Getting Started

Philosophy of the Prayer Bootcamp

The Lords Prayer

Think about these three questions:

  1. Do you know what prayers the Bible has directed us to pray?
  2. Do you know what makes prayer effective and what hinders prayer?
  3. Do you know what Christ's commands are to maximize blessing and answered prayer?

These one-hour prayer sessions are designed to help you pray with minimal preparation.  The preparation time should take about five minutes or less.  The philosophy is three-fold:

  1. We want you to learn to pray by praying, not reading about prayer.
  2. The prayers are simple and are either directives from Scripture (prayers we are commanded to pray) or prayers that have been prayed by other saints (i.e. "This I pray that your love may abound yet more and more.")-- Philippians 1:9-11.
  3. Initially, it may seem a bit rigid, but I think you will find this to be Biblical, Christ and Word-centered, and soul enriching.

The materials in each session have been arranged so that as you read, you pray.  Our desire is that each session will intensify your love for God, His Word, and His people as you make the most of your time praying through the Scriptures and praying for the nations.

Please note, over 100 years ago the churches use to meet for Wednesday night prayer meetings.  Then between 1950 and 1970 if digressed into a Wednesday night Bible study because the prayer meetings resorted to self-focused prayer sessions.  These prayer meetings ceased to be centered on God's Word and failed to encompass the whole counsel of God.

Then sometime after the 1970's, Wednesday night Bible studies degenerated further into Family Nights with crafts for kids and teens spending their time in the church gymnasium.  Maybe they said a little prayer before and after each event, but nonetheless laboring in prayer became less and less a part in the Western Church.

We write this as a warning to NOT underestimate the devices of the enemy as he seeks the keep us from biblical and Christ-centered prayer.  We suggest that you allow yourself to be governed by the rules (Facilitator, Page 3) for at least one year before attempting to make modifications. Learning to labor in prayer is not an easy task, but we desire that as you pray directives from Scripture, you will find them to be profitable (1 Timothy 4:6-8) and encouraging (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

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Goals of the Prayer Boot Camp
‍Learn about the Philosophy of Prayer Bootcamp
Instructions for Leaders
A General Warning