Category Archives: Praying

Praying, an integral part of our walk with God, is about spending time with Him as we pray. Prayer isn’t merely making petition but also connecting with Him.

Prayerlessness Due to Ignorance?

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To be sure, we live in a Bible illiterate world. Even many Christians lack a good or thorough knowledge of God’s Word. Yet, for many believers, prayerlessness is not due to ignorance. Most of us concur with the importance of prayer and the need to make it a priority. Even unbelievers tend to appreciate prayer offered on their behalf, particularly when going through crisis.

Prayerlessss Due to Ignorance of God’s Commands to Pray?

Verses like the following, written as commands rather than suggestions, exhort us to make prayer a constant priority in our lives:

God Commands Us to Pray, Prayerlessness not an OptionDevote yourselves to prayer. (Col. 4:2)

Pray continually. (1 Thess. 5:17)

Always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:18)

Prayerlessss Due to Ignorance of what to pray?

Many Christians at least know what has come to be known as the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11:1-5, a pattern Jesus provided in response to the disciples’ request for Him to teach them to pray.

But, prayer really isn’t complicated. Simply “pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (Ps. 62:8). Jesus stressed how praying isn’t to be about the quantity of our words or eloquence in how we speak but merely being real with God (Matt. 6:1-8).

We don’t need a degree in theology to pray. We don’t have to be “spiritual giants” to pray. Even new believers who know very little about God and His Word can pray.

So, if for many or most of us, prayerlessness isn’t due to ignorance, then why don’t we pray? In the next three posts we’ll continue to respond to that question. Subscribe to receive e-mail notice of new posts.

Check out this Resource: Prayer Bits: Small Bits But Big Truths on Prayer Devotional

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Prayer a Lifestyle? Praying Part of Your Church Culture?

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Training Category: Prayer Ministry

To pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) is to make prayer a lifestyle or permanent practice in your life, a part of your church culture. To pray without ceasing is to pray at all times and for all things.

Pray without Ceasing - Lifestyle of Prayer

Setting aside times devoted to concentrated, undistracted prayer in our individual lives and as a church is very important. But, we also need to go through our daily lives attentive to God, consistently asking God His opinion and desires and always giving Him thanks.

To pray without ceasing is what has been called “practicing the presence of God” — always conscious of His presence, turning to Him as a constant companion, making no topic off limits with Him. Keep in mind that we do not need to pray for His presence in our lives. We have His promise that He is already there.

Effectiveness in Prayer Ministry Requires that it be a Permanent Practice

In calling people to prayer, we need to be careful that we are not making prayer come across as a passing fad or following the latest church movement. Prayer needs to be seen as the norm, as the expected response in any and all situations. When prayer is a pattern, we do not just come together for prayer in times of need or crisis. As seen in the example of the early church (Acts 2:42), we will be devoted to prayer wherein we promote a prayer environment and not merely a prayer meeting.

Ways to Model a Lifestyle of Prayer, to Make Praying a Part of Your Church Culture

  • In conversations, ask the person if you can pray with them right then about what was just shared. Soon you may see other pockets of prayer around the church as people follow your example.
  • When someone e-mails you with a prayer request, let them know that you will be praying for them as you send back your reply. You may even type out your prayer or part of it in the e-mail.
  • As you hear or watch the news, silently pray for the current events right then and there or ask those in the room to join with you in prayer.
  • In your sermons or teaching, refer to times when God led you to stop and pray as illustrations when appropriate. People may grab hold of that idea for their own lives.

In addition to this content, the Prayer Ministry Manual looks at what happens when prayer is more a matter of lifestyle, or a pattern, than a sporadic effort. You will also find an assessment using an acrostic of the word “devoted” as we need to be devoted to prayer if it is going to become a permanent practice.

For More on what will help you develop and maintain an effective Prayer Ministry, read the following:

For More About Praying: Resources for Prayer Ministry

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Praying on God’s Terms, According to Biblical Principles?

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Training Category: Prayer Ministry

Confidence Praying on God's Terms, According to His Will

Prayer was instituted by God as the means of communing with Him. He is the One who determined that prayer would be the way humans would work in cooperation with Him. Prayer is His idea, not ours. Consequently, it is only logical that we come to God on His terms, not ours.

Why Effective Prayer Ministry Adheres to Biblical Principles

  1. God will never contradict Himself in the way He answers prayer.
  2. God is not obligated to respond to prayer that violates His character or Word.

Consequently, the more we come to truly know God in the full essence of His being as depicted in Scripture, the more we will pray in ways that tap into His power.

