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Prayer Guide
Use this Prayer Guide to help in a time of spiritual renewal with the Lord your God.
What is Prayer?
The greatest privilege a Christian has is the privilege of prayer. Not only is it a privilege, but it is also the responsibility of every believer. Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).
Prayer is simply talking to God, letting our concerns and requests be made known to Him. When we pray, we admit our need for God and our utter dependence on Him.
Only through a relationship with Jesus Christ do we have access to God (1Timothy 2:5). We approach God in Jesus’ name, not our own.
Prayer is not a means of trying to get from God what we want, but rather a means by which we enable God to give us what He wants. Regarding prayer, Billy Graham said, “Prayer is the rope that pulls God and man together. But it doesn’t pull God down to us; it pulls us up to Him.”
Why Pray?
We’re to pray because God commands it (2 Chronicles 7:14; Luke 18:1). Through prayer, we receive things (James 4:2), experience fullness of joy (John 16:24), and find help in times of trouble. Prayer is the cure for worry (Philippians 4:6; 1Peter 5:7) and also helps us resist temptation (Matthew 26:41).
When are we to Pray?
We are to pray always. The Bible instructs us to “Pray without ceasing: (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The Apostle Paul exhorted believers to pray “always with all prayer and supplication: (Ephesians 6:18).
Types of Prayer
Praise and Adoration
Through praise and adoration, we acknowledge God’s goodness. We must recognize that when we pray, we enter God’s presence (Matthew 6:9). Prayer takes us into the very throne room of GOD. As we revere the Lord by communing with Him in prayer, our relationship with Him becomes more intimate, and our love more tender.
Confession and
Repentance
Confession and repentance are prerequisites for approaching God. The Bible assures us (DELETE of) forgiveness if we confess our sins to God. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God: (Matthew 5:8).
Thanksgiving
We need to always remember what God has done for us, and give Him thanks for it. We’re to thank Him during the good times, as well as the bad times, “giving thanks always for all things…” (Ephesians 5:20). We’re also to make our requests to God “with thanksgiving: (Philippians 4:6).
Supplication
Believers are to pray for our own needs and ask God for help in our daily affairs. We must never think that our requests are too small to bring before God. As Christians we are to pray about everything, being confident that God hears us, cares about us, and acts on our behalf.
Intercession
Intercession means to pray on behalf of – and for – other people (1Timothy 2:1). People can stop us from telling them about Jesus, but they can’t stop us from praying for them. We’re to pray for our family, friends, Christian Leaders, our country, and whatever else God lays on our hearts. We are to pray for them as seriously as we would for ourselves.
What if I Don’t Pray?
Neglecting to pray is a sin. David said, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray and not lose heart:” (Luke 18:1).
D.L. Moody summarized the necessity of prayer with the observation: “Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.”
Day 1 Praise
Exalt his name in the world.
Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be your
name (Matthew 6:9).
Day 2 The Spread of the Gospel
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed
on and triumph, as it did among you (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
Day 3 Live empowered by the Spirit
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those
who ask him! (Luke 11:13, Ephesians 3:19, Galatians
5:16-26).
Day 4 The Lost
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them (Israel) is
that they may be saved (Romans 10:1)
Day 5 Boldness to live a life of faith
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak
your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform
miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30)
Day 6 Healing
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to
pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer offered in faith will
make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he
will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15).
Day 7 Miraculous deliverances
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to
God for him…When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the
mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were
praying. (Acts 12:5-12).
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to
God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great
earthquake (Acts 16:25-26)
Day 8 God’s Provision
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11)
Day 9 God’s Wisdom
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men
generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him (James 1:5)
Day 10 Church Leadership
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with
prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed (Acts 14:23)
Day 11 Church Family and Volunteers
Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his
harvest (Matthew 9:38)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit
said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them
and sent them off (Acts 13:2-3)
Day 12 Encouragement
[We are] praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to
face and supply what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
Day 13 Discernment
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in with
knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and
may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10)
Day 14 To know God better
[We have not ceased to pray for you to be] increasing in the
knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 1:17)
Day 15 A knowledge of His will
And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for
you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all
spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9)
Day 16 Power to comprehend the love of Christ.
I bow my knees before the Father . . . that you may have power to
comprehend with all the saints what are the breadth and length and height and
depth and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:14-18)
Day 17 Hope
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers
. . . that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are
the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:16,18)
Day 18 Strength and
endurance.
[We have not ceased to pray for you to be] strengthened with all
power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy
(Colossians 1:11, Ephesians 3:16)
Day 19 God’s Power and Strength
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers
. . . that you may know . . . what is the immeasurable greatness of His power
toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:16, 19)
Day 20 Faith
I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you
have turned again, strengthen your brethren (Luke 22:32)
Watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all
these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36)
Day 21 Our Faith to grow
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I
believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24, Ephesians 3:17)
Day 22 Keep us from temptation
Lead us not into temptation (Matthew 6:13)
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41)
Day 23 Live a life pleasing to Him
[We have not ceased to pray for you that you] lead a life worthy of
the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10)
Day 24 Forgiveness
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12)
Day 25 Protection
Deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13)
Day 26 Unity
I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me
through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me,
and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that
thou hast sent me (John 17:20-21)
Day 27 Government
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and all who
are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and reverence. (1
Timothy 2:1-2)
Day 28 Our enemies
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
(Mt. 5:44)
Day 29 Our Cares
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Day 30 EVERYTHING