Kingdom Petition

“I had rather teach one man to Pray than 10 men to Preach” -D.L. Moody

Matthew 7:7–11 ESV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

“Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.” -R.A. Torrey

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Romans 8:26–27 ESV

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

In his lifetime, George Mueller documented more than 50,000 answers to prayer.

Praying for faith

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Practical Prayer Precepts

1. Plan out your prayer

Make a list, pick out something that works for you

“Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray. We do not drift into spiritual life... we will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray.” - D.A. Carson

Colossians 4:2 (ESV) 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Daniel 6:10 (ESV) 10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

“If we are going to be strong for the task of prayer, we must plan for it. If you don't plan a vacation, you probably won't get one. If you don't plan your prayers, they probably won't happen.” -John Piper

“If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy—and too busy to pray.” -Ray Ortlund 

2. Cultivate Continual Communion with God

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) 17 pray without ceasing,

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV) 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

3. Plead for God’s Plan, not your Preference.

Matthew 6:10 (ESV) 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

“Prayer is not just a place where burdens are lifted; it's the place where our perspective is shifted.” - Joni Eareckson Tada

“Prayer doesn’t always change your situation, but it always changes you.” -Trevin Wax

4. Pray Scripture

Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.’

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Colossians 1:9–12 ESV

9 And so, from the day we heard, 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, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

What is your prayer life like? Be honest with yourself and others

True or False? To take time out of prayer and put it into service is a bad investment.*

True or False? To take time out of service and put it into prayer is a way to reap an enormous gain.*

Does your lifestyle line up with your answers to the true/false questions?

*taken from Dr. Bill Thrasher at Moody.