Prayers That Change Destiny: A Practical Guide to Praying the Scriptures

By Sidney Edi-Osagie

Prayers That Change Destiny is the concept of studying, articulating and declaring Gods Word in prayer with a view to the Word becoming flesh in our lives and circumstances. The results, changes and transformation these prayers bring to our destinies are an undeniable testament to the truth and potency of Gods Word. In the natural, we are destined to walk in the paths of our fathers. There are certain things encoded in our DNA that we cannot avoid, just by simply being born into our families. However, when we come into the family of God through Christ, we become born again, into an entirely new family. The generational curses and drawbacks we are destined to face as a part of our natural families are broken as a result of our new birth experience and because the prayers of the righteous avails much (James 5:16)

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781467061131

Sidney Edi-Osagie

Pastor Sidney Edi-Osagie is the Founder of the City On The Hill Evangelical Ministries International in Houston, Texas. He has participated in several ministry related efforts, which have culminated in the salvation of souls and the planting of several churches around the globe. Pastor Sidney is a husband and father. He is also a power-evangelist and teacher of the Word of God who operates under an apostolic and prophetic function of the Holy Spirit. He has been in ministry for more than fifteen years.

Book preview

In Memory Of

In loving memory of my mother

CHIEF CATHERINE NDIDI EDI-OSAGIE

(15 JAN 1934 – 16 FEB 2008)

who laid the foundation for my Christian walk

and willingness to answer

the call of God

The Concept of Prayer

What is prayer?

Definition of prayer:

1. Prayer is God’s chosen medium by which we bring our concerns, petitions, supplications, and offer thanksgiving to Him.

2. Prayer is communing with God; it is the channel by which we communicate our desires, express our worries, and present our worship and praise-reports to Him.

3. A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship¹.

4. Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made².

5. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God³.

6. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian⁴.

7. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope⁵.

8. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord⁶.

The Fundamentals of Prayer

1. Prayer is a two-way, not a one-way communication.

- Habakkuk 2:1-3

- Isaiah 1:18-19

- Isaiah 40:9-11

2. God has tied himself by covenant to the prayers of the saints

• The Creator of the universe will not intervene in certain affairs of men or creation, except men pray.

- Numbers 10:9-10

- Psalm 50:15

- Job 22:27-30

3. Prayer is the tool God has given man to overcome adversity, discouragement, suffering, anxiety and temptation to faint or give up; and to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to Him.

- Luke 18:1

- Proverbs 24:10

- Isaiah 40:28-31

- James 5:13-18

- Philippians 4:4-7

4. Prayer is an art that can be learned and perfected.

- Matthew 6:5-9A

- Luke 11:1-2A

Why Should We Pray?

1. Prayer is a statement of humility and brokenness by which we admit to God that we are insufficient in ourselves and need His help.

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

- Isaiah 57:15

- Psalm 34:18

2. Prayer humbles the flesh, so we can better connect with God’s will for our lives.

- Proverbs 8:17

- Jeremiah 29:12-14A

- 2 Chronicles 33:18-19

3. We are commanded to pray, so when we pray we are not only being obedient, but also doing His will.

- Matthew 6:5A

- Matthew 6:9-10

- Psalm 50:14-15

Necessary Ingredients for Effective Prayer

1. Prayer must be addressed to God

- Psalm 65:1-5

- Jeremiah 33:1-3

- Psalm 91:14-16

2. Prayers should be offered to God in the name of Jesus Christ

- John 14:6, 13-14

- John 16:23-24

- Acts 4:8-12

3. Prayer should be done in faith and without doubt, since having doubt in prayer is just as bad as not having prayed at all

- Hebrews 11:1-3; 6

- Acts 12:13-16

- Hebrews 4:2-3

- 1 John 5:14-15

- James 1:6-8

- 2 Corinthians 4:13

4. Prayer ought to be purposeful, targeted and focused

- James 4:3

- Isaiah 41:21

- Matthew 6:7-8

5. For prayer to be effective, it has to be according to His will

- 1 John 5:14-15

- Acts 13:21-22

- Daniel 9:1-6

- Jeremiah 29:10-14

6. God is only obligated to answer prayers that are offered according to His will

- Matthew 18:18 (Amplified)

- Acts 12:20-24

- Acts 19:19-20

- Jeremiah 23:29

- 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

7. To successfully pray according to his will, you have to bring God’s Word back to him

- Isaiah 43:26

- Isaiah 41:21

- Isaiah 1:18-19

8. Repentance, obedience, holiness and purity are prerequisites for answered prayer

- Proverbs 28:9, 13

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

- 1 John 1:8-9

- Psalm 34:15-17

- Psalm 66:17-20

- 2 Timothy 2:19

- Psalm 50:16-22

- John 14:15

9. Love is the foundation for effective prayer

- John 3:16-17

- 1 Peter 4:8

- Ephesians 4:25-32

- Hebrew 13:1

- Ephesians 5:1-2

- John 13:34-35

10. You must ask before you expect to receive, for a prayer not spoken is a prayer not offered

- Matthew 7:7-8

- James 4:2B

- John 14:13-14

- John 16:23-24

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Prayer

1. He is called our Helper and Advocate in that He helps us in our weaknesses, and speaks up for us.

- John 14:16-18

2. The Holy Spirit not only teaches and directs us how to pray, what to pray, and when to pray, but also aids us in the very act of prayer.

