Praying the Right Way for the Life We Live
“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.”
— James 5:13 (NLT)
If we want to pray powerful prayers, we must learn to pray Kingdom Prayers.
Kingdom Prayers are:
- Always about His Kingdom, not our kingdom
- Always about His will, not our will
- Always selfless, not selfish
- And they release the unlimited power of God
Non-kingdom prayers only release the limited power of man.
Before diving deeper, let’s review the foundation for all Kingdom Prayer, the words Jesus Himself gave us.
The Model of Kingdom Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9–13 (KJV)
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven…”
Jesus didn’t give us something to repeat mindlessly.
He gave us a pattern.
A Kingdom Prayer begins with:
- God’s name
- God’s kingdom
- God’s will
Only after that do we bring our needs.
James Teaches Us How to Pray Kingdom Prayers
In the final chapter of James, we’re given very practical instruction on how Kingdom Prayers should look in real life.
1. Your First Response Should Always Be God
James 5:13 (NLT)
“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.”
Whether you are:
- hurting
- overwhelmed
- discouraged
- or even joyful
Your first response should always be God.
The question is simple:
- Who do you run to first?
- God or people?
James doesn’t say never talk to others.
He says go to God first.
He is:
- our Refuge in trouble
- our Rock
- our Fortress
- our Strong Tower
Even in moments of joy, we are called to praise first.
When God is the center of everything, we are declaring:
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
2. Kingdom Prayer Involves Faith, Community, and God’s Authority
James 5:14–15 (NLT)
“Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church… anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.”
James gives us clear direction:
- Call the elders
- Anoint with oil
- Pray in faith
- Do it in the name of the Lord
The healing doesn’t come from the oil.
The oil is symbolic.
We see this practice modeled by the disciples:
Mark 6:12–13 (NLT)
“They healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.”
The oil isn’t magical.
It’s a faith-filled action pointing to:
- God’s power
- God’s presence
- God’s authority
“Anointing with oil is a physical act expressing a spiritual truth—we belong to God and have committed ourselves fully into His care.”
3. Confession, Healing, and Wisdom
James 5:16 (NLT)
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
Let’s be clear:
- God alone forgives sin
- Healing begins when we go to God first
After that, we may be led to share with others, but only with wisdom.
The right person:
- points you back to God
- strengthens your future
The wrong person:
- gossips
- keeps you chained to your past
Kingdom Prayer requires discernment.
4. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Kingdom Prayers
James 5:17–18 (NLT)
James reminds us that Elijah was just like us. A human.
Yet when Elijah prayed:
- rain stopped for 3½ years
- rain returned when he prayed again
During the drought, Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 18:36–39
With a simple Kingdom Prayer, God answered with fire.
Before Elijah prayed, he did something shocking:
- He ordered twelve barrels of water poured over the sacrifice
- During a drought
Why?
So that God alone would get the glory.
James says we are just like Elijah.
In other words:
👉 We can pray big Kingdom Prayers too.
5. There Is a Sound of Abundance
1 Kings 18:41–45
Elijah prayed again. This time for rain.
He prayed persistently.
Seven times.
Until a cloud the size of a man’s hand appeared.
And soon after:
“There was a great rain.”
Final Truth
There is nothing impossible when we pray Kingdom Prayers.
Not healing.
Not restoration.
Not breakthrough.
Not revival.
Nothing. 🙌🏽
