Four Steps of Prayer: Prayer 101

Before I begin, I'd like to share something to help ease your mind and heart about prayer.  I desire to "bust some myths" about prayer. In Mary Southerland's 5 week study, "Laugh More ... Live Better" on Joy, she writes about pray producing joy:

1. Let go of worry about praying a 'right' way.
2. There is no 'right' posture or place for prayer.
3. Prayer helps us 'tune in' to the presence of God.

Its hard to talk with God when we are anticipating how He's going to answer our prayer, when He's going to answer, or dictate instruction on how and when to answer us. When we try to use God like our "magic genie in the lamp", we become frustrated with God and say "I prayed to You and You didn't answer me!" or "You didn't do what I thought needed to be done!" When our prayer focus is on "I" and not Him, we loose some of our joy. This is the purpose of the Four Steps Of Prayer. Its a guide. Its ONLY a guide! It guides me (and hopefully you) in placing my focus on Who my focus should be on: God.

Here is the Four Steps used by Moms In Prayer International:

1. Praise
2. Confession
3. Thanksgiving
4. Intercession

In Southerland's study and in the booklet people receive when attending The Emmaus Walk, both use ACTS:

1. Adoration
2. Confession
3. Thanksgiving
4. Supplication

Both mean the same thing!  We'll now pick them apart one by one.

Praise/Adoration

Begin your prayer with giving God praise for who He IS!  Enter into His presence focusing on God's name(s), character, or an attribute. 

Giving God praise, "exalts God and gives Him glory", "helps us focus on God and not our situation", "brings about an awareness of God's Presence", "dispels the enemy's power".  (Taken from the Moms In Prayer Booklet).

God is: love, good, faithful, justice, light, the rock, fortress, shield, strength, joy (just to name a few)
For more praise helps, visiting Moms In Prayer website www.momsinprayer.org and click on "Leader's Corner" then click on "Prayer Sheets".  On the right side will be more links, click on "Attributes of God" and a PDF will open!  Feel free to print!

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:22

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. Psalm 22:3
 

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3
 

Confession

This part of the prayer allows you to clear your heart and mind before God. Confess sins, to become humbled, to ask Him to search you. It's about surrendering your will for His will. It's us realizing we ARE human with human frailties and asking God to give us the strength, to empower us with His Holy Spirit  to do what He is desiring us to do. 

Now, I hear you! "Vivian, I'm a Christian. Jesus lives in my heart. I don't sin everyday. Why do I need to this time of confession?"

Let me tell you a story. I walk the local mall. One day, I saw this lady who had come from one of the restaurants. She was loaded down with all kinds of cooking supplies. Oil, flour, eggs. Two large "trays" of eggs. I heard this voice "Offer her help in carrying the eggs." I stopped walking; a brief pause. I continued. The Voice:  Offer her help in carrying the eggs. I paused. She was closer to the door. I kept going. One more time the Voice: Offer her help in carrying the eggs. I almost went to help! Then I rationalized "She'd probably say 'no' anyway." The Voice, "It's the offer that counts." I kept going. My heart felt heavy! So I prayed "Lord, help her get to the car without breaking all those eggs." The Voice: THAT! Was YOUR task!

I cried! 

Sometimes we see sin as: adultery, lying, taking God's name in vain, murder, stealing. Sin IS disobedience! I knew in my heart I had ignored God's Spirit prompting me to offer the lady help. I kept on walking just like the people in Jesus's story "The Good Samaritan". 

 
Confession isn't always about a "sin" BUT it is always about surrender, yielding. It's about living in submission to God's perfect will! It's about asking Him to "search my heart" and being humbled before Him.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

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

Thanksgiving

Giving God credit and thanking Him for what He has done, is doing in our lives. 

Sounds simple doesn't it? NOPE!

The most miserable people are the ones who are the most ungrateful. Ingratitude breeds resentment, jealousy. Discontent with everything God has given them! 

Stopping to count our blessings and give God an offering of thanks begins to change us! Contentment. Joy. Realizing how blessed I am inspite of how little I have. 

 

What has God blessed you with? Name family members by name, friends by name, things He has provided (home, vehicle, food, clothes, etc.). Thank Him for His ultimate gift to you! Jesus! Thank Him for paying the price Sin demanded. Thank Him for the sunshine and the rain. Thank Him for your struggles! 

What? 

You read right! Say "Lord, I don't know why I am going through this BUT I thank You for the chance to be a witness to others about Your faithfulness to me."

