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"You don't have, because you don't ask."
James 4:2
What are the Endorsed Prayers?
The Endorsed Prayers are prayers that Christ, the apostles or prophets prayed or instructed the saints to pray. Therefore, they tell us a great deal about how to pray.
Five of the Endorsed Prayers come from Christ. Twenty-two are from the apostles and five from prophets. So, thirty-two Endorsed Prayers are presented in this book.
The Endorsed Prayers are prayers regarding knowledge of God's will, enlightened eyesight, revelation, power, strength, wisdom, love, unity, obedience, faith, words for witnessing, tranquility, intimacy with God, escape from temptation, forgiveness, praise, thanksgiving, salvation, opening doors for the Gospel, spreading God's word, enemies, rebuke, and mercy.
The Endorsed Prayers are requests for spiritual grace. They are requests for grace because they ask God to do things that we can't do ourselves. He doesn't grant our requests because we earned the right to receive them. He grants them out of grace. He grants them because of who He is and whose we are.
Spiritual graces in the Kingdom of Heaven, are granted by the King, for the glory of the King, to the children of the King, upon requests made to the King, by the children of the King.
Are the Endorsed Prayers optional?
Many of the Endorsed Prayers are prayers that scripture instructs us to pray. So, they are not optional.
The remaining Endorsed Prayers are prayers that Christ, the apostles or prophets prayed. We should imitate Christ and the apostles.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the apostle Paul wrote, "Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ." If we are to imitate Paul and Christ, then we should imitate their prayers. So, the topics they prayed about are typically not optional.
I used the word "typically" because every prayer prayed by apostles, prophets or Christ are not necessarily applicable to us. For example, as Christ was about to be crucified, He prayed "let this cup pass away from me". That prayer is not applicable to us in the way that Christ prayed it because we are not the sacrifice for the sins of the world. But it could be prayed by us in some applications.
It is written in Hebrews 13:7 "Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith." Considering the success that the apostles and their successors experienced in spreading the faith through the entire world, we should definitely imitate their faith. How can we imitate the faith of the apostles if we don't imitate their prayers?
Their prayers were expressions of their faith that God does what man cannot do. The Bible says that we are to love others. I have many times found it difficult to love others. Paul the apostle prayed for the Philippian church, that their "love may abound yet more and more". I once thought that it was up to me to love more. But Paul indicated that it was up to me to ask God to multiply love in me.
Not only did the apostles pray for greater love, they prayed for greater faith, understanding of God's word, obedience etc. Their prayers revealed a whole list of things that we receive from God by asking for them. The very fact that they asked for them means that we need to ask for them. James 4:2 says, "You don't have, because you don't ask."
It would be arrogant to say "The Philippians needed prayer, but I don't. I can do it without prayer." So, the reality is... prayer is critical. It is not optional. It should permeate our lives.
How pervasive is prayer supposed to be in our lives?
- "In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6).
- "Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
- " let's offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually" (Hebrews 13:15).
- "they must always pray, and not give up" (Luke 18:1).
- "Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with..." (Colossians 4:2).
- "he continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12).
- "My house shall be called a house of prayer" (Matthew 21:13).
- Moses prayed forty days and forty nights (Deuteronomy 9:18).
According to these scriptures, prayer is to be in everything, without ceasing, continual, always and continued steadfastly. Prayer should be such a large part of what goes on in every church, that people will refer to each church as "a house of prayer". Jesus said "My house shall be called a house of prayer" (Matthew 21:13).
How were the Endorsed Prayers compiled?
I was praying one day and this question came to my mind. Am I praying a legitimate prayer? In other words, am I asking for something that God will grant? I spent time in the word daily, but had trouble remembering what scripture actually said about prayer.
So, I downloaded all the verses in the New Testament that used the words pray, prayed, praying or prayer. I categorized them and culled out the repeats. I ended up with a broad spectrum of topics that the apostles and Christ prayed about or instructed others to pray. Then I added some prayers from the Old Testament. I called them the "Endorsed Prayers".
I do not say that my list of the Endorsed Prayers includes all of the prayers endorsed by scripture for Post-Pentecost believers. But I do believe that the list of Endorsed Prayers in this book are prayers that God will answer. He will grant those requests as long as we meet the scriptural conditions presented in subchapter 4.11 titled "Conditions for Effective Prayer." I do believe that the Endorsed Prayers represent a broad spectrum of scriptural prayer that should be present in the prayer life of God's children.
The specific prayers and the scriptures they come from are presented in subchapters 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6.
How does Endorsed Prayer affect my fellowship with God?
This is a good place to review the essentials of fellowship which were discussed in subchapter 1.4 titled, "Fellowship with God: Plunging to the Depths". Fellowship with God is a two way conversation in the spiritual realm, as we follow Christ, bearing His yoke in the world. Man's side of the conversation is prayer. God communicates through scripture, and the Holy Spirit. This two way conversation takes place in the spiritual realm as we follow the leading of the Spirit. Both sides of this conversation are according to God's purposes.
His communication through scripture and the Holy Spirit were discussed in previous subchapters. Now we have come to man's side of the conversation: prayer. Prayer is conversation. Conversation is the number one ingredient in fellowship. Some people don't have long conversations with each other because they don't have much in common. It's the same with God. If we don't share God's purposes, we will not have much to talk about with Him.
Our fellowship with God is very limited if we don't pray the Endorsed Prayers. If we don't pray the Endorsed Prayers, we simply aren't talking to God about the subjects that He wants to talk about. The abundant life is typically beyond our reach without them. Anxiety, fear and depression result from not praying them.
