Prayer Helps!
PRAYER
Updated 2/7/13
The following is a collection of articles, information and scriptures
on prayer that we have put together to help you. It is our hope that
the information will lead you to deeper communication with God.
F-A-C-T-S on Prayer
by: Hank Hanegraaff
How important is prayer in sharing the gospel? Absolutely vital! Engaging in cult apologetics
without prayer is like entering the battlefield without a weapon. That is why the apostle Paul
ends his great sermon on the armor of God by warning that the spiritual soldier must "with all
prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit" (Eph. 6:18). There is no magic formula for a
dynamic prayer life. You must get back to the basics.
Not long ago, I had an opportunity to play golf with U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin. Having
loved the game since I was 14, I was looking to something in his golf swing that would set
him apart from 99.9 percent of all golfers. But there was nothing unusual in his technique. I
realized that Corey had a ferocious commitment to the basics.
There is an application here to what is happening today in the Christian church. Hordes of
Christians are looking for divine encounters in all the wrong places. Some travel to Toronto in
hopes the Holy Spirit has landed there. Others go to Detroit because they've head that a
pastor there is blessing water which triggers revival and miracles. Some make pilgrimage to
Pensacola, Florida to the "outpouring" there. Many people falsely think that reality can be
reduced to a personal experience of enlightenment, when all the while authentic spiritual
experience is discovered in God's inerrant Word.
Let's turn to the foundational issue of prayer. If you want a real experience, then develop your
relationship with your Creator.
No relationship can flourish without constant, heart-felt communication, and that includes our
relationship with God. We must be in constant communication with our Redeemer through
prayer. As F. B. Meyer remarks, "The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer."
Today there is much bad teaching regarding prayer. Some leaders in the Christian
community even urge followers never to pray "Thy will be done." In light of such falsehoods,
we need to grasp the facts. We can use the acronym F-A-C-T-S to remind ourselves of the
basics of prayer.
Faith
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Faith
For prayer to be meaningful, it must be founded on biblical faith. True faith encapsulates
knowledge, agreement, and trust in God alone. Ultimately, it is the object of faith that renders
faith effective – not faith in faith but faith in the triune God. The prayer of faith is rooted in
God's Word. R.A. Torrey said, "To pray the prayer of faith we must, first of all, study the Word
of God ... As Paul puts it in Romans 10:17, 'Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God'" (emphasis in original).
Adoration
Faith naturally leads to adoration that expresses our love and longing for God. Adoration in
turn leads to praise and worship. The Scriptures overflow with descriptions of God's
greatness. The Psalms, in particular, contain passionate prayers of worship, expressions of
adoration to the King of Kings. "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the
Lord our Maker" (Ps. 95:6).
Confession
The Psalms are also replete with confessions, such as that of King David:
"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Ps. 51:4).
Confession means acknowledging that we stand guilty before God. There is no place for selfrighteousness. We develop intimacy with the Lord through prayer when we confess our need
for His pardon. The apostle John writes, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9).
Thanksgiving
Nothing is more basic to prayer than to "enter his gates with thanksgiving" (Ps. 100:4). Giving
thanks is a function of faith, not feelings. It flows from the assurance that our heavenly Father
knows and provides exactly what we need. Paul encourages us to "be joyful always; pray
continually; give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
Supplication
God desires His children to bring their requests with praise and thanksgiving. Scripture
promises "that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he
hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:1415). Despite His provision, the purpose of prayer is not to pressure God into providing us with
pleasures, but to conform us to His will.
As you internalize these F-A-C-T-S, remember that the power of prayer becomes a reality
only through the practice of prayer.
Connecting with God
Prayer Connects You with God
God's power is unleashed in your life when you pray
Praying isn't just a way to comfort yourself by saying pleasant, benign words. Neither is it a
way to earn God's favor by trying to sound pious. When you pray, you're making a direct
connection with the living God of the universe.
Prayer is powerful! So powerful, in fact, that it can have a more significant impact than
anything else you do.