To be honest, I think this part of prayer has changed me more than "Confession" has changed me. It's so easy to focus on what we don't have than it is to give thanks for what we do have. I heard a joke once about the man with 6 kids and he man with 6 million dollars. The question is "Who's content, the man with 6 kids or the man with $6 million?" The answer is "The man with 6 kids because he doesn't want any more!" The point is the man is content with 6 kids for many reasons! (Hahaha) The man with $6 million isn't satisfied because he always wants MORE! 

God HAS given you GOOD gifts! Give Him thanks! (Trust me ... It takes a few days before the light bulb pops over your head IF you are a person who has mostly focused on the "I have nots".)

Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me. Psalm 50:23a
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Supplication/Intercession

Praying for others.

Intercession:

Standing in the "gap" for someone who doesn't know Christ. Standing in the "gap" for someone who is broken hearted and can't pray for him/herself. Standing in the gap for a school, community, etc.  

Supplication:

Lifting up needs of other people. Supplication "is the combination of intercession and petition" (Worship Booklet for Pilgrams; Walk to Emmaus 3rd Edition pg 46). It is "asking God to meet the needs of other people" (Laugh More study).

He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. Isaiah 59:16

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 6:18

This is a HUGE amount to take in!  If you notice, praying takes the focus off of "me" and puts it on God and others.  It is about what God desires instead of what "I" desire.  It's about what others need instead of what "I" need.  Is it ok to tell God "my" needs?  YES!

Prayer 102 will focus on "Praying the Scriptures".  Again, there is no "right" way to pray!  Just be open and honest with God!  No sense in trying to hide what is on your mind and heart because He already knows it. :)
 

God's Word Lights My Way

Father, God who is Light, Your Word is a lamp to guide me! Your Word lights up my path!

Father, forgive me for neglecting to study Your Holy Scriptures! When the psalmist prays "I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You," I can't say that! I DO desire to!  Create inside me a burning desire to study Your Word!

Father, I thank You for William Tyndale, Martin Luther, and many others who You guided to translate Your words into the "common" language! I thank You for the countless men and women who have followed in their footsteps, guided by Your Holy Spirit, to bring us Your words! I thank You for the technology that places many versions and translations of Your Word at my finger tips! I thank You for the audio versions of Your Word! Thank You for making sure I'd understand Your Word!!

Father, the teaching of Your Word gives light so even ___ can understand! Sweet Lord, may we not make Your words hard for anyone. May we be the ones who help carry Your light, Your Word, to those in darkness! In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:105, 130 (NLT)

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
130 The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

Note: I love the New Living Translation. I use it A LOT! However, I like the New King James Version, The New International Version, New Century Version, and many others.  I really like using Bible Gateway's "parallel feature" on it's web site! To view the same text in the different translations or commentary Bibles brings a rich, fullness to studying God's Word.  Bible Gateway and YouVersion both offer apps for downloading to your favorite on the go technology! iPhone, iPad, Nook, Kindle, Android. Both apps offer several translations in audio as well!  Of course, you can always visit www.biblegateway.com for the full effect the site has to offer!

He is Clothed In a Robe of Light: God IS Light

Lord God, Let all that I am praise You! You spoke light into the darkness and You stretched out the starry curtain in the sky!  You are clothed in a robe of light! You are LIGHT!

Spirit of the Living God, shine God's light into my heart. Fill every dark crevice of my heart with Your light, Father! Where there is jealousy, shine the light of contentment. Where there is  (fill in a negative), shine the light of (fill in the opposite of the negative) .  I desire my heart to shine for Your glory!

Thank You for thinking about me! When the darkness of discouragement falls on me, You are my beacon of hope! I'm so grateful for my family in Christ who You use to be Your light to me! That prompting of a phone call, text, or prayer means so much!

Father, shine Your light in ___'s heart so he/she may know Your glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.  Use each of us to be examples of Your light! We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World! Your kingdom come and Your will be done, Father. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 104:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT)

Psalm 104:1-2  Let all that I am praise the Lord.  O Lord my God, how great you are!  You are robed with honor and majesty.  You are dressed in a robe of light.  You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;

2 Corinthians 4:6  For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

God is Love and His Love in Unfailing

 

 

 

Dearest Father, You are LOVE! You are patient. You are kind. You are not demanding. You do not keep a record of my wrongs; You are forgiving! You are God Almighty, the God who IS love!

