Category Archives: Prayer

Perhaps you want to teach on praying but aren’t sure where to begin. Maybe you taught about it in the past but it didn’t seem to have much impact. Incorporate the following elements when teaching about prayer and see if it makes a difference. (Click on the links within the post for added input.)

Begin by Getting to the Real Essence of Praying

Though a spiritual discipline we “ought to” do, praying is so much more. Through prayer we connect with the Almighty God, an outgrowth of our relationship with Him. While we could list a number of good reasons to pray, communion with the Lord ranks at the top. Help people develop the right purposes for praying.

Instruct People on What the Bible Says about Prayer

When teaching about prayer, help people learn to pray in a way that reflects who God is because who God is affects how He answers prayer. God’s Word provides valuable instruction, not just about the importance of praying but also what’s important when we pray. Jesus Himself gave pointers on how to pray.

Start teaching about prayer when people are young. The Children Learn to Pray Curriculum by Ministry Tools Resource Center uses the Lord’s Prayer as a starting point. For Bible lessons on prayer for all ages, go to: Teaching about Praying

Remember the Power of Your Example in Teaching about Prayer

Look at Jesus for an example of the power of one’s own prayer life. — “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘”Lord, teach us to pray …'” (Lk. 11:1-4) — Imagine your students, disciplees, or congregants coming to you and ASKING YOU to teach them to pray.

Teaching prayer by examples requires the following on our part …

Authenticity
Consistency
Availability

When praying becomes part of our church culture, people notice. We don’t just talk about praying. We pray.

When we pray like we truly believe, people notice. We don’t just go through the motions of praying. We actually believe God hears us and cares.

Think about when you pray. Are your prayers truly reflecting the kind of God we have? If so, they’ll demonstrate a wholehearted trust in Him. You’ll approach Him with a sense of awe, yet also intimacy.

An Acrostic Showing Prayer That Acknowledges Who God Really Is

For each word in this acrostic, think about what qualifies God to be the One to whom we turn in prayer in these ways.

P – Pleading – trusting in God

We can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” because He is merciful and gracious, ready to help in our time of need. (Ps. 121:3; Prov. 3:5-6; Rom. 8:28; Phil. 4:19; Heb. 4:16)

R – Relating – communing with God

We can talk with God as a Friend because in His love He reconciled us to Himself through Jesus’ death on our behalf. (Ps. 66:20; Jn. 15:13-15; Rom. 5:8-10; Col. 1:20)

A – Aligning – cooperating with God

We can seek His counsel and will for what to do since He is holy, all-knowing, and all-wise, making His ways higher and best. (Isa. 55:8-9; 1 Jn. 5:14)

Y – Yearning – seeking after God above all else

We can look to God to satisfy our deepest need as He is totally sufficient, unlike anything or anyone else. (Ps. 42:1-2)

E – Exalting – worshiping God

We can express His worth as the Lord God of whom there is none greater. (Ps. 34:1-4; 46:10; 57:11)

R – Revering – honoring God

We can defer to Him even when we don’t understand because we know He is sovereign. (Ps. 33:6-11, 16-20; 50:15; 111:10; Prov. 3:7-10)

Resources to Help with Praying

For more on prayer, visit the Prayer Ministry Training section of this site.

Also consider these resources:

• Prayer Bits: Small Bits But Big Truths on Prayer Devotional (for those who want to reflect more on prayer)
• Prayer Ministry Manual (for those who want to have an effective prayer ministry)
• Discipling Students to Pray Worksheet (for those who want to help others learn to pray)
• Praying Like You Truly Believe HE is the Source of All You Need Worksheet (for those who are teachers)
• Children Learn to Pray Curriculum (for those who teach children)

When we pray, we let God know that He and His will, are important to us. And, He lets us know how important we are to Him. He does that by allowing us to experience the following results of making prayer a priority.

3 Results of Making Prayer a Priority

1) God is near to us.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Ps. 145:18)

2) God helps us.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:16)

3) God protects us with His peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

You’ll find these results, plus two more, listed in the Church Purpose Ministry Manual which looks at prayer as one of the ways we fulfill our purpose to love God.

Learn More: Prayer Ministry Resources

As we consider the condition of the world today, how can we not pray? That should be the question for God’s people.

Bible Verses about Prayer

When we consider just even the following six verses on prayer, we should find ourselves making prayer our first response. We will turn to the Lord first before complaining or giving in to fear or despair. And, we will continue in prayer regardless of the circumstances.

