What To Do In Our Personal Prayer Time
I. THE NECESSITY OF DEVELOPING A PRAYER LIFE
A. We must offer specific prayers, not just think about our need with fear, frustration and desperation. God requires that
we ask because it causes us to interact with His heart. The Father’s resources are strategically withheld to “starve us out
of prayerlessness”. God jealously protects His relationship with us by NOT releasing His resources until we speak to Him
in prayer.
2 You do not have because you do not ask. (Jas 4:2)
6 In everything by prayer…let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6)
B. We pray with confidence that we will receive what we ask for in God's will.
14 This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we
know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 Jn. 5:14-15)
22 Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed
and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he
will have whatever he says. (Mk. 11:22-23)
C. God opens doors of blessing and closes doors of oppression in response to our prayers. There are blessings
that God has chosen to give, but only as His people rise up in the partnership of prayer. He withholds blessings until they
are persistently asked for in faith.
18 The Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you...19 He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when
He hears it, He will answer you. (Isa. 30:18-19)
D. In prayer, we tell God what He tells us to tell Him. It so simple that anyone can do it, yet so simple that most do not.
Prayer internalizes God’s Word in us by saying it back to Him many times. Each time we say what God says, it marks our
spirit and changes us.
63 The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (Jn. 6:63)
E. If we invest the effort to draw near to God, He will draw near to us by manifesting His presence.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (Jas 4:8)
F. Do not grow weary when the answer to prayers are delayed.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will…
reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will…reap life. 9 Let us not grow weary…in due season we shall reap if we
do not lose heart. (Gal. 6:7-9)
G. Do not despise the small measures of God’s answers.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? (Zech. 4:10)
H. In prayer, we focus our mind on God in two ways: on the Father who sits on His Throne (Rev. 4) and on God the
Holy Spirit who lives in our spirit (2 Cor. 13:14).
I. Our personal prayer time is to be filled with intermittent expressions of affection, adoration and thanksgiving with
much prayer in the spirit. Take time for silence with meaningful repetition of your request with spontaneous sighs or
groans (Rom. 8:26). Verbalize your prayers instead of just thinking them. Pray out loud to help control your thoughts
during prayer.
J. Pray much in the spirit: seek to pray in the spirit for 1 hour a day focusing on the Throne. Paul prayed in the spirit
more than all (1 Cor. 14:18). We edify our spirit and receive mysteries (revelation) when praying in the spirit (1 Cor. 14:2,
4). In corporate prayer meetings, show consideration to others by praying in tongues quietly to avoid distracting others
(1 Cor. 14:28).
2 He who speaks in a tongue…speaks mysteries…4 He edifies himself…28 Let him keep silent in church, and let him speak
to himself and to God. (1 Cor. 14:2, 4, 28)
K. Schedule regular fasting: determine to fast one or two days a week when possible.
II. WHAT TO DO IN THE PRAYER ROOM
A. What to do in the Prayer Room: when not engaged with what is happening on the platform, it can be helpful to
have a simple action plan to provide focus for our personal time with God.
B. Personal Bible study plan: read 10 chapters of the NT per day (6 days a week in order to read through the NT
once a month). Read biographies of people who lived in the Spirit, study the individual books of the Bible (use FSM
courses and commentaries) and read godly books.
C. Three main prayer categories: personal life, intercession for people and intercession for places.
1. Prayer for personal life: inner life, ministry and circumstances (finance, health and relationships) along with
prayer-reading the Word (turning it to conversation with Jesus)
2. Intercession for people: individuals, ministries, marketplace and governmental authorities
3. Intercession for issues: social (justice), crisis (weather, Sept. 11), destiny of cities or nations (Israel, Egypt, etc.)
