TABLE OF

CONTENTS

02 PRAY FIRST

03 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

04 CREATING A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER

PRAYER MODELS

05 THE LORD’S PRAYER

14 TABERNACLE PRAYER

25 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

38 THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

43 WARFARE PRAYERS

57 PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO NEED GOD

63 PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS

1
 Dear Reader,

Since the beginning of our church in 2001, we have set our hearts
to be a people of prayer. Our rally cry has simply been, “Pray First.”
In every situation, whether good or bad, we try to pray before we act.
Many times people act first and then want God to bail them out
of that situation, but prayer should be our first response, not
our last resort.

Understanding the necessity of prayer is not enough. In order for

it to become a part of our life, it needs to become something we
look forward to doing. I’m convinced most people don’t enjoy prayer
because they have never been taught how to pray. That’s where this
simple prayer journal can help. Using several prayer models out of
the Bible and having some guides to make prayer more personal,
this booklet is designed to bring joy into your time with God.
When you discover the beauty of daily conversation with Him,
you’ll experience the presence of God that will change your life.

Once you learn how to pray, prayer can become a part of

everyday life. And then…
Before the day begins —
Before you go to bed —
Before you go to work or school —
Before you send that text —
Before you eat, drive or travel —
When bad things happen —
Before bad things happen —
In every situation — PRAY FIRST!

Prayer changes everything!

PASTOR CHRIS HODGES

2
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

We don’t have to follow a specific formula to talk with God, but

practicing different ways to pray can help us find deeper purpose
and connection to Him through our prayer time.

This book is designed to give you several prayer models. You don’t
have to master all of them at once; you can select a different prayer
model each day and spend time working through it at your own pace.
You can go in any order you want, and you can even spend a few days
on the same model as you become more comfortable with it.

To get started, choose which model you want to use today in

prayer. As you pray, focus on the process the model reveals,
giving yourself time to pray intentionally. If your mind wanders,
use the model to restore your focus.

The goal of using this guide is not to add pressure or overwhelm you.
The goal is simply to get comfortable with different biblical models
of prayer and for your prayer life to become more natural, effective,
and enjoyable. To make your prayer time even more meaningful, you
can write notes and prayer requests and play worship music. The
important step is committing to regularly entering God’s presence
through prayer.

The heart of this guide is to help you find a new level of purpose,
effectiveness, and enjoyment in your prayer life. While prayer does
take commitment and can require discipline to develop into a daily
habit, we also want to remember that it’s a “get to” not a “got to.” It’s
a privilege to be able to come to God in prayer.

3
 PRAY FIRST

CREATING A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,

Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a
solitary place, where He prayed.
M A R K 1 : 35

Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something we do every

now and then, but when it’s a lifestyle we cultivate. To
understand how to have a lifestyle of prayer, we can look at
the example Jesus gave during His life on earth.

HAVE A CERTAIN TIME

Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His
Heavenly Father. Make a daily appointment with God —
whether it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the
evening — and faithfully keep it.

HAVE A CERTAIN PLACE

Jesus had a specific place He went to pray. Having a
designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and
frees us to worship and pray out loud.

HAVE A CERTAIN PLAN

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave them
a prayer outline. We call it “The Lord’s Prayer.” This outline,
along with several other tools, is available in this guide. As we
pray every day, our plans for our prayer time can vary, maybe
including worship music, Bible reading, and quiet time to
listen to God. It doesn’t always have to look the same; it just
helps when we have a plan for connecting regularly with God.

4
THE LORD’S
PRAYER

The Lord’s Prayer is often recited in churches or at religious

events, but there’s so much more to this prayer. Jesus
provided this model as an outline to teach us how to pray
in a way that connects us to God and empowers us to
accomplish great things through Him. This model takes us
through each part of The Lord’s Prayer, showing us
how to pray the way Jesus instructed.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.

When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him,
“Lord, teach us to pray…”
LU K E 1 1 : 1

“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.

Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it
is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver
us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the
power and the glory forever. Amen.”
M AT T H E W 6:9 -13 NK JV

5
 PRAY FIRST

01. CONNECT WITH GOD RELATIONALLY

“Our Father in Heaven”

God isn’t interested in us practicing religion; instead,

He desires a relationship with us. God has adopted
us as His children and loves for us to call Him our
Father. Starting our prayer time acknowledging
our relationship with God is powerful for us and
delights Him as well.

You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful

slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when
He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him,
“Abba, Father.”
R O M A N S 8 :15 NLT

Proclaim your intimate relationship with God,

addressing Him lovingly as your Father and thanking
Him that you are His child.

PRAYER:
“Father, I come to You in prayer today thankful that I am
Your child. I know I am a sinner, but You have forgiven
me and adopted me as Your own, and I am so grateful to
call you my Father. Thank you for loving me. I love you.”

6
 THE LORD’S PRAYER

02. WORSHIP HIS NAME

“Hallowed Be Your Name”

God loves when we worship Him, and there is power in

His Name. Here is a list of some of His Names to help us
worship Him specifically and personally:

God is Righteousness – He makes us clean

God is Sanctifier – He has called us and set us apart
God is Healer – He heals all our diseases
God is Banner of Victory – He defeated our enemies
God is Shepherd – He speaks to us and leads us
God is Peace – He is our peace in every storm
God is Provider – He supplies all of our needs

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
P R OV E R B S 18 :10 ESV

Speak God’s Names out loud. When we proclaim who

He is, we not only worship Him, but we also remind
ourselves how powerful and great our God is.

PRAYER:
“God, I am in awe of You. Your Name is a strong tower, a
place of protection and safety for me. I praise You as my
Healer, my Shepherd, and my Banner of Victory. You
are my Peace, my Provider, my Righteousness, and my
Sanctifier. Your Name is great, and I worship You.”

7
 PRAY FIRST

03. PRAY HIS AGENDA FIRST

“Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth

as it is in Heaven”

Part of being a child of God is caring about what

He cares about. We know His will is perfect, and we
acknowledge His wisdom and sovereignty when we pray
His agenda first.

He will always give you all you need from day to day if
you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
LU K E 1 2: 3 1 TLB

Spend time focusing on what God is focused on.

His priorities include:
• Saving the lost
• Wisdom and guidance for those in authority –
parental, spiritual, governmental, work-related
• Accomplishing His purpose in our lives

PRAYER:
“God, I recognize there is no better plan on earth than
Yours, and I pray for Your will to be done in my life
(name the areas of your life where you need more of
God’s presence today) and in our world. This world is
lost and needs You desperately, and I pray for every
person to know You as their personal Lord and Savior.
I pray for the leaders in my life (pray specifically over
parents, spiritual leaders, government leaders, employ-
ers, and any other leaders in your life), that you would

8
 THE LORD’S PRAYER

give them supernatural wisdom and discernment as

they lead. Give them a revelation of Your will and Your
purpose for them. And I give my life to You again today;
have Your way in my life! Anything You want to do in
me or through me, I will do. I ask today for wisdom and
clarity as you show me my next steps.”

