“I EXHORT therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intersessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men.” (1 Tim. 2:1). “Be kindly affectioned one to
another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Rom. 12:10, 12) “Continue in
prayer, and watch it the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that
God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for
which I am also in bonds. That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak” (Col.
4:2-4). Everywhere we turn, prayer should be there to meet us. And when it does, the
following results will begin to show up with increasing regularity. Consider them
as a sneak preview of what will happen if I AM Church truly becomes devoted to
prayer.

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1. Praise God for Who He Is

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What the Bible says

“For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)

Why it matters

Praising God for who He is is a part of prayer.

The verse above is a reminder about who you are communicating with when you decide to pray to God. You are not just talking with some kind of spiritual force that cannot be named. How would you have a conversation with something like that?

When you pray, you want to be confident that the One you bring your deepest hopes, ambitions, regrets and fears to can be trusted with them. Since God created all things through and for Himself, He alone has the power to hear all our prayers and answer them. So it is appropriate and important when you pray to start by acknowledging Who you are talking with and what makes Him unique.

How you might pray

God, You are incredible. You are the source of everything good in life and the creator of a beautiful world. I praise You for being who You are. Thank you for creating all things, including me, for Yourself.

2. Thank God for What He Has Done

What the Bible says

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Why it matters

John 3:16 is part of a conversation between Jesus and a religious teacher named Nicodemus. It comes at a moment in their conversation when Jesus is trying to help Nicodemus understand what it means to be born again, or become a Christian, by trusting in Him. In Jesus’s explanation, one word captures the essential character of God, and that word is “love.”

God demonstrates His love for you in all sorts of ways. This verse reminds you that when you pray, it is good to regularly come back to thanking God for His ultimate act of love. Without His willingness to let Jesus die on the cross, your relationship with God would not be possible.

How you might pray

Thank You, God, that You loved the whole entire world. Thank You that You loved me before I loved You and You were willing to demonstrate Your love by making the ultimate sacrifice for me — Your death on a cross. Thank You for giving me the gift of eternal life.

3. Pray that You Remember God’s Love and Grace for You

What the Bible says

“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. ... As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (John 15:4-5, 9-10)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Why it matters

It is easy to let your walk with Jesus turn into a list of moral dos and don’ts to try to earn or keep God’s love and approval of you. But living that way is exhausting, impossible and not the hope that the Bible teaches about a relationship with God through Christ.

You are loved, saved and accepted by God because of your faith in Jesus, which is a gift that you can’t take credit for. Every day, you need to be reminded of — and remain in — God’s great love for you (Ephesians 3:14-21) and remember that His love is a gift you accept and cannot earn.

If you’re going to thrive and experience the fullness of your relationship with God, you need to daily be reminded of what that identity and acceptance are based on: His love for you. Apart from Him and that love, you can do nothing.

How you might pray

Jesus, help me to remember that You love me and that I need You and Your love every day. Thank You that who I am and how You feel about me is based on who You are and Your love for me. Thank You that I cannot earn Your love and acceptance, but because of what Jesus has done for me and the faith You’ve given me in Him, I have it. Help me to live differently because I am perfectly loved by You.

4. Pray That You Would Love Your Neighbors

What the Bible says

“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-38)

Why it matters

The only reason you can love God, yourself or those around you is that God loved you first. He made a way for you to have a relationship with Him and experience His love so you can be changed by it and love others as a result.

In fact, loving your neighbor stands beside loving God as one of the greatest commandments God has given, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 22. After a similar verse in Luke 10, Jesus explains it further with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In this famous story, Jesus defines who your neighbor is.

It’s tempting to simply think of the people you like — who are like you or physically close to you — as your neighbors, and God definitely wants you to love and pray for them.

But Jesus takes it a step further, presenting a person who crossed the barriers between people who were not alike — who were even considered enemies — as the example of how to love. He is calling you to love not just those you choose to be a part of your life but everyone you come across.

There is no clearer or more simple way to start to love someone in your life than to approach God on their behalf. Perhaps you could make a list of people in your life whom you are praying for or want to pray for. Look over your list. Are the people on it mostly like you in ways that make you feel safe being in relationship with them?

How you might pray

Father, please help me remember Your great love for me. Show me how I can demonstrate and communicate my faith in You and Your love to the people I live, work and play alongside every day. But help me to also notice those people who are on the fringes of my community and world, and give me the courage to reach out to, learn from and love them in tangible ways.

