The Christian’s Prayer Book: Focused Prayers 101

By David C Jantjies

In the beginning man had to be in a very distinct relationship with God in order to have passage to his heart. However, this would dramatically change when Jesus came to earth. Early in his ministry, Jesus realized man’s inability to pray. And thus, Jesus taught his followers to pray the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Matthew 6: 9–13. It is evident that Jesus was teaching his followers that his Father does not expect lengthy supplications. We simply had to enter in prayer giving God glory, soliciting the things we need, begging for forgiveness, petitioning a way around evil, and finally pouring out our adulations on God in all his majesty.

David Christian Jantjies, in this epic work, digs a little deeper and uncovers the untapped treasures of the much-neglected individualized focused prayer. The time has now come to approach the throne of God with focused prayers—less detailed, accentuated prayer-worship of the Living God, themed petitions, and crisp thanksgiving for what God has done and is still doing. It further preaches for a more frequent interaction with God.

The Christian’s Prayer Book – Focused Prayers 101 is a glorious work. Readers will be able to identify with most of these prayers. The spectrum is wide. The glorification of God is immense. The petitions are daily contentions. The praise-giving to God is huge. Each prayer is supported by potent quotations. However, do not miss the teachings on what prayer is, where to pray, when to pray, and how to pray.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973649410

David C Jantjies

David C Jantjies (PTD, BA, B.Ed., M.Ed.) is an acclaimed educationist and leader in his community and church. Apart from having been a high school principal and inspector of schools, David also landed himself senior management positions in national rail transport and in the central bank of South Africa. David has extensively traveled his home country, South Africa, as well as Nigeria, Lesotho, Swaziland, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, several European countries, and the United States of America. He has represented his church internationally several times, worshiped with bishops and priests, yet he also sat down to pray and share bread with the down-and-out. However, it is David’s unequivocal passion for Christian education, saving of souls, caring for the needy, and praying with those whose words have stuck in their throats, that keeps on driving him forward. He fervently believes that, “What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) This outstanding example of servitude is an astute motivational speaker, a preacher and inspirational writer. He is also a qualified South African National Tourist Guide, project coordinator, loves singing, and plays the guitar. His forte is undoubtedly working with the youth, propelling them to unprecedented heights of excellence. David actively inspires his social media audience daily from his website, www.davidjantjies.com. He currently pursues his Ph.D.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-4942-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4943-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4941-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018914957

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/09/2019

DEDICATION

To the God of hosts, to whom we pray, for this book. It is He that turned my mourning into dancing.

To my prayerful and supportive wife, Adeline.

To my children and grandchildren. My focused prayer is that they will constantly seek and find the sovereign God, and serve him in newness of life, for the rest of their lives, just like their praying mom and grandmother taught them to do.

To my global spiritual family and exceptional friends who never ceased praying for me and encouraging me to publish.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

1 John 5:14

I recommend this (prayer), because it hinders no engagement and occupies no time. You may be measuring your calicoes, or weighing your groceries, or you may be casting up and account, and between the items you may say, ‘Lord, help me.’ You may breathe a prayer to heaven and say, ‘Lord, keep me.’

Charles Spurgeon

Jesus Christ once taught and said:

"After this manner therefore pray ye:

‘Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

forever.

Amen.’"

Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version (KJV)

PREFACE

Recently, one of my beautiful daughters, Ilze Joy, asked me to write a series of prayers as part of my daily devotions that I publish on social media.

She was convinced that such a series would vastly assist those Christians that are struggling to express themselves before the throne of almighty God.

A lot of prayer followed before the idea of focused prayers was planted in my heart by the Holy Spirit, and here we now have our first publication of focused prayers with applicable reflection quotes.

A wide and diverse range of possible prayers that covers almost every aspect of our spiritual, physical, financial, academic and social lives have been covered. The Christian’s Prayer Book – Focused Prayers 101, is bound to drastically change perspectives of our communication with God.

It is the prayer of my heart that this book will find its way into every home, into bedrooms, classrooms, study rooms, lecture halls and churches. I pray that every Christian will own a copy of The Christian’s Prayer Book – Focused Prayers 101, or at least have access to one.

When praying from this book, be mindful of the fact that these are individualized, focused prayers – each prayer focusing on just one singular occurrence, need, concern, frustration, challenge - or simply praising the Lord.

Basically, "The Christian’s Prayer Book – Focused Prayers 101", teaches that our prayers should be less complicated and that we can single out that one thing we really would want God to deal with for us, or that we would want to give Him praise for.

I thank Almighty God for every word that He directed me to pen down. Ever, so often, I could not even remember how that tremendous concept landed in the script. I shall forever be grateful for the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding me, directing me, and sealing my writing.

God bless

ON FOCUSED PRAYERS

Christians often have the tendency to lay their desires, concerns, needs, petitions, praise and gratitude before the throne of God in huge packages, mostly out of tradition or simply because they believe God should handle it all until the next time they pray again.

However, focused prayers propagate individualized, short and to the point invocations, each time addressing a single matter. It further preaches more frequent interaction with God, inundating the heavens with one singular concern at a time, a load of worship at a time, or a heap of gratitude at a time.

