Step 4- Pray a Lot and Pray a Lot of Scripture
“And we too must realize- in our day- that prayer is serious business. The only reason we’ve been given the privilege of prayer at all is because Jesus, our “great High Priest,” has violently taken on our sin with His own blood and “passed through the heavens” to create a portal of access to the Father.”- Steven and Alex Kendrick, The Battle Plan for Prayer
Prayer is a powerful tool and essential for the Christian walk. Staying in a state of constant communication with God throughout the day will provide more peace than anything the world has to offer. He’s the only counselor that has all the answers, the only physician that can fully heal you, and the only redeemer who can truly redeem you. One of the best ways to get through difficult times is by praying for God to pull you through each moment. You can pray something like this, “God, help me make it through this moment, this day, this week. I surrender this day to you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit.”
Prayer shows your dependence upon God. A man named George Muller was someone who is remembered for his prayer life, and he had an interesting approach to life. George, a man who once lived the life of a thief, playboy, gambler, etc. became a Christian. He often wouldn't tell anyone except God of his needs. He started an orphanage in Bristol, England that housed over 120,000 orphans, and he raised over 2 and a half million dollars (180 million in today's money) for the orphanage without ever asking anyone for anything. God answered his prayers miraculously and specifically time and time again.
"I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tons of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for the glory of God, I go on praying until an answer comes"- George Muller
This short documentary on youtube discusses more about about George's life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CClRxvUyrRw
Pray Scripture
A great place to start praying scripture is in the book of Psalms. You may be surprised how much you identify with the authors of the Psalms. As you read through them, you will see that others have walked through similar trials before, and God has met them there.
Psalm 6:1-7 (ESV): O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long? Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
Psalm 88:1-2 (ESV) O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!
The Psalms are full of people crying out for God to see them/remember them/move in their lives, reviewing God's faithfulness in the past, and claiming what God is doing and will do.
Claim God’s Promises
Claiming God's promise and praying through scripture go hand in hand. A book called The Circle Maker discusses a method to claim God's promises. It suggests circling promises in your bible. If I see a promise that is for all of God's children in my bible, I circle it whether it relates to what I am going through or not. If I see a promise that relates to what I am going through, I not only circle, but I write it on a sticky note and post it somewhere I can see it often. Then, I look at them daily, sometimes more than once and pray through them. It’s possible that this has made me feel closer to God than anything else in my spiritual walk. You could try posting them on your door, mirror, steering wheel, etc. When you are feeling low, just look at God’s promise and pray through it. That’s how you claim it. As a warning, be careful not to let your lack of discernment put expectations on God to fulfill something He didn’t promise.
Here's a picture of one of my doors:
Here are a few of God's promises I have claimed and continue to claim over my life:
Psalm 84:11-12 (ESV): For the Lord of God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV): The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Romans 8:26-27 (ESV): Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
1 John 5:14 (ESV): And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
James 4:8 (ESV) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 34:7 (ESV) The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 55:22 (ESV) Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you
Write Your Prayers Down
Keep a prayer journal. You can look back at God’s faithfulness over time. It will help you to better articulate prayers now and the answers that God gives you. It may surprise how direct and specific God’s answers can be.
You can also keep a prayer box or jar for prayers that you want to pray often. Just put them on sticky notes or pieces of paper and keep praying over them until you see God move.
Get creative. Write songs or poetry from your prayers or find another way to make praying a normal part of your daily life.