How to remember the Endorsed Prayers: Acrostics
After compiling my list of Endorsed Prayers, I prayed from them regularly. But, I had trouble remembering the prayers well enough to use them in daily life. So, I asked God to give me acrostics to make the prayers easier to remember. One acrostic is FOLLOW CHRIST. F is for increase our Faith. O is for "make us One". L is for "increase our Love, etc. There are twelve letters in the phrase "follow Christ", so the acrostic contains twelve prayers.
After the acrostic "FOLLOW CHRIST" has become ingrained in your life, there are three other Endorsed Prayer acrostics which you may integrate into your prayer life: KINGS, THE WAY and POWER. It may be many years before you enter into those three acrostics. All four acrostics are revealed in subchapter 4.8.
Many times I pray the acrostic "Follow Christ" or "Kings" as I am going to sleep. Sometimes I pray them when I wake up.
I typically pray "Follow Christ" when I pray with someone who is experiencing tragedy. One who has understanding of the spiritual realm and is accustomed to talking to God about the subjects that God is interested in will recognize that each prayer in that acrostic is usually applicable to life's darkest moments. You will walk by the Spirit as you pray them.
The Endorsed Prayers, the Yoke of Christ and Receiving Rest
The Endorsed Prayers are one part of the two part method used by Jesus and the apostles to make disciples in all nations. They spoke the words of the Father and prayed. These prayers are the prayers they prayed. The Endorsed Prayers are the prayers that we should pray to grow in our faith, to train our children, to save the lost, to achieve every Godly goal in this life.
- Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). See subchapter 2.3.
The Endorsed Prayers are prayers of bearing the yoke of Christ. They are the gateways into His work on earth. Without the Endorsed Prayers, we cannot pick up His yoke and receive rest. The Endorsed Prayers are our initial steps in our participation in each of His purposes. If we are not participating in His purposes, we are not taking up His yoke or having fellowship with Him. These prayers include the prayers prayed by the apostles as they took up Christ's yoke and received rest. His yoke is easy if we take it up like the apostles did. They spoke the words of the Father and prayed. It's easy. Jesus said that it is easy and it is.
The Endorsed Prayers reveal the work that God is doing in this age. We can't walk with Him if we are not following Him... We can't follow Him if we aren't participating in what He is doing.
When we talk to God, what do we talk about?
The Endorsed Prayers are not a spell that we cast. They are not a system or formula. When we pray the Endorsed Prayers, we are acknowledging that we can't do God's will. We are acknowledging that we must ask Him to do obedience in us. We are endorsing His agenda and renouncing the agenda of our flesh. When we make requests, we are acknowledging His authority.
The Endorsed Prayers are presented in the following five categories:
Spiritual Communication, Spiritual Needs, Physical Needs, Praise and Disciple Making.
Some prayers could fit in more than one category. I felt that it would be helpful to you if I organized them instead of presenting them randomly. But, my headings are not intended to limit the application of the scriptures.
The Endorsed Prayers, the Holy Spirit and the Invisible:
As I pray the Endorsed Prayers, with the knowledge of how the Holy Spirit interacts with believers, my relationship with God is very intimate and powerful. While praying these Spirit inspired prayers of scripture, I am aligned with the will of God... I am walking by the Spirit, with my heart fixed on the invisible Christ instead of on a set of rules. More and more, I look "at the things which are not seen" as 2 Corinthians 4:18 describes.
- "we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" ( 2 Corinthians 4:18 ).
After I became aware of the extensive spiritual interaction involved in walking by the Spirit, Ephesians 6:12 has come to be very real to me:
- "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
It has really been life changing to have compilations of scriptures on prayer, the Holy Spirit and other related topics. As I have talked to the Lord about them each day, my life has changed. Witnessing is easy. I just ask God to give me the words like Paul did and God gives me the words (Ephesians 6:19). Scripture is much easier to understand and remember. In any tragic situation, I know what to pray. The prayers in the acrostic "Follow Christ" are in my mind and heart to pray for those in desperate situations. Whether divorce, suicide, death or addiction, these prayers apply.
Please PRAY these passages. The Holy Spirit will reveal their meaning and power... within those who PRAY them.
Five Categories of Endorsed Prayer
The Endorsed Prayers are presented in the following subchapters and categories:
- 4.2 Prayers for Spiritual Communication
- 4.3 Prayers for Spiritual Needs
- 4.4 Prayers for Making Disciples
- 4.5 Prayers of Praise
- 4.6 Prayers for Physical Needs, Etc.
How Do You Begin?
Just click the arrow at the top right of your screen to open the next subchapter, subchapter 4.2, "Prayers for Spiritual Communication." You will see the scriptures underlying each prayer along with prayerful observations and explanations. That simple click can change your life forever.
Group Discussion Questions
Please prayerfully answer the following questions:
1) Are the Endorsed Prayers optional? Why or why not?
2) What could happen if we do not pray the Endorsed Prayers? See the section titled "Are the Endorsed Prayers Optional?"
3) How pervasive should prayer be in our lives?
4) If we pray but don't pray the Endorsed Prayers, are we talking to God about the subjects He wants to talk about? See the section titled "How does Endorsed Prayer affect my fellowship with God?"
5) What is the easy two step method used by Christ and the apostles to make disciples of all nations? See the section titled "The Endorsed Prayers, the Yoke of Christ and Receiving Rest."