Prayer Variation

Utilizing the Power of Scripture

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Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

If you ever have negative and destructive thoughts come into your mind when you are trying to pray, or at any other time, try this:

Read or quote Galatians 2:20 until the thought disappears. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Meditating on this verse or other verses will help you to refocus on God instead of your negative thoughts. Committing Scriptures to memory will also be useful as you do this.

Here are some other verses you could use:

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Romans 12:19 “…”Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

“One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander too far at other times.” ~From the book The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

4 Point Prayer Exercise for a Morning Prayer of Peace and Comfort

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Photo taken in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

This is a morning prayer exercise designed to help you put to rest any anxiety or concerns for the day ahead. It will help you to get your mind off of your problems and onto God. The first few minutes of the day are very important, and there is no better way to start the day than in praise to the Lord. We pray that this method will help you set the foundation of drawing close to God at the beginning of each day and throughout the day as well. You can print this page for easy reference.

All you have to do is set your alarm 15 minutes earlier and use the extra time to meditate on Scripture verses and songs before you even get out of bed. You could also do this prayer exercise at night before you go to sleep, or if you wake up during the night.

Psalm 5:3 “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.”

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Here are some examples of how you could use this method in your daily life:

The songs printed below are all public domain. 

Time of Thankfulness

Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”

Song:

  • Count Your Blessings- “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”
  • You could also reference the song Thank You Lord

Prayer:

  • Thank the Lord for the things you are thankful for, such as eternal life, peace, joy, health, food, loved ones, your job, sleep, cleansing, protection, healing etc.

Time of Praise

Verse: Psalm 145:3 “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

Song:

  • Doxology- “Praise God from whom all blessings flow praise Him above all creatures here below, praise Him above all heavenly hosts, Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
  • You could also reference the song Father I Adore You

Prayer:

  • Take time to praise the Lord for His goodness, patience, love, power of His Word, wisdom, mercy, and grace.

Time of Submission to God

Verse: Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Song:

  • I Surrender All– “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all; all to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
  • You could also reference the song Spirit of the Living God

​Prayer:

  • “Lord, I give myself to You and ask You to fill and control me with your Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18b “Be filled with the Spirit.“

Time of Petition

Verse: Thank you for telling me in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that “My grace is sufficient for you…“‘

Song:

  • Grace Greater Than Our Sin “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Grace, grace, God’s Grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sins.”
  • You could also reference the song A Shield About Me

Prayer:

  • “Father, through Jesus, I “come boldly to the throne of grace, that [I] may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“‘ Hebrews 4:16.

Time of Intercession

Verse: Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30,”Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Song:

  • What a Friend We Have in Jesus- “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
  • You could also reference the song Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet

Prayer:

  • “Lord, I am going to do what you tell me to do in 1 Peter 5:7. “[Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” These are my burdens and concerns about myself and others today that I am giving You: _________.”

We encourage you to​ use some of your own favorite verses and songs as a way to connect with God through prayer. If you aren’t sure about what verses to use next, check our tab labeled “Memorizing Scripture” for a list of great verses.

Miniature Prayers #9

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Photo taken in Florida.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

These very short, Scripture-based prayers can be used throughout the day to help take you to your next more extended prayer time and assist you in being able to keep in an attitude of prayer. These prayers can also be useful in emergency situations because of the power that comes through praying God’s Word.

How to use these prayers: print them or save them on your phone and use them as reminders to talk to your Heavenly Father throughout the day.

Bring these short prayers in Jesus’ Name.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

_______________

 

Focusing Praise On God

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to ask You to show me how to effectively achieve Psalm 115:1. “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.”

Man Hearing and God Speaking

Lord, I come in Jesus’ Name to ask You to show me how to increase my listening skills as expressed in Psalm 49:1, 3. “Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world… My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.”

Living a Spirit-Controlled Life 

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to ask You to enable me daily to follow Galatians 5:16. “I say than: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

God’s Instructions On Confronting the Evil One

Lord, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank you for the advice in James 4:7-8a. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

God’s Consistency

Heavenly Father, I come in Your Son’s Name to thank you for the encouragement of knowing that You are always the same. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” Hebrews 13:8.

God’s Unlimited Supply

Gracious Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank You for doing Philippians 4:19 for me in the past, present, and future. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

 

 

Prayer for Yielding to the Holy Spirit

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Author: Elton Streyle, Scripture selection: Eugene Sandin, Contributor: Noah, Graphic design and editing: Ali

The purpose of this prayer variation is to allow the believer’s new nature in the Holy Spirit to take control of the old nature in the flesh. The Holy Spirit enters the believer at the time of salvation and never leaves. It is the Spirit’s desire to maintain our relationship with God. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

The Holy Spirit can be grieved by the sin of the old nature if a believer does not allow the Holy Spirit to control him through His power. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

The white arrows in the chart represent the level of control the Holy Spirit has in the  different areas of a believer’s life. The white to black gradient rectangles represent the holiness of God and the sin of our old nature respectively. The white arrows, representing the Holy Spirit, reach from the holiness of God into the sin of our old natures to purify and sanctify us in all areas of life. For example, the chart shows that the believer has allowed the Holy Spirit great control over their appetite for food, but has not given the Holy Spirit much control over their money.

