The document discusses the true goal of prayer as transformation rather than controlling God or others. It describes contemplative prayer as pulling people out of focusing on the painful past, distracted present, and anxious future, and leading to a kind of "divine therapy". Habitual prayer is presented as an act of submission towards transformation, using the story of Peter's vision and realization that God shows no partiality in Acts 10 as an example of how prayer can lead to revelation, communication from God, and transformation through love.

1. Sunday, May 21
CONTEMPLATION
for TRANSFORMATION

2. PRAYER SCHOOL w/BRIAN ZAHND
CONTROLLING PRAYER is trying to
harness the power of omnipotence
to get God or other people
to do what they “should”
based largely on what
I want them to do…

3. PRAYER SCHOOL w/BRIAN ZAHND
The (true) goal or prayer
is not “God Management”;
it’s being a properly formed
person who enters our world
in the cruciform posture…

4. GREG BOYD
“The orthodox doctrine of the Trinity states
that from all eternity, God exists as three
Divine Persons who fully pour themselves
out for one another and who fully dwell
within one another in perfect, other-oriented
agape (self-giving, enemy-loving) love.”

5. PRAYER SCHOOL w/BRIAN ZAHND
The (true) goal or prayer
is not “God Management”;
it’s being a properly formed person who
enters our world in the cruciform posture, not:
• The angry fist of protest
• The wagging finger of shame
• The “divine hall monitor” heart
of self-righteousness

6. PRAYER SCHOOL w/BRIAN ZAHND
Most of us spend our time living in:
• The PAINFUL PAST
• The DISTRACTED PRESENT
• The ANXIOUS FUTURE
Contemplative prayer pulls us out of this
and leads us into a kind of “Divine therapy”

7. Sunday, May 21
CONTEMPLATION
for TRANSFORMATION

8. ACTS 2:42a
They devoted themselves
to the apostles’ teaching
and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread
and to the prayers.

9. PRAYER SCHOOL w/BRIAN ZAHND
Habitual prayer is an act of submission
towards transformation…ACTS 10
• FORMATION Regular time in prayer
• CONTEMPLATION ἔκστασις/ecstasy
• REVELATION Peter’s vision
• COMMUNICATION God-to-Peter; Peter-to-people
• TRANSFORMATION Love

10. Sunday, May 21
CONTEMPLATION
for TRANSFORMATION

11. Then Peter began to speak to them:
“Now I truly understand that
God shows no partiality,
but in every nation
anyone who fears him
and does what is right
is acceptable to him.”
ACTS 10:34-35

12. Sunday, May 21
CONTEMPLATION
for TRANSFORMATION

13. One of the scribes…asked him,
“Which commandment is the first of all?”
Jesus answered, “The first is: ‘Hear, O Israel:
the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’ The second is this:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than
these.”
MARK 12