D. Three main prayer requests: gifts (power, favor), fruit (heart, character), wisdom (insight, unity)
18 And he (Moses) said, "Please, show me Your glory." (Ex. 33:18)
16 I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them… (Heb. 10:16)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom (revelation), let him ask of God…it will be given to him. (Jas 1:5)
III. PERSONAL LIFE: OUR INNER LIFE
A. GIFTS: visitations of God’s power (glory) in supernatural encounters that strengthen my inner man with His presence
(Jn. 14:21-23; Eph. 3:16-19; Col. 1:11; 2 Thes. 2:16. Ps. 43:3-4)
17 I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those
days; (Acts 2:17-18)
51 You shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending… (Jn. 1:51)
B. FRUIT: (heart and speech): love for God and people with purity and humility. The anointing to walk in love (Jn. 17:26;
Phil. 1:9; 2 Thes. 3:5; Rom. 5:5; 1 Thes. 3:12
37 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul… (Mt. 22:37)
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and
I in them. (Jn. 17:26)
1. To feel the power and fire of God’s Word (Lk. 24:32; Jer. 20:9)
2. Impart God’s zeal to my heart (Jn. 2:17; Num. 25:11)
3. Guard my lips (Ps. 19:14; Ps. 141:3; Ps. 17:3; Ps. 39:1). Sustained communion with the Spirit requires
restrained speech (Eph. 4:29; 5:4).
4. I set heart to love You by fully obeying Your leadership (Ps. 19:12; 139:23)
5. Release the fear of God in my heart (Jer. 32:40; Ps. 86:11; Isa. 11:3; 66:2)
6. Fill me with perseverance in godliness, labors in ministry and persecution (Col. 1:11)
7. Fill me with joy, peace and comfort (2 Thes. 2:16-17; Rom. 15:33)
C. WISDOM: revelation of God’s personality and Word with wisdom to walk out the practicality of love and humility
(Eph. 1:17). Revelation of God’s will for our lives (Col. 1:9). Revelation of God’s End-Time purposes (Dan. 11:35; 12:10).
Knowledge of God's love for me (Eph. 3:17-19; 1 Jn. 3:1). Reveal eternity to me (Ps. 39:4-6, 90:12; Jas. 4:14). Revelation
of eternal city (Rev. 21), judgment seat (2 Cor 5:10, 1 Cor 3:11-15), resurrected body (1 Cor. 15), eternal hell
(Rev. 20:11-15), eternal calling (Rev. 3:21); Teach me meekness (Mt. 11:29)
17 The Father of glory may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation… (Eph. 1:17)
3 Send out Your light and truth! Let them lead me…bring me to Your holy hill. (Ps. 43:3)
IV. PERSONAL LIFE: ANOINTED MINISTRY
A. GIFTS: the full release of the gifts of the Spirit in my life (1 Cor. 12:7-9)
1. Power on my hands: Spirit released on those we lay hands on (Acts 8:18; 19:11-12)
2. Power on my eyes: prophetic insight to see God’s secrets for others (1 Cor. 14:25)
3. Power of my mouth: power of conviction on my words (prayer, singing, preaching)
8 He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn. 16:8)
4. Spirit of Prayer: release God’s burdens in me (Ezek. 9:4; Zech 12:10; Rom. 8:26)
5. Spirit of Boldness: fearlessly and fully proclaim God’s word (Acts 4:29-31; Eph. 6:19)
B. FRUIT: that the people I minister to will walk with sustained godliness (Sermon on the Mount)
C. WISDOM: inquire of the Lord to know the who, what, when, where in ministry (Col. 4:12)
V. PERSONAL LIFE: CIRCUMSTANCES (PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL AND RELATIONAL)
2 I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3 Jn. 2)
A. GIFTS: God’s power or favor on all our circumstances (Ps. 91)
1. Physically: on my body for heath, protection, strength for fasting and to fulfill my assignment in life
2. Financially: God’s abundant blessing and increase that I may help others
3. Relationally: for unity and favor (Divine appointments as God opens doors)
5 May the God of patience…grant you to be like-minded to one another… (Rom. 15:5)
B. FRUIT: that God’s blessing on my life results in righteousness and joy increasing in others instead of resulting in
oppression or harm
10 That you…being fruitful in every good work… (Col. 1:10)
C. WISDOM: inquire of the Lord to know who, what, when, where related to my circumstances. To have paradigm
shifts as I receive creative wisdom for my family, relationships, marketplace, etc.
9 Do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding… (Col. 1:9-10)