This chart is only an example of what a believer’s level of Spirit-control can look like in different areas. The level of control the Holy Spirit has in each area will differ for every believer.

Determine where you are on a scale from 1-10, 1 being low Holy Spirit control and 10 being high Holy Spirit control, by thinking through how much control you have allowed the Holy Spirit over your marriage or dating relationship, work/career, habits, leisure, sex drive, other bodily needs, thought life, entertainment/recreation, children, money, education and appetite for food.

Continually ask God to encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit more control over the areas you struggle with. Emphasize one area each day by reading the Scripture and then yielding all of that part of your life to the Holy Spirit.

Print this page and do this exercise as part of your daily devotion time.

Read the Scripture that goes with each heading and the verses before and after the Scripture indicated for context.

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1. Marriage/Dating

  • 1 Corinthians 7:1-3 “It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.“
  • Genesis 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.“

2. Work/Career

  • Colossians 3:22-23 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only where their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (NIV)
  • 1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.“

3. Habits

  • 1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.“
  • Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.“

4. Leisure/Time

  • Ephesians 5:15-16 “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,  redeeming the time, because the days are evil.“
  • Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.“

5. Sexuality

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.“ 
  • Matthew 5:28 “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.“
  • 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.“ (NIV)

6. Other Needs

  • Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.“
  • 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.'”

7. Thought Life

  • 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.“
  • Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.“
  • Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV)

8. Entertainment/Recreation

  • Psalm 101:3 “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.“
  • Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
  • 1 Corinthians 10:23 “‘I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.” (NIV)

9. Children

  • Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.“
  • 1 Timothy 5:8 ‘”But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.“‘

10. Money

  • Matthew 6:20-21 “ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (KJV)
  •  1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (KJV)

11. Contentment

  • Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”‘
  • Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.“‘

12. Appetite for Food

  • John 6:27 “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.“
  • Matthew 4:4 “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.“‘

The Lord bless you as you complete this prayer exercise. This prayer method can be used on a continuing basis.

 

 

Combining Song, Prayer, and Scripture

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Written by Elton Streyle, photography and editing by Ali

This prayer variation combines Scripture with the words of Christian music. After you read a few verses of Scripture, stop and sing or think about the words of a song with the same theme as the verses you read. You can also do the reverse of this by listening to a song, then stopping and thinking of a verse of Scripture that the song brings to your mind.

This way of praying helps you to remember and apply the message of both the Scripture and the song.

Here are some examples:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Song: Trust and Obey

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way,

to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

_____

Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”

Song: Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Lord

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,

open the eyes of my heart,

I want to see You,

I want to see You,

to see You high and lifted up,

shining in the light of Your Glory,

pour out Your power and love

as we sing Holy, Holy, Holy.”

_____

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead  me in the way everlasting.”

Song: Change My Heart, O God

“Change my heart O God, make it ever true,

Change my heart O God,  may I be like You,

You are the potter I am the clay,

mold me and make me this is what I pray.”

_____

Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

Song: Spirit Of The Living God

“Spirit of the Living God,

fall fresh on me,

melt me, mold me, fill me, use me,

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.”

“When Two Gather in My Name…” Praying Through Scripture Together

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The concept for this prayer variation comes from Elton Gillam’s Church Prayer Ministry International.

This prayer variation will be most effective if two people use it together, however, it will also be beneficial for praying on your own. You can pray in this way with your spouse, your family, your friends or any other special believers in your life.

Praying in this way helps you to have something to pray about and assists you in avoiding repetition in your prayers.

This is the procedure to follow:

Take a portion of Scripture and have the first person read one verse aloud and then pray about what the verse prompts him/her to pray about. Then the second person reads the next verse aloud and prays about what that verse prompts him/her to pray about.

You can go back and forth reading verses for as long as you want to pray, but these prayers are usually fairly short. Try to stay with the theme of each verse during this kind of prayer. When you are finished, you can bring your other requests that don’t relate to the verses you have read.

Also, be aware that you may each have to read more than one verse at a time to complete the sentence or point being made.

A good way to look at this kind of prayer is to consider the reading of the verse as God speaking to you; view Him as a third party in the group. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

Psalms and Proverbs are good Scriptures to use if you choose to pray this way. There are other portions of the Bible that are also effective.

