The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Week 8: Chapter 7 — Pray Through
Read Chapter 7 of The Circle Maker. Primary Scripture: Genesis 32:22–32 (Jacob wrestling with God); Romans 8:26–27.
Want the full guide for The Circle Maker?
Free Week 1 sample in 5 min · $24.99 for all 13 weeks · 7-day refund
Batterson wrestles with what it means to "pray through" — to keep praying until something shifts, not in God, but in us — and this chapter may be the most personally challenging one yet.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Jacob's all-night wrestling match with God (Genesis 32) is Batterson's central image for "praying through." Jacob's prayer was so physically intense it left him with a permanent limp. What does that suggest about the cost of real prayer?
2.Batterson writes that "praying through" is not about changing God's mind but about God changing ours — aligning our will with his through the process of persistent prayer. Has a long season of prayer ever changed you more than it changed your circumstances? Describe what happened.
3.Jacob refused to let go until God blessed him. Is there something in your life you have been holding loosely that God is actually calling you to wrestle with in prayer — something you have not yet "held on" to with that kind of tenacity?
You're on Week 8 of 13
Don't lose momentum — get the rest of The Circle Maker
All 92 questions across 13 weeks, with closing prayers and a downloadable PDF for your group.
One-time purchase · 7-day refund · Covers your whole group