What are your prayer strategies? Could you use some?

prayer strategies

We understand that we are in a spiritual battle. We “wrestle not with flesh and blood,” but against spiritual forces. We wage this battle through prayer, fighting on our knees.

But do we understand the need for clear battle strategies? Do we fling our prayers out in a hit-or-miss fashion, or do we have a defined plan and target?

We need focused prayer strategies which will effectively devastate the works of our spiritual enemy. But what are these strategies? And how do we get them?

To develop a successful strategy, we must
1) evaluate the methods of the enemy,
and then
2) devise a plan to counter those schemes.
The strategy is both offensive and defensive.

3 Steps to a Powerful Strategy

The enemy’s primary strategy is to deceive.  Here, then,  is how you can develop the prayer strategies that you need to be victorious:

1. What lies does the enemy tempt you to believe? What lies does he tempt your spouse or family member to believe? Identify those specific lies. Those are the specific weapons that you must oppose through prayer.

2. What truth defeats those lies? Stockpile Scriptures which specifically express the truth which will demolish the deception that the enemy is using.

3. Pray those Scriptures, and believe that truth. As you do that, you are using a definite prayer strategy to gain spiritual victory. You are fighting effectively, with precision and with power.

prayer strategies

An Example

For example, if I am struggling with discouragement, I can develop a targeted prayer strategy by using those three steps:

  1. What lie am I believing? Perhaps God’s Spirit shows me that I am believing this lie: “my success comes from visible accomplishments.”
  2. What truth defeats that lie? The Scripture says that my success lies in my obedience to Christ. My goal is to please Christ—not impress others or myself.
  3. My prayer strategy is to pray these Scriptures:

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8, NLT)

“Walk in obedience” to the LORD, “so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you do.” (1 Kings 2:3, NIV and NLT)

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV)

A Helpful Resource

prayer strategies

I recently read Priscilla Shirer’s new book Fervent, which is a resource designed to accompany the movie War Room. The book’s subtitle is A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer. (These strategies form a powerful battle plan for men, too!)

Priscilla does a fantastic job of examining nine definite prayer strategies, each discussed in a separate chapter. I like the way she begins each chapter with a short analysis of the enemy perspective. It is very helpful for us to grasp that! It is precisely what C.S. Lewis creatively expressed in his Screwtape Letters. When we understand the enemy’s viewpoint and objectives, we can develop powerful counter-strategies.

Next week, I will share a couple of the prayer strategies from Fervent.

A Giveaway for YouImage courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thanks to B&H Publishing, I have a copy of Fervent to give away. Simply leave a comment on this post if you would like to be entered into the drawing for a chance to win a copy of Fervent. This book will encourage and strengthen your prayer life.

 

Please like and share! :)

10 Comments

Olivia Nixon · December 6, 2022 at 2:41 am

It would be so greatly appreciated if I could receive a copy of fervent. This will help my prayer life. I was intently blessed by war room . I am always very blessed by Priscilla.

    Tami · December 8, 2022 at 2:09 am

    I am sorry that the giveaway has concluded, but thank you for your comment. May God bless you!

Audrey · April 26, 2020 at 12:03 am

Thank you so much for sharing. I would love to read more about strategic prayer in Fervent. So much love and God bless.

    Tami · April 27, 2020 at 1:55 am

    Thank you, Audrey.

    I want to let you know that we meet online and by phone every week to pray for our marriages and families. You can find all of the information on the Prayer Call page: https://mannaformarriage.com/prayer/

    We would love to have you join us!

Kenneth&Melvadean Nelson · December 31, 2018 at 4:02 am

I need to know more about target focused prayer, as my husband is
recovering from lung cancer, i am believing for total healing for him, and our finances right now are low.
thank you,and
God Bless You’ In Jesus Love, Melvadean

    Tami · January 1, 2019 at 2:53 am

    Melvadean, I will join you in asking the Lord to give your husband a strong recovery and to provide for you financially. I pray, too, that He will encourage both of you and that He will give you peace and joy through Jesus Christ.

    The goal with prayer strategies is to identify the lies that you are tempted to believe. For example, you might be tempted to believe that God has forgotten you or that He is not going to take care of you. The strategy then would be to focus on the truth of Scriptures such as Isaiah 49:15, Psalm 27:10, Isaiah 46:4, 1 Peter 5:7, and Matthew 6:25-33. You can use those passages to steer your thoughts and to shape your prayers.

    We will be happy to pray for you on our weekly prayer call, if you’d like. You can join us each Thursday by phone or online, or you can listen to the recordings online. All the info is here on the “Prayer Call” page: https://mannaformarriage.com/prayer/

    Blessings to you!

Angel · June 27, 2018 at 8:05 pm

Hi,
It is a simple n to the point post. Thank you.
I believe God would give me the book Fervent. Amen….in between battling depression in the name of Jesus due to meaningless marriage

    Tami · June 27, 2018 at 10:58 pm

    Angel, I am sorry that you are battling depression and hurting in your marriage. I am praying for you, asking God to encourage you and provide good counsel and support for you.

    Are you able to join our weekly prayer call? You are invited to join us by phone or online each Thursday for a short time of prayer. (See the “Prayer Call” tab on this website for more information.)

Louisa Coffelt · March 22, 2017 at 10:36 pm

thank you for the helps in the article, I am praying for my husband and marriage AND Family….and every bit of training helps.

    Tami · March 22, 2017 at 10:43 pm

    Louisa, I will be praying with you for your husband, your marriage, and your family. May God encourage you in a special way. Perhaps you can join us on the prayer call on Thursdays. Blessings to you!

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