Prayer… not for wimps.

Prayer is such a vital foundation for our missional lives…  Spurgeon went as far as to say, “If any of you should ask me for an epitome of the Christian religion, I should say that it is in one word – prayer.”    In Colossians 4:2 Paul exhorts us to devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Sometimes it feels like we are not doing anything “but” praying… On the contrary, praying is a powerful weapon in our spiritual battle.  I love this quote in response to that thought:  “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.” – A. J. Gordon

There is a spiritual battle that takes place when Christians pray.  Unseen, but intensely crucial nevertheless.

“Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den…Until you know that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for: Prayer is for the accomplishment of a wartime mission.” – John Piper

Let us be on our knees asking God to mobilize His people.  May the Lord put a passion in the American church to be renewed and revived to live boldly and radically for the glory of Christ Jesus!  Here is an example of some of praying through scripture upon focused areas.

You might use this in your personal life to pray for your family, ministry,  influence, the church, leaders, missionaries, etc.  This particular series of praying intentionally through scriptures was written by my friend, Mary Ann Bridgwater from Pray the Word Ministries.  May you draw near to God today & revel in the power of prayer.

The following prayer guide is copyrighted, 2009,  Pray the Word Ministries, Houston, TX

Praise & Thanksgiving

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent men You save me.  I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.  2 Samuel 22:2-4

The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His name.  Exodus 15:2-3

Repentance

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  James 4:10

Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.  Psalms 139:23-24

Help us to confess our sins. Thank You that You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9 KJV

Asking

(Insert a name in the blanks provided.  Change pronouns where appropriate.)

For Missionaries

I pray _________ will trust in You, Lord, and do good; I pray he dwells in the land and enjoys safe pasture. I pray he delights in You and You will give him the desires of his heart. I pray _________ commits his way to You; trusts in You & You will do this: You will make his righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of his cause like the noonday sun. I pray _________ is still before You, Lord, & waits patiently for You.  Psalm 37:3-7a

I pray that _________ is filled with Your mighty, glorious strength so that he can keep going no matter what happens-always full of the joy of the Lord.  Colossians 1:11-12 TLB

Thank You, Lord, that You have sent __________ to the lost to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. Acts 26:17b-18

Father, shield _________ and care for him; guard him as the apple of Your eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.

I pray that You alone will lead him.  Deuteronomy 32:10b-12a

And this is my prayer: that _________’s love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that he may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to Your glory and praise, Father God.  Philippians 1:9-11

 

For Church Planters

I pray for laborers, Lord. Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

Thank You that _________ will be used of You to rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; through him You will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.  Isaiah 61:4

I pray _________ will stand firm and let nothing move him. I pray he always gives himself fully to the work of the Lord, because his labor in You is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58

Send _________ out to the lost to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus.  Acts 26:17b-18

Father, I pray You make _________’s love increase and overflow for everyone.  I pray You will strengthen _________’s heart so that he will be blameless and holy in Your presence, our God and Father, when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.  1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

You are _________’s hiding place; You will protect him from trouble and surround him with songs of deliverance.  Psalm 32:7

For  Leaders

I pray _______ uses whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering Your grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

I pray also that the eyes of _________’s heart may be enlightened in order that he may know the hope to which You have called him, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe.  Ephesians 1:18-19a

And I pray that You may open a door for _________’s message, so that he may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which he is in chains.  I pray that he may proclaim it clearly.  Colossians 4:3-4

I pray You give _________ wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.  1 Kings 4:29

I pray _________ speaks only what You put in his mouth.  Numbers 22:38

I pray he speaks the truth, speaks of what he knows, and testifies to what he has seen.  John 3:11

Father God, You said, “Let light shine out of darkness.”  I pray You make Your light shine in listeners’ hearts to give them the light of the knowledge of Your glory in the face of Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6

Guard _________’s life and rescue him; let him not be put to shame as he takes refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness protect him, because his hope is in You.  Psalms 25:20-21 

Yielding 

So let us go out to [Jesus] beyond the city walls [that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised] to suffer with Him there, bearing His shame.  For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.  With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of His name.  Hebrews 13:13-15 TLB

All scripture references are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.