God is preparing our church for a significant move of his Spirit, and it will be revealed by people having a greater hunger and thirst after God and his Spirit over anything else this world has to offer.
We see that throughout Jesus’ life on earth he modeled the way to us through different practices in his life. Our desire is to be with Jesus, to become like Jesus, and to do what Jesus did. One of those practices is prayer. Jesus modeled prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 1:2-4.
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9-13
Pray through the Lord’s Prayer in your group by allowing one of the leaders to read each phrase of the prayer and allow time for others in the group to pray aloud what comes to mind in that phrase.
Leader says each phrase aloud, or different people could read each phrase. Give about 3 minutes for people in the group to pray aloud based on each part of the Lord’s prayer.
Our Father in Heaven
- Recognize that you are present. Recognize that He is present.
- Take a moment and think about the idea of God as your Father, who loves you and is the best Father anyone could have.
- Take a moment to think about the idea that God is all around you and in control of everything. Out of your gratefulness, bring glory to Him and thank Him.
Holy is your name
- Spend a few minutes just sitting—enjoying Him and how holy He is.
- If you are in a group, encourage people to make their expressions of praise and gratitude out loud, one at a time. (E.g. “Father, thank you for your kindness.” “Father, thank you for loving me.”). If you are alone, say things that bring Him praise and honor.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
- Spend a few minutes asking for God’s will to be done in your life, family, group, community.
- Think of specific things to pray for that are things we would experience in heaven like being healed. Is there someone in your life who needs God’s kingdom to come to them?
- One at a time, spend time as group verbally giving to God specific things in your life that you’re wrestling with control over. A simple prayer of, “Your will be done in in “my life” or “my situation.”
Give us each day our daily bread
- Spend a few minutes praying for specific needs and wants in your life for today. Remember this is for “daily” needs. We aren’t supposed to worry or be anxious about tomorrow.
- Also, pray over specific people in the community who need something: a job, healing, wisdom to make a decision,
- If you are in a group, consider splitting into groups of 2-3 and having each person share one area of need in their life. After each person has shared, pray for one another, asking God to meet that need.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors
- Spend a few minutes in quiet asking God for forgiveness for any areas in our lives.
Psalm 139 says “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
- Also, forgive those who may have sinned against you. Is there someone in your life that is difficult to pray for?
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
- Spend a few minutes praying against temptation in our lives.
- Pray against specific sins that we default to when we are under pressure.
- Pray against any kind of evil – spiritual battles, strongholds in our lives.
- Pray that God delivers you from anything that would keep you from fully surrendering to His will for you.
For Yours is the Kingdom and power and the glory! Amen
- Once again, declare to Him that your life is His!
- Pray that you don’t desire to take His glory—that He gets the credit!
- He is all powerful—surrendering your “kingdom-building” for His!
