My 5 Point Prayer Session
Does your prayer session have to be a 5 point prayer outline? No. It could be 20 points, or 10 points or even 101 prayer point. This is my preference and it works well for me.
There\’s an assortment of prayer sessions and types, such as petition, supplication, thanksgiving, affirmative, worship and praise, to mention but a few. It\’s your call. It\’s your choice how you want it to be.
Prayer to a large extent is directed toward a deity, or a higher spirit, for the purpose of worshiping, requesting counsel, calling for assistance, confessing sins or even to express one\’s thoughts and emotions.
Individuals pray for a lot of reasons like personal benefit or for the interest of others, like in intercession. Most major religions use prayer in one way or another. Some have ritualized the act of prayer, calling for a strict sequence of behaviors and utterances or placing a restriction on who is permitted to pray what type of prayers.
Others teach that prayer might be exercised spontaneously by anybody at any time. In this post we are focused on christian prayer. Specifically what I consider to be my preferred personal prayer guideline.
Scientific studies regarding the utilization of prayer have mostly centered on its effect on the healing of sick or injured individuals. Many other spiritual traditions provide a wide assortment of devotional acts.
There are break of day prayers, noon and evening prayers. Graces stated over meals, and there are worshipful physical gestures and postures. A few Christians bow their heads and fold their hands. Others see dancing as forming part of prayer. Still, others tend to walk about as they pray.
Then there\’s the prayer format. Some people use “affirmative prayer.” Instead of imploring or beseeching God, this method involves connecting with the spirit of God, (God\’s Holy Spirit that is) within and asserting positive beliefs about the desired outcome. Affirmative prayer would be like the type of prayer Jesus taught when he stated;
That\’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 GW
Some believe that all things work together for our greatest good. We pray to align ourselves with the higher power of God and to allow ourselves to be spiritually guided to that good we seek. Meaning that in affirmative prayer, we help co-create the desire that\’s possible in our life. As in Mark 11:24.
What is your prayer session like?
Distinguishing what you truly wish for in your life isn\’t a simple task for most of us, nor is it something that you may truly produce a step-by-step guide for. That stated, when you\’re not truly sure what you wish to affirm or pray for, whether it\’s a job, a lifestyle, or anything else, some different prayer sessions could help you pinpoint what it is you truly wish.
Here\’s what works for me in the use of affirmative prayer. This is what I have called, \”My 5 point prayer session\”. I use this prayer affirmation outline for my personal life and at times on behalf of other people when I pray for them.
- Acknowledgement:
I start off by acknowledging the presence of God by His Holy Spirit in me and that He is also everywhere in the Universe and in everybody and everything. This is the place where I praise and worship my Father God.
I then declare and recognize that my God is the divine power in and through me and everything around me. There\’s no other power but God. As He is so I am. And by His Holy Spirit He is omnipresent beginning with my being. \”Jesus said to them, \”When you pray, say this: \’Father: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come\”. (Luke 11:2 GNB)
2. Unity:
Next, I must recognize the unity I have with God as His Holy Spirit is within me. And If I am doing a prayer session for another believer, I understand and know also that the presence of God is in that other person as well.
So my prayer point will be focused on: \”I am one with God the Divine Infinite Spirit. And I am the temple of the Holy Spirit\”.
\”Don\’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves but to God\”.
(1 Corinthians 6:19 GNB)
3. Recognition.
Here I must state what it is I am praying for . As in the scripture earlier quoted (Mark 11:24) I affirm my points believing that it is already in the now by the use of present tense statements. I must bring in the feeling and the knowing that this is already happening and see it as occurring right now!!
In this prayer point, I state firmly and declare knowingly that I\’m healthy, whole and complete on each and every level of my life. I base my point on this scripture verse: \”Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see\”.
(Hebrews 11:1 ERV)
4. Gratitude.
Now, it\’s time to give thanks for all that\’s happening for me right now. I acknowledge and give thanks for everything I have prayed about. I am giving thanks because I believe that I have had a great time in Father God\’s presence. I give thanks because I know and believe that I have received from my Father God. He is a giver of good gifts and I am receiving mine.
So my prayer point here will be: \”I am grateful for everything and especially the healing and wholeness that is happening for me right now\”.
I will use this moment to also praise and worship Him. Here usually I am led to singing or just playing some soft worship music. How much time I spend here is as I am led by Him. I take cognizant of the fact that He too enjoys my being in His presence.
5. Let go and Let God:
Finally for me here, it\’s time to get into a quiet mode. I was doing all the talking until now. It\’s time to Let Go and let God. It\’s time to hear and truly reach out to Him as He engulfs me in His loving presence.
I let go believing that my Father God is taking care of my requests and whatever petitions I have put before Him . In the fullness of time I must surely receive. So I relinquish my whole self and everything I have stated firmly to my Father God. I must believe knowing that it\’s already accomplished and complete.
So what is my final prayer point going to be like? Simple:
\”I release this moment and everything with it to my Father God who is the all knowing divine infinite spirit. I consider this moment is wrapped up and it is a done deal. I know that all is good by God’s Grace. I will end the session by lovingly stating:
It Is Done. In Jesus Christ Name. AMEN.
That\’s it. Simple and straight forward. How long the session takes will be up to me and how the Holy Spirit is leading me. It will also be dependent upon the kind of relationship I have continued to develop with Father God. How intimate I really want to be at this moment with His Holy Spirit.
Good. Let\’s leave it there. Have you picked up something here? Post your feedback in the comments below.
Do you want to learn more? Connect with me. Let\’s talk. Stay abreast of what\’s happening here on this blog. Get the weekly updates as they are posted. Stay in the loop never miss a thing. Subscribe to receive the blog updates every week.
Finally if you want to learn more about the Christian faith and would like to surrender your life to Christ for Him to be your Lord and Savior, let\’s chat. You may Skype me to chat or talk.
Meantime take care and stay blessed and inspired, always.