04. DEPEND ON HIM FOR EVERYTHING

“Give us this day our daily bread”

God promises to supply all our needs, and He wants us

to come to Him with our problems, needs, and desires
and to trust Him to provide.

I look up to the mountains—does my help come

from there? My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
P SA L M 1 21 :1- 2 NLT

Ask God for what you need today. It may help to write
down the concerns weighing on your mind or the
desires of your heart. You can bring them to God, and
trust Him enough to hand them over to Him fully. It may
help to open your hands before God to physically show
your surrender to Him. Problems can either be ours or
God’s; they can’t be both.

PRAYER:
“Father, I acknowledge that everything I need today will
come from You. You made the heavens and the earth;

9
 PRAY FIRST

You are more than capable of handling any situation I’m

dealing with, so I give it to You completely (specifically
talk to God about what is on your mind and heart right
now and give it to Him). I look to you to help me, sustain
me, and give me Your peace. Remind me of Your hope
and power today. Thank You in advance for taking care
of my needs.”

05. FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”

God has offered us complete forgiveness, and we can

receive it at any time. When we turn away from our
sins and receive His forgiveness, our hearts are more
prepared to forgive others as well.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will

forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 JO H N 1 : 9

Ask God to check your heart and life and show you areas
where you might need to ask for forgiveness from Him.
Then, it is your turn to forgive those who have offended
you. We can even choose to forgive people in advance.
Ask God to forgive you and to help you forgive others.

PRAYER:
“God, thank You so much for offering me the gift of
forgiveness. Show me any areas in my life that I need
to bring before You in order to receive forgiveness and

10
 THE LORD’S PRAYER

healing. I confess that I have been struggling with sin

(talk to God about any areas of sin in your life),
and I know that You want me to be clean again. Please
forgive me for my sin. Thank You for showing me
unfailing grace. As You have so freely forgiven me,
I also want to freely forgive others. Please help me let
go of all of my offenses. I release to You those who have
hurt me, and I trust You to handle those situations
according to Your perfect will.”

06. ENGAGE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us

from the evil one”

Spiritual warfare can seem difficult to understand,

but the Bible makes it very clear that we have an enemy
who is trying to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us.
As we pray, we take our stand against the enemy and
fight from a place of victory through Jesus as we’re
empowered by His Holy Spirit. There is power in God’s
Word, and every lie the enemy has told us can be
replaced with God’s truth.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but

against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly realms.
E P H E SI A N S 6 :12

11
 PRAY FIRST

By recognizing that the enemy wants to destroy you,

you can shed light on his lies and claim God’s truth over
your life. Ask God to show you any lies you’re believing
or areas of warfare happening in your life. Ask Him
to expose the enemy and to help you understand and
receive His truth. Simply speaking the Name of Jesus
has great power in the spiritual realm. The Bible tells us
in James 4:7 that if we resist the devil, he will flee from
us. Through prayer, we can resist him and walk forward
in freedom.

PRAYER:
“God, I recognize that my struggles today aren’t against
the people or circumstances around me, but against the
enemy. Please help me to see how the enemy is lying to
me. Help me to recognize his lies, take them captive, and
make all of my thoughts obedient to the truth of Your
Word (list out any specific areas God shows you where
you have believed a lie that needs to be replaced with His
truth). While the enemy wants to destroy me, I know
that You came to give me life to the fullest. I speak the
name of Jesus over my life and declare that no weapon
formed against me will prosper. I don’t have to fear the
enemy because the One who is in me is greater than the
one who is in the world.”

12
 THE LORD’S PRAYER

07. EXPRESS FAITH IN GOD’S ABILITY

“For yours is the Kingdom and the power

and the glory forever.”

God is more than able to move in every situation, and

ending our prayer time claiming His authority and
power focuses our minds on the truth and hope of who
He is and what He can do.

Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens

and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.
Nothing is too hard for You.
JE R E M I A H 3 2 :17

Remind yourself of God’s limitless power and then

return to praising Him and declaring your faith in Him:
• “Yours is the Kingdom” – all authority belongs to You
• “Yours is the Power” – all mightiness flows from You
• “Yours is the Glory” – Your victory will be complete

PRAYER:
“Father God, nothing is too hard for You! Through Your
great power, all things are possible. All authority is
Yours, all might is Yours, and I know that Your victory
will be complete. You are amazing, and I worship You. I
praise You for Your power and presence in my life. You
are my God, and You are worthy of all praise.”

13
 PRAY FIRST

THE TABERNACLE
HOLY OF HOLIES THE OUTER
COURT
ARK BRAZEN ALTAR

THE HOLY PLACE

ALTAR OF INCENSE

LAVER
TABLE OF SHEWBREAD CANDLESTICK

TABERNACLE
PRAYER

In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle was the dwelling place

of God, built to His specifications, where He would meet His
people. As they entered the Tabernacle, they passed through
seven stations, following God’s instructions, to experience His
presence. Today, even though we no longer need the physical
Tabernacle to meet with God, these same steps can help us
connect with Him. This prayer model will take us through
each station of the Tabernacle and use the purpose of each
station to guide our prayers.

14
 TABERNACLE PRAYER

01. THE OUTER COURT

THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE

The Israelites entered the Tabernacle with thanksgiving

and praise, and we start our prayer time the same way.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with

praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
P SA L M 1 0 0:4

Spend some time really thinking about all the blessings

in your life for which you’re thankful. You can write
down a list, sing your own song of praise, or just spend
quiet moments reflecting on your gratitude and praise
toward God.

PRAYER:
“Father God, You are good, and You deserve all my praise
and more. Thank You for the many ways You have
blessed me and for watching over me (tell Him specific
things in your life that you’re grateful for. Thank Him
for something new that you’ve never thanked Him for
before). I want to experience Your presence and Your
love in a fresh way today, Jesus. I thank you that Your
mercies are new every day. I thank you for Who You are
and all You have done for me.”

15
 PRAY FIRST

02. THE BRAZEN ALTAR

THE CROSS OF JESUS

In the Old Testament, everyone had to regularly bring

animal sacrifices as payment for their sins. Today, we
don’t have to do that because Jesus paid for our sins
once and for all with His blood on the cross.

Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all

His benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all
your diseases, who redeems your life from
the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
P SA L M 1 03 : 2 - 5

Thank God for the gift of Jesus. Thank Jesus for His
sacrifice and love. Let the power of the cross and what
it means for your life really settle in your spirit. In
addition to expressing your gratitude, claim the power
of transformation and healing that the cross of Jesus
has in your life.