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What the Bible says

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

Why it matters

Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi to ensure they had the right priorities as a community of Jesus followers. He knew that their unity was under threat because of the fierce opposition they faced for their beliefs. He wrote the letter from prison, where he had been placed for preaching the gospel.

It’s very easy, when you pray, to get bogged down in talking with God about all the things going on in your own life. This verse reminds you that, as a Christian, you have the opportunity and the responsibility to pray for the people you care about, and even for people you have never met.

As you pray, try to develop the habit of setting aside time to talk with God about other people. Share your concerns for them because He cares. One of the most practical ways you can help anyone is to invite God into their present situation.

How you might pray

Father God, I know You care deeply about the people in my life. Right now _______ is struggling with _______. I want them to know You love them and are ready to help them through this time.

6. Pray for Someone Who Does Not Yet Know Jesus

What the Bible says

“Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with His promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the End because He doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” (2 Peter 3:8-9, The Message)

Why it matters

For followers of Jesus, it’s important to have a sense of urgency and not take for granted that God gives everyone their time on earth as a chance to come to know Him. The author of the passage above, Peter, was warning the people he was writing to that human history as they knew it would come to an end when Jesus returns.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have all the time in the world to address the issues in your life and community. But at the same time, God works on a very different timeline than you do.

All of this is vital when it comes to having the right attitude as you pray for people who do not yet know Jesus. In today’s culture, everyone is used to receiving fast or immediate responses to most of our requests or needs. God may not always answer you with the speed you would like, but that is because He knows everything that will happen over the course of your life and the lives of the people you care about. God’s timing is perfect, and He knows when you need to persevere in prayer for someone you are desperate to see come to know Him.

So as you pray for people you hope will know and experience God’s perfect love, it’s vital that you learn to trust in God and His timetable rather than insisting He work on yours. Otherwise, you are likely to become frustrated and even bitter about what you wrongly see as unanswered prayers.

Don’t give up. Keep praying. God loves and cares about the person you are praying for more than you could even hope or imagine.

How you might pray

Thank You, God, for pursuing me before I took You seriously. Please show _______ how much You love them in a way they can understand, and use me to invite _______ into a relationship with You. Show me how to care for them and show them Your love. Help me to trust in Your perfect timing, God, and not give up.

7. Pray That You Would Love Your Enemies

What the Bible says

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45)

Why it matters

Enemies come in various forms, some seemingly greater than others. For the crowds listening to Jesus, the word “enemy” would have triggered thoughts both of feuds within their own communities and families and of external threats to their very way of life and integrity as the nation of Israel.

Now here comes Jesus, telling them that loving God and loving others requires them to do the opposite of what comes naturally: to love those enemies. His teaching is completely consistent with what God was demonstrating through the life of Jesus Himself. He came to earth to rescue God’s enemies to their heavenly Father by giving of His own life for them in every way He could — including suffering and death.

Perhaps “enemy” feels like too strong a word for people you find it difficult to love. You may have a very clear picture of who has been an enemy in your life, or you may not. But as you pray, ask God to show you who you’ve been viewing as an enemy and invite Him to change your heart toward them. Ask Him to show you how you can love them in tangible ways.

How you might pray

Father, whether I’m aware of it or not, I know there are people in my life I feel angry toward or hurt by. Give me the humility I need to forgive them, love them and pray for them without expecting or needing anything in return.

8. Pray That You Would Give Your Time, Money and Energy

What the Bible says

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrew 13:16)

Why it matters

The instructions in this passage of Scripture about how to give are set in the context of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, as well as the sacrifices made in the Temple that preceded it. Both are acts of devotion and worship to God.

So you are encouraged to have the right mindset whenever you think of giving something that is precious to you back to God. Your thoughts of what you are choosing to go without need to be replaced by a consciousness of whom you are giving to, what He has done for you and how much He deserves in return.

When you pray about giving, it’s easy to think mostly about money or tangible possessions. But really, God invites you to be conscious of whatever is most valuable to you, and that might be time, money, energy or even your reputation. He waits patiently for you to recognize anything you might value more than Him, even subconsciously.

How you might pray

Father, I want to offer You everything I have, but I find it hard sometimes. Show me clearly if I am holding something back or if there is a specific need You want me to me

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