A prayer claiming God's promises:
God, I believe you want to give good gifts to your children. Blessed is the one who trusts in You. Be my sword and shield. Teach me to walk uprightly. I am drawing closer to you in hopes that are you drawing closer to me. You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. I am holding onto Your promises. You are faithful in all Your words and kind in all Your works. I am trusting in You. Please make my paths straight. Make me as surefooted as a deer and bring my safely over the mountains. Renew my inner self day by day, and prepare me for an eternal weight of glory. Make known to me the paths of life and the fullness of joy. Encamp around me and deliver me. I am casting my burdens onto you looking to you to sustain me. Prove to me that you are doing a mighty work. Do abundantly more than all I could ever dare ask or hope or think or imagine.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Prayer is a powerful tool and essential for the Christian walk. Staying in a state of constant communication with God throughout the day will provide more peace than anything the world has to offer. He’s the only counselor that has all the answers, the only physician that can fully heal you, and the only redeemer who can truly redeem you. One of the best ways to get through difficult times is by praying for God to pull you through each moment. You can pray something like this, “God, help me make it through this moment, this day, this week. I surrender this day to you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit.”
Prayer shows your dependence upon God. A man named George Muller was someone who is remembered for his prayer life, and he had an interesting approach to life. George, a man who once lived the life of a thief, playboy, gambler, etc. became a Christian. He often wouldn't tell anyone except God of his needs. He started an orphanage in Bristol, England that housed over 120,000 orphans, and he raised over 2 and a half million dollars (180 million in today's money) for the orphanage without ever asking anyone for anything. God answered his prayers miraculously and specifically time and time again.
"I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tons of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for the glory of God, I go on praying until an answer comes"- George Muller
This short documentary on youtube discusses more about about George's life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CClRxvUyrRw
Pray Scripture
A great place to start praying scripture is in the book of Psalms. You may be surprised how much you identify with the authors of the Psalms. As you read through them, you will see that others have walked through similar trials before, and God has met them there.
Psalm 6:1-7 (ESV): O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long? Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
Psalm 88:1-2 (ESV) O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!
The Psalms are full of people crying out for God to see them/remember them/move in their lives, reviewing God's faithfulness in the past, and claiming what God is doing and will do.
Claim God’s Promises
Claiming God's promise and praying through scripture go hand in hand. A book called The Circle Maker discusses a method to claim God's promises. It suggests circling promises in your bible. If I see a promise that is for all of God's children in my bible, I circle it whether it relates to what I am going through or not. If I see a promise that relates to what I am going through, I not only circle, but I write it on a sticky note and post it somewhere I can see it often. Then, I look at them daily, sometimes more than once and pray through them. It’s possible that this has made me feel closer to God than anything else in my spiritual walk. You could try posting them on your door, mirror, steering wheel, etc. When you are feeling low, just look at God’s promise and pray through it. That’s how you claim it. As a warning, be careful not to let your lack of discernment put expectations on God to fulfill something He didn’t promise.
Here's a picture of one of my doors:
Here are a few of God's promises I have claimed and continue to claim over my life:
Psalm 84:11-12 (ESV): For the Lord of God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV): The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Romans 8:26-27 (ESV): Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
1 John 5:14 (ESV): And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
James 4:8 (ESV) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 34:7 (ESV) The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 55:22 (ESV) Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you
Write Your Prayers Down
Keep a prayer journal. You can look back at God’s faithfulness over time. It will help you to better articulate prayers now and the answers that God gives you. It may surprise how direct and specific God’s answers can be.
You can also keep a prayer box or jar for prayers that you want to pray often. Just put them on sticky notes or pieces of paper and keep praying over them until you see God move.
Get creative. Write songs or poetry from your prayers or find another way to make praying a normal part of your daily life.
A prayer claiming God's promises:
God, I believe you want to give good gifts to your children. Blessed is the one who trusts in You. Be my sword and shield. Teach me to walk uprightly. I am drawing closer to you in hopes that are you drawing closer to me. You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. I am holding onto Your promises. You are faithful in all Your words and kind in all Your works. I am trusting in You. Please make my paths straight. Make me as surefooted as a deer and bring my safely over the mountains. Renew my inner self day by day, and prepare me for an eternal weight of glory. Make known to me the paths of life and the fullness of joy. Encamp around me and deliver me. I am casting my burdens onto you looking to you to sustain me. Prove to me that you are doing a mighty work. Do abundantly more than all I could ever dare ask or hope or think or imagine.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Comments
Post a Comment