Teaching using The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick. Chapters 20 & 21.
The Word of God
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Psalms 19:8
We have studied how to get our hearts right with God to improve our prayers. Now that we are praying with a pure heart, what should we pray? Prayers from a pure heart may flow effortlessly. We do not need a plan or script. We simply open up our hearts to God and let the words flow. However God does give us some powerful tools to pray strategically and to be certain our prayers are aligned with God’s will.
The Bible, the word of God, is the most comprehensive tool for praying God’s will. By praying words God spoke in the Bible we can rest assured that we are walking with God as we pray. Human emotions flow and ebb from day to day. What overwhelms us today may be forgotten by next week’s event. When we pray words inspired in scripture we are praying truths which have stood for thousands of years.
If you do not know enough scripture to have a robust prayer life, you begin by praying about that. Ask God to teach you scripture to use in prayer. While you are studying scripture and meditating on scripture the Holy Spirit will implant scripture into your heart.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives
generously
to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5
God will surprise you by the number of verses he will bring to your mind when you begin praying scripture. The Bible is the living word of God. It is not mere words on paper. It is the very breath of God breathed into our lives, our minds, and our hearts. The one who inspired the words in the Bible is there in the room with you, ready to help you understand and ready to listen to your thoughts.
Paul compares the word of God to a sword, something that we can use to pray all kinds of prayers.
Take 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.
Ephesians 6:17-18
Nehemiah lived in Persia after the exile. He heard that the remnant in Jerusalem were living without walls or gates to the city. He prayed to God to help the people living in Jerusalem. He remembered scripture from Moses and prayed God’s word back to God. Nehemiah was able to pray with hope and confidence because he remembered God’s promises in scripture.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring
them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
Nehemiah 1:8-9
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not
grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
When stressed and overwhelmed by a difficult task we can cry out to God as David did in the Psalms.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart
grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalms 61:2
When feeling confused and uncertain as to why events are happening, remember to pray the Bible verse stating God will not forsake you no matter the circumstances.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you,
LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalms 9:10
The Bible can teach us to pray adoration.
Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory
and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
We can pray a prayer of confession as King David did.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalms 51:10-12
We can pray prayers of thanksgiving.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation
Psalms 118:1, 21
Prayers of supplication may also be drawn from the Psalms.
Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me,
God of Jacob.
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
Psalms 84:8
Reading the Psalms is a wonderful way to collect verses to pray. As you grow in prayer and scripture, God will bring verses to your mind from every part of the Bible. You only need to open your heart to receive what God offers. The Bible is a reliable source of trustworthy prayers which have stood for thousands of year.
The Will of God
For I have come down from heaven not to do my
will but to do the will of him who sent me.
John 6:38
The best place to stand is in the middle of God’s will. It is the place with the most promise and hope for the future. It is where God’s glory will be exalted. God promises we can live continually in his will. God’s will is not a mysterious thing that we seek through guessing and speculating. The best way to seek God’s will is to begin with prayer. Pray as Jesus did that God’s will is done and not our own will. We need to pray according to what we know about God’s will.
The main purpose of God’s will is for him to be glorified. If our desire is to glorify God in any circumstance then he will be glorified. It is difficult to put aside our desires and seek God’s will and glory. But God knows what is best and this is the way towards our greatest hope and joy. He is our hope and joy. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,
so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11
Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalms 115:1
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father
knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom
and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:32-33
God’s will is for Christ to be Lord of all. Giving Jesus lordship over us means giving him power and authority over us. As we follow Christ we are to trust him and obey him in every area of our life. The Bible says this will profit us and be a blessing in our life.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. … so that, having been justified
by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in
God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are
excellent and profitable for everyone.
Titus 3:4-8
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality
1 Thessalonians 4:3
God wants us to rejoice, pray, and be grateful in all situations.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
God wants us to mature in our faith.
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ
and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of
repentance
from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
Hebrews 6:1
God wants us to produce fruit year after year.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last
John 15:16
God wants us to be in fellowship with other believers.
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Philippians 2:2
When we study the Bible, much of God’s will is easily discern-able if we are willing to accept what the Bible says. When making a decision about a job, or purchase, or a family matter, there may not be a specific verse to guide us. But if we submit to God’s will in the teachings we know and continue to pray for God’s will to be done in our lives, then deciding if we should turn left or right becomes clear as God guides us. In God’s timing he will reveal his will to us. If we make a mistake God will rescue us from our bad decision.
In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps
Proverbs 16:9
Many times God will open or close doors to point us in the correct direction.
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Revelation 3:8
But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door
for
effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
1 Corinthians 16:8-9
We cannot decide if something is God’s will based on our happiness toward or fear of the future. Sometimes the painful, difficult, illogical road is the one God has chosen. When Jesus prayed in the garden, it was the difficult road he was told to walk.
One way to know if we are walking through the correct door, is the peace that defies understanding. If you are submitting to God’s will, you have prayed diligently, and are at peace in the middle of the storm, that you can rest in knowing God is leading you.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
No comments:
Post a Comment