- Romans 8:26

- Romans 8:14

3. The Holy Spirit was given to us for our profit in the things of the kingdom as well as our secular life.

- 1 Corinthians 12:7

- Isaiah 48:17

4. The Holy Spirit comforts us and reminds us of the Words of Christ.

- John 14:26

- Luke 12:12

- Luke 21:15

5. The Holy Spirit is the ‘Power House’ of the Godhead; the Power Generator of God.

- Genesis 1:1-3

- Luke 24:49

- Acts 10:38

- Acts 1:4-8

- Acts 2:14-17

- Acts 4:31

6. The Spirit of God is the One who backs the prayer of the saints with the authority and power of heaven.

- Acts 13:6-15

- Acts 4:32-37

- Acts 5:1-11

7. The Holy Spirit helps to build our faith and prayer life.

- Jude 1:20

- 2 Corinthians 4:13

8. The Spirit of God is a Revealer of secrets.

- John 16:13-14

- 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

- Deuteronomy 29:29

- Daniel 2:14-24

- Psalm 25:14

9. The Holy Spirit is a Leader, who leads and directs us.

- Romans 8:14

- Matthew 4:1-4

- Acts 16:6-10

- Acts 13:1-5

- Psalm 37:23

10. The Holy Spirit confirms our redemption and sonship by bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God

- Romans 8:16-17

11. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee of our redemption

- Ephesians 1:13-14

- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

The Wonders of Intercession

What is Intercession?

Intercession is praying with the real hope and real intent that God would step in and act for the positive advancement of some specific other person(s) or other entity⁷.

1. It is trusting God to act, even if it’s not in the manner or timing we seek. God wants us to ask, even urgently. It is casting our weakness before God’s strength, and (at its best) having a bit of God’s passion burn in us⁸.

2. Intercessors take the situations of other people to God in prayer. It’s an act of bold love that’s like God’s own. God wants you to care that much⁹.

The Ministry of Intercession

1. Jesus Christ is the Chief Intercessor or Intercessor-In-Chief

- Romans 8:31-34

- Hebrews 7:23-25

2. The Holy Spirit is our Perfect Intercessor

- Romans 8:26-27

3. All intercessors are in partnership with Christ

- 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

4. God is seeking intercessors

- Ezekiel 22:27-31

- Proverbs 24:11-12

5. Intercession fulfills God’s purpose and will on earth by attracting His mercy, forgiveness and blessings; it also restrains His anger and judgment.

- Genesis 18:16-33

- Exodus 32:9-14

The Right Motive for Prayer

The foundation for everything good and successful in God’s Kingdom rests upon our motives and intentions. God looks at the heart and His Spirit is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.

A. Not Praying for Selfish Reasons

- James 4:3

B. Love

- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

C. The Right Kind of Heart

- 1 Samuel 16:6-7

- Proverbs 4:23

- Psalm 51:10-11

D. Service unto the Lord

- Exodus 23:25-26

- Mark 10:44-45

Strategies for Success in Prayer

1. Spiritual Mapping

- A prayer map or spiritual map is used to provide information concerning a spiritual territory or location just as a regular map does in respect to a physical location. Simply put, it is looking at a geographic territory from a spiritual perspective.

- The purpose of Spiritual Mapping for a city, town or region might be:

i. To pray effectively in order to bring that territory under the Lordship of Jesus Christ¹⁰.

ii. The spiritual map assesses the current spiritual conditions in the area so that a strategy can be perfected to recover any ground currently in the possession of the enemy, Satan, and his demonic hoard¹¹.

- Ezekiel 4:1-3

- Numbers 13:1-3

2. Forgiving and letting go of offenses

- Matthew 6:12, 14-15

3. Seeking God’s forgiveness for personal sins and transgressions

- 1 John 1:8-9

4. Oneness, Unity and Love

- Psalm 133:1-3

- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

- Romans 13:8-10

- Galatians 5:14

5. Fasting

- Isaiah 58:1-14

- Matthew 17:21

6. Taking time to actually seek God’s face and travail in the place of prayer

- James 4:2B

- Matthew 7:7-8

- Numbers 10:9

- 1 Kings 18:41-46

7. Faith: Making up your mind to believe God and act on that belief as necessary

- Hebrews 11:1-3

- 1 John 5:14-15

- 2 Corinthians 4:13

- Hebrews 11:6

8. Continually offering Him thanks for who He is and what He does

- Psalm 50:14

- Psalm 100:4-5

- Philippians 4:6-7

- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

9. Waiting on the Lord as you bring your petitions and supplications, with thanksgiving before Him

- Isaiah 40:28-31

- Luke 10:38-42

10. Praying specific and targeted prayers

- James 4:3A

11. Being persistent and exercising perseverance in the place of prayer

- Matthew 7:7-8 (Amplified)

- 1 Thessalonians 5:17

- Luke 18:1

- 2 Corinthians 12:8

- Genesis 18:16-33

Prayers For Life & Godliness

God affirms and blesses us through answered prayer. In prayer, we will also find the addresses to the location of the various and numerous promises our God has kept in His Grace for us. It is because of our renewed minds, changed perspectives and knowledge of the truth we understand that God has already provided everything we need for life and godliness [2 Peter 1:3-4). Do we really see our destiny changing for the better? It is the help of the Holy Spirit in effectively praying these prayers and the breath of the Holy Spirit upon these prayers that produces the desired results and transforms lives!

