April 6, 2008
Public Prayer
What does it mean to lead a congregation in prayer? This classic piece urges leaders to pray clearly and specifically, awaken shared gratitude and need, and prepare thoughtfully so the congregation can truly say “amen.”
Prayer
Prayer features biblical, practical help for a deeper prayer life. This category focuses on how to pray, what Scripture teaches about prayer, and how prayer shapes discipleship and spiritual growth. You’ll find devotionals, teaching, and guidance for personal prayer, intercessory prayer, and praying with your church, small group, or family.
March 30, 2008
When Our Prayer Requests Are Not Granted (Part 1)
Why doesn’t God grant some prayer requests? H. Lynn Gardner examines Jesus’ prayer promises in context, showing how Scripture connects confident prayer with God’s will, obedience, and trustful submission.
March 30, 2008
A Simple Prayer
Facing neighborhood violence and ministry strain, a pastor learns to pray one simple word—“Help!”—and watches God provide through quick answers, long delays, unexpected people, and renewed outreach in Pittsburgh.
March 30, 2008
Are You a Prayer Warrior or a Prayer Wimp?
Gen. George S. Patton once asked a chaplain for a prayer for fair weather during the Battle of the Bulge. Learn how Scripture, simple words, bold requests, and great expectations can strengthen your prayers.
November 25, 2007
Praying with Tears
When tragedy strikes, our attention can drift into “looky lou” watching. Jan Johnson invites readers into prayers of lament—joining God’s tears, praying Scripture for the suffering, and even praying for enemies toward mercy and transformation.
November 25, 2007
Faith”s Fallowness
Mother Teresa’s private letters reveal spiritual silence alongside decades of prayer and service. This reflection explores doubt, dry seasons, and the perseverance of love when God feels distant.
June 3, 2007
Trees, Runs, and Prayers
As Dave Smith reflects on moves, memories, and the outdoors, he shares how running, wilderness solitude, and steady rhythms of movement have shaped a life of honest prayer and attentive listening to God.
October 8, 2006
Praying in the Public Square
A Navy chaplain reflects on public prayer in plural settings, explaining how preparation, biblical themes, and respect for listeners can open doors for ministry rather than create division.
October 1, 2006
The Sin of Prayerlessness
Is prayerlessness sin? Dave Butts explores what a lack of prayer reveals about self-dependence, love for the Lord, and concern for Christ’s kingdom—and encourages believers to take the next step forward in a life of prayer.
May 28, 2006
How Could We Forget?
A student reflects on why believers pray so little for the nations. Using Scripture, a survey, and personal stories from Sudan and North Africa, he points to lack of knowledge, faith, and love as common barriers.
May 28, 2006
Beth’s Story
While caring for her elderly mother, Iona Matson prays for guidance and receives an answer in a devoted caregiver. Then a surprising wartime connection reveals a circle of comfort, hope, and baptism years later.
January 22, 2006
You See It in Their Eyes
At Crossroads Christian Church, prayer during Communion grew into a shepherds ministry, and anointing with oil now draws hundreds forward. The church sees a deep hunger for spiritual connection in a post-Christian culture.
January 15, 2006
Face Time With God
By LeRoy Lawson There”s no doubt about it. When we pray, honesty is the best policy, even though our truthfulness will probably not sound very spiritual. Do we dare, in the presence of God, to utter our sullied thoughts, to strip off our masks of propriety? What will God think if we “let it all hang out”? When Eugene Peterson teaches people to pray, he challenges them to pray the Psalms. Then he waits for the shock to hit them. “Did you think these would be the prayers of nice people?” he asks. “Did you think the psalmists” language would
January 15, 2006
Prayer Is Powerful
Arron Chambers shares everyday stories and Jesus’ example in John 17 to show why prayer matters—for glory, protection, and unity—and invites believers to pray faithfully “until we die.”
January 11, 2006
Knowing His Heart
Prayer need not remain a ritual or a ceremony, but the crucial step to creating a relationship with the One who made us and loves us—learning to listen and enjoy God’s presence.
November 30, 2005
Urgency
A personal crisis illustrates how urgency reshapes priorities. Drawing from Scripture, Dave Butts calls the church to make the most of time through passionate prayer for revival and the completion of world evangelization.
October 23, 2005
“Victory in Prayer”
In Joplin, Missouri, Victory in Prayer (VIP) Fellowship gathers ministry leaders to encourage one another and pray for each other’s work. What began in a crisis became a steady rhythm of unity, cooperation, and shared intercession.