The cross provides us with five major benefits:

• Salvation - God forgives all my sin
• Healing - God heals all my diseases
• Redemption - God rescues me and restores me
• Transformation - God changes me into His likeness
• Blessing - God provides everything I need

16
 TABERNACLE PRAYER

PRAYER:
“Thank You, God, for making a way for me through Your
Son. Jesus, thank You for the sacrifice You made for me
on the cross. You saved me, and You set me free. I praise
You for being my Healer. You have power over all disease
and harm in my life (list specific areas where you need
to experience God’s healing power). Thank You for being
my Redeemer. You rescue me and give my life purpose.
Thank You for transforming my life with Your love, for
making me new. I want to grow to be more like You (give
Him access to every area of your life). Thank You for
blessing me. I know You have good plans for me and
all that I have comes from You (thank Him for specific
blessings in your life).”

03. THE LAVER

CLEANSING AND PREPARING

The next step in the Tabernacle was a bowl of water

where people were reminded of their sinfulness and
their need to be cleansed and forgiven by God. Checking
our hearts and motives and surrendering our lives to
God is an important part of daily prayer.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of

God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
R O M A N S 1 2:1 ESV

17
 PRAY FIRST

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can confess

our sins to Him and receive complete forgiveness
and a fresh start. In prayer, humbly and sincerely turn
away from your sins and allow God to cleanse
and renew you. Then, surrender your life and every
part of yourself to Him.

PRAYER:
“God, I confess my sins to You and turn away from them
(tell God any sin you know is in your life and confess it
to Him with a sincere heart. Ask Him to show you any
other areas that need His cleansing). Thank You, God,
for freely forgiving me. As I turn away from my sin, I
turn toward You, and I offer myself to You:

• I give You my tongue, to speak good and not evil

• I give You my eyes, to focus on You and the
needs of others
• I give You my ears, to be sensitive to Your voice
• I give You my hands, to do good for others
• I give You my feet, to walk in Your ways and
follow Your footsteps
• I give You my mind, to be transformed and used by You

I ask You, Lord, for the fruit of the Spirit found in

Galatians 5:22-23, so that I can grow closer to You and
make a difference in the lives of others. I ask for: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self control.”

18
 TABERNACLE PRAYER

04. THE CANDLESTICK

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The next piece of the Tabernacle was a seven-branched

golden candlestick. The fire represents the Holy Spirit
and how we are called to be light in the world’s darkness.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him — the Spirit

of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit
of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge
and fear of the LORD.
I SA I A H 1 1 : 2

When Jesus left the earth, Christians were given the gift
of the Holy Spirit. He calls the Holy Spirit our “advocate.”
We cannot do what God has called us to do without His
supernatural power. It is through the Holy Spirit that
God comforts us, guides us, and empowers us.

PRAYER:
“Holy Spirit, I ask You to fill me up. I need Your
presence in my life, guiding, directing, comforting, and
counseling me. I know that You, Holy Spirit, are God,
in the Trinity with God the Father and the Son, Jesus.
You are the Spirit of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
Might, and Knowledge. Give me a holy fear of the Lord,
helping me to be in awe of who God is and what God does.
Work in me, Holy Spirit. Teach and transform me
(pray through any areas where you feel the need for
transformation today). I honor You and ask You to

19
 PRAY FIRST

empower me with Your spiritual gifts for the

good of the church.”

05. THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD

THE WORD OF GOD

In the Tabernacle, a table with twelve loaves of bread

represented the importance of reading God’s Word for
daily sustenance.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;

meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful.
JOS H UA 1 : 8

God’s Word is an incredible gift and a powerful tool,

and it has great relevance and impact in our prayer life.
Here is how you can incorporate God’s Word into
your prayer time:
• Take time to read and think about the Word
• Claim God’s many great promises for your life
and the world around you
• Ask Him for fresh revelation of His Word
• Ask Him for a Word to help you as you go
throughout your day

“Thank You, God, for giving me Your Word. I commit

to reading it, and I ask You to reveal Yourself to me
through it. I want to know You more. Help me to grow

20
 TABERNACLE PRAYER

more in love with Your Word and to be more dependent

on it. I claim the promises You have for me, and I
meditate on the truth of Your Word (pray any
Scriptures that are on your heart or that God has
given you in your current season). Give me fresh
revelation from your Word today and every day! I am
hungry to see You more clearly through Your Word.”

06. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

WORSHIP

A small altar of burning incense stood at the entrance

to the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence dwelled.
The people of God entered God’s presence as they
worshipped His Names. This altar represents worship
and the pleasure it gives God when we worship Him.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

the righteous run to it and are safe.
P R OV E R B S 18 :10 NLT

Thank God for making His presence available to you.

Praise His Names and worship Him personally and
specifically for Who He is and how He has moved
in your life.

21
 PRAY FIRST

PRAYER:
“Thank You, God, for Your presence. I know that You are
here with me. I worship You and You alone. I know God,
that You are:

My Righteousness - Jeremiah 23:6

My Sanctifier - Leviticus 20:7-8
My Healer - Exodus 15:26
My Provider - Genesis 22:14
My Banner of Victory - Exodus 17:15
My Peace - Judges 6:24
My Shepherd - Psalm 23:1

(As you pray through the different Names of God,

focus on a few aspects of who He is that have been
especially meaningful in your current season of life.)
I know that You are always with me, God, and Your
presence is life to me. You give me breath, joy,
and purpose. I love you, God.”

07. THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

INTERCESSION

The final place in the Tabernacle was the Holy of

Holies, where God’s presence dwelled. There, the priest
interceded by praying on behalf of the people of God. In
the same way, we intercede on behalf of those around us.

22
 TABERNACLE PRAYER

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers,

intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—
for kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who
wants all men to be saved and to come to a
knowledge of the truth.
1 T I M OT H Y 2 :1- 4

We can make a difference when we spend time praying

for others. Pray for those with whom you interact and
connect, including:
• Those in authority - leaders in church,
government, family, and workplace
• Your family - both immediate and
extended family members
• Your church - pastors, Small Group leaders,
members, and missionaries
• Your community - people in your city,
nation, and world
• Your relationships - friends, co-workers,
acquaintances

PRAYER:
“Thank You, God, for creating a way through Jesus for
me to have Your presence wherever I go. I want to
specifically ask You to watch over those in authority
over me - my spiritual leaders, the leaders of our
government, the leaders in my family, and my
employers (pray for these people by name). I ask that
You give them wisdom and grace, watch over and protect

23
 PRAY FIRST

them, help them to know and love You more. I ask You,
God, to be present with my family. Bless them and keep
them from harm (pray for any specific needs in your
family right now). For those in my family who don’t
know You, I ask that You meet them where they are and
guide their hearts toward You. I ask You to watch over
my church, God. Give my pastor wisdom and vision,
bless the Small Groups and everyone who steps foot into
our buildings. I pray that You will bring the lost into our
church, and that they will have a positive experience
and come to know You. Keep our vision rooted in who
You are and moving toward Your goals.

