by Derin Carmack
Do you know how to pray? Do your prayers sound like – “LORD, I….”, “LORD, please….”, “LORD, I….”, or are they – “LORD, You….”, “LORD, Praise goes to You…”, “LORD, You….”
Maybe a refresher of what GOD wants for you will help the prayer life.
GOD’s Intent for you:
A. Good things – His plans for you are for good and not for evil (Jer. 29:11)
B. Prosperity – He wants to teach you to prosper (Isaiah 48:17)
C. Health – He wants you to be as healthy in your body as you are in your spirit (III John 2); He wants you to know that same resurrection power in your body as JESUS experienced in the tomb (Romans 8:11)
D. Protection – He has made provision that the enemy can’t get to you:
1. Psalm 23:4, Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me….
2. Psalm 91:10, No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your dwelling….
3. Psalm 121:7, The LORD will protect you from ALL evil….
4. Luke 10:19, He has given you authority over ALL the power of the enemy
5. Ephesians 6:11, He will give you power to stand against the schemes of the devil….
But all of these promises are only as effective as your faith walk and prayer life! Did you know that JESUS has a prayer life? Holy Spirit has a prayer life too!
“Who is there to condemn us? Will Christ JESUS (the Messiah), Who dies, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is sitting at the right hand of GOD actually pleading as He intercedes for us?” (Romans 8:34)
“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He Who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of GOD!” (Romans 8:26-27)
We want to learn to join Them (JESUS and Holy Spirit) in prayer:
“And with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18)
So, how is your prayer life?
Do you begin with praise to the Father for His bountiful blessings in your life:
1. “Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name…You are so great! Holy are You, LORD, Who rides on the clouds and orders Your angels to do Your bidding.”
2. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…for LORD, Your will in heaven is perfect and You desire only the very best for Your children so I’m praising You that You are going to give me the desire of my heart as I delight in You (Psalm 37:4)!”
3. “Give us this day our daily bread… I thank You, Father, that You are so concerned and connected to Your universe that you know how many hairs are on my head (Matthew 10:30), so I’m going to thank You now for providing everything that my family and I need today (Philippians 4:19).”
4. “And forgive us our debts as we forgive those who have offended us… this is a hard one, LORD, but it is a command and You have said that if I don’t forgive those who have committed offenses against me that You won’t forgive me, so as an act of my will, I choose to forgive____________________________________(Matt. 6:14-15).”
5. “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil… now, I know, LORD, that You aren’t the one who tempts us; that’s the enemy (James 1:13), and You sent JESUS, Who defeated the devil on the cross…so why should I worry or fret?”
6. “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever… it sounds like You have everything under Your control (Colossians 1:17-18), so I’m going to relinquish my control and manipulation and pride (Romans 12:1-2), that have only gotten me into trouble, and I’m going to cast every care on You because I know that You care for me (I Peter 5:7)!” Amen! It’s done!
Last modified: September 22, 2025
