This week I wanted to recommend some thematic study of scripture on prayer in the N.T.: (excerpts taken from Prayer and the Knowledge of God)
Day 1. Instructions to Pray Perseverance to pray is not always easy, Paul understands this, that is why it is necessary to exhort one another to maintain some kind of discipline of prayer. Rom 12:12; 1 Cor 7:5; Phil 4:4-6; Col 4:2; 1 Thess 5:16-21; 1 Tim 2:1, 5:5 Day 2. The Effects of Prayer What kind of effects do our prayers really have for one another? What was Paul's idea of this when he asked others to pray for him? Can you see a connection to the evangelistic reference to prayer from Rom 10:12-13 to Joel 2:32 to Acts 2:21 to Gen 4:26? Rom 10:13; 2 Cor 1:11; Phil 1:19; 1 Tim 4:5 Day 3. Requests for Prayer Prayer is a chief way as Christians we have of experiencing fellowship with one another since we are in Christ together. Prayer transcends the need for physical proximity so we are enable to have genuine fellowship with one another through prayer in spite of being separated physcially. How dedicated are you to praying for those around you? How about those not around you, yet still sharing in Christ with you? Rom 15:30-32; 1 Thes 5:25; 2 Thes 3:1 Day 4. Directions for the Conduct of Prayer How we conduct prayer will show what we understand it to be. This in turn is a reflection of our knowledge of God. 1 Cor 11:4-5; 14:13-19; Eph 5:18-20; 6:18; 1 Tim 2:8 Day 5. Eschatological (end times) Prayer Phil 2:6-11 (particularly focusing on verse 10 of Paul's hymnal here as he refers to the effect of Christ's exultation) Mat 7:21-23; Luke 16:19-31; Mark 5:7-9; Luke 4:41 - How might Jesus' words here shape our eschatological concept of our prayer life?