A little girl prayed, “Heavenly Father, please bless my mommy and daddy.” This prayer voiced from a genuine heart is a good place to begin. God hears this prayer. God loves this prayer.
Yet, as a small child grows physically and matures into adulthood, so the believer should grow up spiritually. When a person personally repents of their sins and comes to faith in the Lord Jesus, they will grow in their walk with Jesus, daily treasure him above all things, and their prayer life will deepen.
The Bible is replete with passages urging the Christian to grow. 2 Peter 3:18 states, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:3 says, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation…”
Growth in spiritual maturity will result in growth in our prayer lives. As we begin 2021, let me list for you some deeper level prayer requests that will propel you to a deeper level in spiritual maturity.
1. God would exalt His great name.
Matthew 6:9: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Pray that God’s name would be hallowed or exalted in your life.
2. God would extend His kingdom in the world.
Matthew 6:10: “Your kingdom come, your will be done…”
Pray that you would submit to God’s kingdom rule in your life
and His kingdom would be extended to the uttermost regions of the earth.
3. You will walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:13: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Ephesians 3:16: “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”
Pray that you would daily walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
4. Your greatest joy would be found in God.
Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Matthew 13:44: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells
all that he has and buys that field.”
Pray that God would be the source of your greatest joy
and you would see Jesus as the treasure hidden in a field that is worth
far more than anything else in your life.
5. God would give you Boldness in proclamation.
Acts 4:29: And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants
to continue to speak your word with all boldness…”
Ephesians 6:18-19: “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly
to proclaim the mystery of the gospel…”
Pray that God would give you a supernatural boldness to share the
life-changing gospel of Jesus.
6. God would open your eyes to explore the deep riches of the gospel
Ephesians 3:8: “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints,
this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…”
Pray that God would open your eyes to see the deep and endless riches
found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
7. God would strengthen your faith
Mark 9:23-24: And Jesus said to him, “’If you can”!
All things are possible for one who for one who believes.”
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said,
“I believe; help my unbelief!”
Pray that God would sustain your existing faith and give you a deeper faith in His Word
8. Your heart would be satisfied with God and not the world.
Psalm 90:14: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”
1 John 2:15: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Pray that God would thrill and captivate your heart
and that you would see and savor Christ above all things.
When Christ captivates our soul, the world will become strangely dim.
9. Your life would be known for visible good deeds and works of love to others.
Colossians 1:10: “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
1 Thessalonians 1:3: “remembering before our God and Father
your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Pray that your life will display the glory of God through
good deed and works of service and love.
10. Your life would be marked with a desire for prayer
Mark 1:35: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Pray that God would graciously place in your heart a fervent
and deep desire to spend time with Him in daily prayer.
Oswald Chambers who wrote My Utmost for His Highest said, “Prayer is the great work.”
My prayer for you is that 2021 will be a year when the trajectory of your prayer life moves deeper for the glory of God and your joy and delight.