These passages in Psalms and Proverbs work particularly well for this prayer variation:

Psalms 4, 5, 6, 16, 18, 23, 25, 27, 100, 103 and 119.

Proverbs 2, 3:1-12, 6:16-24, 11:1-20, 15:1-33 and 16:1-20.

There are many passages in the New Testament that you can use such as:

Romans 6:11-23 and 8:5-13

Galatians 5:16-26

Ephesians 4:17-31

Philippians 4:4-19

Hebrews 4:9-16

Sample Prayer

Person 1 reads Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Person 1 prays: ‘Thank you, Lord, for the advice You give about how to use knowledge. Keep me alert so that I don’t fall into the trap of a fool.

Person 2 reads Proverbs 1:8 “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of you mother;“  Person 2 prays: ‘Thank you, Father, for the disciplines of life that You have taught (and are teaching) me through my parents. Please lead me as I strive to be a Godly example for my children and grandchildren.

Person 1 reads Proverbs 1:10 “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” Person 1 prays: ‘God, keep me alert to the sometimes strong pull of my old nature’s desire to sin. Direct me to avoid the many temptations in my culture. I ask that you would direct my loved ones to avoid temptation as well. We bring all these thoughts in Jesus’ Name, Amen.’

(Notice how God directs the theme of the prayer through His Word)

A Method for a Believer’s Prayer of Confession: Part 2

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***To find Part 1 of this series, click here.***

11. Hebrews 10:25 “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…”

  • Are you irregular in your church attendance?
  • Do you attend services in body only and do other things like planning your day while God’s Word is being preached?
  • Have you neglected family devotions or regularly skipped Bible study, small group, etc.?

12. Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,”

  • Do you ever lie or exaggerate?
  • Do you fail to see white lies as sin?
  • Do you tell things the way you want them rather than as they really are?

13. 1 Peter 2:11 “…abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,”

  • Do you lust after others?
  • Do you fill your mind with sex-centered TV shows, movies, books and magazines?
  • Do you indulge in any lustful activity God’s Word condemns, such as premarital sex, adultery or perversion?

14. John 13:35 “‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.‘”

  • Are you a part of factions and divisions in your church?
  • Would you rather fuel a misunderstanding than help correct it?
  • Have you loved only the ones in your own church, feeling that those of other denominations are not of the body of Christ?
  • Are you secretly pleased over another’s misfortunes?
  • Are you annoyed by others’ successes?

15. Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

  • Have you failed to forgive anybody anything they have said or done against you?
  • Are you holding grudges?

16. Ephesians 4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor…”

  • Do you steal from your employer by doing less work or staying on the job for less time than you are paid for?
  • Do you under-pay your employees?
  • Do you shop lift?
  • Do you borrow and not return?

17. Ephesians 5:16 “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

  • Do you waste your time or others’ time?
  • Do you spend too much time watching TV, playing video games, checking social media, etc.?
  • Do you procrastinate?

18. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.” (ESV)

  • Is your goal in life to make as much money as possible or accumulate as many things as possible?
  • Have you withheld your money from God?
  • Is money your god?
  • Do you fail to use your financial resources to help those in need?

19. Matthew 23:28 “So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

  • Do you know in your heart that you are only pretending to be a Christian?
  • Are you hiding behind church membership or attendance to cover a life full of sin?
  • Are you faking Christianity for social status or acceptance in your church or community?
  • Are you a “Sundays-only” Christian?
  • Are you the same person at home or in public as you are at church?

20. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

  • Do you enjoy listening to gossip and/or passing it on?
  • Do you believe rumors or partial truths, especially about an enemy or competitor?
  • Do you fail to spend time reading the Bible every day?
  • Do you fail to always think on the things of God (good, true and pure things)?
  • Do you fail to allow the Holy Spirit control over your life?

*** This post concludes the series “A Believer’s Prayer of Confession.” We pray that by completing this series you have been convicted of the sins in your life, and through confessing them, have become closer to God. Feel free to repeat this process any time you like. ***

 

A Method for a Believer’s Prayer of Confession: Part 1

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“True prayer begins with confession of sin and repentance.” -Charles J. Stanley

“Dealing with my personal sins is one of the areas that I struggle with most in my Christian walk. The use of the 2 parts of the prayer, each containing 10 Bible verses and questions, has really helped me to effectively understand how important confessing my sins, asking for forgiveness and repenting is to an effective prayer life. It allows me a free and clear path of communication with God. Give it a try and I think you will experience the same results.” -Mike, bank president

This series is intended to cleanse you as a believer, the vessel in which the Holy Spirit dwells. This prayer of confession has 2 parts, each including ten sets of Bible verses and questions to help you recognize the negative behaviors and attitudes you may be struggling with and encourage you to confess them to God through prayer.