I ask You to watch over my city, my nation, and our

world. Bring peace and help us all take steps toward You
(name areas where you feel a burden for your city,
nation, and the world). I pray for anyone who comes
across my path to see Your light in me. I lift up my
friends, neighbors, and coworkers. I thank You for them
and pray for Your blessing over them (pray for any
specific needs of others). Lastly God, I ask You to
provide for my needs. I know that You sustain me, and
that You care for me. I lift up my physical, emotional,
and spiritual needs to You (share the needs on your
mind right now). I lay my cares at Your feet. Thank You
for loving me, choosing me, and calling me Yours.

Amen.”

24
 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

PRAYING
SCRIPTURE

The Word of God is one of the most valuable tools we have to

build a dynamic daily prayer life. It brings power, truth, and
encouragement to our prayer time.

Let’s begin with King David’s Psalm 23. Take a moment to read
it, and then use the prayer below as a way to use the psalm to
have a conversation with God.

SCRIPTURE:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie
down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the
darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your
rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my
head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness
and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
P SA L M 23

PRAYER:
“God, You are my Provider, and I know You will take care
of me. Thank You for guiding me to places of rest. You

25
 PRAY FIRST

are my source of energy and passion. You keep me going

and lead me toward a life of purpose and freedom. I
know that even when I experience my darkest seasons
of difficulty and challenge, I have nothing to be afraid of
because You are with me. Your presence and power are
a constant comfort to me. I know that You are preparing
the way for me and that my enemies cannot touch me
because You are taking care of me. I know that You have
blessed me, and I thank You for choosing me and
anointing me with purpose. Your blessings are so much
more than I could ask for. I know that You are good, God,
and that You are with me all the days of my life. You
have chosen me, and I have chosen You, and that means
I will be with You, in Your presence, forever.”

In the following section, we will use several Scriptures

and claim their promises through prayer. You can
make this as personal as you like. You will find the
most benefit when you pray the Scriptures that God is
showing you in His Word and that are connecting with
you personally in your current season of life.

26
 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE:
Come near to God and He will come near to you.
JA M E S 4 : 8

PRAYER:
“Heavenly Father, You have promised that if I draw near
to You, You will draw near to me. I need more of Your
presence today, and I am drawing near to You through
prayer, worship, and reading Your Word. I open my
heart to You and ask You to be near to me and change me
to be more like You.”

SCRIPTURE:
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and
know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive
way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
P SA L M 1 39 : 2 3- 24

PRAYER:
“Father God, I ask You to search my heart. If You find
anything in me that is offensive, please show me and
help me remove it from my life. Lead me to live a life that
draws people to You. Help me live my life on earth in a
way that impacts eternity.”

27
 PRAY FIRST

SCRIPTURE:
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
M AT T H E W 6:33

PRAYER:
“Your Word tells me that if I seek first Your Kingdom and
Your righteousness, You will lead me to a life of blessing,
purpose, and freedom. I am Yours today, God, and I give
this day to You. Help me to focus on Your priorities first,
sharing Your love and making Your Name known.
I know that by focusing on You rather than myself, I
will receive joy and peace.”

SCRIPTURE:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He
will lift you up.
JA M E S 4 : 1 0

PRAYER:
“God, You have promised that if I humble myself before
You, You will lift me up. I recognize today that I cannot
succeed on my own, and I need You in every moment.
I humble myself before You, and I ask You to work in and
through me today. My time, efforts, thoughts, and words
are Yours today (name specific parts of your day and
give them to God). Use me for Your purposes, Lord.
I trust that You will be with me and lift me up.”

28
 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE:
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,
but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 T I M OT H Y 1:7

PRAYER:
“Father, I know You have not given me a spirit of fear
or timidity, but one of power, love, and self-discipline.
When my mind feels out of control, I pray that You will
renew my spirit and let power, love, and self-discipline
fill me. Help me to look more like You every day. I declare
that anything that is not of You has to leave me in Jesus’
mighty Name. I proclaim that I do not have a spirit of
fear, but I have a sound and healthy mind.”

SCRIPTURE:
And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him, who have been called
according to His purpose.
R O M A N S 8 :2 8

PRAYER:
“God, You promise me in Your Word that in all
things You work for my good. Right now, there are
circumstances in my life that don’t feel good and that I
can’t see an ounce of good in (talk to God about the
specific situations that are causing you difficulty or
pain). Even though this is how I feel, I choose to believe
Your truth over my feelings. When you say You will work

29
 PRAY FIRST

in all things for my good, I believe You. Even in

situations that seem hopeless, I know You are working
on my behalf and that You want more for me than I
could ever want for myself. Thank You for having a
purpose for me and for working all my life
circumstances for good.”

SCRIPTURE:
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your
hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
P SA L M 6 2: 8

PRAYER:
“Father, in Your Word You invite me to pour out my
heart to You. You are my refuge, and I know that
anything I think, feel, or do is ok to bring to You.
Knowing that You are a safe place for me, I come to
You and give You everything on my heart (talk to God
about the specific things that are on your heart today).
From what is worrying me to what is delighting me,
what I hope for to what I’m afraid of, I bring it all to
You because I know I can trust You. Help me and guide
me in every area, in Jesus’ Name.”

30
 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE:
The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of
His bounty, to send rain on your land in season
and to bless all the work of your hands.
D E U T E R O NO M Y 2 8:12

PRAYER:
“Lord, I believe You have everything I need and You
want to bless me. You tell me in Your Word that You will
open the heavens to bless the work I do. I know that
without You, I can do nothing. I ask that You will open
the heavens and pour out Your blessings and power over
me. I give my work and my efforts to You and I ask You
for favor and blessing in anything my hands touch
(surrender specific efforts to Him). May it be for Your
glory alone so that others may see Your power and
goodness at work.”

SCRIPTURE:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
R O M A N S 8 :38 -39

PRAYER:
“God, I am in awe of Your love for me. You are so great,
and I am so small, yet You love me fully. I remind my

31
 PRAY FIRST

soul today that nothing can separate me from Your

love—I am so grateful! There is nothing I can do to win
or lose Your love; You love me without condition.
Because I know nothing on earth, in time or space, or
anything in existence can separate me from Your love,
I will live confidently and peacefully knowing I have
always been and will always be fully loved by You.”

SCRIPTURE:
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will
refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage
of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication
from me,” declares the Lord.
I SA I A H 5 4 : 17

PRAYER:
“Lord, I know that no weapon raised against me will
succeed because I am Your child. I feel pressure in my
life right now, and sometimes I feel as though life will
overcome me (talk to God about the concerns weighing
on you). Even though I feel this way, in faith, I claim
Your promise that no weapon can overcome me and
that any accusations that come against me will be
silenced. This truth is verified by Your love and
saving power in my life.”

