When we pray using the promises of God, we shift our focus from the problem or our own limited abilities to God's power and limitless resources. Our heavenly Father is greater than any situation we may face, regardless of how painful, scary, or uncertain it may seem at the moment. Whatever challenges we are going through, we can find a verse that applies to the situation and trust God for the outcome. By praying His promises and having faith in His power, we invite His divine intervention.

Taking a leaf out of Jesus’ prayer life (good place to start…and finish), we watch him stand strong against the enemy, not by his own words, wisdom or strength, but by standing on the word of God (Matt 4:1-11).

Jesus, the living Word of God, quotes the written word of God; how much more should we? So when we come to praying for our city, for our nation, for broken bodies, families and every situation - we do not stand on our own insight, but on the promises of God found in the Bible.

Assurance

The LORD is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23 NIV)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.

(Psalm 28:7 NIV)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

Anxiety

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(Matthew 6:34 NIV)

Comfort

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

(Romans 8:28 NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV)

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

(Psalm 34:18 NIV)

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

(1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

Faith

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

(Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

“Everything is possible for one who believes.”

(Mark 9:23 NIV)

Fear

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

(2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

(Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

Forgiveness

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

(Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

(Colossians 3:13 NIV)

Freedom

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

(2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

(Galatians 5:1 NIV)

Guidance

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

(Isaiah 30:21 NIV)

Guilt/Shame

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

(Romans 8:1 NIV)

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

(Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

Healing

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.(Psalm 103:2-3 NIV)

“By His wounds we have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.” (Psalm 41:2-3)

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

(Isaiah 53:5 NIV)

Loneliness

"No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

(Joshua 1:5 NIV)

God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

(Psalm 68:6 NIV)

Pride

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

(James 4:6 NIV)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

(Philippians 2:3 NIV)

Protection

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal.

(Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13 NIV)

Provision

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:19 NIV)

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

(2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)

Purity

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

(Psalm 51:10 NIV)

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

(Hebrews 10:22 NIV)

Purpose

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 1:6 NIV)

Strength

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

(2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Thoughts

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

(Philippians 4:8-9 NIV)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Romans 12:2 NIV)

Victory

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

(Exodus 14:14 NIV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

(Romans 8:37 NIV)

Worth/Identity

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

(Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

(Psalm 139:14 NIV)

Next begin to stand in the authority of the name of Jesus. The following statement Jesus makes is profound. Often we misunderstand it, which is why we’ve included it in the Amplified version which interprets the Greek a little better regarding tenses.

Matthew 16:19 AMP “I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven.”

Notice how both actions of binding and loosing things on earth had already started in the heavens. The disciples actions are in the past-continuous tense. Meaning they’ve already begun to be bound/loosed in heaven and we’re just partnering with them on earth. This is pivotal, because prayer is not about us getting our own way, it’s about God getting His way. It’s about God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

1 John 5:14-15 NIV “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

How encouraging to know that when we “ask according to His will he hears us and … we have what we have asked!” The breakdown can sometimes occur when we forget that just as God has a will for our lives, there are powers and principalities attempting to “steal, kill and destroy” as John 10:10 tells us. This is where Jesus expected his disciples to bind and loose things on the earth as we perceived them occurring in the heavens. This sounds complicated but it’s quite simple; if it’s bad - bind it. If it’s good, loose it.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.”

We hope you hear what scripture is saying about the authority the name of Jesus carries and that your prayers “are mighty in God!” This is why James 5:16 says with confidence, “The prayer of a righteous person (in right standing with God through Christ) is powerful and effective!” Here’s what it could look like in practice.

Healing

1. Building on the promises of God for healing we might pray something like this: *“We thank you God that as 1 Peter 2 says ‘by your wounds we are healed’ and right now in the mighty name of Jesus we bind up every sickness and disease in this persons body we loose healing and restoration for the Glory of God!”*

Salvation

1. Similarly, here’s an example regarding praying for someone’s salvation: *“We thank you Lord that John 3:16-17 tell us you “so loved the world that you gave your one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” We bind every lie of the enemy and every argument that is setting itself up against the knowledge of God in this persons life and loose your life giving truth and your presence in this persons life.”*

Finally, our role in prayer is to draw people’s attention to the goodness and glory of God through it all. This is about drawing someone’s attention to God’s desire to dwell with them and draw near to them at all times, especially in the most difficult of moments. Often this is the revelation God most desires people to have during tough seasons and forever after.

It makes sense that God hopes we would discover that abiding in him and knowing him far surpasses any breakthrough we were searching for. Something powerful happens in us and the heavenly realm when our pursuit is not just what God can do for us, but actually Him. Knowing that when we “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

The Psalmists share their journey of seeking his face and how it is connected inherently to blessing: “My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8), “They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” (Psalm 24:5-6), “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (Psalm 105:4), “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.” (Psalm 119:58).

Hear Jesus’ personal invitation to all who are his disciples to abide and remain in Him through it all and see the connection with fruitfulness, our prayers being answered and the Father being glorified:

John 15:5-9 NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

Here’s an example of what this could look like in practice:

Sickness

1. “Lord we stand on your promises of healing throughout scripture, we bind up every sickness and disease in the mighty name of Jesus, we declare your healing power to rest upon this body, and choose to seek you first and ask for your presence to rest upon us/this person. That we could come to know you in greater measure through this season.”

Finances

1. Lord we know you are Jehovah Jireh, our provider, we bind up every assignment of the enemy to steal and destroy, we declare that every need will be met in the mighty name of Jesus. And Lord we come before you asking for a greater revelation of who you are and how good you are, and how you are our greatest prize and portion, the only one who can truly satisfy our souls!”

Be encouraged and strengthened by the following passage of scripture. Perhaps take a moment to sit and reflect on this closing point:

Lamentations 3:21-25 ESV “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”