Final Post for "The Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson

I have enjoyed this book study!  This book has helped me develop a much fuller prayer life!  I hope you have all enjoyed the book and that you continue on with the devotional "Draw the Circle".  I will be posting every few days as we go through "Draw the Circle".  We will be doing the devotional daily beginning on Monday August 4th.

If you have any suggestions about what book study you would like us to do next, please comment or email me at RBJKNoyes@naim.net.

I thank God for each of you that has been in this study with us.  I hope this book has helped you learn to draw prayer circles around many things.  Remember Pray Boldly and dream big!

Bottled Tears

What is your vision of how God would be storing all of our tears?  

Do you think that there is one large bottle with all of our tears mixed together?  If so, when Jesus wept his tears would also be in the bottle with my tears and your tears.  

It gives me peace to feel that God also holds onto our prayers, much in the same way that he collects our tears.  If he feels our tears and sorrows are so important then you know that God must feel that our prayers are also important.  Just because our prayer is not being answered today does not mean that God has not heard us or that it is unimportant to him.  You never know when he is going to give us an answer.    

Double Anointing

I had not thought about the story of Elisha asking for double anointing as something we could ask for in current day.  It seemed like an Old Testament kind of thing.  

Can or have you asked for a double portion of anointing?

There are so many people that I would be happy if I had half of the spiritual gifts that they have.  Why would I be happy with half?  Why would I not want double?

Do I ask for half because I feel unworthy? 

In the Old Testament the mantle was given to another and represented their being called by God.  Elijah threw his cloak/mantle around Elisha.  But Elisha did not 

just accept the mantle, he also asked for double the anointing.  How bold of him to ask!

So we circle back to being bold.

  

Bottled Prayer

"Every prayer prayed in that place would be passed on to us."

When I think about the possibility that our prayers do not end, it gives me joy.  

To think that the prayers my grandparents and parents prayed for me are still at work in my life is exciting.  It also makes me realize how important my prayers are for my children, my grandchildren, friends, family and church.  

As we near the end of this book I have to say that it has definitely changed my perspective on prayer.  I think that I took prayer lightly.  Now I feel that prayer is so powerful!  It can change things for generations.  It draws me closer to God.  It has created a more personal relationship with my savior.

Double Miracles

There are so many things we pray for that require another parties participation.
When we pray are we considering how our prayers will affect the lives of others outside of our direct circle?

The miracle that we pray for may require someone else to also take a leap of faith.
The miracle that we pray for may require someone else to suffer a loss.
The miracle that we pray for may be a blessing for both parties.

I pray for a friend to sell her home so she can live closer to her family, but this may require another family to move further away from their family.  I have added to my prayer request to also pray for the family that God places in her home.

I think it is easy to forget that our prayers may affect the lives of others when God answers them.

ASAP

Is ASAP our attitude with our prayer life?  We live in a society where most everything is instantaneous.  It can be difficult to be patient and wait for anything, this includes answers to prayer.  When we have to wait we start to plan how to accomplish it on our own, and if it takes to long we will probably try our plan versus waiting and continuing to pray.

I agree with Mark when he stated "I have a tendency to mishandle the blessings that come too easily or too quickly."

I think if God answers our prayers to quickly we are more likely to take credit for the accomplishment or to feel like it was going to happen anyway.  

What do you do to give God all of the glory for answered prayer?

Do you think that you give God all of the glory when the prayer has been circled for a longer period of time?

Life Goal List

"Setting goals is a practical way of dreaming big."

This section was crazy!  Just take a look at the first one on the list!  Milk a poisonous snake??!!

Do any of you have a life goal list?

I do not have one written out, but I know that I do have some life goals.

• Celebrate 50 year wedding anniversary.
• Celebrate one of our anniversaries on a world cruise
• Go on a missions trip with my Sunday School class
• Go to Machu Picchu with Richard
• Walk where Jesus walked with Katie
• Take a train trip in Alaska with my family
• Get down to my ideal weight of 120 lbs
• Read the Bible within 1 year
• Go cave spelunking with Richard
• Go to Egypt and see the pyramids

10 steps to goal setting

Prayer

Check your motives

Think in categories

Be specific

Write it down

Include others

Celebrate along the way

Dream big

Think long

Pray hard

My goals seem so insignificant compared to the goal lists in the book.  I do not think I am dreaming big.  I am selecting things that I mostly think I will be able to successfully do.  

What would I write on my goal list if there was nothing off limits?  I will need to rethink about my list.

What do you have on your list?

Do you have a list?