The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Week 9: Chapter 8 — Think Long
Read Chapter 8 of The Circle Maker. Primary Scripture: Proverbs 13:12; Psalm 37:4.
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Batterson shifts to the importance of long-term vision — drawing prayer circles requires not just passion but patience, and this chapter asks you to think in decades, not days.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Batterson introduces the idea of writing "life goals" — a list of dreams and prayers that span a lifetime. He personally has a list of hundreds of such goals. What is your initial reaction to that practice — inspiring, overwhelming, or something else?
2.Proverbs 13:12 says "hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life." Batterson uses this to affirm that God-given desires are not meant to be suppressed but pursued in prayer. How does this verse reframe the longing you feel when a prayer seems unanswered for a long time?
3.Psalm 37:4 — "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" — is central to this chapter. Batterson argues that delighting in God actually reshapes our desires. How has your time with God changed what you want?
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