A WAY TO PRAY

Lk 11:1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

One of the greatest disciplines of being a believer in Christ is prayer and stats show it is one of the most difficult for believers to consistently practice. But the Word is filled with admonitions, warnings, and examples of both prayer and practice. This study is primarily a gathering of prayers and petitions from the Word of God with helps to pray effectively.

1.       NT Prayer Outline:

Jesus said to pray this way:

Mt 6:9-13 Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed [holy] is thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give me today daily bread. Forgive me my sins and trespasses even as I forgive those who’ve trespassed against me. And lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever. Amen.

[not a rote prayer but meditate each clause Joshua 1:8 that you may see how to apply the Word]

2.      OT Prayer Outline:

Ps 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 You make me lie down in green pastures; You lead me beside quiet waters. 3 You restore my soul; You guide me in the paths of righteousness For Your name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death [Hb. darkness, doom], [1Jn 5:19] I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

[Ps 119 – 176 vs. concerning the word molding heart and mind]

3.      For Spiritual Transformation.

[1Jn 1:9] I confess my sins [I do], You are faithful and righteous to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. And I thank you.

[Ps 51:1-3] Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion I thank you for the blood of Jesus that blots out my transgressions; that washes me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanses me from all my sin. I have acknowledged my transgressions, and my conscience is made clean by the blood of your SON [Heb 10:22; 1Jn 1:7; Heb 9:14; 1Pet 3:21]

Eze 36:25-27 I am thankful that You have cleansed me by the blood of Christ from all filthiness and idols. You have given me a new heart and new spirit. You’ve taken the heart of stone out and given me a heart of flesh. You’ve given me a new spirit and you have put Your Spirit in me to cause me to keep your commandments, precepts, and walk in the truth. [Ps 51:10-12]

Force me – circumstances, situations, “make it necessary” as my only rational option.

4.      For Self-examination

Prayer is a time to examine ourselves about being right and honest with God.

[Ps 51:6] You desire truth in the innermost being and I ask that You make me know wisdom that I might bring glory to Your name. You have purified us through the blood of Christ, and we are clean by Your word. You’ve washed us whiter than snow. We now hear joy and gladness, and that which was broken is healed. Through Christ you have hidden your face from our sins and blotted out all our iniquities. You have restored to us the joy of Your salvation And we ask that You sustain us today with a willing spirit and teach us wisdom in the secret heart. Help me examine myself and judge myself rightly that I might stay strong in the faith and pass the tests and trials that come my way. That I might have strength and health and be useful to the kingdom. [2Cor 13:5; 1Cor 11:28-30]

[2Cor 7:1] I also cleanse myself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit as they are revealed to me and I repent of those things I knew were right but didn’t do. Help me complete the holiness you began in me. I acknowledge that any of my sins is against you, and I repent.

5.      For our protection.

Psalm 91:1-7 Yahweh, this day grant that I might dwell in Your secret place, and abide [stay, live] under your Almighty shadow. You are my fortress and my refuge; in You I will trust. Deliver me, I pray, from the traps and snares of the enemy and from the deadly pestilence. I Trust Your faithfulness as my shield and safeguard. I will not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the fiery arrows that fly by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, or the destruction that lays waste at noon. Please protect me from the lies and conspiracies of men and the strife of tongues, for I confess that You are my refuge from the storm, my defense in times of distress, my provision in times of need, a shade from the heat. [Psa 31:20; Psa 32:7 Isaiah 25:4]

Ps 91:7-12 Though disaster may surround me, only with my eyes will I see it, for I have made YOU my refuge and dwelling place. As much as YOU deem proper and right, I ask that NO evil will befall me or my family, nor will any plague come near my tent. For You will give Your angels charge concerning us, To guard those under my care and those of my extended my family in all our ways. They will bear us up in their hands, That we do not strike our foot against a stone. [Heb 1:14].

6.      For our peace of mind – full armor & practice [Phil 4:9]

I put on the full armor of God this day--the belt of truth [Your word is truth]; my feet shod with the peace of the gospel [as much as possible that I would be at peace with all men]; wearing the body armor of His righteousness; helmet of salvation;; shield of faith; sword of the spirit; praying always with all manner of prayer. [Eph 6:10-18]

Phil 4:6-8 I cast all my cares, concerns, fears, discouragements, depressions, and anxieties on You Lord. I bring them to you in prayer, petition, with thanksgiving and Your peace keeps my mind and heart on you. I choose to meditate on the good, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, and noble.

1 Pt 5:6-9 I humble myself under Your mighty hand, O God, that You may exalt me at the proper time, 7 casting all my anxiety over the present and the future on You, because You care for me. 8 Help me be of sober controlled spirit, on the alert as my adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But I resist him, firm in my faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by my brethren who are in the world.

[Rom 8:28] I trust that you are working in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure. That all things today will work out for good because I love you and answer your call. I intercede for my family, my leadership, my friends, and fellow workers. Keep us in the center of your hand as we work towards enlarging your kingdom. Let us know that you are working with us with signs and wonders and let us see some of the fruit of our labors. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name whose name is above every name in the earth, above the earth, and under the earth. Amen [Mt 28:20; Phil 2:9-11; Mk 16:20]

7.      For our authority.

Lk 10:19-20 You have granted that we might tread upon the lion and the cobra for you have given us authority over all the power [ability] of the enemy. You have promised that nothing shall be any means hurt us. We rejoice that our name is written in heaven in the book of life. You will not forget our labor of love which we have shown toward ministering to your saints and will continue to minister as you direct us.

