Prayer is the great privilege of God’s people (2 Sam. 8). Through God’s eternal Son we are adopted as God’s children and call upon him as Father (Matt. 6). Through the Name of Jesus we have access to God the Father (John 14). The Prophets prayed, Jesus prayed, the Apostles prayed, and we can and need to pray too.
“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Phil. 4:6
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P.A.Y.G (Pray As You Go)
The privilege of prayer is nor restricted to special times and places. We can
pray at all times, places and in any situation because God is with us at all
times, in all places and situations.
Season your day with prayer. Take the moments you move from one task to another
to say thanks for help in what you’ve just done and to say please help
for what you’re about to do.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:16 -
18).
Make it a habit to P.A.Y.G. Pray as you walk, work, drive (with your eyes open
of course!) and with each other on the spot as an issue, decision, problem arises.
Teach your children by example that talking to your Father in heaven is an integral
and natural part or living day to day.
Timetabled Prayer
The privilege of prayer creates a priority for our day and week. Set
times of prayer ensure this priority is maintained. In contrast to
our ever-flexible lifestyles, throughout history people have commonly
benefited from set prayer times. The Lord Jesus, as a Jew, most likely
practised set prayer times, and the early church under the Apostles
as well (Acts 2:42). These set times also enable prayer for matters
and people too easily forgotten in the busyness of a day. Setting times
for prayer in our daily and weekly programme is the key.
Use the timetable (click here to open) to set yourself particular periods
in each day when you’ll draw aside individually, as a family,
and with others in prayer.
Leading Congregational Prayer
Please click here to read more about
Prayer Topics and Diary if you will be leading congregational prayer.