Growing in a Relationship With God has many wonderful steps in it. There are several beautiful hymns from which to choose as a theme due to all the changes that come along when we grow in our relationship with God. On page 31 we see that “the most powerful weapon is prayer” to help us through our growing times. Therefore, we will wish to sing 
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – Hymn 290 to keep learning every minute of the day in our journey. To help with this journey, Lord, 
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272 to instruct even more with the Holy Spirit encouraging along the way: 
Hover O’er Me, Holy Spirit – Hymn 260.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/7-practical-prayer-singing-with-inspiration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=7-practical-prayer-singing-with-inspiration

Daily Lesson for Monday 11th of May 2026

Perhaps you’ve prayed about something for a long time, maybe even years, and it feels as if God hasn’t heard your prayers. The Bible tells us to “ask, and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7), “if we ask anything according to His will” (1 John 5:14, NKJV). What is your understanding of these promises?

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Hannah is an example of a devoted woman who prayed for something very specific (1 Samuel 1:10-17). At first it seemed that God did not answer her prayers, but she persisted, and God did answer, in His perfect time and according to His will. Sometimes the waiting deepens our walk with God, as we learn to trust Him more.

Psalms 62:8 says, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (NKJV). Trust. Do we trust that He really does know what’s best, even when we don’t see an immediate answer to our prayers? Do we trust that eventually He will answer in His perfect time and way?

Sometimes our prayers may not be answered as quickly as we want or in the manner that we hope they will be. What counsel does the Bible give us about this?

• Seek God’s will, not your own (Matthew 6:10; 1 John 5:14-15).

• Consider your motives (Proverbs 16:2, James 4:3).

• Think about whether you have a cherished sin (Psalms 66:18, 1 Peter 3:12, Proverbs 15:29).

• Abide in God and in His Word (John 15:7).

• Have faith when you pray (Hebrews 11:6, James 1:6, Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:22).

• Consider the state of your heart (humble or proud) (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:6).

• Persevere (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).

• Forgive others (Mark 11:25-26).

• Ultimately, God sees the big picture and knows what is best for us (Romans 8:28, Ephesians 3:20, Jeremiah 29:11-13). Sometimes His answer merely is as it was for Paul: “ ‘My grace is sufficient for you’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV).

A key fact that determines our response to what seems like unanswered prayers is our picture of God. If we see God as distant and disinterested, our relationship with Him weakens. In such times, search the Bible for evidence of His love and care for you, and pray that your distorted picture of Him will become clearer.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-07-when-prayers-seem-unanswered/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-07-when-prayers-seem-unanswered

Prepared for Sabbath School Class on May 16, 2026. 

Photograph by William Earnhardt

Key Text: “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8, NKJV).

Read in Class: 1 Kings 19:1-18.

Study: What is at the heart of Elijah’s dejection here? How is God’s response different from what happened at Mount Carmel?

Apply: God, our good and kind Father, knows exactly what you need. How can you be still enough to trust Him and keep your eyes steadfast on Him through it all?

Share: When talking to a friend who feels like God is always telling her, “No,” how can the passage we just studied help you share how God loves us even when telling us, “No?” After all, when Elijah asked to die, did God tell Eliha, yes, wait, or no? For a hint, see 2 Kings 2.

Read in Class: Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:2-4.

Study: What interesting things do you notice about Jesus’ prayer?

Our Father in heaven: Acknowledging your personal relationship with the Father of all.
Hallowed be Your name: Recognizing God’s holiness makes us come in reverence and respect.
Your kingdom come: Longing for God’s return and an indwelling of the Holy Spirit until He does so.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven: Surrendering and praying for God’s will to be done in our lives, trusting that He knows best, rather than merely praying for what we want.
Give us this day our daily bread: Asking for what we need to live, both physically (food and water) and spiritually (Jesus and His living Word).
Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us: Repenting, seeking forgiveness, and remembering to pardon those who have hurt us as freely as God forgives us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Asking for protection and shelter from the evil in this world (Psalm 91).
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen: Acknowledging that all we are, all we have, and all we do belongs to God. He alone deserves our glory and praise (1 Chron. 29:11).
Apply: How do your prayers compare to Jesus’ prayer? For example, giving us (not just me) our daily bread and forgiving us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us?