32
 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
P H I L I P P I A NS 4:6 -7

PRAYER:
“Father, my heart feels anxious (tell God what is giving
you anxiety). I don’t like this feeling, but I’m thankful
I can come to You and receive peace. You invite me to
replace my anxiety with prayer, and even though my
mind and heart are racing, I’m coming to You knowing
that You provide healing and calm for my soul. Thank
You for giving me breath and life. I thank You that I am
fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. I lay
down all worries, all my physical and mental anxiety,
and any attempt at trying to control it all (tell Him the
things you are laying down right now). I surrender it all
to You. I need You. I need Your peace that transcends
my human understanding. Even if things are unstable
around me, I pray that Your peace will be evident in
my heart and my life. Guard my heart and mind, God. I
trust that You are faithful, and I receive Your peace in
my life today.”

33
 PRAY FIRST

SCRIPTURE:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future. Then you
will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen
to you. You will seek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart.”
JE R E M I A H 29 :11-13

PRAYER:
“My God, I try to make so many plans for my life, but I
know Your plans for me are best. You tell me that You
have plans for me to prosper and have hope and a future.
Thank You for loving me enough to have a plan for my
life. You have promised me that when I call on You, You
will listen to me. Thank You for listening when I pray.
I am confident knowing that I serve a God who cares
about my life. I want to find You every day, and You
say that if I seek You with all my heart, I will find You.
Thank You for showing me the way to You. I lay my
plans down at Your feet and receive Your plans for me
(mention your plans and lay them down before God).
I know that You see the big picture and You know what
is better for me than I do. I trust You, and I ask You to
guide me toward Your plans.”

34
 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE:
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
H E B R E WS 1 3:5

PRAYER:
“Father, I am so comforted by the fact that You will
never leave me. You are always with me, and I am safe
with You. As I go through my life and take on each new
situation, I’m comforted by knowing I’m not alone
because You are by my side. Help me feel Your presence.
When I feel uncertain or afraid, I pray You will comfort
me through Your Holy Spirit and remind me that I am
never alone because You, the Almighty God, have
promised to always be with me.”

SCRIPTURE:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.
M AT T H E W 1 1:2 8-30

PRAYER:
“Lord Jesus, I am so tired and worn out (tell God the
areas that you’re tired and weary). I feel exhausted
mentally and physically. Life feels hard, and I feel like I
can’t keep up my current pace. You invite me to come to
You when I am weary, and I fall at Your feet desperate

35
 PRAY FIRST

for rest, peace, and perspective. Show me where I am

trying to do things on my own. Show me where I need
to rest instead of strive. Teach me Your ways. Show me
how to walk in gentleness, humility, and rest. I know
Your ways are higher than my ways, and I pray that You
will transform my heart and mind to be more like You.”

SCRIPTURE:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest
in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He
is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
P SA L M 9 1 : 1 - 2

PRAYER:
“God, I claim that I dwell in Your shelter, the Most High
God, and I rest in Your shadow, the Almighty One. I
claim that You alone are my refuge and fortress. You
are my God and I trust You. When I face anything that
brings me uncertainty or fear (confess these things to
Him), I know that I can come to You as my safe place.
Thank You for Your strength and protection in my life.”

36
 PRAYING SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE:
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful
in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
P SA L M 1 4 5 :13-14

PRAYER:
“Almighty God, as I claim the promises in Your Word
through my prayer time, I praise You for Your
character. Trustworthy, faithful—that is Who You are.
I thank You that I can trust You to be faithful to me.
I know that when I come to You with humility and a
surrendered heart that You will lift me up.”

37
 PRAY FIRST

THE PRAYER
OF JABEZ

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that You would
bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be
with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free
from pain.” And God granted his request.
1 C H R O N I C LE S 4:10

The Prayer of Jabez is a helpful model of a prayer

we can pray every day.

01. BLESSING

Jabez begins his prayer by asking God for His blessing.

We need more of God’s blessing to be better equipped
to make a difference for His Kingdom. We need more
provision, more spiritual gifting, more wisdom, so that
we can bless others with what God has given us. James
4:2-3 tells us, “You do not have because you do not ask
God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask
with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on
your pleasures.” God wants to bless us, but He is often
waiting for us to ask with the right heart. We have a big
God, and we can be bold in asking for His blessing. As

38
 T he P rayer of J abez

James points out, God sees our heart, and when we ask
for blessing with the motivation not only to help
ourselves but to help others, this gets His attention.

“Oh, that You would bless me...”

1 C H R O N I C LE S 4:10

Ask God for His blessing. Recognize your need for His
provision, and set your heart toward wanting more than
you need so that you can be a blessing to others.

PRAYER:
“Father God, I pray that You would bless me with more
than I need so that I can bless others. I pray for more
provision, that You would equip me to give generously
to others and meet their practical needs in Your Name.
I ask You to give me greater spiritual gifting so that I
can strengthen the church and be more effective for the
Kingdom of God. I pray for an abundance of wisdom
and discernment so that I can point others to You and
make decisions that honor You. Help me keep Your
generous blessings in perspective, so that I never become
self-serving but stay focused on using what You’ve
given me to serve other people.”

02. INFLUENCE

Next, Jabez asks for more influence. As God’s blessings

increase in our lives, we ask for and experience greater
opportunity to influence the world around us for Him.
God has the power to bless us greatly, and He also has

39
 PRAY FIRST

the power to open doors of opportunity for us to make

a difference. We want to walk through doors that only
He can open, and He responds when we specifically ask
Him to give us more influence for His Name.

“Enlarge my territory...”
1 C H R O N I C LE S 4:10

Pray for more influence. Knowing that God can make a

way, trust in Him to open doors and lead you on the best
path for your life and for His glory.

PRAYER:
“God, make me effective in my sphere of influence, and
open new doors for me to be able to influence and reach
even more people (name any particular areas where
you’d like to have more influence). Help me to be a good
steward of the responsibility You’ve entrusted to me. I
pray for greater territory to impact for Your glory.”

03. PRESENCE

In order to have lasting influence, we need God’s

presence in our lives. Through His power at work within
us, God can do more than we could ever ask or imagine
(Ephesians 3:20). As we ask for blessing and influence,
we also need to ask for His presence as Jabez did so
that we are not operating out of our own strength but
through the presence and the hand of our Almighty God.

40
 T he P rayer of J abez

“Let Your hand be with me...”

1 C H R O N I C LE S 4:10

In humility, acknowledge your need for God’s

presence. Depend on Him and ask for more of Him
in your life today.