 

Jesus, forgive me when I do not love others as You love me! Love can't be earned. Sometimes I forget that1 Love is to be given regardless of how I feel toward a person. Love is an action of setting myself aside to serve others as You served me ... served the world!

 

Father, thank You for saying I am Your daughter! You show me love even though I do not deserve it. Thank You for being so patient with me!

 

Father, may Your love be revealed to ___ today. We pray ___ will know You are the source of true love.  Lord Jesus, may we each be used by You to show someone Your love. May we be Your arms of love to each other. Father, we pray Your will to love one another as You love us will be done through us. Amen

 

Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 John 3:1; 4:7-10

 

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. -- 1 Cor 13:4-7 (NLT)

 

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. -- 1 John 3:1 (NLT)

 

⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. ⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. -- 1 John 4:7-10 (NLT)

 

God Is Love 4

 

Father,

 

You are LOVE!  Plain. Simple. To the point. You are LOVE! You love me!!

 

Lord Jesus, take up residence in my heart! I pray I will take root in Your love, for Your love is what makes me strong. Your love is what gives me nourishment. May my heart be fully planted in You, filled with You, willing to do Your will!!

 

Thank You for Your glorious, unlimited resources that empower me with inner strength through Your Holy Spirit! For I am weak, but You are strong! Thank You for the strength that only comes from You to do what is pleasing in Your eyes!

 

Lord Jesus, make Your home in ___'s heart, may he/she become rooted in God's love. Lord, may we each have an understanding of how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we each experience Your love, Lord Jesus, though it maybe to great to fully comprehend. In Your name and by Your power, Lord Jesus, we pray the Father's will be done. Amen

 

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 3:16-19 



¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

God Is Love 3

Father,

The God who does might miracles, You are LOVE! Your love endures forever! Nothing can separate me from Your love for You are mighty!

LORD Jesus, I pray Your Spirit continues to bend me to the Father's will! May my heart beat at the thought of You!

Thank You, Father, for not letting go of me! When fears and doubts assail me, You stay with me. When trials come my way, You cling to me reminding me of Your love. Thank You for not abandoning me!

Father, in the Name of Jesus, we pray ___ will know that no matter what he/she is going through that You love him/her. When troubles, persecution, hunger, or even death comes ___'s way, Your love for him/her is unfailing. May each of us remember this too! We pray Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen

Scripture Reference: Romans 8:35-39 (NLT)

³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is Love 2

Praying the Scriptures, Focusing on God's attributes, character, and names; following the 4-Steps of Prayer Guide. Fill in the blanks with a person's name. These are the prayers the Prayer Squad receives via text messages.

Father,

The God who created all I see, You are LOVE! You fill me with Your love through the Holy Spirit and that's how I know You are love!

LORD Jesus, search my heart! Do you find self ambition there? If so, remove it from me! I do not desire to make my own agenda happen, only Your's. May my life point to You!

Father, God, thank You for loving me while I was Your enemy! You didn't wait until I was living by Your laws to save me! No, you saved me & poured Your Holy Spirit into me; fixing me from the inside out. Thank You for loving me!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift up __ who is utterly helpless without You. Draw __ to You! May __ know that most people wouldn't die for him/her BUT You showed him/her Your love by dying for __. Lord, Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives as it is in Heaven. Amen

Scripture Reference: Romans 5:5-8 (NLT)

⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

God Is Love 1

Praying the Scriptures, Focusing on God's attributes, character, and names; following the 4-Steps of Prayer Guide. Prayers the Prayer Squad receives via text messages.

Father,

PRAISE: The GOD of gods! The LORD of lords! Your faithful love endures forever! You remember me in my weakness and You rescue me! You save me from my enemy who is Your enemy! You provide nourishment for me & You are my strength! Your love is everlasting!!

CONFESSION: LORD Jesus, You know I am made of dirt, dust of the earth. I am human. I am weak. Forgive me for choices I make out of fear! Forgive me for not always saying "Yes, LORD". I desire to be a woman who says "Yes" to Your request ...

THANKSGIVING:  Father, thank You for all the provision! Thank You for setting the sun, moon, & stars in the heavens to govern the light You created! The sun reminds me of Your love & the moon reminds me of how Your think of every detail. Thank You for thinking of  EVERY detail in my life!!

INTERCESSION:  Father, in the name of Jesus, may (insert a name here) know Your faithful love! Your love looks on ____'s weakness & looks past his/her faults & sees all he/she will be when he/she turns to You. In the name of Jesus, we pray the Father's will be done in our lives & in the lives of those in our cities. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26