Lord... Teach us To Pray

 

Prayer is one or the key aspects to our faith as Christians. It is one of the strongest ways with which we communicate with God. Prayer is simply conversation with God. At times we talk, at times we listen, just as with a friend.

Recently we have been looking at crafted prayer. The Psalms in the Bible are some beautiful crafted prayers. We have been looking at the published words of Graham Cooke in his 'Crafted Prayer' to explore more of this form of meditation and listening to God.

---

Eternity Prayer (Crafted on Tuesday 1 November 2011)

King of Majesty
The heavens proclaim your glory
Your name is known in all the earth
Your righteousness reaches to the highest heavens
Who can compare with you, O God?
You are awesome in your sanctuary
You have made the heavens your throne
From there you rule over everything
Your strength is mighty in the heavens
We praise you

You are my treasure
A precious diamond
A shining star
Your worth beyond measure
Our hearts are yours
We long for you

You have drawn us from the dark places
Your love for us burns from eternity to eternity
Your love for us is so great!
There is no place we can go
Where your love can’t reach us
You bless us before the watching world
You fill us with your fullness
You draw us to you with loving kindness
You delight over us
You are the new rain in our lives
Causing our lives to be fruitful again

Lord, you are always with us
Because you are by our side
We will not be shaken
The floods will not overwhelm us
Whenever trouble strikes
We will call to you
And you will answer us from your holy heaven

Who but our Lord is our God?
Who but our God is our Rock?
You are a rock that neither crumbles nor cracks
You are our rock of safety
In you our hearts rejoice
For we trust in you

Your righteousness goes before us
And your glory our rear guard
Your glory lights our path
And shows us the way
Lead us by your Presence and your Truth
Teach us to do your will
For you are our God

Lord, we thank you that you desire mercy over judgment
That your unfailing love lasts forever
That your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens
That you desire to give us a hope and a future
Not to hurt or harm us

So we join with the desires of your heart
To loose bands of wickedness
Undo heavy burdens
Set the oppressed free
Break every yoke
Feed the hungry
House the homeless
Heal the sick
Make the broken whole
Comfort the discouraged
Proclaim rest to the weary

So manifest your glory, O Lord
As we sing, speak and pray truth
As we proclaim your glory not only in word
But in power also
Guide our hands to bring you glory
So your will is done on earth
As it is in heaven
Reveal to us those things that compromise
The work of Your Spirit in us
So we would deal with them quickly
Let our light break forth as the morning
And our healing spring forth
According to your Word

You encourage us O Lord
By giving us the strength we need
You have equipped us for battle
And you stand before us as a shield
You lead us forward on firm footing
Our eyes will see the downfall of our enemies
Our ears will hear of their defeat
But you will cause us to flourish
And grow …
Strong
Courageous
Brave

Amen.

---

Entering the Promises                           

Entering into His promises,
Breaking out of despondency and doubt;
Shaking off depression and discouragement-
No room for disappointment in the glory:
Strong
Courageous
Brave
Because He is with us.
The Holy of Holies within us.
His presence distinguishes us:
His purpose,
His honour,
His heart is what our hearts beat for.

He is our treasure.
The most beautiful diamond.
The shining star of our lives.
The only one of worth to me,
The only one worth dying for.

Processing life wisely,
Navigating our journey by your presence and peace.
Let every decision be made in obedience to You.
Wisdom is obeying the truth.
Wisdom is living before you and for you alone.
Wisdom is giving glory to you by simply allowing you to live your life in me.

Holy of Holies…
Entering His courts with thanksgiving and praise….
wanting, burning, seeking to see You face to face.

---

Pray, Pray, Pray!           
                   
God loves us so much and wants us to rest in Him alone.
Not to be consumed in the earthly things of this world
But to come to Him with gladness and praise.
Come to Him who will fill you up.
Fill you up with all His goodness for he cares for you
And He wants you to believe in Him,
To trust Him with your whole heart for He desires you
And He wants to be your Heavenly Father…
Ruler and deliverer.
He wants us to HEAL the broken, the lost, the needy.

Pray, pray, pray for He longs and desires to be in the lives of all whom seek Him!
Take heart for He loves you!
Comforter
Healer
Redeemer
Praise to God
Sing of His goodness
Wonders that will take place here on this earth.
Magnify the presence…
His presence will be known to all.
Joy, joy, joy in the house. Bless Him for your signs and wonders will take place!

---

Fill the Whole Earth with YOUR Glory!  

