190. Effective Prayer // Part 1: Laying the Foundation

Do you want to connect with the Father but feel unsure of how to pray? Are you hesitant about who to pray to? Tune into Part 1 of a 2-part series on the topic of prayer. In this episode, Caroline and Colby share about the various types of prayer as well as answer the very commonly asked question, “Who do I pray to?”

Bible Verses:

Matthew 6:7-15 NKJV “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

John 14:13-14 “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

John 15:9-17 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

John 16:23-27 “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.”

Matthew 18:19-20 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

James 5:16-18 “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.”

Job 42:10 “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

Genesis 20:17 “Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.”

Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”

Mark 16:17-18 “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Matthew 18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

John 16:23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Luke 11:2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.”

Topics Discussed:

Why Should We Pray?

Prayer is important!
Prayer allows us to communicate with God and have fellowship with Him.
We cannot have a relationship with God if we don’t talk to Him.

Types of Prayer

You will need different types of prayers in different seasons that you walk through in life.
The different types of prayer are:
- The Lord’s Prayer
- Petition Prayer
- Intercessory Prayer
- Kingdom Work and Ministry Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

This is a good starting place for prayer.
Jesus teaches this prayer to the disciples after they ask Him how they should pray.
It’s a model prayer. It’s a guideline for how we should pray.
Jesus warns the disciples to not pray repetitive prayers. We shouldn’t let the Lord’s prayer become repetitious, vain and empty.
Right after teaching about this prayer, Jesus talks about forgiveness.
If you don’t know what to pray, you should start by learning and praying the Lord’s Prayer.
This is the foundational teaching of prayer.
Matthew 6:7-15

Petition Prayer

Petition is asking God for something.
John 14, 15 and 16
We’re going before the Father and asking Him specifically.
Most of our prayers are petition prayers.

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer is praying for someone else.
We often use intercessory prayers to pray for friends or family members who are not believers.
Intercession means intervening on behalf of another person.
This type of prayer is very important.

Kingdom Work and Ministry Prayer

Jesus spoke to the wind and waves and commanded them to be still and quiet.
Jesus tells the disciples that they can speak to a mountain and command it to move.
We have authority to speak to our difficult circumstances and command it to be removed from our lives.
These prayers are not prayed to ask the Father to do something about the circumstances, these prayers are declaring out and doing the ministry work.
Start with a petition prayer and ask the Father in Jesus name. Then the Father will empower you through the Holy Spirit who will be doing these things through you. Then you will go on to do the ministry work – healing the sick, casting out demons, etc.

Who Are We Praying To?

God means many different things to many different people.
It’s important that we pray to our Father. Heavenly Father, God the Father, etc.
Jesus tells us that we can ask the Father directly.
We should pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus.
Begin your prayer with “Father,” and end your prayer with “in the name of Jesus”.
There is a time to talk and communicate to Jesus and Holy Spirit.
You might communicate with Jesus and Holy Spirit to gain wisdom on a situation. “Jesus, what do you think about this?” “Holy Spirit, what do you think about this?” “Holy Spirit, help me find my keys, etc.”
When you are going in prayer for something or asking on the behalf of someone else, you need to go to God the Father in the name of Jesus.
‘Lord’ is a title for Jesus.
Asking the Lord to do something is generic. It’s better to be specific – God the Father and Jesus.

Powerful Quotes:

“If you want to pray and have a relationship with God the Father and ask Him for things, you cannot have unforgiveness in your heart.” – Colby

“What is the position and posture of your heart?” – Caroline

“There is a close Father who wants intimacy with you.” – Caroline

“It’s the name of Jesus that heals, restores and saves.” – Caroline

“The Father’s desire is and always has been for family.” – Colby

Resources:

www.dadsinthemaking.com

www.momsinthemaking.com

www.acupfullofhopepodcast.com

Episode 59 – Interview with Shirin Worton

Join the VIP Facebook Group: Facebook Group