When we talk to God, how do we speak to Him? What is the primary subject of our prayers—our own cares and concerns? Dr. Stanley discusses how our understanding of the greatness of God affects how we pray.
Sermon Outline
God’s Greatness – A Source of Comfort
Scripture tells us to make our requests known to God (Phil. 4:6), but if we’re not careful, our prayers can become nothing more than a list of needs and desires. In this week’s sermon, Dr. Stanley explains why focusing on God’s greatness can help balance our prayer life.
Key Passage: Psalm 86:1-10
In Psalm 86, David begins with his own affliction but then speaks about the greatness of God. When praying, we should balance our needs with the Lord’s wonderful attributes. How is His greatness revealed to us?
God is omnipresent. There is nowhere God isn’t. He is absolutely limitless (Ps. 139:1-16). We can take comfort in this because ...
In all our circumstances, our Father is there.
We may feel alone, but that’s not reality. We have never breathed a single breath outside His presence.
We may not be able to see or touch God, but He is always with us.
God is timeless. He is from everlasting to everlasting (Ps. 90:1-2; Rev. 1:8). We can take comfort in this because ...
God always knows what’s coming in our life. He has a perfect perspective.
When He says “Wait,” we can trust Him because He knows the future.
God is omnipotent. There’s no limit to His power and nothing that is not under His control. We can take comfort in this because ...
We are never a victim of circumstance. Everything that comes into our life is allowed by God.
His power is in us through His indwelling presence. Our full submission to His will makes this more fully evident.
God is omniscient. There are no limits to His knowledge (Ps. 147:5; Isa. 55:8-9; Heb. 4:12-13). We can take comfort in this because ...
God knows everything there is to know, including things we haven’t considered.
When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit prays on our behalf (Rom. 8:26).
God is unchanging. He is constant and totally dependable (Ps. 55:19; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). We can take comfort in this because ...
He is completely faithful, reliable, and trustworthy.
His principles are always operating—today, tomorrow, and always.
God wants to relate to us.
He created the world and—in the person of Christ—came into it, walked among us, and performed miracles.
Jesus bore all of our sins, allowing Himself to be forsaken by the Father and buried in a tomb—something that could never hold our infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God.
God—who cannot be contained, defined, or limited—is our shepherd. He wants to be our loving Father and give us His best.
After Watching
Consider these thoughts and questions in response to the sermon:
Which of God’s attributes discussed today gives you the most hope about an issue you’re currently facing?
In Psalm 86, David says to God, “I...will glorify Your name forever” (Psalm 86:12).What does it mean to you to glorify God’s name?
