 Thessalonians 5:18?
• How does Psalm 5:8 agree with and support Philippians 4:6-7?
• When was the last time you thanked God for your distress?
• In verse 8 was David looking to God for relief from the distress he was in?
• What was he looking for from God?
• The last time you were in distress, calling out to God, did you seek direction from the Lord, BECAUSE OF the distress you were in?
• Do you see how you can thank God, FOR the distress, and still not LIKE the distress?
• Jumping to Psalm 5:11-12, can you figure out what David is doing?
• His problems aren’t gone, why is he rejoicing?
• Maybe a bigger question is, why aren’t you rejoicing when you get to the end of your prayers?
• What do you think would happen if you stayed on your knees until God told you to get up?
• Have you ever stayed on your knees AFTER you said, “Amen?”
• Can you think of a reason this might be good to do?
• Can you think of other ways you can hear from God?
• Have you ever prayed with God’s word open, and next to you?
• If verses 11 and 12 show us what David knew of God’s character, what does that say of your knowledge of God’s character, regarding how you end your prayers?
• When was the last time you prayed with God’s word open, next to you, and you in it, reading it…yes, while you were praying?

This was fun to write, let me know if it was helpful, okay?

In His Name, with great thanksgivings,

Mark S Mirza

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