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Prayer

Common questions about prayer

1. What do you do when you run out of things to say in your prayer time or you feel like you are saying the same things over and over?

2. What is a "Daily Appointment Time" with God and why should we do so?

3. Often when I start to pray, I don’t "FEEL ANYTHING." Am I doing something wrong? Should I always "feel something" everytime I pray?

4. Music is really important to me. I notice it on the Prayer Wheel. My kind of music isn’t exactly music to pray by. What are some guidelines on music as I grow in Christ?

There is a Christian alternative to all types of music.

A few Christian radio stations in Rockford are:
100.9 FM, 91.1 FM, and 88.3 FM. You shouldn't have any trouble finding stations in other areas too.

8 aspects of prayer

1. Worship - Worship focuses on magnifying the Lord because of His character...who He is. So choose different parts of His character (as shown on the Character of God sheet) and worship Him according to some or all of those characteristics. ***Lord, I worship You because of Your FAITHFULNESS. Even though I feel all alone, I know you are here with me.

2. Confession - This is the time in prayer where you honestly confess where you’ve sinned to the Lord. It is important to deal with ATTITUDES and ACTIONS. ***Jesus, I know that what I did yesterday was wrong, and my attitude was worse. Please forgive me.

3. Intercession - Intercession is when you pray for OTHERS. It is important to pray for others, because you may be the only one who does. You can pray for them, their salvation, their needs and growth, etc. One of the most powerful ways to show that you care for someone is to pray for them!

4. Petition - Petition is when you pray for YOURSELF and your OWN NEEDS. There is nothing wrong with praying for yourself. Jesus desires to be our Best Friend who knows the most intimate details of your life. He cares about everything you care about! So remember, you can always talk to Jesus.

5. Praying Scriptures - This is really important and powerful! The next page has some Scriptures to get you started. In prayer, just read back the Scriptures or recite them to the Lord. Personalize them using I or me. These are God’s truths and promises for our life. When we pray them, we start seeing God’s truths and promises become reality in our lives! ***Lord, it says in Phil. 4:13 that "I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength." So no matter what comes my way, through You, Jesus I can do it.

6. Listening - This is when you get quiet and allow the Lord to speak some thoughts into your mind. There are two good ways to do this. One way to listen is to FOCUS mentally on Jesus in worship and prayer or to just be silent and ask the Lord to speak to your heart and mind as you wait in His presence. The other way to listen is by reading a few Scriptures and meditating (thinking over) what you just read. ***Lord, it says in Psalm 91 that I need to "dwell in the secret place of the most high." Help me, as I wait in Your presence to understand what that means. (Remember that the enemy will try to make your mind wander quickly, so fight to keep FOCUSED on Jesus.)

7. Singing - Singing is a great way to pray. Even if your voice stinks! It’s powerful to sing worship songs to the Lord, or even to make up new ones from your heart. If you eventually choose to pursue your "Prayer Language," you’ll also find it exciting to sing to the Lord in your "Prayer Language."

8. Praise - Praise is a great way to conclude your prayer time. When you worship, you magnify God for who He is. When you praise, you are magnifying God for what He does. It is basically saying "thank you" for all that He is doing in you and in the lives of others. ***Thanks Lord for helping me grow in character. I couldn’t do it without You!

Verses

This is just a list of a few verses you can use to get started. Remember that praying Scriptures to the Lord is very powerful. Try to choose one a day and start memorizing it...roll it over in your mind (meditate)...say it aloud... visualize these verses moving and working in your life...etc.

1. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13 - NKJV

2. But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give into it. 1 Cor. 10:13 - NLT

3. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9 - NKJV

4. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. Ps. 119:32 - NIV

5. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4 - NIV

6. So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 - NLT

7. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Rom. 16:20 - NLT

8. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 - NKJV

9. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. Phil. 1:6 - NLT

10. If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. Ps. 94:18 - NKJV

11. And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into His glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. Jude 24 - NLT

12. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Ps. 138:7,8 - NKJV

13. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Ps. 34:7 - NIV

14. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Heb. 4:15,16 - NLT

15. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Is. 40:29-31 - NKJV

16. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11 - NKJV

17. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Eph. 6:13 - NLT

18. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Is. 41:10 - NKJV

19. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. Phil. 2:13 - NLT