Authentic Relationships: Praying for One Another

To pray “in Jesus’name”means to pray in His Spirit, in His compassion, in His love, in His outrage, in His concern. In other words, it means to pray a prayer that Jesus Himself might pray.

Kenneth L. Wilson

Taking it to God: Praying for Others as Jesus Would

We must be in tune with the Lord’s purpose for the person receiving our prayers (1 John 5:14,15). This means that you will only pray in line with the requestor’s request when it is in line with God’s will. Remember, we are not to make requests that ask God to violate their free will. However, we can ask God for mercy and grace in their lives. Furthermore, we can ask God to reveal Himself to them (Acts 26:18).

When people ask for prayer, find a place to pray for them immediately (James 5:16). Do not worry about praying perfect words. Prayer is not a performance (Matthew 6:7). Prayer is an honest expression of our hearts. God values compassion over eloquence (2).

Suggestions for Praying Effectively

Pray in small teams or one on one
Relate the situation, not just your request
Look at the situation from God’s perspective
Let your prayer flow from trust
Don’t access blame
Pray in unity
Pray the Scripture
Follow up

Discovering Prayer

Consider your prayer life like running a race with me as your coach (1 Corinthians 9:24). As your coach, I would share with you the skills to become a champion runner. I would tell you how to eat properly, breathe properly, exercise properly, etc. However, unless you practiced these techniques and skills, they would not be of benefit to you. The same is true in the realm of prayer – no one can run the race for you! As your prayer coach, allow me to share the following effects of prayer to motivate you to run to win!

Prayer Effects:

1. Reveals yourself to you. The result is that you can then submit the unrighteous areas to God for cleaning (Isaiah 6:1,5).

2. Provides the power to cleanse our hearts from unrighteousness (sin) (Psalm 19:12. 1 John 1:9).

3. Provides the power to hold us up (Psalm 17:5. Psalm 121:3).

4. Provides the power to govern our tongue (Psalm 141:3).

5. Provides the power to open our eyes (Psalm 119:18).

6. Provides the power to obtain wisdom (James 1:5).

7. Provides power to be a witness (Psalm 62:11. Acts 1:8).

8. Prepares the soil of our heart for the seed of God’s Word (Hosea 10:12)

Furthermore, the failure to pray is a sin (1 Samuel 12:23. James 4:17)

The purpose of the following study is to describe the constituent parts that are essential for an effective prayer life.

Authentic Relationships Series:

Discover Prayer Series:

Shalom
(Security, Wholeness, Success)
Peace

Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 
(3 John 1:2 NET)

(1) Select the link to open another article in a new tab with additional information.

2) This blog adapted from Authentic Relationships: Discover the lost art of “One Anothering” by Wayne Jacobsen (http://www.lifestream.org) and Clay Jacobsen. ISBN-13: 978-0801064517

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