Doug Addison
DougAddison.com
Do you believe prayer changes things?
Most of us know that prayer can change everything and anything! But it is sometimes difficult to make prayer a priority.
Here is my personal outline to help you streamline your prayer time. You don’t have to stick completely to this—and the outline will change depending on what’s happening in your life—but it’s a great place to start!
Start with worship and declarations
As you begin to worship God and declare Bible verses, you prepare your heart and mind to receive what He has for you.
These are a few of my favorite verses to pray and declare:
1 John 4:18–19: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. (NKJV)
Prayer: “Lord, I worship and praise You for all You’ve done in my life. I declare this verse over myself, my family and my friends. I take authority over the spirit of fear, cast it out and invite perfect love in.”
Luke 4:18–19: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (NIV)
Prayer: “Lord, anoint me to proclaim Your good news and help release people from darkness.”
Ask God to search you and confess any sins
It’s important when you come before the Lord that you are humble and willing to admit any mistakes and ask forgiveness. This is to make sure your heart and spirit are clean.
Psalm 139:23–24: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. (NIV)
Prayer: “Lord, search my heart and show me if there is anything I need to confess.”When God shows you something, just ask Him to forgive you and break any agreement with the plans of the enemy over your life.
Ask the Lord to reveal what is tripping you up
Oftentimes, the things that are keeping us stuck or holding us back from God’s best plan for us are things others or the enemy are doing to block us. You can ask God to show you the plans of your enemies—and He will!
Jeremiah 11:18: Then the Lord told me about the plots my enemies were making against me. (NLT)
Prayer: “God, show me what the enemy doesn’t want me to see!”
As you decree these things, the Lord will give you a strategy to break through, and He will shut the mouth of the accuser (Satan) so you can have more authority in your prayers.
Take your position in Christ
Remembering who you are and grabbing hold of your identity in Christ will help you move forward and have more power in your prayers.
Ephesians 2:6: And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)
Isaiah 54:17: No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. (NASB)
Prayer: “Lord, I am seated in heavenly places with You right now. Thank You for giving me strength to keep going no matter what happens today or who may disagree or oppose me.”
Remember, God is on your side and He wants you to win. Once we embrace this as truth and begin declaring His word over our lives, we increase the power and effectiveness of our prayers.
Bring personal requests
After you take the steps listed above, it’s time to bring your personal situation and circumstance to the Lord in prayer.
Philippians 4:6–7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Prayer: “Lord, I bring my requests to you (list requests specifically). I pray the blood of Jesus over all that I am and own. I ask that each person I pray for (list them by name) would receive visitations, revelation, restoration, salvation and healing. Lord, I remind You of promises or unanswered prayer …”
Test this out in your own life
I hope this prayer outline gave you a great place to start so you can pray more powerfully and effectively. I encourage you to take just 10 minutes today and try out this new prayer outline. You can even try it out for a full week and see what a difference it can make for your prayer life.
Be sure to let us know how this works for you!
