Essentials: Prayer. Part 4
🙏 Our Next Essential: Prayer
Prayer is one of our most neglected blessings.
As our Heavenly Father’s children, we have been granted access to come boldly before His throne and make our petitions—through our precious Savior, Jesus.
📖 Scripture Support
Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Ephesians 3:12 (KJV)
"In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him."
Our Father wants us to come to Him—for our needs, our fears, and for direction.
Matthew 7:11 (KJV)
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Don’t be confused by some of the modern-day self-help motivational speakers who would lead you to believe you can just name it and claim it.
Our goal is to be seeking God’s will for His glory, conforming to our Savior Jesus Christ—not seeking our own will.
Even Jesus, when tempted by Satan in the desert, didn’t seek His own will but the Father’s. He refused to ask selfishly.
🙏 How Do We Know How to Pray?
Well, our example is our Lord and Savior’s prayer:
Matthew 6:9–13 (KJV)
"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, for ever. Amen."
🕊️ Prayer and Peace
The Word tells us:
Philippians 4:6 (KJV)
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
(Supplication = the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.)
Also, know this: As God made the provision through Christ to save us and make us heirs, He also fills the gap in the weakness of our prayers. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us.
Romans 8:26 (KJV)
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
Our God not only saved us while we were yet dead in our trespasses, He also gives us help from the Holy Spirit in our prayers—for He is a gracious, longsuffering, merciful Father.
Prayer is simply us crying out to our Father.
Romans 8:15 (KJV)
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
He wants to give us good things...
Here is a great verse to digest:
Matthew 7:11 (KJV)
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
So if we can give good gifts—how much more so our Father?
But in order to pray as we should, we have to go back to earlier essentials.
We must know our Father’s Word to know how to pray.
As we grow in grace, the Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers, but as we grow in His Word—conforming to the Son—we develop our prayer muscles, and learn that we must pray according to our Father’s will, which He has revealed to us in His Word.
Remember: Jesus is the Word. (John 1:1)
📖 A Final Word for the Week
Okay, I think we have enough to digest for the week.
Next week, we will dig deeper into our Lord’s Prayer and look at other examples of saints crying out to God, to further develop an understanding of the power of prayer.
Essentials: Abide in the Word. Part 3
■ Abiding in the Vine: Abiding in God’s Word
John 15:4–7 (ESV) “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers... If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
If we’re going to grow, we must abide—remain connected to the Vine, who is Christ. And Jesus makes it plain: to abide in Him is to abide in His Word.
■■ Anything Worth Having Requires Effort We all know that relationships don’t grow without investment. If we want to know someone, we have to spend time with them. And the same is true with our relationship with our Heavenly Father. To truly know Him—and to understand His will and plan for our lives—we must spend time in His Word.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105
His Word is divine instruction—it reveals who He is, how He works, and how we are to live.
■ Distraction Isn’t an Excuse Yes, life is full of distractions—but that can’t be our excuse.
■ FACT: The average person spends over 3 hours a day on their phone. That’s over 21 hours a week, nearly a full day. So let’s be honest—we’re not too busy, we’re just often too distracted.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” — Ephesians 5:15–16
If the Word is important to us, we must ask God to give us an appetite for it.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” — Matthew 5:6
Just like physical health doesn’t come automatically, spiritual health requires discipline and intentionality.
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness.” — 1 Timothy 4:7
■ No More Excuses—Just Start Don’t let not knowing “how” keep you from starting. Pick a passage.
Read slowly. Think. Ask questions. This is how we grow.
Ask: S – Is there a Sin to avoid? P – Is there a Promise to claim? E – Is there an Example to follow? C– Is there a Command to obey? K – What Knowledge does this give me about God?
This is how we begin to meditate on God’s Word—not just reading it, but reflecting deeply on it.
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” — Psalm 1:2
■■ Ask for Wisdom You’re not alone. God promises to give wisdom to those who ask.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” — James 1:5
■■ The Importance of Memorizing God’s Word Yes, memorization might feel daunting—but Scripture tells us it’s essential to a victorious life.
