• Ask-Seek-Knock
• Cross of Prayer
• ABC’s
• Lord’s prayer
• Worship submit listen etc.
• A.C.T.S.
• Five Finger Prayer

Ask-Seek-Knock
The key to praying is often knowing exactly how to approach the need. If someone is sick, do you ask God to heal them, do you rebuke the sickness, do you need to pray through some underlying problem, etc.? This is a good model to use when you’re not sure which approach to take.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” -Matthew. 7:7-8 NIV

1-Ask God to anoint you to pray for this particular need. Admit that you don’t have what it takes, and you need His supernatural help even to pray effectively. Then receive His anointing.

2-Search for the right approach or promises to apply to this need. Lay down your own personal understanding of the situation, or your own desires for the solution. Wait with the Lord until you have received the revelation you need. It may help to Search through His promises until He highlights the right ones. 

3-Knock on His door of heaven with these promises or revelation in your hand. Come with boldness, because you know you have His heart on the matter. Don’t give up, keep knocking until He opens the door, and you receive the blessing you seek.

The Cross of Prayer
This pattern of prayer is based on the blood of Christ. His blood flowed from five wounds as He hung on the cross. Because of His blood we can move in His authority, wisdom, provision, justice, and victory.

Head -Authority
The wounds on His head represent His authority. 
-Proclaim Christ as the head over all.

Side -Compassion and Wisdom
The wound in His side represents His heart of compassion and wisdom.
- Ask God for His heart for the situation and for His wisdom on how to pray.

Left Hand -Provision
The wound on His left hand represents His provision.
- Ask God for the blessing and provision to satisfy the need.

Right Hand -Resistance
The wound on His right hand represents His resistance to evil.
- Ask God to judge and resist those things that hold back His blessings.

Feet -Victory
The wounds on His feet represent His victory over Satan.
- Proclaim the victory of Christ and declare the works of the devil as crushed under the feet of Jesus.

ABC’s abiding, believing, confronting
These elements of our relationship with God work together like three strands of a cord.

• Abiding puts us in intimate contact with God where we can know His heart and will. 
• Believing connects us with God’s authority and His mighty promises. 
• Confronting is the application of God’s will and His word to see His kingdom come. 

All together, abiding, believing, confronting enable us to pray with God’s heart, according to His Word, in the confidence of His authority. Let’s take a look at these strands and see how they work together to create a strong effective prayer life:


Strand-1 Abiding
In John 15, Jesus talked about, “Abiding”. He spoke about the branch and the vine, describing the type of relationship you are meant to have with Him- a close, dependent connection. He promised that you could have whatever you asked in prayer if you were abiding in Him. This is where all effective prayer starts, close intimate fellowship with Jesus.

Strand-2 Believing
As a Christian you are called to rise above the natural circumstances of life, and live by the promises of God. Just as Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water when Jesus called him, (story in -Matt. 14:25-33), you are to walk by faith and not by sight. As you allow the word of God to become your standard for living, you will find the courage you need to step beyond the natural and do exploits for God.

Strand-3 Confronting
Only Christians have the authority to resist the spiritual forces of darkness. The bible says, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” -1 John 3:8. Confronting is standing against the enemies of God for the purpose of setting the captives free. 

Once you know God’s heart and will, through abiding and believing, you are ready to stand as His representative and apply His authority. The scriptures say, “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord but the earth He has given to the sons of men...” -Ps. 115:1. Jesus wants you to have confidence as you exercise your God-given authority.

The Lord’s Prayer
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them a simple 6 step pattern to follow, known as the “Lord’s Prayer.” Jesus didn’t intend for us to just pray the same words he spoke in Matthew 6:9, He intended it to be an outline for prayer. Use each verse of the Lord’s prayer as a guideline to help keep your prayer-time on track.


“Pray, then, in this way:” 
Step 1 “Our Father Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” This is the call to praise and worship. Take time to honor the Lord and consider His greatness. Remember His faithfulness to you and be encouraged by His promises.

Step 2 “Thy kingdom come Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”
Align yourself with God’s will, and listen so you can know His desires. Proclaim God’s will over your life, family, church, the lost, etc. Wait and allow the Lord to share His heart and will with you.

Step 3 “Give us this day our daily bread.” Ask God for your needs and the needs of others. Be specific, and ask in faith for anything you know the Lord wants to give you ie. Ask and I will give you the nations as an inheritance. (see step 2).

Step 4 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Ask God for forgiveness in any areas of known sin, and speak out forgiveness toward anyone you have not forgiven.

Step 5 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Ask God for the grace to stand firm in the face of temptation and resist the schemes of the enemy. Remembering to look to Jesus for the way of escape.

Step 6 “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Finish with proclaiming who God is and exalting His name. Take time to thank Him for the answers to come, and to worship Him.

Worship, Submit, Listen, Respond

Worship
-”Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” -Psalm 100:4

Submit
- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” -James 4:7

Listen
-”I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people...” -Psalm 85:8

Respond
-”...and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.” -1 John 3:22 

Pray with A.C.T.S. - A.C.T.S. is an easy way to remember key elements of prayer. It's simply prayer in four parts:

Adoration - "Praise be to God!" -Psalm 68:35 
Tell God how much you appreciate Him. Express your love for Him. Praise His power and majesty. This is a great way to begin your prayer time. Sometimes I watch the sun rise, and praise God for the beauty of His creation. You should never run out of praise. "How awesome are your deeds!" -Psalm 66:3

Confession - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9 
Tell Him where you have fallen short. Be specific. I thank Him for the forgiveness I have in Christ, and ask for help and strength to turn away from future temptations.

Thanksgiving - Always "glorify him with thanksgiving" -Psalm 69:30 
You have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Thank God for His love, His faithfulness, His patience and a million other things. Express gratitude for what He's doing in your life. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you. Thank the Holy Spirit for indwelling you, and never leaving. Thank Him for being your conscience, your counselor and that "still small voice."

Supplication - "Make your requests known to God." -Philippians 4:6 
Tell God what you want, no matter how small it seems to you. Do you really think any of your requests are big to God the Creator? You should have lots of intercessory prayer here. Remember: As a Promise Keeper, you are committed to pray for your pastor and your church every day.

Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those
closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty".

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.