ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP

"Be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ." (I Corinthians 11:1)

(With Frank Eiklor, Christopher Lucey, Walter and Cecilia Contreras)

HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

LESSON 54

INTRODUCTION

Many believers struggle in their prayer lives. Obviously, Satan fears one who prays in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the evil one will do all in his devilish power to keep us from prayer. A prayerless life is a defeated life. That's why Jesus said, "…men ought always to pray, and not to faint". (Luke 18:1)

However, even when we do pray, it is easy to concentrate only on our own problems or on the little circles of family and friends around us. God wants us to break out of our own small world and begin to carry His big world in our hearts and prayers. So let me offer my own simple plan of general intercession that keeps me focused on others more than on myself. Perhaps it will help you to enlarge and strengthen your prayer life and fill you with a greater joy as we do battle against the enemy in these last days. "But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for the practice of prayer."

(1 Peter 4:7 Amplified)

MY TOP 10 PRAYER LIST:

1. Pray for the "martyr church"-Christians around the world who are persecuted for the sake of Jesus.

2. Pray for your family members to be saved and committed to Christ.

3. Pray for world evangelism.

4. Pray for Israel and the Jewish people to receive God's unconditional love from the Church and experience the transforming love of Messiah Jesus in their lives.

5. Pray for your church and the body of Christ worldwide to be filled with the fire and love of the Holy Spirit.

6. Pray for the "Laodicean lukewarm church" (Revelation 3:14-20) to experience the new birth and meet the living Christ.

7. Pray for your neighbors and friends and watch for the Lord's signals to share your testimony with them.

8. Pray for the sick and dying-(for the dying-God's great grace; for the sick-His healing touch).
9. Pray for the poor, homeless, widows, orphans, abused and those in prison (and keep your eyes open for he Lord's opportunity to get involved).

10. Ask the Holy Spirit to lay any specific burdens on your heart throughout the day or night as you learn to "pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…"

(Ephesians 6:18)

CONCLUSION

We would love to know any of your own thoughts on how to pray more effectively. Tell us also how our Father is answering your prayers. Send us a brief e-mail.