Foundations

Episode 2

When the Switch Flipped

What we experience affects how we pray.

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SERIES: FOUNDATIONS

Episode 2 of 7

These companion notes are designed to help you continue the conversation with God beyond the episode.

SCRIPTURE

What We Studied for this Episode

These are some of the Scriptures we used to prepare and share in this episode. Click the triangle to see the passages.

Matthew 7:7-11 – Jesus teaching on prayer

⁷“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

English Standard Version (ESV)

Psalm 34:8-10 – God provides all our needs

⁸Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
⁹Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
¹⁰The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Philippians 4:6-7 – Prayer from the heart brings peace

⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

English Standard Version (ESV)

RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS

As Mentioned on this Episode

These are the books, articles, podcasts, and other resources referenced during this conversation.

C.S. Lewis

The Weight of Glory is a sermon that Lewis preached, this resource is a free pdf file. Although it is wonderful, the quote we refer to in the podcast episode comes from the book below, The Problem of Pain. You can click the title below for a link to Amazon to buy it.

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
– C.S. Lewis

REFLECT

Slow down and consider what God may be showing you.

Read slowly through the Scriptures and think back to the conversation. Don’t rush to the “right” answer. What draws your heart?

Notice

What are some shaping experiences that you recognize from your childhood and early life that would impact your prayer life?

Are there any experiences that you have where “the switch flipped” in your prayer practices or beliefs?

Consider

Can you recall a time when God answered prayer in a big way in your life? What was that experience like? Did it impact your prayer life?

When have you experienced deep pain or disappointment, and how did God meet you in that space? If you don’t have an experience like that, ask the Lord to show you where He desires to meet you in your place of pain.

Respond

Take some time to process how prayer can help you to know God more deeply, especially in places of pain. While difficult, these places can work to reveal His character, and show that He is trustworthy and true.

PRACTICE

This Week

One simple invitation

Find a way this week to “immerse yourself” in the language of prayer. Maybe attend a prayer meeting or worship night and ask for someone to pray over you.

Notice what the faith and expectancy is around in that space and ask God to give you more of that in your own prayer life, too. He is willing and able.

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Share what God is Teaching You

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Email us at unpolishedprayer@gmail.com

If this conversation encouraged you, consider sharing this episode with someone who may be encouraged as well.

A Note About Our Resources

The resources shared on this page are intended to support the conversations on Unpolished Prayer and encourage continued growth in prayer and a deeper understanding of Scripture. While we carefully select resources we believe are faithful and helpful, we encourage every listener to test what they read and hear against the truth of God’s Word.