Here are some ways you can pray boldly, inviting God to transform your relationship with Him
through prayer:
Rely on the Holy Spirit! Relying on the Holy Spirit's power will dramatically help you hear and
respond to God's voice as you pray. The Holy Spirit will also help you express your deepest
prayers to God even if you don't know how to put them into words.
Believe in God's promises from Scripture and expect Him to work in your life. Have faith in
His willingness and power to answer your prayers. Be persistent when you pray. Remember
the power that was unleashed when people in the early church prayed, and look for God to
respond to faithful prayers in powerful ways today as well.
Approach prayer like the exciting adventure it is -- not as an obligation. Prayer should never
be boring! Be open to hearing from God during your conversations with Him, and don't be
afraid to encounter Him.
Don't try to follow any type of formula when you pray. Just as God has created each person
differently, He expects you to pray in ways that reflect the individual He has made you. So
don't worry about a right or wrong way to pray. Instead, pray in the unique ways that best
help usher you into God's presence.
Don't allow yourself to grow complacent. Pursue God with a passion and a true desire to be
transformed every day.
Frequently read the Bible, think about what it says, apply it to your life, and speak portions of
it in your prayers to affirm and claim God's promises.
Regularly pray against evil spiritual forces that may be working against you. Prayer has real
power to stop evil in its tracks.
When facing a decision, ask God to show you the direction in which He's moving, then
commit to following Him.
Regularly confess any sins that are hindering your relationship with God. Ask for God's grace
to help you live a pure life.
Put your trust in God rather than yourself, other people, things, or circumstances.
Intercede for people who don't yet have relationships with Christ, standing in the spiritual gap
for them to ask God to work in their lives.
Be humble. Remember that it's Christ's work on the cross that is the ultimate source of power
your prayers have.
Pray often in private, and when you do pray in public, don't make a big show of it. Be sure
that your motivation to pray is to commune with God rather than to impress others.
Don't let your prayers become just laundry lists of requests. Praise God for who He is,
confess your sins, and thank God for His work in your life during your prayers as well as
asking Him for what you need and want.
Fast when God leads you to do so. Fasting can help you focus more on your spiritual appetite
than your physical one.
Be willing to make sacrifices for God. For example, God may sometimes ask you to give up
some social time with other people so you can spend some time alone with Him.
Know that God will always hear and answer your prayers in the way that's best. Wait patiently
for Him to act in His timing.
The ABC's of Prayer
Helping children talk to God can be as easy as A-B-C. Use this simple guide to
add some spark to your family's prayer life.
By Karen H. Whiting
Adore God. Start the day by showing God love and honor. Greet God in prayer
with words that show you love God and know he is wonderful. Talk about words
that describe God, such as all-powerful, loving, and creative, then use those
words in adoration.
Believe in God's abilities. Before we ask for God's help, we must believe he
can help. Over breakfast, talk about God's ability to solve problems. In prayer,
tell God you believe he can do everything!
Confess sins. Get your hands dirty, then wash them. Talk about how God
washes our hearts when we confess sins. Have each person think about
something he or she did that hurt someone, then ask for forgiveness.
Delight in God and his Creation. Romans 1:20 teaches that when we look at
what God made, we learn about God. Take a nature walk and thank God each
time you stop to look at something he made.
Express the need for God. In humility seek the truth of Christ's words in John
15:5: "Apart from me, you can do nothing." Talk to your child about why you
need God. Ask your child why he needs God. Together thank God for always
being with each of you.
Focus on one need. There is no need to rush through a wish list of all the
problems you want God to solve—he already knows. A mind crowded with
problems will feel stressed. For today, think of the need weighing on you the
most. Let God give you peace about that one problem.
Give thanks to God. Help your child think of the blessings in her life and thank
God for each one. Write them in a journal. This helps develop an attitude of
gratitude.
Humor lightens the heart, so tell God the funny things that happen, too. Look
back and find the funny side of frustrating moments and laugh. God, who created
monkeys and cuckoo birds, likes to laugh with us.