PRAYER:
“Lord, I know that without You, I am nothing. I cannot do
what You’ve called me to do on my own. I am desperate
for Your presence in my life. I depend on You completely.
I recognize that the same Spirit who raised Christ Jesus
from the dead lives in me. Through the power of Your
Spirit, I pray that You will help me succeed in the
opportunities You’ve given me. Thank You for being
with me. I would never want to face today without You.”

04. PROTECTION

Finally, Jabez asks the Lord to protect him. If we are

influencing the world for Jesus, we must understand
the enemy will try to stop us. This leads us to pray
that God will not only help us if the enemy attacks,
but that He will protect us from the enemy attacking
us in the first place. Jesus has already won the victory
so we don’t need to fear destruction. God promises to
be with us and protect us, and because He is with us we
have nothing to fear.

“Keep me from harm”

1 C H R O N I C LE S 4:10

41
 PRAY FIRST

Trust God to protect you. Tell Him specific areas where

you feel the need for His protection and ask Him to
cover areas that you can’t yet see.

PRAYER:
“God, as I walk out the purpose You have for my life, I
pray that You will stop any and every attack of the
enemy against me. Please protect my body, my mind,
and my emotions. Don’t let the enemy get a foothold in
my life. I pray, too, that You will protect my family and
community from harm. I know that the One who is in
me is greater than the one who is in the world, so I have
nothing to fear. Thank You for watching over me. I love
You and I trust You.”

42
 WARFARE PRAYERS

WARFARE
PRAYERS

Prayer is not only communion with God; it is also

confrontation with the enemy. When Jesus was on the earth,
He came face-to-face with the devil when He was tempted in
the wilderness (see Matthew 4 and Luke 4), and every time
the enemy tried to tempt Him, Jesus responded with a
reference from the Bible. He used the Sword of Truth to
defend Himself from the enemy’s attacks. Consider that in
these exchanges, Jesus didn’t confront the devil as God. He
confronted the devil as a man with the Word of God. We
should do the same thing.

These spiritual warfare prayers and verses are examples we

can use and adapt to our specific situations when we or
someone we know is under attack from the devil.

THE ARMOR OF GOD

Based on Ephesians 6:13-17

Knowing that we are in a spiritual battle, God provides

spiritual armor and equips us to take a stand when
battles come our way.

43
 PRAY FIRST

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your
stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the
day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm
then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with
your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
Gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield
of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers
and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep
on praying for all the Lord’s people.
E P H E SI A N S 6 :11-18

Acknowledge that you’re in a spiritual battle. Then,

claim the protection God has given you by praying
through the different pieces of armor described in
Ephesians 6.

PRAYER:
“Thank You, Lord, for my salvation. I receive it in a new
and fresh way from You, and I declare that nothing can
separate me from the love of Christ and the place I have in
Your Kingdom. I wear Your righteousness today against all
condemnation and corruption. Cover me with Your

44
 WARFARE PRAYERS

holiness and purity—defend me from all attacks against

my heart. Lord, I put on the belt of truth. I choose a lifestyle
of honesty and integrity. Expose the lies I have believed,
and show me Your truth today. I choose to live for the
Gospel in every moment. Show me where You are
working and lead me to it. Give me strength to walk daily
with You. I believe that You are powerful against every lie
and attack of the enemy and I receive and claim your
power in my life. Nothing is coming today that can
overcome me because You are with me. Holy Spirit, show
me the truths of the Word of God that I will need to
counter the traps of the enemy. Bring those Scriptures to
mind today. Finally, Holy Spirit, I agree to walk in step
with You in everything as my spirit communes with You in
prayer throughout the day.”

THE WEAPONS OF WARFARE

Based on 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

When we are aware of spiritual warfare, we can be

active in praying through it. God has given us victory
and power to fight through the blood of Jesus.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons

of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to
demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments
and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive
every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 CO R I N T H I ANS 10 :4- 5

45
 PRAY FIRST

You can command anything that comes against the

truth of God and His Word to bow to the Name of Jesus.
Take a bold stand, praying specifically and confidently
through God’s power and His Spirit.

PRAYER:
“Father, Your Word says that no weapon formed against
me will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), and I declare it in Jesus’
Name. Your Word says that trouble will not arise a
second time (Nahum 1:9). So I declare in Jesus’ Name
that satan cannot make trouble for me again, like he
has in the past. I declare in the Name of Jesus that
all of these prayers are answered and taken care of by
trusting You.

I stand on Your Word. The enemy is driven out from

me; from my home, workplace, church family, children,
and loved ones. I declare that he is not able to stand
against me. No weapon formed against me will prosper,
because the Spirit of the Lord is with me, protecting me.
I declare these truths in the Name of Jesus. Anything
that comes against me or my family that is not in line
with the truth and will of God, I command to bow to
the powerful Name of Jesus. Father God, I give You all
of my thanksgiving, praise, glory, honor, and worship.
Thank You for loving me, making me clean, and giving
me purpose.”

46
 WARFARE PRAYERS

PROTECTION PRAYER

2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, 10:3-5; Romans 12:1-2

We often worry about our safety and protection. When

we feel this way, we can immediately come to God in
prayer, pouring out our heart to Him, and battling in the
heavenlies by asking for and claiming protection for
ourselves and our families in Jesus’ Name.

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen

and protect you from the evil one.
2 T H E SSA LONIANS 3:3

Share your thoughts and concerns with God. Ask Him

for His supernatural protection. He says He will
command His angels concerning you to guard you in all
your ways (Psalm 91:11). Claim this promise and lay
everything down before Him trusting His good plans
and His power to protect you and those you love.

PRAYER:
“God, I bow in worship to praise You. Thank You for
making a way for me through Your Son, Jesus.
I surrender myself completely in every area of my life
to You. I submit myself to the true and living God and
refuse any involvement of the enemy in my life. I choose
to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. I reject
every thought that tries to compete against the
knowledge of Christ. I pray and thank You for a
sound mind, the mind of Christ.

47
 PRAY FIRST

Today and every day I ask for protection over my family

and loved ones; all immediate family members, relatives,
friends, acquaintances, and myself. I ask for protection
during all of our travels. I ask You to watch over our
financial security, possessions, health, and safety (be
as specific here as you like). All that I have is Yours God,
and I declare that satan cannot touch me or anything
You have given me. I rebuke the enemy and tell him to
bow to the blood of Jesus that covers me and my family.
He will not take what You have given us and we are
protected and provided for by You, God, and You alone.”

