Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session I : Understanding of Prayer 1

SESSION I UNDERSTANDING OF PRAYER

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian life. God expects every Christian to pray. Without
prayers, a Christian will become weak. He will not be able to know God intimately and
would not know how to accomplish His will.

A. WHAT IS PRAYER?

1. Prayer is FELLOWSHIP with God. It involves communicating, talking and

dialogue with Him.

Genesis 3:8-13 In the Garden of Eden, God and man simply talked.

2. Prayer is WORKING with God. It is done in the spiritual realm.

Romans 8:26 Spirit enables our praying by interceding through us and for
us.

B. PURPOSE OF PRAYER

1. SEEKING God

Jeremiah 29:12-13 When we seek God with all our heart, He will be found.

2. ASKING from God

Matthew 7:7-8 The promise of answered prayer as we ask.

James 1:5 All we need to do is ask and God will give.

3. OFFERING to God

Psalm 141:2

Revelation 5:8 Our prayer is like incense, a sweet smelling aroma go

God.

4. RECEIVING from God

 Jeremiah 33:3 As we call up God in prayer, we will receive from Him.
Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session I : Understanding of Prayer 2

5. LISTENING to God

Psalm 143:7-8 Have our ears open to listen, God is speaking all the time to
us.

C. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WHEN WE PRAY?

1. God to REVEAL Himself.

Jeremiah 29:13 The Lord will allow Himself to be found by us.

2. God to ANSWER us.

Jeremiah 29:12 We can expect our prayers to be answered when we

pray
and call upon Him.

3. God to CHANGE us.

2 Corinthians 3:18 Prayer changes our attitude in the way we see our
circumstances.

4. God to change CIRCUMSTANCES

Acts 4:31 Our circumstances change as we pray according to the

leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYERS BRING GOD’S INTERVENTION

IN OUR LIFE

D. WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRAYERS

In the morning, prayer is the key

That opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings;
In the evening, it is the key
That shuts us up under His protection and safeguard.
(Anonymous)
 Seven days without prayer makes one weak.
(Allen E. Bartlett)

Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session I : Understanding Prayer 3

Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue.

(Adam Clarke)

Prayer changes things?

No! Prayer changes people,
And people change things.
(Quote)

Serving God is doing good to man,

But praying is thought an easier service
And therefore more generally chosen.
(Benjamin Franklin)
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session II : Our Attitude in Prayer 4

SESSION II OUR ATTITUDES IN PRAYER

Have a great attitude in prayer. Be child-like, but do not be childish. Do not throw your
tantrum and anger before God when you come to prayer. Be free, natural, trusting, and
sincere. Always remember that God listens to your heart more than your words.

Here are some of the attitudes you need to cultivate.

A. Be FORGIVING

Maintaining a right relationship is a vital key.

Mark 11:25-26 Unforgiveness will hinder the effectiveness of our prayer.

1 Timothy 2:8 Our hands have to be holy as we come before God in prayer.

B. Be REGULAR and PERSISTENT

Psalm 5:3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my
request before You and wait in expectation.

How would David begin each day? BY PRAYING TO GOD

Psalm 55:17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears
my voice.

The 3 fixed times David would pray each day:-

1. EVENING

2. MORNING

3. NOON

It is important for us to pray regularly, but how often should we pray?

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer
and requests.

“On all occasions” means ALWAYS PRAYING

 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session II : Our Attitude in Prayer 5

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray CONTINUALLY

“Continually” means pray unceasingly.

C. Be HUMBLE

2 Chronicle 7:14 As we humble ourselves, pray and seek the face of God and
repent of all our sins, He will hear us.

D. Be SINCERE

Psalm 32:2 Our heart must not contain deceit.

Psalm 32:5 Be open and acknowledge our sins before God.

E. Be SUBMISSIVE

Hebrews 5:7 Jesus willingly submit himself totally to the father.

“A man may pray night and day and deceive himself,

but no man can be assured of his sincerity who does not pray…”

Richard Cecil
 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session III : 7 Keys to Praying Powerfully 6

SESSON III 7 KEYS TO PRAYING POWERFULLY

1. Live RIGHTEOUSLY

James 5:16b The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

2 Pray FERVENTLY

To be fervent means to pray with passion, to be hot, earnest and intense. In Greek it
means “to be on fire”.
To pray fervently is to pray with PURPOSE and with all of your heart.

Your spirit, soul and body are all going in the SAME DIRECTION .

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth, give
me and undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name.

3. Claim God’s PROMISES of prayer

Luke 11:9 Ask, seek and knock.

4. ABIDE in Christ and His Word

John 15:4-7 Remain in Him.

5. Have FAITH in God and in your prayers

Mark 11:23-24 Pray with belief and not doubt.

6. Pray according to God’s WILL

1 John 5:14 Pray with confidence.

 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session III : 7 Keys to Praying Powerfully 7

7. Pray in the NAME of Jesus Christ.

God has given us authority in Jesus’ Name.

i) John 14:13-14; John 16:23b-24 – ASK THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF

JESUS

ii) Philippians 2:9-11 – AUTHORITY OF JESUS

iii) Matthew 18:20 – ASSURANCE OF HIS PRESENCE

 Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Prayer and Fasting 8

SESSION IV PRAYER AND FASTING

A. WHAT IS FASTING?

Fast is the voluntary abstinence of oneself from food or certain activities for a season
for the purpose of drawing near to God or seeking His purpose and direction.

You may have food fast, TV fast, newspapers fast, interest fast, etc…. . Paul once
told the married believers in Corinthians the possibility of “intimacy fast” (1 Cor 7:5)

B. WHY FASTING?
1. Fasting unto GOD .

Zechariah 7:5

2. Fasting for PERSONAL HOLINESS .

Psalm 69:10

3. Fasting to set CAPTIVES free.

Isaiah 58:6

4. Fasting to seek God’s WILL .

Acts 13:2

5. Fasting to avert God’s WRATH .

Jonah 3:5, 8-9

C. HOW SHOULD WE FAST?

Fast UNTO God and NOT man

Matthew 6:17-18

Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Prayer and Fasting 9
D. FASTING THAT DISPLEASES GOD

1. EXPLOITATIVE (Social injustice to the poor, the poor not taken care of)

Isaiah 58:3

2. STRIFE (Argument, fights/ dissension)

Isaiah 58:4

3. CEREMONIAL-LACKING IN SINCERITY (Outward sign becomes empty

when no inward faith exits)

Isaiah 58:5

E. FASTING THAT PLEASES GOD

1. HELPFUL TO OTHERS .

Isaiah 58:7, 10

2. BUILD A JUST COMMUNITY.

Isaiah 58:6, 9b

F. THE RESULT OF FASTING

1. Prayers ANSWERED

Isaiah 58:8, 9a

2. DIRECTION made known.

Isaiah 58:11

3. DELIGHT in God.

Isaiah 58:13, 14a

Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Prayer and Fasting 10
G. THE BLESSINGS OF FASTING (ISAIAH 58:8)

1. Health – It can HEAL diseases and RELAX your Spirit and mind.

2. Spiritual – Revival and Renewal, greater INTIMACY with God,

effectiveness in ministry and increase in faith.

H. DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASTING:

1. PARTIAL Fast

Daniel 10:3

2. TOTAL Fast

Ezra 10:6

3. SUPERNATURAL Fast

Deuteronomy 9:9

Life Building Station : How To Pray Effectively : Session IV : Practical Guide For Prayer and Fasting 11
 Practical Guide For Prayer And Fasting

Preparation before fasting

Avoid drinking coffee, tea or anything dehydrating.
 Take nutritious food. Decrease food intake gradually.

During the fast

 Drink water numerous times a day in moderate amount each time.
 Take warm bath or shower. Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth to avoid bad breath.
 Do not exhaust yourself.
 Spend time reading the Bible, singing and worshipping and pray.
 Meditate on God.

After the fast

 This is the most difficult time. Self-discipline and self-control are required here more
than in the other stages of fasting.
 DO NOT take large amounts of solid food.
 Increase your food intake gradually starting from fluids.
 When eating solid food, chew your food longer.

What you must know about fasting and prayer

 Fasting has purpose and goals.
 There should be a well-planned fasting timetable.
 Take heed of doctor’s advice, if you have sickness, prior to engaging in fasting.
 Do not panic should you experience headache, nausea, fever, insomnia and gastric
pain. These are biological reaction to fasting.
 Determine to overcome the desire to eat.
 Dress neatly and be cheerful.
 Do not put on a suffering face.

a) Begin by setting aside one lunch hour for prayer. Have a warm drink or milk if you like.

b) Set aside half a day for fasting. Besides individual fasting & praying, it is good to fast
and pray with others with whom you are united in spirit and purpose.
 CONTENTS

Session I Understanding Of Prayer 1

A. What Is Prayer?
B. Purpose Of Prayer
C. What Can We Expect When We Pray
D. What People Say About Prayer

Session II Our Attitudes In Prayer 4

Session III 7 Keys To Praying Powerfully 6

Session IV Prayer And Fasting 8

A. What Is Fasting
B. Why Fasting?
C. How Should We Fast?
D. Fasting That Displeases God
E. Fasting That Pleases God
F. The Result Of Fasting

Practical Guide For Praying

And Fasting 11
 HOW
TO
PRAY
EFFECTIVELY