Prayers You Should be Praying in 2020- Part 2: Growing in Christ

Part 1

Ever wondered what you should pray?

Now let’s suppose you’ve been walking with the Lord for quite a while, and it’s time to GROW in Christ. 

You’re ready to go to the next level, ready to go deeper, to enrich your relationship with the Lord.

GROWING in Christ means positioning yourself for God to use you. Making yourself available. Allowing yourself to be a vessel for kingdom work. And, again, the best way to do this is through prayer.

Here are 8 Genuine Ways To Grow Your Faith Through Prayer: 

1. Pray for courage to do something different, to do it afraid, with Christ

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them (Deuteronomy 31:6).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

God, I know that if you pick me, you will protect me. Send me out, Lord, like you did Moses and so many others. Here I am. Use me.  Arm me. Equip me. Prepare me for kingdom work. Let me not cower before giants or naysayers. Make them small in my eyes. Make me deaf to them. You be big in me, O Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

2. Pray to know, to understand, and to embrace your spiritual gift

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly (Romans 12:6-8).

God, show me how to shine for you. Uncover my spiritual gift. Help me to embrace it. Teach me to use it for your glory. Allow it to grow, Lord, so that I may become a worthy vessel. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

3. Pray to feed into the life of another--mentoring

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone (Mark 16:15).

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Father, I thank you for adopting me into the family of Christ. I thank you for the women who have poured into my life so that I may know you more. Allow me, Lord, to encourage another young woman--to stand with her in prayer, to believe with her, to be an example of right living. Let her see Christ in me. Let her desire the relationship I have with you.  In Jesus’ sweet name, Amen.

4. Pray for God to use you to bring others to Christ, to invite others to church, to be a mouthpiece for God

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say” (Exodus 4:11-12).

So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields (Luke 10:2).

God, it is my greatest desire to see friends and family come to Christ. Let me not miss an opportunity to testify to your great name. Put people in my path, Lord. Help me to meet them where they are. Give me the words they need to hear. Use me to win souls, Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

5. Pray for a powerful, intentional prayer life

Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure (James 4:2-3)

Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: Father may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation” (Luke 11:2-4).

Thank you, Lord, for your word. Thank you for its instruction, correction, and wisdom. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to use scripture to develop a powerful, intentional prayer life. Train me to be a prayer warrior, to intercede for others, to stand in the gap for those who struggle.  I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

6. Pray to embrace the example and correction of Godly people in your life

An open rebuke is better than hidden Love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy (Proverbs 27:5-6).

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble (Proverbs 13:20).

Lord, you are the reason I walk in victory. Keep me humble. Surround me with godly people who will speak truth, model right living, and offer correction when needed. May I be quick to receive it with a right heart and a right attitude. In The name of Jesus I pray, Amen.   

7. Pray to recognize that delayed obedience is disobedience

So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do… (1 Peter 1:14-15).

I will hurry without delay to obey your commands (Psalm 119:60).

God, I thank you for the saving grace and forgiveness of the cross. I embrace its work in my life but know there are areas where my stubborn pride keeps me from completely surrendering to your commands. Expose my disobedience. Holy Spirit quicken me to recognize it and to respond according to your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

8. Pray to use the authority of Jesus Christ in you to cast out demons, to defeat the enemy, to conquer

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20)!

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because the evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven (Luke 10:19-20).

Father, what a privilege it is to speak your name. What an honor to serve in the army of the Lord. I stand on your word and declare that the enemy has no power over my life. God, stand before me so that I may not see the enemy’s face. Holy Spirit, be on the side of me so that I may not hear the enemy’s lies.  Jesus, stand guard behind me and secure the way.  Give me the confidence of Nehemiah--to know the enemy when he approaches and to rebuke him with the authority given me by God Almighty. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It’s so true. If God picks you, not only will He prepare you, but He’ll protect you. 

Onward, soldier. There’s work to be done for the Lord. 

Part 1