Share: Your friend asks why some people pray such long public prayers in church, when all of Jesus’ public prayers were very brief? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Daniel 9:4-19.

Study: Where do you find praise, thanksgiving, confession, and forgiveness, as well as requests, in Daniel’s prayer?

Apply: What things do you need to praise God for, confess to Him, request from Him, and to thank Him for? Why not do it right now?

Share: Can you explain how Daniel’s prayer illustrates humility rather than pride in prayer?

Read in Class: Romans 8:26-27.

Study: What kinds of weaknesses is Paul referring to and how does the Holy Spirit help with those weaknesses?

Apply: How does “groanings which cannot be uttered” help you understand the communication between us, the Holy Spirit, and the Father?

Share: Can you share any examples of people in the Bible who did not know exactly how to pray, or had prayers answered in ways they did not expect?

Mission: Can you text some of your phone contacts this week and simply ask how you can pray for them, and then, of course, pray for them?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/7-practical-prayer-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=7-practical-prayer-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 10th of May 2026

Faithful Elijah lived in evil times, with King Ahab doing more “to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33, NKJV). By far the most dramatic moments in Elijah’s life came with the confrontation at Mount Carmel (see 1 Kings 18:1-46). At the climax of this incredible story, Ahab and his kingdom saw with their own eyes the truth that God answers prayer. This was an unforgettable moment in Israel’s history and is why the sudden change of events in this story catches us by surprise.

Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com

Throughout the course of one day, although God answered every one of Elijah’s prayers, the prophet’s emotional, mental, and physical state soon shifted. Although Elijah had experienced a great victory with God that day, he had, in a moment of weariness, allowed the fear of death to overcome his faith in God. What is so striking about this story is that, although Elijah gave in to despondency and discourage­ment, God came to him in tenderness and care, providing food and water again (1 Kings 19:5-6)—so much so that he lasted for 40 days and 40 nights (1 Kings 19:8). And when God finally revealed Himself, it was in a very different manner than He had before.

Sometimes in our lives, God answers in very direct, powerful, and undeniable ways. This strengthens our faith, and we feel the closeness of God in our lives.

Other times we waver and give in to temptation, thinking that it’s too hard to follow God with unswerving faith. We look for God’s answers in ways we expect Him to respond, not realizing that His thoughts and ways are far higher and wiser than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). Just as there is much about God’s creation that we don’t understand, we shouldn’t be surprised that there is much about God’s ways that we don’t understand either.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-07-elijah-praying-in-crisis/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-07-elijah-praying-in-crisis

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 9th of May 2026

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study:

1 Kings 19:1-18; Matthew 6:5-8; Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:5-15; Daniel 9:4-19; Romans 8:26-27.

Memory Text:

“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalms 62:8, NKJV).

What is your prayer life like? How often do you pray? How fervently? How expectantly? Do you pray daily or only in emergencies? Are your prayers always asking for something, or do you praise God in your prayers, as well?

Also, do you find yourself offering a prayer in the morning before you eat and perhaps partway through your busy day? Perhaps you’ve been part of a regular prayer group or even experienced what it’s like to pray around the clock. Have you experienced the power and presence of God through prayer that changes everything in your life?

Prayer is the constant connection between us (the branches) and Jesus (the Vine). “If we would grow and flourish, we must continually draw sap and nourishment from the Living Vine; for separated from the Vine we have no strength.”—Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 73. This is the blessing of abiding prayer. God hears us, and He always answers in His time and in His perfect way—though not always in the way we might expect.

This week let’s study other praying individuals in the Bible and consider practical ways to strengthen prayer in our daily lives.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 16.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-07-practical-prayer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-07-practical-prayer