Invite the Holy Spirit to guide each of you. Take your child on a blindfolded
walk, guiding him around obstacles. Discuss how God sent the Holy Spirit to
guide us around problems, including ones we may not even see.
Journal as a form of prayer. Let your children write or draw a prayer.
Encourage them to write whatever God puts in their minds. Have younger
children tell you what they want to say and record their words for them.
Keep knocking. Read about the poor widow who kept knocking in Luke 18:1-8.
Make a doorknob hanger with a prayer request on it and tell your child to pray
about that request every time he sees the hanger.
Love God and express that love in words. Expressing love for God and
remembering his love helps us look beyond our problems and hold on to his
promises. As you pray, fold your arms across your chest as though you are
hugging—and being hugged by—God.
Mean what you say. Honesty is important in any relationship, especially your
relationship with God. Read Psalm 102 and talk about how it's okay to tell God
how we feel, even when we are sad or angry. Practice being honest with God as
you pray.
Never give up, but persevere in your prayers. If you've got an unanswered
prayer, continue taking it to God. If you're dealing with a difficult situation, ask
God to give you the strength to deal with it. Trust that God will answer your
prayers in his way and in his time.
Offer yourself and your talents to God. Make a list of your child's talents,
from a great smile to a nice singing ability to being a fast runner. Then pray with
your child, asking God to show her how to use these abilities to serve him. Use
one of those talents for God today.
Praise the Lord. Rejoice for what God has done and will do. Sing or listen to a
praise song as part of your prayers.
Quietly listen and wait for God's response. Read Psalm 46 and then sit still
and let your heart feel God's love. Listen for God to speak to your hearts. Share
anything God may have told you, reflect on memorized verses, or read a passage
from the Bible. Help your child discover that God speaks through his Word.
Repent. Repentance is an act of regret and turning away from sin. To stop doing
the same bad things takes strength. Help your child make a "God can help me"
sign and post it in her room as a reminder to ask for God's help to resist sin and
repent of wrongdoing.
Seek God's help for others. Our concern for others touches God's heart. Write
the names of people who need God's guidance and comfort. Pray for each.
Trust God and expect answers. Read the words on a penny about trust. Talk
about how trust grows just like a pile of coins can grow, a little at a time. Post a
paper on your refrigerator to jot down answers to prayer, and watch the paper fill
up!
Unite your will with God's. God knows what is best. Talk about your prayer
requests and why they might or might not be in God's will, then pray for God to
show you his will and to help you accept his plans for you.
Value yourself. As you end your prayers today, realize that God values you.
Read Psalm 139 as a reminder of how much God loves you.
Worship God. Think of worship as blowing kisses to God. Take turns saying
something great about God. Blow kisses toward heaven after each praise.
X-ray hearing; that is, listen intently. Prayer is a two-way communication, so
stop and listen for God's voice in your heart. Read about how Elijah listened and
heard God whisper in 1 Kings 19:11-13.
Yearn to learn from prayer and be changed by it. Even as you end today's
prayer time, yearn for the next time. Think of God as a friend you can't wait to
talk with again. Make a plan to pray again soon.
Zealously share. Share joy by sharing love with others. Share answers
received, telling others of God's greatness in providing answers.
Prayer is a continuous adventure in drawing closer to God and developing a
relationship with him. It involves the desire to know, listen, and serve God, as
well as sharing experiences and needs. Master these basic skills and make your
family's communication with God a joyful celebration of his goodness.
Karen H. Whiting
“I Just Don’t Know How or What to Pray for!”
Here are some examples of prayers you can pray when you are at a loss for words. Just be
honest with God! He knows your heart!
“Father, I just hate this and frankly, I’m not very happy with you for allowing this. But “I” don’t
belong to me, “I” belong to You. “I” don’t get a vote. While I don’t want to be dishonest with
you, because you know my heart, I give this situation to you. I place it on the altar before you
where it belongs. I don’t like it…in fact, I hate it a lot. But, Father, I relinquish this to you. Do
with me, as you will. I ask also that you conform my heart to these words, so that I would
rejoice in your will, whatever it is. And Father, I thank you for loving me even when I don’t.
