Talking With The Father: Prayer Requests 

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Luke 18:1
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6

How often have you wished there was someone to pray with, when faced with life's battles? God's Word says, "And again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 18:19.  This page is provided in order that you may know that you are not alone in your battles.  We are here to pray with you and agree that God's Will be done in your life and in the battles you face.  The article on this page will give you some things you can do, in order to see your prayers become more effective.  The form at the bottom of the page is a way for us to know how to pray and agree for you, and with you.  Feel free to share your requests, and know that we will stand with you.

“Battle-Prayer Strategies…Are They Battle Tested?”

Rev. J.G. Kramer
06-09-05

Text: I Thessalonians 5:17; “Pray without ceasing.” II Corinthians 10:4; “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)” Isaiah 54:17; “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” Ephesians 6:11, 13, 18; “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (The whole passage here, in Ephesians is worthy to be considered…Ephesians 6:11-19.) James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

We all want our prayers answered. But few of us really know how God intends for us to pray. Many of us pray and hope for answers. But God meant for us to pray and get answers. To do this we must know the type of prayer to use in any given situation. Jesus instructed us on how to pray. Have we studied the word? Are we confident in coming to the Lord in prayer? Not all prayers can be prayed the same way. There are different guidelines for different prayers.

Recently, a friend sent me the following note, as we had been discussing the subject of effective prayer:

You'll hear in church frequently the phrase, "I'll pray about it." It's assumed we all know what is being promised, while actually that is probably not the case. All prayer activities are not equal.

We have noticed that when you say you will pray about something, substance will follow. While this may be related to your office, I imagine you are pursuing prayer in a manner that differs from that of most saints.

Moreover, you don't run into many who will describe how they actually go about pursuing a prayer project. There isn't a whole lot of teaching on the subject, and most of what manages to get presented, doesn't come from the pastor of your local church.

As the other side of the coin, perhaps you could characterize your own strategy. While even successful intercessors may use various methods, I believe it's of some importance to learn more about what really works.

Effective prayer is a subject that every believer should be striving to master. It is, I believe, The key to living and walking in victory in this life, second only to our salvation experience and faith in the sustaining power of Jesus Christ. It is one of those foundation principles, upon which much of our peace, hope, assurance, and victory in this life rests.

There is more that can be said about prayer and its effectiveness than can be covered in one article. But I would like to offer what I believe to be the three basic types of prayer, as well as some strategies, which I find effective in my prayer life. I call them my Battle Prayer Strategies. You may have some of your own, but I offer these with the hope and prayer that they will spark in you, a renewed desire and determination to see your prayers become a force to be reckoned with.

I realize that when I say I want to offer what I believe to be the three basic types of prayers that there are those who will counter, “But there are many more types of prayer!” However, I hold to what some call the K.I.S.S. principle, ”Keep It Simple Saints!”(my paraphrase.) In order to do justice to these principles, it would be helpful to view them in a natural application, as well as in the spiritual frame. And so, here they are.

A. WORSHIP AND PERSONAL DEVOTION: Worship involves declarations of adoration and thanksgiving, offered to God. Devotional prayer focuses on asking for spiritual growth and communion with God, as well as worship. This involves meditation on God's Word, which turns His Word into conversation with Jesus. This would be somewhat like conversation at home with family. That is how worship and personal devotion should feel. It would be a great way to experience the church setting.

B. PERSONAL PETITIONS: Asking for circumstances in our life to change. This would be somewhat like petitioning a court for relief.

C. INTERCESSORY WARFARE PRAYER: Asking God to release His blessing to touch others. This blessing includes spiritual and natural blessing. God has ordained Intercessory prayer as the means of releasing His sovereignly ordained blessing into a local area, and into the individual lives of people. This would be like entering a war zone. You would only take with you what you’d need to be effective in battle.

I may further develop the three points above, at a later time, but for now I will let them stand on their own merit. I offered them as a foundation to address the note from my friend. They may also be viewed as training for spiritual warfare in the three broad areas of everyone’s life. Thus, I offer some of my Battle Prayer Strategies.

1. I see a need and that is what I am led to address. In this context, I rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows the mind of Christ, what is happening all the time, and will direct me. We should never try to operate outside the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I John 3:17 says, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, How dwelleth the love of God in him?”
2. I want to have revealed, what is the Plan and Purpose of God?  Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” It is important to know what God desires, in order to know how to pray effectively. You never pray if it be your will when you know the will of God. This thought could be a whole article in itself, but by way of example, here is one to consider that we know is God’s will. It is God’s Will that all men be saved (though not all men will accept salvation).
3. I want to discover what the Truth of a situation is, and that is not accomplished using cosmetic cover-ups.  When I use the term “cosmetic cover-ups,” I am saying that if we do not know the will of God in a situation, we may cloud or obscure our objective by praying for things that involve too many details, personal concerns, and sometimes even too much teaching. Our goal is to discover the Truth and not other things in this context. Truth can sometimes be painful, but it will ultimately be liberating, in every case! James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom (knowledge, insight), let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (liberate you).”
4. I want to see the Protection of God working in the situation.  Job 1:10 says, “Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” This is Satan talking to God concerning His Protection, His Provision, and His Keeping of Job. But those same mercies of God are for all who believe. Psalms 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
5. I ask for God’s Peace, in order that strife not be the driving force. This allows for levelheaded, clear, unrushed insight for all parties in the situation. Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
6. I am specific in my requests, choosing not to waste energy on Window-Dressing.  Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing (Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything.); but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your (definite, specific) requests be made known unto God.” John 14:13-14 says, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
7. I serve notice in Heaven, on Earth, and at the Gates of Hell that I have come to do business, what my intentions are, as well as what my expectations are.  This is where faith (your faith) and the faithfulness of God must join, in order to get results. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Mark 11:24, Jesus says, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Jesus is asking you to believe in something that you do not have yet. II Corinthians 5:7 says, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
8. I exercise what I call, Bold Humility, knowing Who and What I am in God.  I am confident that what I ask the Father, He will do, based on how I have seen Him move over years and years. I believe that His promises and His Word are ever true. 1 John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence (assurance) we have in him (approaching God), that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”
   

I Am Goal Oriented When I Pray!

In order to be most effective in prayer, it is up to you and me to embrace God’s Plan for our lives. Effective prayer gives God’s Plan liberty to work. When we understand that principle, we do not pray selfishly. Instead, as “soldiers,” we faithfully carry out His Plan.

There is so much more that can be said concerning this subject, but it is my hope and prayer that this will give you a starting point from which to hone your skills in prayer. Take advantage of all the tools (weapons) that God has provided in His Word. Test and master those tools, strip down to fighting weight, and take the initiative in prayer. Become a warrior in prayer that the enemy fears, realizing that it is God working in and through you to accomplish His Plan and Purpose. Give Him Praise, Honor, and Glory, as well as Thanks for what He is doing. He is worthy!