E3 Tools: Prayer Patterns

Prayer Patterns

Consider the following verse to help you learn how to pray:

“…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” — Ephesians 6:18

1. PRAYING

• Is a sacred term for conversation with God.
• Is a two-way conversation, where you speak and listen to God.

2. AT ALL TIMES

• Derives from Greek words meaning “in every season” or always.
• Represents words that Jesus used consistently.
• Luke 21:36 is another example: “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

3. IN THE SPIRIT

• In literal terms this means “to be joined with.”
• This represents that God (or the Holy Spirit) lives in us and enables us to pray.
• Romans 8:15, 26 is another example: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ … Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.”

4. WITH ALL PRAYER

• Use the Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (ACTS) prayer pattern.
• Try this by recording your prayers on the ACTS chart below.

5. AND SUPPLICATION

• Has a root word of “supply.”
• Represents us receiving blessings from God and averting evils or fears.