This post contains the first part of the prayer. The second and final post in this series will come out on October 14, 2016. We have adapted the information for these posts with the permission of Evelyn Christenson Ministries.

One of sin’s most negative effects on a believer’s life is that it blocks our communication with God. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Psalm 66:18

No prayer will work if sin is not taken care of first because sin grieves the Holy Spirit who lives inside every believer. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

However, confession of sin only affects our communication with God, not our salvation. Once we have put our faith in God, He says in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Whether we choose to confess our sins or not, we are still God’s children. Confession is simply what allows us to better communicate with Him; it is not what saves us.

***If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please do not start this program. Instead, go to the “Salvation” page on our blog to learn how to become a child of the only God who loves you enough to give up His Son to save you. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

A verse to keep in mind as you go through this series is Psalm 139:23-24, which says: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties [thoughts]; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Dealing with sin is a process that will continue throughout your life, and while this prayer may not be the most comfortable or exciting one to pray, God promises that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

God also says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2

If you are not sure how to pray a prayer of confession, you can use the following prayer as a guideline:

“Lord, I bring to You the sins that You have shown me which are currently in my life. I ask You to forgive me and help me to turn from the sin of ______ and set me free. ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me‘ as  Your Word says in Psalm51:10. I come to You in Jesus’ Name and put my trust in You to help me make the corrections needed. Amen.

A suggested way to go through this prayer is to print out the verses and questions and read one verse every day with your devotions or during your quiet time. Confess any “yes” answers to God.

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
    • Do you worry about anything?
    • Have you failed to thank God for all things, the seemingly bad as well as the good?
    • Do you neglect to give thanks at mealtimes?
  2. Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…”
    • Are you proud of YOUR accomplishments, YOUR talents, YOUR family?
    • Do you fail to see others as better than yourself and more important than yourself in the body of Christ?
    • Do you insist on your own rights?
    • Do you think that you are doing quite well as a Christian?
    • Do you rebel when God wants to change you?
  3. Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
    • Do you fail to attempt things for God because you are “not talented enough”?
    • Do feelings of inferiority keep you from trying to serve God?
    • When you do accomplish something for Christ, do you fail to give Him all the glory?
  4. Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth…”
    • Do you ever use dirty language?
    • Do you tell crude jokes?
    • Do you condone others doing so in your presence or in your home?
  5. Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
    • Have you failed to be a witness with your life for Christ?
    • Have you felt it was enough just to live your faith and not witness with your words to unbelievers?
  6. Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
    • Do you complain, find fault, argue?
    • Do you have a critical spirit?
    • Do you speak unkindly about people when they aren’t present?
    • Are you angry with yourself? Others? God?
  7. 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
    • Are you careless with your body?
    • Are you guilty of not caring for your body in your eating and exercise habits?
    • Are you remaining sexually pure?
    • Do you self-harm?
  8. Ephesians 4:27 “nor give place to the devil.”
    • Do you expose yourself to Satanic activity such as psychics, occult literature and movies or “games” like ouija boards or tarot cards?
    • Do you get advice for daily living from horoscopes rather than from God?
    • Do you distract from Christ in your church through criticism, gossip or being  unsupportive?
  9. Romans 12:11 “not lagging in diligence…”
    • Do you fail to pay your debts on time or avoid paying them altogether?
    • Do you overuse your credit cards?
    • Are you dishonest on income tax records?
    • Do you have unethical business practices?
  10. 1 Corinthians 8:9 “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”
    • Do you feel that you can do anything you want because the Bible says you are free in Christ?
    • Even though you were strong enough not to fall, do you fail to take responsibility for a weaker Christian who has fallen because of following your example?

***To find Part 2 of this series, click here.***

Praying in Light of God’s Attributes

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TRIANGLE

Before praying, meditate on the following attributes of God for a few minutes, then look at your situation or problem and pray in light of some of God’s traits.

1. God is MERCIFUL:

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” Psalm 103:8

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:11

2. God is ALL-POWERFUL: 

“Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, ‘Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:26-27 (The answer is “no”)

“For with God nothing will be impoissible.” Luke 1:37

3. God is ALL-KNOWING: 

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my new ways.” Psalm 139: 1-3 

4. God is EVERYWHERE PRESENT:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” Psalm 139:7-8  

5. God is UNCHANGING: 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 

 

Utilizing the Power of Scripture

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2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

If you ever have negative and destructive thoughts come into your mind when you are trying to pray, or at any other time, try this:

Read or quote Galatians 2:20 until the thought disappears. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Meditating on this verse or other verses will help you to refocus on God instead of your negative thoughts. Committing Scriptures to memory will also be useful as you do this.

Here are some other verses you could use:

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Romans 12:19 “…”Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

“One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander too far at other times.”

-From the book The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence