Hello prayerful ones!

PRAYER IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT!  Nothing happens in the earth by God without someone PRAYING!  The graciousness of God has made everything available to us that we’ll ever need to live a godly life, but not everyone responds in faith to accept what we’ve already received.  PRAYER is the connection that opens the door for all of God’s blessings to be manifested in our lives.  It’s the process of granting permission from heaven to show up in our lives!  

EFFECTIVE PRAYER requires trust.  We can trust God and be strong in Him and in the power of His might, and not in ourselves.  It’s imperative that we put on God’s armor to withstand the deception of the enemy during spiritual warfare.  Remember:  we’ve already obtained victory through Jesus.  Therefore, we PRAY from the perspective of maintaining that victory.  Also, our enemy is not flesh and blood.  We are fighting against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places.  

The Word of God helps us stand strong.  PRAYER is affirming to God what He’s already said.  When we PRAY and give thanks, believing God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, the results are inevitable (see 2 Corinthians 1:11, AMP).

Here are some bullet points about THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER:

  1. PRAYER is the bridge that allows the blessings from heaven to come to us and manifest themselves.  The favor of God shows up when we PRAY.  I believe for the favor of God in my life every day because the Word tells us that His favor surrounds us like a shield and that it’s for a lifetime (see Psalm 5:12, 30:5).
  2. PRAYER heals the sick and afflicted, according to James 5:13-16, AMP.  PRAYING for each other from a position of faith changes things.  Jesus has given us all power and authority.  Our PRAYERS give heaven a permit to work in our lives (see Luke 10:19).  Paul PRAYED, before he healed Publius’ father.  This was part of the process of permitting God to work a miracle of healing.  
  3. Acts 4:31 tells us that when the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, they PRAYED.  Just like the apostles, we can also shake things up with PRAYER.  
  4. PRAYER is conversation with God.  It’s important that we remain in the mode of communicating with Him.    
  5. PRAYER bring prosperity in every form, both physically and spiritually (see 3 John 2).
  6. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us to PRAY without ceasing.  We must keep PRAYING in all circumstances, and give thanks (see Colossians 4:2).  
  7. We’re told in Romans 12:12 to rejoice, continuing constantly in PRAYER.  
  8. Acts 6:4 tells us that by continually giving ourselves to PRAYER, the ministry of the Word is manifested.  It’s not about making our prayers long-winded or dramatic ~ just consistent.  Short, simple PRAYERS will get the job done.  

Remember to PRAY God’s Word.  For example, because God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, we shouldn’t pray prayers like, “God, don’t take your Holy Spirit away.”  Other unscriptural prayers would be, “God, we ask You to be with us”, when the word declares that whenever we pray, He is in our midst.  Jesus lives permanently in us, so we don’t want to beg God to visit us.  PRAYING the Word of God is the most powerful way you can PRAY!   The effective, fervent PRAYER of a righteous and avails much!

Praying bold prayers,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church