I stand upon YOUR Promise: Ps 91:14-16 “Because I love YOU, therefore You will deliver me; You will set me securely on high, because I know Your name. “I will call upon You, and You will answer me; You will be with me in trouble; You will rescue me and honor me. 16 “With a long life You will satisfy me And let me see Your salvation.”

8.      For our healing and deliverance.

Psalm 103:1-22 I bless You Lord. I bless Your holy Name. I do NOT forget all Your benefits. By the blood of Jesus on the cross and by His stripes you took away the sins of the world and my sins in particular. You pardon all my iniquities, You heal all my diseases; 4 You redeemed my life from the pit, You crowned me with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 You satisfy my years with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle. 6 You perform righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. … 8 You are compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. … You have not dealt with me according to my sins, Nor rewarded me according to my iniquities. 11 For I trust in your lovingkindness which is as high as the heavens are above the earth, toward me because I fear YOU. I thank you that removed my transgressions from me, as far as the east is from the west. For you know my frame that I am but dust, here in the morning but gone by the evening. My days are as grass. But Your lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting on me because I FEAR YOU. I strive to do all Your precepts.

[Lk 7:7] Because as the centurion said, “Just say the Word and my servant shall be healed.” So it is with me, Your word has spoken, and Your word accomplishes what You’ve sent it to do. [Isa 55:11] It will not return void. And so I ask you, Lord, “Just say the word Lord and we shall be healed, well, cleansed, and made whole, fully equipped to do your will.

9.      Against our unbelief

Jn 15:1-7 You are the vine we are the branches and apart from you we can do nothing. Help me, Lord in my unbelief, doubts, fears, and insecurities. Help me bear fruit in all seasons. I know you are doing and have done all that is needed to see me be fruitful. Help me recognize your pruning and molding and help me believe all things are possible. Mark 9:22-24 “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Mark 11:22-24 I declare my faith in God. No matter the mountain before me I believe it to be removed and cast into the sea. I will continue to believe, to ask, to seek, to knock till your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. I will believe to receive. 1 Jn 5:14-15 This is the confidence which I have before You, that, if I ask anything according to Your will, You hear me. 15 And if I know that You hear me in whatever I ask, I can know that I have the requests which I have asked from You.

10.    For help in walking upright

Help me Lord to keep your commandments: [Gal 5:16-18; 22-25] [To love you with my all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. To submit to the Spirit of God to change my character; to walk after the Spirit in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Purity, and Self-Control.]

[Hb 12:1-3] Help me also to lay aside every encumbrance and any sin which so easily entangles me and let me run with endurance the race that is set before me. I fix my eyes on You, Jesus, the author and perfecter and finisher of my faith. Help me endure my cross, and the hostility of sinners so that I will not grow weary and lose heart. Help me walk as you walked [talk, feel, act, and react].

11.     For wisdom and knowledge

[Joshua 1:8] I meditate upon Your Word in order to SEE [understand, know] how to keep and do all that is written in Your Word. And so I will make my way prosperous and have great success.

[Eph 3:16-19; Col 1:9-12] Fill me with the knowledge of your Will in all wisdom and spiritual strength and understanding that I might walk worthy of you unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and strengthened with all might by Your Spirit in my inner man.

[Jn 14:26; 15:16; 16:13] Lead me into all the truth, show me things to come, bring things that you have spoken to my remembrance, and let me walk in the light that I might be cleansed from all sins and unrighteousness. Prepare the way for us today and make straight our paths. Open doors of opportunity. Let your favor and grace and blessing overshadow all that we do today. Let your light shine through us.

[2 Peter 1:2-4] Grace and peace are multiplied unto me this day as I increase in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ my Lord. Your power has given me everything I need for life and godliness. You have called me by Your glory and Excellence. You have granted me Your precious promises that through them I will escape the corruption in the world through uncontrolled lusts and I have become a partaker of Your divine nature.

12.    For leadership, family

I pray for leadership at all levels that You would grant wisdom and strategy and divine protection on them and their families. That they would watch over us as those who have to give a report to you [1Tim 2:1-2; Heb 13:7,17]. I pray that they may do so with joy and not complaints for that would be of no advantage to us.

I submit to your direction and calling, and I will be your witness to teach transgressors Your ways that you may see sinners converted to You. O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise [Psalms 51:1-17; 1 John 1:9]

13.    For unity

1 Cor 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. NASU

Phil 1:27-29 O Lord, help me conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that wherever I go I will stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together with true saints for the faith of the gospel. Let us stand unafraid and unshaken by those opposing us knowing this is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for me, because this has been granted to me for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake [Rom 8:16-17; Col 1:24].

14.    For perseverance

Matthew 24:13 Through your strength I will strive to endure to the end and be saved. I will not let my heart be troubled nor fearful for I believe in Yahweh as my Father and Jesus Christ as My Lord. I receive the Peace you left for us, not a worldly peace but one of your power and authority. John 14:1; 14:27

I pray my heart be good soil, one where the Word of God will bear much fruit as I receive it with great joy and much patience enduring all tribulation, persecution, or temptation. Help me overcome unbelief, impatience, ignorance, rebellion, and fear of suffering. Mk 4; Mt 17:19-20; Mk 14:40-41; Lk 17:5.

It is my prayer that when you do come, I will be standing in faith on the earth. Lk 18:8