08/01/2019 Seven Powerful Prayer Topics You will notice, as we work through the Lord’s Prayer, the four parts of powerful prayer are present. The Lord’s Prayer is found in Mathew 6:9-13. Jesus taught the disciples to pray using seven prayer topics. We will look at each of those topics, one-by-one, and I want to give you some pointers on how to use the Lord’s Prayer as a powerful weapon against Satan. So, let’s look at each of the prayer topics Jesus gave us in the Lord’s Prayer.
The first topic in prayer is worship. We pray, “Our father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Not surprisingly, we start our prayer time praising God. God is the Creator and the most-high God. Worship is the true response for someone who has come before the living God. As you praise God, many times you will find yourself moving into Thanksgiving too. Praise and thanksgiving bless the Lord.
The second topic in prayer is praying that unbelievers will place their trust in Christ. We pray, “Your kingdom come.” God’s kingdom come to this earth as people leave the kingdom of darkness and enter the kingdom of light at salvation.
The third topic in prayer is obeying God’s Word. We pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Obeying God’s Word brings life. Not following His word brings death. Many times, we find ourselves in a bad place because we are not obeying what God has told us to do. During this topic of prayer, we search our hearts and confess any time we have not obeyed God’s Word. Pray for the strength to follow his word whatever the cost. As God convicts your heart about times you haven’t followed his will, be sure to repent and ask forgiveness.
The fourth powerful prayer topic is our daily needs. We pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God cares about our needs and wants to meet them. He wants us to talk to him about them so he can guide us and provide what we need. During this topic of prayer, we ask God for what we need unashamedly. We know that he is the provider of every good and perfect gift. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and we need his help in our lives. If God gave us his Son freely, how much more will he give us everything else we need?
The fifth topic in prayer is forgiveness. We pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Everyone needs forgiveness. In a fallen world, all of us wrong God and other people. Without forgiveness, our sins would have no hope of freedom. Forgiveness, therefore, is an essential topic in prayer. Jesus taught the disciples that their willingness to forgive others had a direct effect on God’s willingness to forgive them. When we pray for forgiveness, we think of everyone who has wronged us whom we have not forgiven. When we have our list, we forgive them. Then, we ask God to forgive our own list of sins. Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, which leads to bondage.
The sixth topic in prayer is temptation. We pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Satan roams the earth as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he can devour. He most often devours people by tempting them to sin and watching with satisfaction when they fall.
The seventh topic in prayer is surrender. We pray, “For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” We confess that our compass is set on God’s kingdom; we rely on His power, and seek His glory forever. We surrender to God and seek His kingdom first, knowing He will give us everything we need and more. We surrender to God and depend on His power, knowing that without Him we can do nothing. We surrender to God and want Him to be glorified, knowing that is the reason He created us. During the surrender topic of prayer, concentrate on surrendering everything to God. Not building your own kingdom, but seeking and serving his kingdom alone. Not depending on your power, but resting in the power of the Holy Spirit. Not seeking reputation and status but pursuing His glory now and forever. Jesus gave us seven specific topics to pray through each day. Wherever you find yourself, you can take time to pray and connect with God using the Lord’s Prayer.
Let us pray. Lord today is a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it, any regrets, mistakes or failures I may have experienced. It’s a good day to be glad and give thanks and I do Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity for love, and to be all that you want me to be. Today I want to start the day with you on my mind and in my heart. As I dress, let me wear the armor you’ve provided daily. The helmet of Salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace and the sword of spirit with prayer on my tongue. Praise for you and petitions for those around me and those I meet. Feed me today with your daily bread as the bread of life, your faith like manner will sustain me throughout any trials and hunger. Help me to set my thoughts on things above and to speak only what will help and encourage others. Keep me from saying the wrong things, and help me guard the affections of my heart today. Lord, make whatever work I do be marked with excellence rather than perfectionism, as I seek not to make a name, but to make a difference.
Help me to treat each person I encounter, as you would, with respect and love, forgiving others and asking for forgiveness myself when needed. As I start this day, help me remember that I belong to you, and my desire is to act accordingly. Keep my feet from stumbling and my mind from wandering into distractions that could steal precious time and energy from the most important things you have designed for me. I’m proud to be your child Lord and I’m so grateful that you died for me. Rising again so that every day could be filled with the wander of your love, the freedom of your spirit, and the joy of knowing you. I know earthly life is short and fleeting Lord. But I want to live today as if it were the first or the last day of my life, giving thanks for every good and prefect gift you choose to give today. Every day I want to live my life for you Jesus. In your precious name. Amen.
Lovingly and Prayerfully Submitted by, Sis. Ann Kay Anderson