The Time Is Now - Developing A Lifestyle Of Prayer

Celebrating Our Differences 1. Each of the following passages tells something about God's plan for diversity within the church. What implications might each passage have regarding the ways different people pray best?

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

1 Corinthians 12:8-11

1 Corinthians 12:15-26

Acknowledging each person's unique, God-given set of personality traits and talent traits, we gain fresh perspective on the reasons we pray as we do and why some methods of praying, which work for others, don't work for us. I'm convinced that God has a blueprint for each of us-for every project, job, church, city, nation-even for the future of mankind. Allow this lesson to lift you up to God's chart room, where you can see how your life fits into His larger kingdom plan. Understanding your uniqueness frees you from expecting God to follow your game plan, that you may joyfully join in with His. Take a moment to thank your Father for His unique design in you and in others. Invite Him to show you more clearly how He has made you, and how you can best relate to Him in prayer. Personality Traits and Prayer Temperament or personality traits reflect a combination of God's original design for you and influences from your life experience. Let's say God designed you with a proclivity toward meeting others' needs; life experience may condition you either to be indecisive, passive, and wishy-washy, or to proactively shepherd others. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the healing power of the Word of God, along with the spiritual disciplines, are other influences, guiding your growth closer to God's ideal design for you in Christ. Your conscious awareness of your own personality traits will help you cooperate with God's plan to bear the fruit of

maturity (Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Timothy 3:1-7). So, let's take a look at some personality traits.

2. The pairs of listed Scripture passages illustrate each pair of contrasting traits. How