Page 83 - First Steps 2023

You’ve just prayed—because God’s as aware of what you write as
what you say. And you’ve prayed about something specific.
There’s great benefit in praying with specificity, and your discipler will
help you explore that.

Devotion

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Read this passage from the Bible:
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because
the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed

by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything
from the Lord” (James 1:6-7).

Prayer is a conversation—which means you have to trust there’s
someone holding up the other end of the discussion. God may or may not
speak to you directly, but he is listening, and is engaged, and will respond.
Doubtful prayer is nothing more than empty words tossed skyward in
case something—or someone—might be listening. It’s a mumbled mantra

or good intention, more a request for magic than relationship.
When you pray, what’s your confidence level that God is there? Jot
your response below.

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