BIG BOLD PRAYERS

Jesus replied, What is impossible with man is possible with God. Luke 18:27 NIV

Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.  So, the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies… Joshua 10:12–13 NIV

Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too difficult or too wonderful for You. Jeremiah 32:17 AMP

What hard prayer have you asked God lately? My question for you today is… Is anything too hard for God?

In these last days before the Lord’s return, the Lord wants us to stop praying small, ineffective prayers. His desire is that we pray bold, Kingdom prospering prayers and leave behind the “things-for-me” prayers. He will give us the desires of our heart when we seek first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33), but our world-changing, faith-filled, Kingdom-focused petitions position us for the greatest of His blessings.

There are many positions, postures, and approaches to prayer. We can stand with hands raised in praise to God. Standing with raised hands can be a time of crying out. The Bible also describes clapping, shouting, and dancing. There are times I clap with authority in Jesus’ name, causing a shaking in the spirit world. I’ve boldly (even at times loudly in my private prayer place) declared the Word of the Lord. God is true to every word and promise in the scripture. Declaring aloud also reminds the enemy that we are standing under the banner of the Lord. While you declare, you may want to walk and pace, symbolizing HIS Word that tells us that Satan is here to kill, steal and destroy, but he is under our feet! At other times our heart may be aching so badly that we find ourselves kneeling with our face buried in the carpet.

Another position of prayer that I use, which may be considered radical, but some battles call for radical praying, is writing scripture, then placing it in my shoes and declaring to the Lord that I am standing on the Word of God over this situation.

Praise is the first and foremost posture of prayer. The model prayer taught by Jesus in Matthew 6 known as the Lord’s Prayer is powerful! It begins in praise and adoration. Let us always come first to the throne of grace giving our Heavenly Father honor He alone is due. “Holy is Your Name!”

Then the posture of petition is wrapped in the middle of our prayers. “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses…” Present your needs to the all-powerful, all-knowing God. We can call on the many names of God - healer, provider, guide, protector, on and on!

In Psalm 13:1-2 NIV, David cried out:

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

This “crying out” is another effective posture of prayer and, is modeled throughout The Book of Psalms. It is wonderful that the Bible allows us to see the prayers of those who were downcast, full of despair and folding into the shadows of depression.

There have been times in my life when I used all my words, cried all my tears, and was left to a groan or a whisper as Hannah in the temple. But praise the Lord, Romans 8:26 NKJV says, Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” The Holy Spirit will pray through us. Pray in tongues to build yourself up in the Lord (Jude 1:20). At other times, there were moments in my secret place that went from groans to a song. Singing in the Spirit is between your soul and heaven. What a refreshing place to experience! The language of heaven between man’s soul and God alone!

Prayer is not a magical formula like rubbing a genie bottle and your prayer request comes true. Prayer is being in the presence of a loving, holy God that bids us to come unto Him where He promises to not only hear our prayers, but to answer them. What a humbling honor it is to know there are many positions and postures of prayer with a Heavenly Father joyfully receiving our praise and petition! Written by: Charla Madden