Going Higher with God in Prayer

What's "Going Higher with God in Prayer" about?

• Focus on Prayer: The book by A.W. Tozer, compiled and edited by James L. Snyder, emphasizes the importance of prayer in a Christian's life, portraying it as a lifelong dialogue with God.
• Prayer as a Ministry: Tozer views prayer not just as a duty or ritual but as a ministry and a channel through which God works in the world.
• Practical Guidance: It provides practical insights into cultivating a deeper prayer life, addressing common barriers and offering strategies for effective prayer.
• Spiritual Growth: The book encourages readers to align their lives with God's will through prayer, fostering spiritual growth and a closer relationship with God.

Why should I read "Going Higher with God in Prayer"?

• Deepen Your Prayer Life: The book offers profound insights into making prayer a central part of your spiritual journey, helping you to deepen your relationship with God.
• Overcome Prayer Challenges: It addresses common obstacles to effective prayer, providing guidance on how to overcome them and enhance your prayer experience.
• Inspiration from Tozer: A.W. Tozer's teachings are known for their depth and spiritual insight, making this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to grow in their faith.
• Practical Application: The book is not just theoretical; it offers practical advice and methods to integrate prayer into your daily life effectively.

What are the key takeaways of "Going Higher with God in Prayer"?

• Prayer as a Dialogue: Prayer should be a continuous dialogue with God, not just a series of requests or rituals.
• Align with God's Will: Effective prayer involves aligning your life and desires with God's will, seeking His guidance in all things.
• Overcome Barriers: Identifying and overcoming barriers to prayer, such as self-sufficiency and lack of faith, is crucial for a fruitful prayer life.
• God's Glory: The ultimate aim of prayer should be to glorify God, not to fulfill personal desires or ambitions.

How does A.W. Tozer define prayer in "Going Higher with God in Prayer"?

• Elevation of the Mind: Tozer defines prayer as an ascent or elevation of the mind to God, emphasizing its spiritual nature.
• Access to God: Prayer is seen as a means of accessing God's presence and aligning oneself with His will.
• Beyond Rituals: It is not about mumbling phrases or performing rituals but about experiencing the presence of God.
• Channel for God's Work: Prayer is a channel through which God works in the world, using believers to accomplish His purposes.

What are the barriers to answered prayer according to A.W. Tozer?

• Human Self-Sufficiency: Believing we can handle everything on our own without God's help is a major barrier.
• Moral Judgments: Relying on our own sense of right and wrong, rather than seeking God's guidance, can hinder prayer.
• Unconfessed Sin: A guilty conscience and unconfessed sin can block our prayers from being effective.
• Misaligned Desires: Praying with selfish motives or outside of God's will leads to unanswered prayers.

What is anticipatory prayer as discussed in "Going Higher with God in Prayer"?

• Preparation for Crisis: Anticipatory prayer involves preparing for future challenges by seeking God's guidance and strength in advance.
• Example of Jesus: Tozer highlights how Jesus anticipated His crucifixion and prepared through prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Spiritual Readiness: It emphasizes the importance of being spiritually ready for any crisis, knowing that battles are often won or lost before they are fought.
• Daily Practice: Christians are encouraged to make anticipatory prayer a daily practice, aligning themselves with God's will and protection.

How does corporate prayer benefit believers according to A.W. Tozer?

• Unity in Prayer: Corporate prayer brings believers together, uniting them in their desires and requests to God.
• Focus on God's Glory: It should aim to glorify God and seek His will, rather than focusing on individual needs or desires.
• Strength in Numbers: Praying together can strengthen faith and encourage believers, as they witness God's work in the community.
• Restoration of God's Vision: Corporate prayer can help restore God's vision and glory in the world, aligning the Church with His purposes.

What does A.W. Tozer say about the conditions for answered prayer?

• Right Relationship with God: Having a right relationship with God is essential for effective prayer, as He hears His children's prayers.
• Good Conscience: A clear conscience, free from unconfessed sin, is necessary for confident and effective prayer.
• Praying in God's Will: Prayers must align with God's will, as He does not answer prayers that are contrary to His purposes.
• Faith and Patience: Believers must have faith in God's promises and be patient, trusting that He will answer in His timing.

What are some of the best quotes from "Going Higher with God in Prayer" and what do they mean?

• "Prayer is an ascent or elevation of the mind to God." This quote emphasizes the spiritual nature of prayer, highlighting its role in connecting us with God.
• "You do not have because you do not ask." This underscores the importance of actively seeking God's help and guidance through prayer.
• "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." It highlights the power of sincere and righteous prayer in bringing about change.
• "God does not hear every prayer." This serves as a reminder that prayers must align with God's will and be free from selfish motives to be effective.

How does A.W. Tozer suggest overcoming the serpent that destroys prayer?

• Self-Examination: Tozer advises believers to examine their motives, ensuring that their prayers are not self-centered or for personal gain.
• Focus on God's Glory: Prayers should aim to glorify God, not to elevate oneself or seek personal recognition.
• Humility in Prayer: Approaching God with humility and reverence is crucial, recognizing that prayer is a sacred dialogue with the Almighty.
• Align with God's Will: Ensuring that prayers align with God's will and purposes helps prevent them from being hindered by selfish desires.

What role does God's wisdom play in prayer according to "Going Higher with God in Prayer"?

• Guidance in Prayer: God's wisdom guides believers in how to pray effectively, aligning their requests with His will.
• Understanding God's Plan: Recognizing that God's wisdom is perfect and His plans are unchanging helps believers trust in His timing and answers.
• Beyond Human Understanding: God's wisdom surpasses human understanding, and believers must rely on it rather than their own knowledge.
• Prayer as a Channel: Prayer is a channel through which God's wisdom and purposes are accomplished in the world, using believers as instruments.

How does A.W. Tozer describe the relationship between prayer and God's work through us?

• God's Channel: Prayer is the channel through which God accomplishes His work in the world, using believers to fulfill His purposes.
• Beyond Human Abilities: God does not rely on human abilities or wisdom; instead, He works through those who yield themselves to Him.
• Surrender to God: Believers must surrender their own desires and ambitions, allowing God to work through them for His glory.
• God's Unchanging Plan: God's work through prayer is part of His unchanging plan, and believers are called to align themselves with His will.