"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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." -Ephesians 6:18-20 (ESV)
Why We Pray
According to Scripture, we know that God primarily speaks to us through His Word and through our prayers to Him. When we pray, we are intentionally sharing our hearts with the Father who in turn shows us more of His heart. Prayer builds intimacy in our relationship with Jesus and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It changes our hearts and makes us more like Christ. If we follow the example that Christ laid out for us, we see that He prayed- with others (Luke 9:28), for others (Matthew 19:13-14), and on his own (Luke 5:16, 6:12). As believers it is essential that we make prayer a priority in our daily walks and in our corporate body.
How We Pray
When we pray, we should follow the basic model that Jesus put forth in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4.
- Praise
Begin your prayer with thanksgiving, praising the Lord for all He has done and all He will do. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Matthew 6:9-10, Psalm 8:4, 86:12, 100) - Repentance
Take time to consider any sins you have been unrepentant of and ask for
forgiveness. (Prov. 28:13, Psalm 32:5, 66:18) - Spiritual Growth
Ask the Lord to help you grow in faith and your understanding of His
Word, in your love for Him, and in the pursuit of righteousness. (John
17:21, James 4:8, Jeremiah 33:3, John 15:4) - Unity in the Body of Christ
Pray for the unity of the body of Christ, both locally and globally. Ask God to help us love one another, serve one another, and encourage one another. Pray that as a church we would spur one another on toward Christlikeness, bear one another's burdens, and make much of the name of Jesus in our community. (John 13:34-35, Hebrews 10:24-25, Philippians 1:3-6) - Discipleship
Pray for the spiritual health of our members and families, that we would hold tight to the teachings of Jesus. Ask God to help our leaders honor God in discipling the next generation. (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 8:34-38, John 8:31-32) - Make the Name of Jesus Known
Ask God to help us boldly train believers, equip disciples, and encourage the spread of the Gospel. (John 15:15, Acts 1:8, 4:29-31, Matthew 9:37-38) - Petitions/ Requests
Cry out to God with your requests, asking Him to help you trust Him more and understand His purpose in every situation. (Philippians 4:6, Psalm 5:3, John 14:13, 1 John 5:14, James 4:3, 5:16)
Sunday Morning Prayer Gathering
Every Sunday morning prior to our worship service, we have a time of corporate prayer. We encourage all members and visitors to join us during this time as we pray for our church and community.
"I pray because I can't help myself...I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me." -C.S. Lewis