Paul teaches in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (MEV): Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

This then is exactly the excitement to be drawn from this renewed prayer life the author suggests, and it is bound to monumentally improve our Christian existence in a very demanding world today.

This book is the revolutionary product of the fresh trend to pray focused prayers rather than lengthy and composite prayers – whether praying in private as an individual or whether praying as part of a collective in public.

The idea is profound as it has Christians realize that their privilege to commune with God for any possible reason, as often as possible, and at any possible juncture, need not be cluttered with a conglomerate of words and an amass of propositions to try and impress almighty God.

Inasmuch as The Christian’s Prayer Book – Focused Prayers 101 may serve as a source or guide to individuals and prayer warrior meetings, its relevance and importance regarding academic scrutiny and referencing, is significant. The Holy Spirit has clearly guided the author to teach a great new way of talking to God – a brand new approach that will set both clergy and laity, as well as theologians and students browsing.

CONTENTS

1.     A Prayer of Adoration to God

2.     A Prayer when I Need an Anchor

3.     A Prayer when I Understand that my Attitude

determines my Altitude

4.     A Prayer to Address my Anxiety

5.     A Prayer to be Authentic

6.     A Prayer for my New-born Baby

7.     A Prayer when I Know God will Fight my Battles.

8.     A Prayer at Bedtime

9.     A Prayer when I Suffer Bereavement

10.   A Prayer for my Birthday

11.   A Prayer when I Know the Best is yet to Come.

12.   A Prayer when I Feel Blessed

13.   A Prayer to Break Through and Blossom

14.   A Prayer Hailing God for my Incredible Body

15.   A Prayer when I am Grateful for my New Car

16.   A Prayer when I Need a Champion-maker

17.   A Prayer of a Parent Raising a Child

18.   A Prayer when I Feel Confident

19.   A Prayer when I Feel that Church is not Church Anymore

20.   A Prayer when I Know God is in Control

21.   A Prayer for Courage in the Name of Jesus

22.   A Prayer for my New Home

23.   A Prayer when I Feel Grateful for the Cross

24.   A Prayer for my Daughter

25.   A Prayer when I Know my Delight is in the Lord

26.   A Prayer for Greater Dependability

27.   A Prayer when I Feel Compelled to Ask God to Change my Destiny

28.   A Prayer when I’m in Doubt

29.   A Prayer to Dare me Dream

30.   A Prayer to Usher the Dying

31.   A Prayer when I Feel an Emptiness Inside of Me

32.   A Prayer when I have to Endure

33.   A Prayer as I Fight off the Enemy in the Name of Jesus

34.   A Prayer when I Feel Excited

35.   A Prayer when I Know I need to Pursue the Extraordinary

36.   A Prayer Acknowledging God’s Faithfulness

37.   A Prayer for my Family

38.   A Prayer when I Prepare to Fast

39.   A Prayer to Trust God who Fights for Me

40.   A Prayer when Receiving the News that I have Graduated.

41.   A Prayer Knowing God sees it All

42.   A Prayer when I Feel Happy

43.   A Prayer when I Feel that my Heart is Troubled

44.   A Prayer to Celebrate Holy Spirit Power!

45.   A Prayer when I Know that my Heavenly Father Knows

46.   A Prayer for Happiness

47.   A Prayer when I Know God is my Healer

48.   A Prayer when I Feel like Soaring Higher

49.   A Prayer when I Feel Hurt

50.   A Prayer for a Measure of Intelligence

51.   A Prayer when I Feel Inferior

52.   A Prayer when I Feel Joyful

53.   A Prayer for my Breakthrough and Being Jubilant

54.   A Prayer when I Feel Irritated

55.   A Prayer when I Feel that I Lack Resources

56.   A Prayer for Abundant Life

57.   A Prayer when Carrying a Heavy Load

58.   A Prayer when I Feel Jealous

59.   A Prayer when I Feel Lonely

60.   A Prayer when I Feel Loved

61.   A Prayer Acknowledging God is Merciful

62.   A Prayer when I Feel Worried

63.   A Prayer in the Morning when I Rise

64.   A Prayer for my Mother

65.   A Prayer when I have to Climb a Mountain

66.   A Prayer when I get Reminded to Love my Neighbor

67.   A Prayer when I Celebrate the Love of God

68.   A Prayer when I feel Troubled in the Middle of the Night

69.   A Prayer when I Understand that I Sometimes have to Say, ‘No’

70.   A Prayer when I See God Create Something New

71.   A Prayer to Remain Obligated

72.   A Prayer when I know that the Odds are Stacked against Me

73.   A Prayer of Pardon from Sin unto Salvation

74.   A Prayer when I Know that Perseverance will See me Through.

75.   A Prayer when I am Grateful for my Sacred Potential

76.   A Prayer when I Feel Powerless

77.   A Prayer filled with Excitement

78.   A Prayer when I Feel I Cannot Pray Anymore

79.   A Prayer when I Feel Privileged

80.   A Prayer when I Feel Regret

81.   A Prayer to Renew my Mind

82.   A Prayer when I Know my Search is Over

83.   A Prayer to Help me Sow the Right Seed

84.   A Sinner’s Prayer

85.   A Prayer for my Son

86.   A Prayer for my Sorrows to End

87.   A Prayer being Concerned about my Soul

88.   A Prayer when Entering a Game of Sport

89.   A Prayer to Help me Take Away the Stone

90.   A Prayer when I Feel Stressed

91.   A Prayer when I Know I have to Surrender to Jesus

92.   A Prayer of a Teacher

