Help Us Agree in Payer

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)

Father, help us to agree in prayer. Why is this such a strong prayer? Because there is such power in agreement. God promises when we agree, He will do whatever we ask!

In the context of this passage, it’s clear that this is not a blank check. The preceding verses (Matthew 18:15-28), show Jesus teaching his disciples about church discipline. Thus this promise rests on a principle: that when we come together and pray in agreement about church or kingdom business, God will do whatever we ask.

When we pray Scripture, we are praying for God’s will and kingdom purpose in the world. Every time we pray for the lost to be saved (1 Timothy 2:1-6), the prodigals to return (Luke 15:11-31), the immature to grow in Christ (Hebrews 6:1), the mature believers to lead and disciple others (Hebrews 5:12-14), we’re praying for God’s kingdom business. His will is that we live rightly in His kingdom (Matthew 5:6), to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13, 14) and to advance that kingdom in the world (Matthew 28:20).

What will the effect be when we pray God’s Word in agreement for our families and others we serve? If we all pray the same brief Scripture prayer as often as we can over a week’s time, will that not lead to God’s working powerfully in our lives and the lives of those we know and love? What is His promise?

Lord, help us to pray in agreement!

God’s Word Is Living and Active in Our Prayers

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Why pray this verse? Because God’s Word is not only living and active as we read His Word daily, exposing our hearts, thoughts, and attitudes to His truth, but it is equally so as we include it in our prayers.

Are you praying for someone who is failing to see or submit to the truth of God’s word? Pray the Word. Let it begin to penetrate his heart to judge his thoughts and attitudes. Are you praying for someone to grow in Christ? Pray the Word. Let it do a holy, sanctifying work in his life.

Every time we pray the Scriptures, we are praying God’s living and active truth into a life. When we pray its precepts, principles and promises, we are releasing God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). God will use such prayers to accomplish His desires and purposes (Isaiah 55:11) in His time and in His way.

Lord, fill our prayers with Your living and active Word.

Help Us to Pray Your Word

Pray this often for yourself and your loved ones: Father, help us to pray Your Word. (Isaiah 55:11)

…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Why pray this verse? Because God’s Word achieves His purpose. We understand that this is true as we read and obey His Word. But consider also that when we pray His Word, it will not return empty, but will accomplish His purpose.

Our prayer for all of us is that we will pray Scriptures for ourselves and each other that will help us grow into the people we want to be—disciples of Christ, lovers of the Word, those who live surrendered and Spirit-filled lives, that we will become people of prayer. May the Lord help us to pray meaningful prayers, prayers that make a difference in our lives and the lives of those for whom we pray.

Praying the Will of God

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask —we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Why this verse? Because God promises when we pray His will, He’ll answer. Most of us feel we don’t have enough time for prayer. But even one minute is enough time to pray a powerful prayer, if we pray a prayer we know God will answer. The best way to do that is to pray God’s Word, which expresses His will. In 60 seconds or less it’s easy to paraphrase as many as 10-15 verses in our own words.

The better we know the Word, the more we naturally include it in our prayers. But those who are just beginning to learn the Bible can still pray powerful prayers, using verses they write down for themselves, or that have been provided in written prayers such as this:

“Help each of us who serve with e3 to love You with all our heart, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to love each other as Christ loves His disciples. May we live with clean hands and pure hearts, surrendering ourselves to You, abiding in Christ, and living in His love and in Your presence. Teach us to hear Your voice, to follow You, to trust You and not worry.” (Matthew 37:27, 28; John 10:38; Psalm 24:4; Romans 12:1-2; John 5:7-8, 9; Psalm 91:1-2; John 10:4-5; 14:1)

This prayer has 14 verses and can be prayed in less than a minute. Read it again, and ask yourself, would I like these things to be true for me and those I love? Then pray it. Pray it now, pray it often. He will answer—not overnight, but beginning right away—because these verses express His will and He promises to answer. Lord, help us to pray Your will.