Quotes on prayer by Peter Kreeft
“We pray to obey God, not to 'play God'. We pray, not to change God's mind, but to change our own; not to command God, but to let God command us. We pray to 'let God be God'. Prayer is our obedience to God even when it asks God for things, for God has commanded us to ask (Mt. 7:7).”
Adoration: Praise Sovereign God for His attributes, for who He is and what He is like in this passage:
Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].” (Amp)
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! (Ps 24-7-8,10, ESV)
For ________________, Mighty God. We give you praise!
• Confession: 1 Peter 2:10: Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (ESV)
Father, I confess ______________, Forgiving God. Hear our prayer.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything in your life that is displeasing to Him and confess it to Him.
Thanksgiving: Let us thank God for what He has done & does.
1 Peter 2:9: 1 Peter 2:9:-10: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies (virtues) of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)
For _______________, loving God. We give you thanks.
Supplication (Humble Petitions) & Intercession:
1 Timothy 2:1: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (GW)
Jeremiah 29:7: But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (ESV)
Prayer Requests: In addition to the following requests, pray to our merciful God about anything/anyone the Spirit puts on your heart to pray:
• Organizations with whom OFCC partners: OACM, Camp Illiana, Johnson University, MMI, Grundy Mountain Mission, Student Christian Fellowship UE/USI, OMA Food Pantry.
• Health Professionals, National/State/County/Local Government Agencies
• Those suffering from Caronavirus as well as those caring for them.
• Business owners, employers, employees affected negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Elderly
• Pray that this will be a time that many hearts turn to Jesus, receive Him as Savior and walk in humble obedience to Him.
For _____________, Merciful God. Hear our prayer.
• Meditate on this passage.
Philippians 2:3-4: 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (CSB)
• How might you pray for application of it to you and our church family?
For _____________, Merciful God. Hear our prayer.
Meditate on this passage:
1 Peter 2:11-12: 1 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (ESV)
Ask the Lord to help you apply and obey the above passage.
For _____________, Merciful God. Hear our prayer.
• In light of COVID-19 and the governing authorities’ prescribed precautions, including social distancing, ask the Spirit to guide you in praying for the church to adhere to this passage appropriately:
1 Peter 2:13-17: 13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
For _____________, Merciful God. Hear our prayer.
Benediction: The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV)