NEW TESTAMENT PRAYERS
Introduction
We are so glad you are joining us for these daily prayer posts. Over the next few weeks we are going to listen to the prayers we find in the Bible, and some of God’s most faithful saints and servants. Through their prayers, we will learn better how to pray and connect with our heavenly Father.
Each devotion will take less than ten minutes of your time.
- We will look at an insight from those who know something important about prayer.
- We will listen to the prayers of people in the Bible—people just like us. And to people who gained a deep measure of spiritual intimacy with God because they prayed.
- We will reflect, asking the same four questions each day that invites us to look and listen with intent.
- And we will pray, for it is in praying that we learn to pray. And it is in praying that the Spirit changes our hearts.
We want to encourage you to grab a journal or a notebook – something to write on as you walk through each prayer guide. Yes, it will add a few minutes to the time it takes to do the devotion, and it will also deepen your experience and shape your walk with God for years to come. This journal or notebook will be a keepsake to remind you of God’s faithfulness during this challenging season for all of us.
Look
“God doesn’t hear our prayers, He hears our hearts. Prayer cannot be separated from what we think, feel and do.”
– Bingham Hunter, The God Who Hears
Listen
The apostle Paul was put in prison in Rome toward the end of his ministry, but certainly wasn’t idle. In fact, his prison time was some of his most productive time where he wrote important letters to churches throughout the Roman Empire. His letter to the Ephesians is known as a universal letter than was read not only in Ephesus, but was distributed throughout the empire to all the major cities. The good news – the mystery of the gospel – is one of the major themes in this letter, where he unpacks the mystery revealed – that Jews and Gentiles are now part of the same family, in Christ. The same family, with the same Father, the same truth, the same certain future. And in this famous Ephesian prayer, it is “for this reason” that Paul prays…
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Reflect
1. Having read the Word, sit silently for a minute and give God’s Word a moment to settle within you.
2. Re-read the verses slowly and write down some thoughts that resonate with you.
3. Ask the Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that those thoughts are pointing to. (for example: you may write down, “Paul focuses his prayer on faith – but a faith that has love as its foundation.” The Spirit can give you the insight into how you may know the breadth, the length, the height and the depth of this love of Christ – and display it to a world desperately in need of this love.
4. How does this prayer impact your heart as you seek to comprehend the ways that Christ has shown you his love?
Pray
Using Paul’s prayer from Ephesians 3, make his words your words and make this prayer your own.
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These devotionals are adapted from various sources, including The Book of Common Prayer, Fenelon: The Seeking Heart, Fellowship Bible Church Nashville, Handbook to Prayer by Kenneth Boa and others.
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