CONFESSION PRAYER

Based on Romans 10:10; James 5:16; I John 1:7-9, 3:8

Our sin separates us from God, but Jesus made a way

for us to be reunited with God by covering our sin by
dying on the cross. When we accept the gift of salvation
we confess our sin, and as Christians, confessing and
repenting of sin is something we continue to do. By
coming clean and repentant before God, He is able to
work in our lives and transform us to be more like Him.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will

forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 JO H N 1 : 9

Assume a posture of humility, and without fear of

condemnation or punishment, come sincerely to God

48
 WARFARE PRAYERS

confessing your sin on a regular basis. Whether your sin

feels big or small to you, your sin is still sin and affects
your relationship with God. You get His attention when
you tell Him your sin and turn from that sin to follow
Him. After you confess, remind yourself and claim the
power of the blood of Jesus in your life to wash you
clean and make you new.

PRAYER:
“Lord Jesus, I confess all of my sins to You. I repent and
turn away from them. I’m sorry for the wrong I have
done. I confess the times I should have stepped up to do
right and did nothing instead. I lay it all down at Your
feet. I submit my thoughts, words, actions, and
inactions to You. Thank You, God, for forgiving and
making a way for me through Your Son, Jesus.

Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. You
died on the cross for my sins and rose to life again on
the third day. I confess all my sins and repent. I receive
Your forgiveness and ask You to cleanse me from all sin.
Thank You for redeeming me, setting me free, making
me holy, and giving my life purpose.”

FORGIVENESS PRAYER

Based on Matthew 6:14-15; Leviticus 19:18

Forgiveness can feel challenging, but God makes it

clear in the Bible that He freely forgives us and we are
expected to do the same for others.

49
 PRAY FIRST

For if you forgive other people when they sin against

you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you
do not forgive others their sins, your Father will
not forgive your sins.
M AT T H E W 6:14-15

Come before the Lord with humility, honesty, and

sincerity. Share the areas in your life where you need
to forgive others. Even if you aren’t able to settle a
situation with that person, you can settle it with the
Lord, letting them off the hook by forgiving them. As
you choose to forgive those who have hurt or offended
you, you can also praise and thank God for forgiving you
when you didn’t deserve it.

PRAYER:
“Lord, I have a confession to make. I haven’t loved others
well. I have resented certain people and have not
forgiven them in my heart. God, I know that You have
forgiven me for so much, and I need Your help to follow
You and forgive others. In faith, I now forgive (name
them). I also forgive and accept myself because You have
made me new in the Name of Jesus.”

PRIDE PRAYER

Based on Proverbs 11:2, 16:18, 26:12; 1 Timothy 3:6

The Bible tells us that pride comes before the fall.

Pride can be a very real issue in our lives, but we have
the power to overcome it through Jesus.

50
 WARFARE PRAYERS

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with

humility comes wisdom.
P R OV E R B S 11:2

Practicing humility requires overcoming pride in our

lives. Just as you confess other sins, regularly confess
your pride to God. Submit it to Him, asking Him to help
you walk in humility, free of pride and self-absorption. If
you feel like pride is an issue that continues to surface in
your life, confess it daily and bring it before God.

PRAYER:
“Father God, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I know
pride only keeps me from You. I put down anything that
would cause me to have pride in my heart in dealing
with other people. Help me to prioritize others over
myself. I ask you God, to remind me daily that true
humility is not thinking less of myself, it’s thinking of
myself less. I humble myself before You and come to
You like a child.“

Note: One of the best ways to humble ourselves is

to mix prayer with fasting.

GENERATIONAL BONDAGE PRAYER

Based on Exodus 20:4-6, 34:7; Numbers 14:18;

2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1, 12:1

Generational bondage is sin that can be passed down

from generation to generation. Whether it’s pride, ad-

51
 PRAY FIRST

diction, divorce, abandonment, sexual sin, or something

else, through spiritual warfare, you can claim the power
of Jesus to stop the sin with your generation not passing
it on to anyone else in your family.

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of

anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the
waters below. You shall not bow down to them or
worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,
punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the
third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but
showing love to a thousand generations of those who
love me and keep my commandments.
E XO D U S 20:4- 6

Recognize the generational bondage that might be in

your life and bring it before God. Ask for His power
to defeat the sin that has affected generations of your
family. Ask for it to stop right now, with you, and rebuke
any sin or anything that tries to pull you away from your
relationship with Christ. Pray for protection, healing,
and a new path for you and your family.

PRAYER:
“Father God, I understand that I have inherited certain
consequences from my family, and in the Name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, I proclaim Your power to break any
hold of mental or physical illness, pride, addiction, and
anything else on me and my family that are a result of
sin being passed down through parents, grandparents,
or other family members (if specifics come to mind, talk

52
 WARFARE PRAYERS

to God about it). I proclaim that all generational sin

ends here and now, and that I will not pass these on to
anyone in my family. Thank You, Lord, for setting me
free and making a new way for me and my family.”

HEALING PRAYER

Based on 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 103:2-5; Luke 1:37

Our God is a God of miracles. Just as we read about in

the Bible, we still see Him perform miraculous healing
today. He is our healer, and we can confidently approach
Him asking for healing for ourselves or someone
we know.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his

benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your
diseases, who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion, who
satisfies your desires with good things so
that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
P SA L M 1 03 : 2 - 5

In faith, ask God for healing. Proclaim His power and

goodness, believing and trusting Him to take care of you
or those you’re praying to be healed.

PRAYER:
“Father, in the Name of Jesus, I come before You asking
for healing (name yourself or someone you are praying
to experience healing). My hope is in You as our healer.

53
 PRAY FIRST

I believe You are able to do this. Your name is Jehovah

Rapha, the God who heals, and I believe every knee will
bow to You including the name of (name disease or
disorder). Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross so
that we can receive healing. You say that You forgive
our sins and heal our diseases, and I praise You for this.
Thank You that the spirit that raised Jesus from the
dead lives in us. I stand in faith believing for healing
for (yourself or someone you’re praying for). Nothing is
impossible for You, God! Give us peace and direction as
You work in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

MARRIAGE PRAYER

Based on Ephesians 5:25-30

God created marriage, and His design for it is good. In

marriage, just as in any human relationship, we have
to work to love well. We can’t do this successfully in
our own power. We need God, who is love Himself, to
give us His Holy Spirit and to guide us in our marriage.
Marriage is a picture of Jesus Christ and His bride, the
Church. As Christian husbands and wives, we have
the high honor to represent the love and commitment
Christ has for the Church through our love and
commitment to each other.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church

and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her,
having cleansed her by the washing of water with the
Word, so that He might present the church to Himself in

54
 WARFARE PRAYERS

splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that

she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way
husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He
who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hat-
ed his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as
Christ does the church.
E P H E SI A N S 5 :2 5-30 ESV

Thank God for your marriage. Start by asking Him to

help you be the best spouse you can be. Ask Him to help
you love well and to see your spouse as He sees them.
Then, pray for your marriage, asking God to use your
marriage to impact the world for Him. Ask Him for
protection physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Pray
for unity in your marriage and wisdom from Him about
how to live your lives as one. Bring to Him anything in
your marriage that concerns you, and trust Him to work
on your behalf.

