Pray Confidently and Consistently: Finally Let Go of the Things Holding You Back from Your Most Important Conversation

Product Information

We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. In verse 14 Paul reports, “I bow my knees before the Father.” Simply, Paul prays to the Father.In this letter, God the Father is the one who, in love, predestined the Ephesians for adoption into his family (1:5) and made them his heirs (1:11). Believers like us, Paul, and the Ephesians can pray confidently to our loving, Heavenly Father because he set his never-giving-up love on us before the foundation of the world.

And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Today you are going to meditate for three to five minutes on Philippians 4:6–7, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As you meditate on these promises, pray for the faith to believe them. But when God called this ministry into being in the spring of 1951, we immediately formed a 24-hour prayer chain and divided the prayer time into 96 15-minute periods. Scores of Christians invested fifteen minutes in prayer every day on behalf of our new ministry at the University of California at Los Angeles. For our Volunteers, as they process all they have seen in Zambia; that they will be inspired and motivated bu their experiences. Dear Lord, you command us to go in confidence and face whatever is ahead of us because you are by our side. I pray that you stay by my side as I go to this gathering and help me to give my speech without fear or hesitation. Be my cheerleader who encourages me. Let my confidence be my best strategy and help my speech reach the hearts and minds of my audience. Amen.This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. When you pray, are you coming to God with absolute certainty and confidence that what you’re asking for will be given to you? When you bow your head, are you certain that the things that you’re going to ask for, God is going to answer? His presence is where we find joy (Psalm 16:11) and peace (Isaiah 26:3). His presence is where we find comfort in hard times (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) and rest in the exhausting one (Matthew 11:28-30). And on top of that, God actually responds to our requests (John 14:13). It may not always be what we hope for, but when we share our hearts with God in prayer, we know we won’t miss out on his blessings.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.But beyond simply seeing our audible prayer as a duty, we should also see it as our privilege and a valuable means of serving one another — even as a joy. When we pray together, we encourage one another by our faith, we teach one other by our theology, we love one other by our concern, and we point one another to the God who tenderly receives the feeble cries of his beloved children. How We Can The Bible tells us that we can pray about anything and everything. When we are in trouble, we can pray. When we are happy, we can sing songs of praise. This verse assures us that God will provide wisdom. You can pray with confidence knowing He will fulfill His commitment. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 My Redeemer, as I start my day, I pray that your hand holds me and guides me. Please be my comforter when I am worried, my strength when I feel weak, my patience when I feel frustrated, my peace when I am angry, and my confidence when I am in doubt. Manifest your power within me, Lord. Make me a vessel for your goodness. Amen.

Just pray. John Owen memorably said that “the prayers of the [weakest] saints may be useful to the greatest apostle.” We serve a God who hears the prayers of widows and orphans, who welcomes the hosannas of little children, and who uses them all to accomplish his great purposes.

To pray with confidence, we must humble ourselves and turn away from sin, anger, bitterness and grudges: Jesus Over Everything by Lisa WhittleGod Knows by Lisa WhittlePray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie WoernerThe Hard Good by Lisa WhittleWant a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?