Prayer at theBarn

‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful’ Colossians 4:2

Prayer is an awesome gift from God, enabling us to hear from Him, speak with Him, and grow our experience of His life in us through His Holy Spirit. So, devoting ourselves to prayer is not a commitment to a task – to the act of prayer itself – it is devoting ourselves to the way we can encounter God with us in His infinite power, as well as seeking His intervention for others.

We hope that through these pages you will find inspiration, support and resources to help you meet with God in prayer in ever increasing measure for yourself (see Personal Prayer), for others (see Praying for Others) and for your community, our nation and the world (see Praying for our Community, Nation and World).

You can also follow our input and updates on social media via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (all @theBarnBidford)

What better place to start than praying on the words Jesus gave His disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4):

Our Father in heaven

Know your heavenly Father with you. Give space to gaze, to give thanks, and to worship

Hallowed by your name

Pray with intention that His truth and character will be revealed through your life today

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Consider how praying these words challenges ‘my kingdom come, my will be done’ prayers

Give us today our daily bread

Focus your heart on God’s promises, asking and trusting Him to provide your daily needs.

Forgive us our sins

Give space for God’s Spirit to search and convict your heart, then make yourself right with Him

As we forgive those who sin against us

Give space for God’s Spirit to search and convict your heart where you may be holding onto bitterness, criticism, negativity or anger against a person for wounds they inflicted on you. Make yourself right with God and release them in His love. 

And lead us not into temptation

Ask God to prompt you when you are tempted to yield to temptation, and choose to resist as you focus on His holy presence with you.

But deliver us from evil

The spiritual battle is real and present. Living lives in and for Christ, we have nothing to fear, but have power when we pray for God’s protection and deliverance for ourselves and for others.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Amen

Although these words are not recorded in scripture, it was common in Jesus’ time for prayers to end with some kind of doxology; these particular words have been used for centuries, based on 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, a fabulous prayer of praise in itself.

Let their truth build up your own faith as you proclaim them now.