Prayer Wimp to Warrior

Weave Prayer into the Texture of your Life

Read:

1 Thessalonians 5:16–17 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Application Checklist (did I prayer when …)

PRAY — Start & end of day

PRAY — Checking your calendar or to-do list

PRAY — Hearing/seeing troubling news/situation

PRAY — Family or strangers you are interacting with

PRAY — Any hurry up and wait areas (red traffic light)

Pray with Faith

Read:

James 1:6–8 ESV

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5–8 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

What can we learn?

The parable of the persistent widow

Luke 18:1–5 ESV

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ”

What can we learn?

Bible shaped prayer items

1. Pray for more evangelists: _______________

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." ()

2. Pray for political leaders: _______________

"I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." ()

1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

3. Pray opportunities to preach/teach/evangelize: _______________

"Praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word , so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ..." ()

Colossians 4:3 ESV

3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

4. Pray for a blessing & forgiveness for your enemies: _______________

Luke 6:28 ESV

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." () "So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." ()

Matthew 18:35 ESV

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

5. Pray to do no wrong: _______________

"Now we pray to God that you do no wrong..." ()

2 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.

6. Pray for my love to abound: _______________

Philippians 1:9 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment..." ()

7. Pray to always be found blameless (2nd coming): _______________

"Now may the God of peace sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." ()

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.