Before Amen by Max Lucado
Week 9: Chapter 8 — Defiant Prayer
Read Chapter 8 of Before Amen by Max Lucado. Key passages: Daniel 6:10; Acts 16:25; Habakkuk 3:17-18.
Previewing Week 9 of Before Amen
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
Some of the most powerful prayers in Scripture were prayed in the worst possible circumstances — and Lucado calls us to the bold, stubborn practice of praying when everything in our situation says it won't make a difference.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Lucado describes "defiant prayer" as praying against the odds — choosing to speak to God when circumstances scream that He isn't listening. Can you think of a moment in your own life when continuing to pray felt like an act of defiance against despair?
2.Daniel prayed three times a day even when it was made illegal and punishable by death (Daniel 6:10). What does Daniel's example say about prayer as a non-negotiable rather than an optional spiritual activity?
3.Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns in prison at midnight (Acts 16:25). How is worship connected to defiant prayer — and what does praising God in the dark say about the nature of faith?