Favor That Cannot Be Resisted

Scripture Reading: Genesis 39:1-4; Esther 5:1-3; Psalm 102:13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Genesis 18:3

Memory Verse/Confession: Psalm 5:12

For you O Lord will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Explanation:

Favor is simply getting what you do not deserve. It is a blessing of God we greatly need as we go about our daily lives. Favor manifests in various ways; it could be that sudden and unexpected promotion at work, a bump up from the back to the front of the grocery line, or it could be that telephone call, email or letter from a stranger, a friend or close acquaintance that changes everything in your life. This is the theme for the following set of prayers. Since men are God’s primary agents of favor, it may be right to conclude that ‘Favor is the name of a man’.

THEME: FAVORED FOR SIGNS AND WONDERS

1. I arrest by fire everything chasing away goodness from my life, in Jesus name (Matthew 18:18; Psalm 5:12)

2. I destroy by the blood of Jesus everything in my life attracting evil to me, in the name of Jesus (Revelations 12:11; Psalm 90:17)

3. Unusual favor of the Most High God lead me to my place of blessing and bless me abundantly, in Jesus name (Psalm 37:23; Psalm 84:11)

4. Holy Spirit, separate me from the crowd and distinguish me by signs, wonders and miracles in Jesus name (2 Chronicles 16:9A; Ephesians 1:11)

5. Spirit of uncommon favor, possess my body, soul and spirit for divine promotion this year, in Jesus name (Psalm 75:6-7; Genesis 6:8)

6. O Lord, cause someone to mention my name in the palace of the king you have assigned to promote me in Jesus name (I Samuel 16:14-18)

7. Spirit of grace connect me speedily to my divine helpers, in Jesus name (I Corinthians 15:10; Esther 2:15-18)

8. You this year, month and day, hear the word of the Lord; you must favor and cooperate with the purpose and plan of God for my life, in Jesus name (I Peter 3:12; Psalm 30:5)

9. Favor of the Almighty God, lift me up from where I am presently to where you have prepared for me, in Jesus name (Psalm 102:13; Proverbs 3:1-4)

10. I claim and receive express financial favor for me and my family throughout the remaining of this year, in Jesus name (Deuteronomy 8:18; Matthew 6:31-33)

11. Divine favor that will make me relevant in every area of my life, locate and begin to bless me now, in the name of Jesus (Isaiah 48:17; Luke 2:52)

12. By Your mercy O Lord, radically decrease my labor and increase my favor in Jesus name (Psalm 106:4-5; Isaiah 58:11)

Completion of all Endeavors

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 62:1-9; Isaiah 64:1-4; Revelation 22:13-14; James 1:17; Psalm 1:1-3

Memory Verse/Confession: Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Explanation:

To begin and be able to complete a thing is probably the greatest reward, especially something that demanded a lot from us. The joy of completion is actually as fulfilling as the tangible rewards derived from the project. We are advised to keep, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God (Hebrews 12:4). The joy of our salvation and His exaltation was His ultimate reward, but first He had to complete His race.

THEME: FROM COMPLETION TO DECORATION

1. Thank you Lord for keeping me alive to see this season of my life, in Jesus name (Psalm 100:4)

2. I worship you Lord for the wonderful things you have done, and are currently doing in my life, in Jesus name (Psalm 103:1-5)

3. I decree divine completion regarding every ongoing project and miracle in my life, in Jesus name (Philippians 1:6; Job 8:7)

4. Let the anointing for speedy completion locate every uncompleted project in my life, in Jesus name (Jeremiah 1:11-12)

5. I command instant manifestation regarding every prophecy that has been spoken into my life, in Jesus name (Isaiah 55:11)

6. Angels of Completion, go ahead of me and perfect my testimonies, in Jesus name (Hebrews 1:14)

7. I use the blood of Jesus to bridge every gap in time standing between me and the completion of my breakthroughs in Jesus name (Revelations 12:11; Hebrews 12:24)

8. I summon the hunter and fisher angels to begin to hunt down and fish out every power attacking my destiny in Jesus name (Jeremiah 16:16)

9. Alpha and Omega, complete every good work You’ve started in my life, in the name of Jesus (Revelations 22:13)

10. In this covenant year, I command everything God has created to begin to work tirelessly for my breakthrough and completion, in Jesus name (Romans 8:28)

Holiness

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:6-10; 2 Corinthians 7:1

Memory Verse/Confession: Hebrews 12:14

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (NIV)

Explanation:

God’s