You ascended higher than the heavens
In order to fill the whole universe.
When you ascended you gave gifts to your people.
Your ministers equip your people for service, that your body will be built up.
Your ministers build upon the foundation that is Christ so that we will grow up into the head that is Christ.
 As our faith increases you will extend our sphere of influence.
In humility we will remember that those you commend are approved.

From the foundation (that is you)
we will build the body (that is you)
and grow into the head (that is you)
in order to fill the whole universe.

---

The Community of Healing & Wholeness     

A real releasing of creativity…
a newness that exalts His glory.
Father King but we will sing… sing of your praise.
The flames of fire is His resurrected power.
As we rest upon our heavenly Father…
a new creation comes to birth as he breathes in us…
Life a revelation and the wind of God that will blow in this place take heart do not fear but the light of God will be seen. Pray for this nation to be saved.

Sickness, pain, grief, brokenness…
Our Father who heals come upon those in pain
Release them from the chains of destruction and hurt.
He blesses and does not curse.
He loves and does not harm.
Heavenly Father let you will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

May the beginning of your wonderous signs take place

And your angels will sing.

Sounds of freedom and the tree of life…
Your safe refuge for all who seek Him shall know life and proclaim the truth… may they know his resting place.

---

No Disappointment in the Glory

King of majesty
King of majesty
Your glory fills this place

You have drawn me from the dark places
You have given me love
Your glory fills this place

I sing to you with the praises you have given me.
Praises of your goodness.
Your love that pours out over the needy
Your lover that fills those who thirst and hunger for the truth
You have taken us into your Holy place
We have come to your throne room and rest in the comfort Of your love that surrounds us and encircles our heart.
Each day you draw us closer.
You have placed your life in ours.
Our hearts burn with a passion for your name,
The name of one who has saved us
Fills us up and draws us in.
You are our heavenly Father who desires us.
Desires our love and takes delight in us.
You guide our hands to bring you glory
Where we once were consumed by worldly things,
Place a longing for you.
Let your mighty wind flow through us
Keep our trust in You.
You have placed a new thing before us…
Help us to see it. We proclaim that you are truth .
Before you the nations tremble.
They are like sailors lost in night knowing there is a coastline close, preparing for disaster.
Shine you love, draw them in.
With flames of fire, burn away unbelief and display truth.

---

His Hands

In His hands I saw life, so different that I’d ever seen.
A life of purpose, a life filled with love
A life with joy and fullness
A life worth living

In His hands I saw acceptance, complete worth found in His love

In His hands I saw life… New life. A life of beginning
A life of growth…
Growth in stature, in power in character and gifts
All coming from Him and all tempered by love

I looked into His face
and was overwhelmed
by His desire like flames
of fire…. His passion for me burned
Longing filled my heart
Praises arose from my lips
My voice swelled with song

I took His hands
I linked arms with the saints
In that touch was healing
A new rain fell in my life

Truth come!
Heal the broken
Release the captives
Blind see! Deaf hear!
Mute speak!

---

 
Righteousness Going Before Us!               

Father this city is Yours.
I see through a glass darkly concerning Your will here.
But I know You. I know Your heart for the lost,
Your grace and uncountable mercies.
Concerning our identity –

Lord open the eyes of our understanding
That we would both fear You in Your supremacy over all heaven and earth but be equally drawn by the grace and love that has first drawn us to salvation and made us sons and heirs of Your eternal kingdom through Christ!

You have not withheld from us.
Help us to be imitators of that grace, love and mercy, despite the cost, as you work through us to do Your will and fulfill that for which You've called us.

I ask according to Your own prayer for us, that we would be one with you and one Body knit together in love and care for one another, that the world may know that we are Yours and that You came also for them.

For this local Church, I thank You for the words of encouragement to us and Your promise to be with us as we move forward with conviction, courage and faith.

We look and ask for the wisdom that comes from above - pure, peaceable, gentle and willing to yield and without hypocrisy (James 3:17) knowing that you give Wisdom liberally to those who ask in faith (James 1:5).

Reveal to us those things which compromise the work of Your Spirit in us that we would deal with them quickly. Where we lack faith or knowledge of the truth, we ask for you to increase these things in us, that we would see growth in each congregation member and a development of the spiritual gifts You have given to the Body.

Manifest your Glory Jesus, that as we sing, speak and pray truth, we proclaim You not in word alone but in power also.

We join with the desire of Your heart to loose bands of wickedness, undo heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke –
To feed the hungry, house the homeless and meet the needs of the afflicted both in spirit and in body –
Let our light break forth as the morning and our healing spring forth according to Your word,
With Righteousness going before us and the Glory of the Lord our rear guard.

---

For some more about prayer check out:
http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/a/basicstoprayer.htm