After praying for some, they ask me how I learned to pray the way I do. I'm sure it came from having a prayer partner for a few years, it came from serving at my church as a prayer counselor up front at our youth service, it came from people calling into the church asking for prayer...all that to say, it came from praying a lot, for a long time. However for me, I think I could do so much better, but for others, it's just what they needed.
So this morning as I journaled my prayers (which I have done now for about 10 years), I thought, what if I blogged a sample prayer of how I would pray for someone...
Let's see, the sample subject we'll use has an addiction of some kind. I'll pick that since so many around us struggle w/ this area, whether it's caffeine, food, drugs, alcohol, porn, sex, pain killers (Norcos, Oxycodons, etc.), texting/iphones, and now internet in general.
(Many can disagree w/ me, but take one of those things away for an hour, a day, a week & oooh - you'll find that you are grumpy w/out it...and can't wait until you get it. Try it!)
So let's say I was going to pray for a friend who was struggling w/ an addiction, here's how I may pray:
Lord, I lift up my friend to You and I am so grateful for their transparency with their struggles. I pray that You would honor that and supernaturally get involved with this addiction. I pray Lord that first You would begin to physically heal them from their addiction, move inside their body and wherever that hunger comes from I pray that you would take away the physical need. Then Lord, I pray that You would reveal the emotional or spiritual need that they are trying to fill with this stuff. God, if they are lonely, reveal that to them. If it is depression, I pray that You would heal the depression and quickly give them direction on what to do and where to go for help for it. I pray Lord that where there is brokenness that You would mend it. God, is there broken relationships and unforgiveness that needs to be healed? Let there be healing there. God is there resentment they are harboring that they need to release to then allow peace to flood their heart? I pray Lord that whatever my friend needs to do to get right with others, You would give them the power and humility to do so. And Lord, I ask that You would forgive them for this addiction, and be the great Physician right now. God have mercy on them and remove the guilt and shame that keeps them far from You. I pray that today You would take authority over this addiction and you would bring my friend into a close fellowship with You. Show them Your love and concern for them. Remind them that You have a plan and purpose for their life and that You can help them get out of this rut. Remove the yoke of addiction on them and bring them into victory. God, I claim that my friend will be healed of addiction. I claim that their marriage will succeed. I claim that their kids will serve You despite this. I claim an awesome testimony of healing and redemption in their life today. I rebuke the lies and schemes of the enemy in the name of Jesus. I rebuke the work of the devil in my friend's life and command the enemy to flee. All authority is given to You Lord and I pray that the devil would submit and leave. And I ask as my friend is now open to Your work in their life God that You would usher in quickly and move in a powerful way to woo them and cause them to fall in love in You Jesus. I pray that they would desire a close relationship with You. I pray they would honor You with their life, their time, their money, their relationships, and what they put in their body. Remind them, their body is a temple for Your spirit to dwell. Help them long to abide in You. And Lord, when they seek you out, please be quick to answer to confirm their faith in you. In fact Lord, grow their faith in You. Reveal Your sovereignty to them. And reveal Your merciful love and grace. God, You are so so good and I know You have already began to move to answer this prayer. Give my friend eyes to see You and ears to hear You, in Jesus name, amen.
Whoo...I had a picture in my mind of someone right now and this was my prayer for them actually.
Jesus came to set the captives free and
He needs us who love the captives,
to intercede for others until
they are interceding for themselves.
If you are reading this, and you are the one w/ the addiction, just plug ME where I say 'friend'. Call out your addiction by name too. Call it out! Name what it is you want God to take away and pray hard.
I think that by nature, I articulate myself well...because by nature, I am a talker. However, I believe it's through specific requests that we put God's name on that when that very specific thing happens, we know that we know it was God. It makes it more personal the more in depth you get, the more transparent you get with the Lord. He already sees all and knows all. Just acknowledge Him in this way and let your relationship with Him flourish!
If you have hate, resentment, anger in your heart...call it out by name - so that when that one particular thing that held you in shame is GONE - you can thank God for His goodness and deliverance.
Prayer like this takes time. We cannot expect deliverance by a one minute, half-hearted prayer. You need to set time aside...get a journal to take notes of things that come to mind, come to heart, and as you pray...pray thoroughly...ask God to anoint your prayers...ask Him to show you what needs prayer...you'll find that by allowing yourself time to connect with Him, your deep concentration will usher the Spirit to begin to reveal things you never saw before. And your prayers will become more specific and spirit- led.
Try it and email me when you get that answered prayer - flexyourselfjen@yahoo.com!
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