Prayer

Picture the cross and thank God that through Jesus you can call God “Father”.

By the Holy Spirit draw near to God’s heavenly throne.

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It’s so important to start by remembering who we are praying to:

OUR - this highlights that we are praying the 'family' prayer. With this in mind, take every opportunity to pray for others and with others.

FATHER - the greatest privilege we have is to know that through Jesus we can know God as Father. As you pray, you can do so knowing that you have a perfect Father who is loving, willing to listen and has your best interests at heart.

IN HEAVEN - this highlights that God has a throne in heaven, is holy and has all authority to answer our prayers.

Praise the Name of the Lᴏʀᴅ and thank Him for the blessings you have in Christ.

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ our righteousness

In Christ - I am forgiven and made righteous

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ who sanctifies

In Christ - I am set apart for purity and ministry

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ my peace

In Christ - I have peace and well-being

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ who is there

In Christ - I have God’s presence and power

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ my shepherd

In Christ - I am led by the Holy Spirit

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ our healer

In Christ - I have health and healing

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ our provider

In Christ - I have success and provision

His Name - The Lᴏʀᴅ our banner

In Christ - I am secure and victorious

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HALLOWED - this means that we are to set apart as holy, and honour God’s name. God is already holy in himself, so we now have the privilege of honouring him, both through our praise, and by aligning our lives with who he is.

YOUR NAME - because God is so mighty, he has many names. In Genesis 1, God’s name is Elohim, the all-powerful, exalted Creator. The greatest and most frequently used name for God in the Old Testament is the sacred name Yahweh or Jehovah. It is the name that God revealed to Moses and the children of Israel as they were about to be delivered from Egypt (see Exodus 3:14-15). In English translations it is sometimes translated I AM, or I AM WHO I AM, or most commonly as The Lᴏʀᴅ. Throughout the OT there are various compound names, where the name ‘Jehovah’ or ‘the Lord’ has another name attached to it, such as in the list above. So, for example, in Judges 6:24, God is revealed as Jehovah-Shalom which means the Lord is Peace, or the Lord my Peace.

In the new covenant God has revealed himself to us in and through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are saved and 'in Christ'. Therefore as we worship and praise God for who he is, we can also thank him for all the blessings and benefits that are now ours in Christ, and expect him to make himself known to us as our Righteousness, our Provider etc.

Pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done in these areas:

• Yourself
• Your Family
• Your Church
• Your Community and the Nation(s)

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Notice that we are still focused on God and his priorities:

YOUR KINGDOM COME - God’s kingdom is simply God’s rule. We know that he rules supremely in Heaven. This prayer is a way of agreeing and declaring that we want to see his rule established “on earth as it is in heaven”.

YOUR WILL BE DONE - we are called to pray for God’s will to be done in every sphere of our lives. So, on a daily basis, pray in the Spirit over your own life, your family and the church. Pray fervently until you sense it’s time to move on. Take time to regularly pray for your community, including those on your BLESS list. Pray for the nation and the nations. Pray for governmental leaders (see 1 Timothy 2:1-4), and for global revival (see 2 Chronicles 7:14).

Offer your requests to God.

Ask him to bless every area of your life and the lives of others.

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Notice that we have transitioned from focusing on God’s name, God’s kingdom and God’s will, to focusing on our needs.

GIVE US - remember that you are praying to a Father who is loving and powerful, who is willing and able to meet all your needs.

OUR DAILY BREAD - this includes literal, physical provision, as well as his blessing over every area of your life. Because the prayer is communal (our) remember to pray for the needs of others in your world and in the world at large.

• Ask God to forgive you.
• Forgive and release others.
• Set your will to forgive those who sin against you.
• Make a choice to live a life of forgiveness.

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Notice that the Lord’s Prayer starts not with our sins, but with God as our Father, since through Christ we’re already accepted and justified in his sight. However, we need to come before him as our Father and deal with any current issues in our lives and our relationships.

FORGIVE US OUR SINS - it may be obvious what you need to be forgiven for. If not, ask the Spirit to reveal this to you. Then ask God to forgive and to cleanse you, knowing that '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 NIV

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US - there is a crucial link between us forgiving others and experiencing God’s forgiveness. This is not the same as trying to earn God’s love or acceptance in his sight - that is settled when we receive Christ. Rather, it is about us recognising that because we have been forgiven of a huge un-payable debt, we must forgive others, if we want the Father to forgive us (see Matthew 18:21-35).

• Ask the Lord to keep you from sinful and compromising situations.
• Ask him to protect you in all areas of your life.
• Put on the full armour of God.

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LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION - right from the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3), through to Jesus in the wilderness (see Matthew 4), the devil, the Evil One, comes as the Tempter. As we pray “lead us not into temptation” we are asking the Lord to guide and help us stay away from situations that could lead us astray and to strengthen us against the wiles of the Tempter.

DELIVER US FROM EVIL - this is a prayer for protection and rescue from all evil. Pray this for yourselves and for those in your world. Avail yourself of God’s armour as described in Ephesians 6:10-18: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Speak God’s Word and pray in the Spirit on all occasions (see Ephesians 6:19).

• Worship God and make this declaration.
• Rejoice in the One who is eternal and has given you eternal life.

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It's important to finish with the right perspective: on God himself.

FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY - return to worshipping our Father in Heaven, acknowledging and declaring his sovereignty, strength and majesty.

FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN - rejoice that you are worshipping an eternal Father, who has called you to be with him, and in his heavenly kingdom forever and ever, Amen!