Creating a lifestyle of prayer

 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 

Mark 1:35

 

Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something we do every now and then, but when it’s a lifestyle we cultivate.  To understand how to have a lifestyle of prayer, we can look at the example Jesus gave during his life on earth.

 

Have a certain time

Jesus and got up early in the morning to spend time with his heavenly father. Make a daily appointment with God – whether it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the evening – and faithfully keep it.

 

Have a certain place

Jesus had a specific place he went to Paris. Having a designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and frees us worship and pray out loud.

 

Have a certain plan

When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he gave them a prayer outline. We call it “The Lord’s Prayer”. This outline, along with several other tools, is available in this God. As we pray every day, our plans for our prayer time can vary, maybe including worship music, Bible reading, and quiet time to listen to God. Is that an always have to look the same; it just helps when we have a plan for connecting regularly with God.

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The Lord’s Prayer 

 

The Lord prayer is often recited in churches or at religious events, but there’s so much more to this prayer. Jesus provided in this model as an outline to teach us how to pray in a way that connects us to God empowers us to accomplish great things through him. This model takes us through each part of the lords prayer, showing us how to pray the way Jesus instructed.

 

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray. 

Luke 11:1

 

Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

 

1.  Connect with God relationally

“Our father in heaven”

 

God isn’t interested in us practicing religion; instead, he desires a relationship with us. God has adopted us as his children and loves for us to call him our father. Starting our prayer time acknowledging our relationship with God is powerful for us and delights Him as well.

 

You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received gods spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, father. 

Romans 8:15

 

Proclaim your intimate relationship with God, addressing him lovingly as your father and thanking him that you are his child.

 

Prayer

Father, I come to you in prayer today thankful that I am your child. I know I am a sinner, but you have forgiven me and adopted me as your own, and I am so grateful to call you my father. Thank you for loving me. I love you.

 

2.  Worship his name

“Hallowed be your name”

 

God loves when we worship him, and there is power in his name. Here is a list of some of his names to help us worship him specifically and personally:

 

• God is Righteousness – He makes us clean

• God is Sanctifier – He has called us and set us apart

• God is Healer – He heals all our diseases

• God is Banner of Victory – He defeated our enemies

• God is Shepherd – He speaks to us and leads us

• God is Peace – He is our peace in every storm

• God is Provider – He supplies all of our needs

 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. 

Proverbs 18:10

 

Speak gods names out loud. When we proclaim who he is, we not only worship him, but we also remind ourselves how powerful and great our God is.

 

Prayer

God, I am in awe of you. Your name is a strong tower, a place of protection and safety for me. I praise you as my healer, my shepherd, and my banner of victory. You are my peace, my provider, my righteousness, and my sanctifier. Your name is great, and I worship you.

 

3.  Pray his agenda first

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

 

Part of being a child of God is caring about what he cares about. We know his wheel is perfect, and we acknowledge his wisdom and sovereignty when we pray his agenda first.

 

He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the kingdom of God your primary concern. 

Luke 12:31

 

Spend time focusing on what God is focused on. His priorities include: 

• Saving the lost

• Wisdom in guidance for those in authority – parental, spiritual, governmental, work related

• Accomplishing his purpose in our lives

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Prayer

God, I recognize there is no better plan on earth then yours, and I pray for your will to be done in my life (name the areas of your life where you need more of God‘s presence today) and in our world. This world is lost and need you desperately, and I pray for every person to know you as their personal Lord and Savior. I pray for the leaders in my life (pray specifically over parents, spiritual leaders, government leaders, employers, and any other leaders in your life), that you would give them supernatural wisdom and discernment as they lead. Give them a revelation of your Weibo and your purpose for them. And I give my life to you again today; have your way in my life! Anything you want to do in me or through me, I will do. I asked today for wisdom and clarity as you show me my next steps.

 

4.  Depend on him for everything

“Give us this day our daily bread”

 

God promises to supply all our needs, and he wants us to come to him with our problems, needs, and desires into trust him to provide.

 

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 

Psalm 121:1-2

 

Ask God for what you need today. It may help to write down the concerns weighing on your mind or of the desires of your heart. You can bring them to God, and trust him enough to hand them over to him fully. It may help to open your hands before God to physically show your surrender to him. Problems can either be ours or gods; they can’t be both.

 

Prayer

Father, I acknowledge that everything I need today will come from you. You made the heavens and the earth; you are more than capable of handling any situation I am dealing with, so I give it to you completely (specifically talk to God about what is on your mind and heart right now and give it to him). I’ll look to you to help me, sustain me, and give me your peace. Remind me of your hope in power today. Thank you in advance for taking care of my needs.  

 

5.  Forgive and be forgiven

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”

 

God has offered us complete forgiveness, and we can receive it at any time. When we turn away from our sins and receive his forgiveness, our hearts or more prepared to forgive others as well.

 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9

 

Ask God to check your heart and life and show you areas where you might need to ask for forgiveness from him. Then, it is your turn to forgive those who have offended you. We can even choose to forgive people in advance. Ask God to forgive you and to help you forgive others.

 

Prayer

God, thank you so much for offering me the gift of forgiveness. Show me any areas in my life that I need to bring before you in order to receive forgiveness and healing. I confess that I have been struggling with sin (talk to God about any areas of sin in your life), and I know that you want me to be clean again. Please forgive me for my sin. Thank you for showing me unfailing grace. As you have so freely forgiving me, I also want to freely forgive others. Please help me let go of all of my offenses. I release to you those who have hurt me, and I trust you to handle those situations according to your perfect will. 

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6.  Engage in spiritual warfare

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”

 

Spiritual warfare didn’t seem difficult to understand, but the Bible makes it very clear that we have an enemy who is trying to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us. As we pray, we take our stand against the enemy and fight from a place of victory through Jesus as we are in powered by his Holy Spirit. There is power in God’s word, and every lab the enemy has told us can be replaced with God’s truth.

 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Ephesians 6:12

 

By recognizing that the enemy wants to destroy you, you can shed light on his lies and claim God’s truth over your life. Ask God to show you any lies you were believing or areas of warfare happening in your life. Ask him to expose the enemy and to help you understand and receive his truth. Simply speaking the name of Jesus has great power in the spiritual ram. The Bible tells us in James 4:7 that if we resist the devil, he will flee from you and us. Through prayer, we can resist him and walk forward in freedom. 

 

Prayer

God, I recognize that my struggles today art against the people or circumstances around me, but against the enemy. Please help me to see how the enemy is lying to me. Help me to recognize his lies, take them captive, and make all of my faults obedient to the truth of your word (without any specific areas God shows you where you have believed a law that needs to be replaced with his truth). While the enemy wants to destroy me, I know that you came to give me life to the full list. I speak the name of Jesus over my life and declare that no weapon formed against me will prosper. I don’t have to Have to fear the enemy because the one who is in me is greater than the one who is in this world.

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7.  Express faith in God‘s ability

“For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever”

 

God is more than able to move in every situation, and ending our prayer time claiming his authority and power focuses our minds on the truth and hope of who he is and what he can do.

 

Oh, sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 

Jeremiah 32:17

 

Remind yourself of God‘s limitless power and then return to praising him and declaring your faith in him: 

• Yours is the kingdom – all authority belongs to You

• Yours is the power – all mightiness flows from You 

• Yours is the glory – Your victory will be complete

 

Prayer

Father God, nothing is too hard for you! Through your great power, all things are possible. All authority is yours, or might is yours, and I know that your victory will be complete. You are amazing, and I worship you. I praise you for your power and presence in my life. You are my God, and you are worthy of all praise.