Amen”.
“Jesus, I bring my present perplexities to you. I want only to know and obey your voice.
Please make your voice plain and clear to me. I promise that I will obey whatever it may be.
I believe implicitly that you are guiding me by your word. I will surrender all doubtful things
until I have a clearer light. I will look and listen for your dear voice continually and the
moment I am sure of it, I will yield to your will. Amen.”
"Father God, I lift this fear and doubt up to you and leave it in your capable hands. Jesus, it’s
in your name that I ask to be rid of this spirit of timidity and fear and to be free from the
influences of the enemy. Amen."
“God, rescue me (or whoever)______ from the enemy. God, come quickly; I/------ do not
want to be taunted today. God, send ten thousand angels to cover me/------ with their
protection. God, let me/------ believe your truth instead of the lies. Stand me/------ up in
strength with renewed courage and power. Go before me/------. Hold me/------. Defend me/-----. Deliver me/------. Amen.”
From Charles Stanley’s book…The Blessing of Brokenness
I have a number of people come to me to ask me to pray for them that God might remove
certain situations from their lives. This is usually how the conversation goes when I answer
them:
Me- "Do you believe that God knows what is happening in your life?"
Them- "Yes."
Me- "Do you believe that God loves you?"
Them- "Yes."
Me- "Then this is what we are going to pray. We are going to pray that you will yield
yourself to God so that whatever He is up to, you will allow Him to accomplish His purposes.
We'll pray that God will uphold and strengthen you so that you will come through stronger and
better and more spiritually mature than before. We are not going to pray for escape, but for
God's grace to be at work in your life so that you can face this situation with courage. We are
going to pray that you will be able to trust God fully to work this situation for your good."
Recommended reading:
Changes that Heal by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
The Blessing of Brokenness by Charles Stanley
Shattered Dreams and PAPA Prayer by Larry Crabb
Max Lucado books
A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser
The Power of a Praying Wife …(praying husband,…..parent,…..woman,….etc) and other
Stormie Omartian books
Prayer Promises
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be
opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8
“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:22
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever
we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”
1 John 5:14-15
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
Jeremiah 29:12
“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are
still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24
“You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; and you will pay your vows.”
22:27
Job
“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if
you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you
have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy
may be made full.” John 16:23-24
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that
you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish
much.”
James 5:16
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified
in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
John 14:13-14
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it
will be done for you.”
John 15:7
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to
your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret
will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
Psalm 50:15
“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say,
‘Here I am.”
Isaiah 58:9
“The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:29
“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will
rescue him and honor him.”
Psalm 91:15
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask
Him!”
Matthew 7:11
“The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their
troubles. “
Psalm 34:17
“Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will
hear my voice.”
Psalm 55:17
“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will
save them.
Psalm 145:18-19
“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask
Him.”
Matthew 6:8
“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments
and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”
1 John 3:22
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things,
which you do not know.”
Jeremiah 33:3
“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you
have received them, and they will be granted you.”
Mark 11:24
Need Prayer?
 There are Prayer Ministry Volunteers down in the front of the
auditorium after every service or out in the hallways, who will pray
with you. Look for their yellow lanyards!
Email your request to www.prayer@cedarcreek.tv
Call the “Prayerline” at the CedarCreek Church
Central Support Office (419) 661-8661 ext 120.
Submit a Prayer Request through “Community Care”
at www.cedarcreek.tv/communitycare
 Place your request in one of the prayer boxes located:
….at the Community Care Table, Perrysburg Campus
….at the Welcome Centers of all other campuses
“DERAILED!”
Is Something Taking Your Life off Track? There is hope!
Join us for Life Support at
CedarCreek Church, all campuses
Tuesdays 7:00-9:00pm
September through May
(Childcare available)
For more info and a complete listing of support groups, go to
www.cedarcreek.tv/lifesupport
Everyone welcome! No pre-registration required.
(Not all groups offered at all campuses)