Order the Prayer Bits: Small Bits But Big Truths on Prayer Devotional Guide which uses these six verses. Each of the 30 devotions contains a small bit about prayer based on one of the verses but conveys big truths that make a difference.

As you reflect on the verses, you’ll find some helpful tips about praying.

1. Be devoted to prayer.  When devoted to prayer, things happen. Pray and then watch for what God will do.  And, be sure to thank and praise Him for it.
   

   “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Col. 4:2)

2. Be willing to sacrifice in order to pray. The psalmist likens prayer to a spiritual sacrifice when he refers to it as incense. As such it rises up to heaven and fills the throne room of God.
   

   “May my prayer be set before you like incense.” (Ps. 141:2a)

3. Fully trust God as you pray. If you feel safe and secure with Him, such confidence will take you beyond the rote or token prayers to spilling out your guts to God.
   

   “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Selah.” (Ps. 62:8)

4. Be in a constant attitude of prayer, praying for fellow believers everywhere.  To have such a perseverance and passion in praying, you need help. Look to the Spirit of God who lives within you.
   

   “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18)

5. Go on the offence as a prayer warrior.  You cannot be pulled in so many directions that you fail to pray. Instead, purposefully plan to pray. Prioritize it into your busy schedule.
   

   “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so you can pray.” (1 Pet. 4:7)

6. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t see results.  Notice the small but encouraging word “is” in the following verse.  Your prayer “is” effective — present tense. It doesn’t say might be or will be but “is,” right now, powerful and effective.
   

   “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b)

In Light of These Scripture Verses, How Can We Not Pray?

As the truths in the above verse take root in our hearts and we put them into practice, we will begin to notice the following differences in our lives:

1) how we pray

We will no longer ask ourselves the question, “To pray or not to pray?” as we will see no other option. We will pray when happy or when sad, when confident or fearful, when full of faith or feeling uncertain. We will pray when faced with challenges or going through the routines of life.

2) how we process life

Even if the world around us doesn’t change as we wish it would, we’ll still be able to cope and find peace. We will gain a renewed purpose as we work in cooperation with a Sovereign and Almighty God through prayer.

Communication tends to be a big part of any love relationship. How much more, then, we should make prayer a priority when we love the Lord.

4 Biblical Reasons to Make Prayer a Priority

In addition to prayer being a part of our love relationship with the Lord, we also find commands for praying to be an ongoing priority in our walk with God.

1. We’re told to be faithful in prayer. (Rom. 12:12)

2. We’re to devote ourselves to prayer (Col. 4:2) which we see demonstrated in the Early Church (Acts 2:42).

3. We’re commanded to pray continually. (1 Thess. 5:17)

4. We’re to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. (Eph. 6:18)

Certainly these commands about praying suggest we develop a lifestyle of prayer, regular and on-going communion with the Lord, which suggests the kind of priority praying should be for those who love God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Lk. 10:27).

The Church Purpose Manual looks at prayer as one of the ways we fulfill our purpose to love God.

Other resources on Prayer:

• Prayer Ministry Manual
• Prayer Bits: Small Bits But Big Truths on Prayer Devotional Guide

Training Category: Prayer Ministry

Passionate prayer is more than emotion. Our zeal needs to be combined with and rooted in knowledge so we don’t mistakenly interpret how God is working through our prayers.

When passion grows out of knowledge — both head and heart knowledge, we find that we have a reason to be enthused about prayer that transcends our feelings and circumstances. We don’t get discouraged when God answers differently than the way we might have hoped. We realize how much better His ways are than our ways. As we learn to know Him better, we find ourselves turning to Him more with increasing reliance and anticipation.

Passionate Prayer Rooted in Knowledge of God

When what we know in our minds to be true about God sinks into a heart knowledge, we can’t help but be passionate in prayer. Realizing that who He is affects how He responds to our prayers, tends to build within us an excitement and anticipation.

1. knowledge of who He is: His character

God is fully capable of answering our prayers.

2. knowledge of how He works: His ways

God cares about us. Our good is at the core of His love for us and will affect how He answers our prayers.

3. knowledge of what He says: His Word

God will always be consistent with His Word in the way He responds to prayer.

The Prayer Ministry Manual guides you in reflecting on these three points to further develop your passion in prayer.