Words to Live By: Never underestimate the power of a simple prayer offered on behalf of a complex situation.
Words to Live By: Never underestimate the power of a simple prayer offered on behalf of a complex situation.
Hebrews 4, Luke 18, Philippians 4
August 24th, 2025
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Words to Live By
Never short-sell an immeasurable more God.
Never underestimate the power of a simple prayer offered on behalf of a complex situation.
3 Elements of a Child’s Prayer
Simple.
Often.
Faith-filled.
A Good barometer of spiritual maturity/understanding is the progression of our prayers from childish to childlike.
A Broader Understanding of Prayer
The Who of Prayer is God.
The What of Prayer is His will.
The Where of Prayer is wherever.
The When of Prayer is without ceasing.
The Why of Prayer is relationship.
The How of Prayer is simple, often and faith-filled.
An Approach to Prayer to Increase Your Praying
Shoot for Simple. Aim at Often. Forward in Faith.
The Double Ring of “Simple”
Simple Ring 1.
Talking always feels less potent than acting with this one exception… when the person with whom you are talking holds power over the circumstance!
Simple Ring 2. If we believe the power of prayer rests in us – then our prayers have to be articulate, informed and robust in order to move God. If we believe the power of prayer rests in God, then our prayers can be raw and emotional without much polish.
To pray simply doesn’t mean flippant or “in passing”. It means to place more emphasis on the action of prayer than the manner of prayer. If I wait to pray until I have a handle on the issue I have waited too long to pray.
Simple prayer is a function of relational understanding.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP) 14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].
The power of a Simple Prayer is a relationally dependent not a word dominant. A relationship with God through Christ isn’t based on merit but on mercy, not on my goodness but His grace. God’s approachability is not performance based, it is relationship based established in Christ.
Matthew 6:5-10 (NIV) 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others (= their purpose). Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (= our purpose). 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows (relationship) what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (reflects a trusting relationship).
Shoot for Simple
Aim for Often
Luke 18:1-8 (NIV) Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally, he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Why is persistence a necessary component of prayer?
Prayer has spiritual opposition (Daniel 10).
Prayer is more than an ask it is a tool of personal transformation.
Often prayers have often responses. We can’t get everything in one download.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Shoot for Simple
Aim for Often
Forward in Faith
The full measure of our faith isn’t found in our ask, it’s found in our movement. Prayer first and foremost is an open invitation into your life. A forward in faith prayer comes with a preloaded “yes” to any and all God given instructions. God can wipe away our tears but rarely does He wipe away a circumstance. He usually walks us out of a circumstance hand in hand which means we have to walk forward in faith.
Romans 8:26-28 (AMP) 26 In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. 28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
Never underestimate the power of a simple prayer on behalf of a complex situation.
Shoot for Simple. The power of prayer is in God, not the prayer or pray-er.
Aim for Often. Don’t drift from God in the gap, draw closer in prayer.
Follow in Faith. If you have enough faith to pray, have enough faith to follow.