Pulpit Rock Church is committed to developing a culture of prayer within our church community. This guide is a tool for your personal use. Our intent is to provide you with an aide that will help you along the path as we build a church community that prays first as a natural and instinctive response to any situation.
Check the online calendar for details on upcoming All Church Prayer Gatherings and other worship events.
Ask a Pastor
If have other questions about prayer that are not addressed below, feel free to use the Ask a Pastor form, and we will provide a Biblically sound answer to you.
What is Prayer? Prayer is the most underused gift in the history of mankind. With prayer we can become intimate with the Creator of the universe and grow together with family and friends. We can see the hand of God stretched out in power as lives are touched; bodies, souls and hearts are healed. We can uphold those in need, and bring refreshment to the weary. We can partake in the rescuing of people from the grasp of Hell. And most of all we can be with the One who loves us beyond our wildest dreams.
Prayer is meeting with God in a personal way. When we spend time in the word of God, we learn who God is and what He is like. As we spend time with Him in prayer, we grow in our confidence of His character. The more time we spend, the richer our relationship will become, and the more productive our lives will be.
Learning to Listen
Prayer is a learned discipline. In The Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes: "One of the most critical aspects in learning to pray for others is to get in contact with God… Listening to the Lord is the first thing, the second thing and the third thing necessary for successful intercession." Foster explains, "We must hear, know and obey the will of God before we pray it into the lives of others."
When we wait on God, He will speak. Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, described this scenario: "A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening."
Often we just fill up our prayer time with our words, or drown out the voice of God with our televisions, radios, and CDs. We miss out on what the Lord of the universe has to say. We have access to a Being that knows all the answers to all our questions. Wouldn't it be worth the time to sit quietly and wait until He spoke? (John 9:3-11, 27)
Developing a Personal Prayer Time
Developing a prayer life is wonderful, but it can be uncomfortable at the beginning. Start slowly by practicing one or two of the following steps. Please do not be
discouraged by the length of this suggested prayer plan.
NOTE: 5 minutes on each area equals 1 hour of prayer.
Adoration: Recognizing God's attributes and nature
"Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You." — Psalm 63:3
Waiting: Develop a holy stillness
"If I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."
— Psalm 130:5-6
Confession: Temple cleansing time
"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" — Psalm 66:18
Scripture: Dwell on a specific passage
"’Is not My word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’" — Jeremiah 23:29
Watch: Develop a holy alertness of current events
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." — Colossians 4:2
Intercession: Praying for others and their needs
"I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." — I Timothy 2:1,2
Petition: My personal needs
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." — Matthew 7:7Thanksgiving: Thanks for blessings and trials
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." — I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Singing: Sing choruses (out loud or silently) in praise
"Speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in you heart to the Lord." — Ephesians 5:19
Meditation: Mentally evaluate or ponder scriptural themes
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." — Joshua 1:8
Listening: Receive spiritual instruction from the Lord
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
— Ephesians 1:17
Praise: Begin and end with worshiping God
"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more."
— Psalm 71:14
Cultivating a Prayerful Lifestyle
We are encouraged to pray at all times, but there are different times and places that are more effective for us. All of us need to find out what works best for us in spending daily time with God. The following list of ideas may be helpful to you as you develop your own lifestyle of prayer.
Morning and evening: Joshua 1:8
In the middle of the night "when God calls": Psalm 16:7
Schedule a weekly or monthly date dedicated to cast your cares on Him: I Peter 5:7
Along the road. Walk around your neighborhood or workplace and pray blessings.
Seek opportunities with your spouse, friends or co-workers.
Lunch break: Go to a park, your car or in a quiet room.
Light a small candle, and pray until the candle runs out.
Pick and use a devotional book.
Read through and pray the Psalms. Many of them were written as prayers.
For your children: At bedtime encourage your children to talk to you and to God about their day. Once they are asleep, go into their room and pray through their concerns.
In the morning, choose a scriptural blessing and say it to your child as they rush off to start their day. (Psalm 91:11, 12; Psalm 121)
