Prayer is a time that you are able to go to the Lord and connect with him. God wants a relationship with us but it looks different than any other relationship you have. In a relationship with God you can’t rely on your senses of sight, sound or touch, but you are able to connect with him through conversation. It’s more than talking to God. It’s about talking with God. There is not a right or wrong way of how to pray. Prayer is communicating with God by thanking Him, praising Him, confessing something that you’ve done wrong and/or expressing a need that you have.
How To Pray
There is not a secret formula on how to pray. God just wants you to come to him honestly and willingly. You can start the prayer by addressing God in a way that acknowledges him. Some examples of this are, “Father God”, Heavenly Father”, “Lord”, or “Almighty God”. It’s up to you on how you choose to address Him. It is a reminder of who he is in your life. When praying you can choose to just sit and be with the Lord or write your prayers down in a prayer journal. Do what works for you.
LESSON 1
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”
Jesus starts by establishing our identity as children of God. He emphasizes this relationship as a source of confidence that God listens when you pray.
LESSON 2
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
It’s tempting to rush to the part of prayer where you’re asking God for what you want or need. But Jesus makes a point of placing God’s agenda first. He also uses this phrase as a reminder that what is true of God in heaven is also true on earth.
LESSON 3
“Give us today our daily bread.”
Jesus models asking God for His own needs. Because God is a loving Father, He enjoys hearing what His children want and need, so that He can provide for them. Though He won’t give you anything and everything you ask for, He will provide what you need to get through each day, including His grace to sustain you.
LESSON 4
“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Forgiveness was at the heart of Jesus’ teaching during His time on earth, and it’s here at the heart of His guide to prayer. Jesus first models asking forgiveness for anything you have done that displeases God. Second, He reminds you to consider any unforgiveness you might have toward another person and ask Him to help you forgive them.
LESSON 5
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Finally, Jesus closes His prayer by encouraging His followers to keep in mind that the Christian life is a spiritual battle with a very real enemy. Jesus closes His prayer by emphasizing how quickly and naturally humans stray from God’s protection.
Common Questions
What Should I Pray For?
Pray for what is on your mind and if you feel lost and unsure, Jesus gave us a guide in Matthew 6:9 - 13.
When and Where Do You Pray?
Anytime and anywhere works. It helps to not be distracted so that you are able to truly focus on the attention God deserves. You might also find it more challenging in a busy place to connect and listen to what He may be trying to tell you.
What Position Should I Be In To Pray?
You can stand, kneel, bow, walk, run, or sit. Your posture when praying is completely your preference and what makes you comfortable.
Do I Pray to God the Father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
This is completely up to you. You can choose one or pray to each member of the Trinity (Father, Son - Jesus, Holy Spirit), throughout your prayers because they are all listening.
What all should I include in my prayer?
Praise: Revering God's name and acknowledging His attributes.
Repentance/Confession: Maintaining clear communication by confessing sins and seeking forgiveness.
Petition: Presenting personal needs to God.
Intercession: Standing in the gap for others, including the needy or unbelievers.
Thanksgiving/Protection: Expressing gratitude and seeking guidance or protection.
Mission of the Prayer Canopy
Nehemiah’s mission is to amplify the impact of local churches and ministries, and we are so excited to inform you of a new way we can help enhance prayer and intercession and provide the intercessors in your congregation with the ability to be activated and empowered to take their passion for prayer to the next level.
What is the Clark County Prayer Canopy?
The Clark County Prayer Canopy is a united network of believers committed to covering our city in prayer every hour of every day, 365 days a year.
Participating churches are each assigned one specific day of the month, for example the first Monday. On that day, 24 individuals from the church each commit to one hour of prayer, ensuring continuous, around the clock intercession.
Each church appoints a Prayer Captain, someone with a heart for prayer and intercession, who gathers and leads a team of 24 Prayer Warriors. The Prayer Captain coordinates the schedule so that every hour of their assigned day is covered in prayer.
Prayer Canopy Tips and Tidbits
It can be helpful to select a Prayer Captain who is not already serving in a heavily committed leadership role. This helps prevent burnout while also creating an opportunity to empower and develop new leaders within your church.
Smaller churches have the option to share their assigned prayer day with another church.
Each Prayer Captain is encouraged to find creative ways to remind Prayer Warriors of their scheduled day and hour to pray, provide specific prayer requests for their congregation and neighborhood, and build upon the prayer guides created for the county as a whole.
Our goal is to have 31 Prayer Canopy churches participating by the end of the year.
As the Prayer Canopy continues to grow, we will be announcing opportunities for prayer and worship gatherings to help Prayer Warriors engage more deeply with the community.
