PRAYERS WHICH CHANGE LIVES

FIRST PRAYERS:

“God be merciful to me, a sinner” - The prayer of a traitor in Jesus’ story - Jesus said he went home justified - his sins forgiven.

“Lord remember me when you come into your Kingdom” The dying robber who was crucified beside Jesus - to whom Jesus promised “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

“Lord what do you want me to do?” The prayer of Saul of Tarsus at his conversion on the Damascus Road.

Millions of people begin their Christian lives with a prayer as short and simple as these. Something like “Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for dying for my sins, please forgive them. Now my life belongs to you.”

THE PRAYER JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES.
Our Father in Heaven
Your Name be honoured as holy
Your kingdom and authority be accepted
Your will, be carried out on the Earth
as it is in Heaven.

Give us our daily food
Forgive our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us
Keep us from temptation
and be with us in troubles
Protect us from evil

The kingdom, power and glory are yours
for ever.

This prayer more than any other can help us to live tuned in to Heaven - it sets us in a right relationship with God. Use it often.

Meditate upon it - let it fill your mind and heart. It is the shortest summary of all it means to live with God. We are first His loved children, then His reverent worshippers, then His active servants, then needy people asking Him for food, then sinners needing His forgiveness and protection. Yet we have an eternal destiny in His kingdom.

PRAYER FOR YOUR ENEMIES
Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who slander you” Luke 6:27-28

We may not always be able to feel that we love an enemy, but we can still obey Christ’s command for action - do good - bless - pray.

For those who were nailing Him to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”

Lord give your richest blessing to (NAME)

Turn hatred to love, turn enmity to friendship, turn indifference to care. May we both know the love of Christ who died for each of us, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit by whom your love is shed in our hearts.

In Jesus name.

THE GREAT COMMISSION - PRAYER OF CONSECRATION.
Our Father in Heaven. Purify our lives we pray, so that we may be true examples of the life of Heaven on Earth.

May our hearts be filled with burning love for Our Lord Jesus Christ who loved us enough to be crucified for us.

We dedicate ourselves to live and die for the task He set us, the fulfilment of The Great Commission.

May we and all Your Church world-wide grow in unity, maturity and purity, constantly putting the fulfilment of The Great Commission before all other priorities.

May we be filled with The Holy Spirit and His power because we cannot fulfil The Great Commission in our own strength.

Lord use us to finish the task.

We ask it in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

PRAYER IN SPIRITUAL CONFLICT.
“Submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

(Spiritual conflict normally involves a group praying together.)

We submit ourselves to the authority of The Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Jesus defeated the kingdom of Satan when he died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins. We rely on His death to make our peace with God.

We declare now the authority of the name of Jesus over Satan’s kingdom and all his works. We claim Christ’s protection for ourselves, each other and our families.

Evil spirits and forces, we resist you in Jesus’ Name.

Afterwards pray for protection against temptation.

Lord fill us with your Holy Spirit and keep us under your authority, obedient to your command, purified from evil. Deliver us from pride, disunity, careless words and all known sin. Let us not give the devil any open door into our lives.

PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY.
Father in Heaven we pray for your church in this land. May it be a purified church, a living demonstration of heavenly life. May it be a growing church, obedient to your command to tell the Gospel.

We declare the Lordship of Christ over the people of this country and over the spiritual forces at work in it. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.


AND FOR THE WORLD.
This prayer may then be used for other countries. The schedule opposite shows the major nations of the world. You may find it helpful to use it as a daily guide throughout each month.

God wants the worldwide church to pray for His worldwide task.

This prayer may not change your life, but it will enable God to use you to change other people’s lives - worldwide.