PRAYER:
“Thank You, God, for loving us, and for creating
marriage to be an illustration of Your love for us here
on earth. Help me, God, to love my spouse (call them
by name) the way You love me. Help me to listen to my
spouse, give honor, and put my spouse before
myself. Protect us physically, mentally, emotionally,
and spiritually. We ask You to build greater unity
between us, make us stronger as a couple, more devoted
to one another and to You. Use us God, build us up to
be an example of what Godly marriage can look like. Use
us together to do more than we could ever do apart. We

55
 PRAY FIRST

ask for greater influence and more impact on the people

around us. We ask you to work through us in the lives of
our friends, family, and even those far away. Fill us with
Your Holy Spirit and move through us to bring those far
from You closer, so that they can have an encounter with
the Living God, who seeks and saves the lost, and who
sets us free and gives us purpose.

We choose as a couple to love You first, God. We put our

relationship with You before anything and everything
else. We confess our need for You. Thank You for
bringing us together. We choose to love one another
today and every day. Thank You for our marriage. We
ask You to bless it, build it, and be present in it always.”

56
 P raying for those who need G od

PRAYING FOR
THOSE WHO
NEED GOD

God desires everyone to know Him. He says in His Word that

He would leave the 99 to go after the one who doesn’t Know
Him. As followers of Christ, we are called to partner with Him
praying for those who don’t know Him to come to know Him.

01. ASK THE FATHER

TO DRAW THEM TO JESUS

God draws people to Him. It’s not something we can

make happen out of our own efforts, so we need to be
faithful in praying that the Father would draw those
He’s placed on our hearts to Jesus.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent

me draws them...
JO H N 6 : 44

Think about the people you know who are far from God.
Let your heart be open to God and anyone He may bring
to your mind. It may help to write down their names as
you focus on praying for them.

57
 PRAY FIRST

PRAYER:
“Father, I pray for the people around me (list specific
names), that you would supernaturally draw their
hearts to you. Send your Holy Spirit to them, and give
them the desire to give their lives to You. Help them to
recognize their longing for more in life as a spiritual
thirst only you can quench. Open their ears to hear
your voice.”

02. BIND THE SPIRIT

THAT BLINDS THEIR MINDS

The truth can be right in front of some people, and

they still can’t see it because something is in the way
blocking their view of God.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of

unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the
gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is
the image of God.
2 CO R I N T H I ANS 4:4

We can pray against whatever is in their way so that

they can see the light of God. We can pray that they
would see the truth without any obstacles or
distractions interfering.

PRAYER:
“Father, bind the evil spirits that are blinding the minds
of the people around me. In the name of Jesus, I pray
that they would be able to see clearly, to recognize who

58
 P raying for those who need G od

You are, and to give their hearts to You. Remove all

hindrances the enemy would use to distract them
from Your truth. Open their eyes, Lord, that they might
see Jesus.”

03. PRAY THAT THEY MAY HAVE A

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Many people think Christianity is just another

religion. They only see God through the lens of the
organization and institution of the church. They may
even feel frustrated, angry, or betrayed by people in
churches they have encountered or by religious legalists
and their hypocrisy. But God didn’t come to build an
organization. He came to have a relationship with his
children.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves,

so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you
received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
R O M A N S 8 :15

God wants His beloved sons and daughters to come

home. Praying for people to have personal encounters
with the living God makes a huge difference.

PRAYER:
“Father, I pray that people will understand how much
You love them. Loose the spirit of adoption for the people
around me, so that they come into a meaningful

59
 PRAY FIRST

relationship with You. Stir in their hearts a longing to

come home, to hear Your voice, and to see You
welcoming them with open arms. Let them know You
are always running to meet them and hold them close.”

04. PRAY FOR BELIEVERS

TO CROSS THEIR PATHS

This is twofold: we can pray for other Christians to

influence the people around them positively, and we can
also look for opportunities to influence others positively
ourselves. God’s plan to reach people is worked through
those who already know and love Him. Jesus asked us
to pray for people to go into the world to be salt and
light. He came to bring the good news of the Gospel to all
people, and His desire is that everyone would know and
love Him.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,

to send out workers into his harvest field.
M AT T H E W 9:38

As his “spiritual farmers,” we should be attuned to

opportunities to plant spiritual seeds in the lives of the
people we encounter each day. We may have no idea
who has already been praying for them and the
culminating impact our kind word, compassionate act,
or loving attitude can have to draw someone to Christ.

60
 P raying for those who need G od

PRAYER:
“Father, I pray for the lost around me to meet believers
who will influence them in a positive way. Lord, let my
life shine in such a way that people want to know the
God I serve. Allow others to see my genuine love and
concern for them in all that I say and do. Let me be Your
hands and feet to serve them and let them know just how
much You love them.”

05. RELEASE THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM

AND REVELATION ON THEM,
SO THEY MAY KNOW GOD BETTER

It’s that “eureka” moment, that “aha!” when it finally

clicks. The most important moment to have this kind
of revelation is when the lights come on spiritually.
People need to see their own sin, see what Jesus did on
the cross, and see the hope that comes from giving
their life to God.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom
and revelation, so that you may know him better.
E P H E SI A N S 1:17

People need wisdom, not just knowledge, of spiritual

things and insight into how spiritual realities directly
impact them. We can pray for this kind of supernatural
revelation that only comes from God.

61
 PRAY FIRST

PRAYER:
“Father, I pray for the people around me to experience
the spirit of wisdom and revelation. I pray that they
would truly understand their spiritual condition and
see what Jesus did for them on the cross. Help them to
have the information and experiences needed to come to
You, so they can understand all You have for them.”

62
 PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS

PERSONAL
PRAYER
FOCUS

God has put us on the earth at this specific time for a reason.
He says in Acts 17:26 that He determined when and where
we would live. Knowing this, we can look at those around
us at this specific time in history, and take personal
responsibility to pray.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, interces-

sion and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings
and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and
quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and
pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved
and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 T I M OT H Y 2 :1- 4

Pray for those in authority and those under your authority.

Pray for those in your family and your circle of influence
(anyone you’re connected to). Write down the names of
specific people and pray for them.

63
 PRAY FIRST

MY GOVERNMENT

PRESIDENT

NATIONAL LEADERS

STATE LEADERS

CITY LEADERS

MY FAMILY

SPOUSE

CHILDREN

PARENTS

SIBLINGS

64
 PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS

EXTENDED FAMILY

MY CHURCH

PASTOR

SMALL GROUP LEADER

SMALL GROUP MEMBERS

MY LIFE

EMPLOYER

CO-WORKERS

EMPLOYEES

65
 PRAY FIRST

TEACHERS/PROFESSORS

CLOSE FRIENDS

THOSE WHO NEED GOD

66