93.   A Prayer when I Feel I have to Transform

94.   A Prayer when I Wish to Thank God that I am Unique

95.   A Prayer when I am Content to be like a Tree Planted by the Waterside.

96.   A Prayer when I Feel I need to Trust the Lord

97.   A Prayer Trusting God to make a Way out of No Way

98.   A Prayer when I Feel I should Have Understanding

99.   A Prayer for Living a Life of Vibrancy

100. A Prayer when I Feel Weak

101. A Prayer when I Need to Thank God for the Ability to Work

1 A Prayer of Adoration to God

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

-Isaiah 6:3 (KJV)

Dear heavenly Father,

Glory and majesty to you, and praises to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh, my Lord, oh my Jesus, I lift my hands in praise and adoration to you today.

I give you honor, and declare with my mouth opened wide, that you are an awesome God.

Certainly, there is none like you in all the heavens and all the earth.

The universe in its infinity declares your wisdom, and power, almighty God.

There are no limits to your ability, your authority, and your greatness.

Today, I just wish to lift my worship to your incomparable throne.

I think of you, almighty God, with fondness and admiration.

I think of you, Father God, with the ultimate regard and adulation.

I think of you, gracious Master, in exultation and glorification.

My heart pounds as it treasures your holiness and extols your reverence.

My heart throbs as it honors, lauds, and magnifies your sanctity and blessedness.

My heart races, oh living God, as it cherishes your unfailing love, mercy, and grace for me.

Great God Almighty, what shall I do to intensify my veneration for you?

Where shall I go to pay homage to your divine eminence?

What shall I say to raise your banner and blare out your glory?

The angels, I’ve been told, give endless praise to you, and worship you on mighty wings.

The redeemed up in heaven call out your name in ceaseless acclamation.

Paradise reverberates with devotion, delight, and euphoric elation at your very sight.

And so, my Lord, here I am right now and I declare this space holy ground in Jesus’ name.

Right here, I bring my mere mortal admiration to you for saving a sinner like me, great God.

I have done nothing right to have deserved your precious intervention in my life.

I was in fact destined for total destruction and extermination, when you stepped in for me.

I had no right to be saved, as I was conceived in sin, born in sin, and wrapped in sin, Father.

It was only through the blood of Jesus, that I was plucked from the

very pit of eternal damnation.

Therefore, God of hosts, I exalt you, and I glorify your holy name.

I will forever be grateful for your liberation and deliverance.

Therefore, God that reigns forever, I lift up my voice, and declare your holiness.

I will never cease my thanks for your saving grace and for my freedom from sin.

Therefore, mighty God, I sing, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory, and your praise shall forever be on my lips."

Amen.

REFLECTION

I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.

A.W.Tozer

I need to worship because without it I can forget that I have a big God beside me and live in fear. I need to worship because without it I can forget his calling and begin to live in a spirit of self-preoccupation. I need to worship because without it I lose a sense of wonder and gratitude and plod through life with blinders on. I need worship because my natural tendency is toward self-reliance and stubborn independence.

John Ortberg

You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run.

Augustine of Hippo

2 A Prayer when I Need an Anchor

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

-Hebrew 6:19-20 (NKJV)

Dear unfailing God,

Today, I give you honor, and I praise your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Father, I know that an anchor is probably one of the most important parts of a ship.

This piece of steel, is usually attached to the vessel by a cable.

It is lowered or dropped overboard in order to have it grip soil or rock at the bottom,

and safely secures the ship in a particular position.

I know, great God, that while the anchor holds, the ship shall not move.

You know, my God, that life is often compared to the challenges faced by a vessel at sea.

There are days when I experience nothing but smooth sailing.

The current is at my back and my sails catch the wind effortlessly.

Yes, my Lord, then I manage high speeds, and reach my destination quickly.

But, Father God, so often we meet with heavy winds, high seas, boisterous waves,

and unexpected bad weather out there. Then we rush for the shelter of the harbor.

In the harbor, sweet Father, we are supposed to be protected against the elements.

However, we have all seen boats, big and small, being driven out to sea, or onto the rocks.

What happened? In most cases the anchor did not hold, my Lord.

The anchor dragged. The anchor broke off.

Yes, even the best of anchors can fail, heavenly Father.

Oh, merciful God, there are no guarantees out there.

What seems stable now, becomes buoyant tomorrow.

What is supposed to be structured, sways and crashes down.

The fresh decays, precious Lord; the strong loses its grip.

The composed gets disturbed, wonderful God; the established caves in.

Even the