How to Teach People to Pray on God’s Terms

When you teach on prayer, go beyond the mere commands and principles about praying to the basis for that command or principle in the character of God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Prov. 9:10)

The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content untouched by trouble. (Prov. 19:23)

In addition to this content, the Prayer Ministry Manual considers how the fear of the Lord prevents us from living in violation of God’s character and Word and from expecting God to respond to our prayers in ways that contradicts Himself. You will also find a personal assessment for how well you adhere to God’s conditions for praying.

For More on what will help you develop and maintain an effective Prayer Ministry, read the following:

For More About Praying: Resources for Prayer Ministry

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Right Purposes for a Prayer Ministry

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Training Category: Prayer Ministry

If you want to develop a prayer ministry, personally or with a group, one of the first questions you must ask is “Why?” — What are you hoping to accomplish through it?

Effectiveness in Prayer Requires Having the Right Purposes for Praying

Devoted to Prayer
(Click to enlarge image in Pinterest & repin.)

Maybe you are hoping to see God take care of a list of requests.

You possibly want to see Him do great and mighty things in your midst or to bring revival.

Perhaps you simply want to be obedient to His command to pray.

Or, you may be trying to emulate the early church of the New Testament of whom it was said that they devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42).

While all that and much more can happen as people meet together to pray, you will undoubtedly find a greater level of effectiveness when your purposes are centered more on God than on you. When prayer is about Him and not you, you tend to come to Him with the right heart attitudes. Your role, though important, isn’t primary. If you want people to be devoted to prayer, like the Early Church, you must be focused on the right purposes for having a prayer ministry.

Emphasize the following purposes and watch the difference it makes in your prayer ministry:

  1. Use prayer as a means of keeping focused on God.
  2. Use prayer as a means of acknowledging His grace in your life.
  3. Use prayer as a means of keeping His sovereignty in place in your life.
  4. Use prayer as a means of maintaining your relationship with Him.

Check out the Prayer Ministry Manual where you’ll find some thoughts on the above four points as to what heart attitude we need within each of these purposes and the role we have in it. You will also find a parallel of the above points to Jesus’ sample prayer in Matthew 6 (commonly known as The Lord’s Prayer). And, you will be guided in determining if you, as an individual, or as a prayer group, have the right purposes for praying.

For More on what will help you develop and maintain an effective Prayer Ministry, read the following:

For More About Praying: Resources for Prayer Ministry

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Prayer Ministry an Outgrowth of Relationship

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Training Category: Prayer Ministry

Connect with a Personal God in Prayer

To have an effective prayer ministry, whether that be personal or corporate, we must begin on the basis of a personal relationship with God. Praying is rather meaningless and empty if we don’t sense that Someone is seeing, hearing, and caring.

We must understand and value the relational aspect for prayer ministry to be effective. Remember in Luke 11:1-4 when one of the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Our Father …’.” Jesus was teaching the personal and intimate nature of prayer.

To be effective, prayer ministry must be …

more than attending a meeting.

— It is connecting with our heavenly Father.

more than a programmed event or activity.

— It is coming into the presence of the Almighty God.

more than a Christian discipline.

— It is communicating with a living and personal God.

Make your prayer meetings or prayer efforts about relationship, not merely praying requests. Words are shallow and meaningless when there is no sense of connection. You’ll find that when God Himself is the main attraction, you won’t need gimmicks or arm-twisting to keep people coming.

Order the Prayer Ministry Manual for a study on each of the above points involved in the relational aspect of prayer — connecting, coming into His presence, and communicating.

For More on what will help you develop and maintain an effective Prayer Ministry, read the following:

For More About Praying: Resources for Prayer Ministry

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God’s Word & Prayer Go Hand in Hand

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We find verses in the Bible which reference both God’s Word and prayer. Certainly there must be a connection between the two.

prayer-WordTake the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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 Lord’s people. (Eph. 6:17-18)

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. (Prov. 28:9)

The Connection Between The Word and Praying

God speaks to us through His Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and through prayer we respond to Him which results in true communion (Ps. 145:18; Jn. 15:7).

God’s Word enables us to pray in keeping with God’s will. How will we know what His will is unless we are in His Word? (John 14:13–14, 1 John 5:14-15)

Scripture shows us our sinfulness so we can confess it (1 Jn. 1:9) and helps prevent us from sinning (Ps. 119:11) so we are able to keep in fellowship with the Lord which involves talking with Him in prayer (Ps. 66:18).

How to Personalize This Truth About God’s Word and Prayer

Do you lack focus in prayer? – Turn what you read in the Word into prayer.

Are you unsure of how to pray? – Look at the examples of praying in the Bible.

Do you lack confidence in praying? – Hold forth the promises found in God’s Word as you pray. (Ps. 119:58, 82, 116, 154, 170; Heb. 4:16)

Do you have a hard time studying or understanding God’s Word? – Ask God for help (James 1:5).

God’s Word and Prayer Go Hand in Hand!

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