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” — Psalm 119:11
“Take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” — Ephesians 6:17
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...” — Colossians 3:16
God’s Word is our sword against temptation, lies, and fear. If we don’t plant it in our hearts, we leave ourselves vulnerable.
Even starting with one verse a month can change everything. The Holy Spirit will bring it to your mind exactly when you need it.
■ Our Three Essentials This Week:
1. Study “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15
2. Meditate “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” — Psalm 119:15
3. Memorize “Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” — Proverbs 7:3
■■ Find What Works for You Some people love early mornings—watching the sunrise with their Bible and coffee. Others, like me, find peace and focus at night when the world is quiet and still. What matters is not the time of day—but that you do it.
Set aside the time. Make it sacred. And watch how God grows your heart and transforms your life through His Word.
■ Coming Next Week... Next week, we’ll explore another essential tool in your spiritual toolbox:
PRAYER—what it is, how to use it, and why it’s powerful.
Until then, stay rooted in the Vine. Abide in His Word. Study. Meditate. Memorize. And let the Holy Spirit lead you in growth and godliness.
ESSENTIALS OF THE FAITH Part 2
The Holy Word
The next essential building block of our faith is understanding the true nature and power of God’s Word.
As believers, we must recognize that the Word is not merely a book of rules or moral stories—it is the living and active voice of God. It is foundational to our spiritual growth and key to developing a deeper relationship with Him.
The Word Is Jesus
The Bible teaches us that the Word is more than written instruction—it is the person of Jesus Christ.
John 1:1–2 (NKJV) –
“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. The same was in the beginning with God.”
John 1:14 (NKJV) –
“And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
When we dive into Scripture, we are engaging with Him—our Savior, Redeemer, and King. He is the living Word who came to dwell among us and made a way for us to walk in newness of life.
The Word Is Powerful and Active
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) –
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The Word convicts us of sin, corrects our thinking, and changes our hearts. It is through the Holy Spirit working with the Word that we are renewed, strengthened, and matured in our faith.
The Word Is Our Spiritual Food
Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) –
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Just as our physical bodies require daily food, our spirits require daily feeding on God’s Word.
When we take in Scripture, we are taking in Jesus—His truth, His love, His character. We must learn to feed ourselves spiritually.
Most of us don't ever miss a meal or go hungry because we know our bodies must have nourishment. But if we could somehow see each other's spiritual health, I fear we would be skin and bones—about to collapse—because our soul is starved of taking in His precious, life-giving Word.
Supporting Scriptures
Here are some verses to reinforce what we are covering:
Job 23:12 (NKJV) –
“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”
Jeremiah 15:16 (NKJV) –
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) –
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Don’t Skip Spiritual Meals
Whether you are a new believer or have been in the faith for many years, you cannot grow strong in Christ and in your walk if you neglect to consume God’s Word on a regular basis.
Daily time in the Word is not optional—it’s essential.
If you skip too many spiritual meals, you will grow weak, confused, and vulnerable. But those who feast daily become strong, rooted, and full of life.
Many only ever are exposed to the Word for a few minutes on Sunday. If that's it, you are basically living on life support—almost dead!
Coming Up Next
Now that we have hit some basic truths about the Word, our upcoming essentials will help you understand how to study the Word, so you can grow deeper and walk stronger in your relationship with Christ.
📖 ESSENTIALS OF THE FAITH: PART 1
✝️ The Biblical Process of Becoming Sons and Daughters of God
The first thing we must completely understand is the biblical process of salvation — how we became sons and daughters of Christ our Lord and Savior. This transformation begins when we are exposed to His life-changing truth, either by hearing or reading His Word. God uses His Word and the Holy Spirit to reveal our sinful condition and our need for salvation, which requires acknowledgment of our sin and a decision to repent and turn from it.
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:10 – “There is none righteous, no, not one.”
We see through His Word that the wages of sin is death — eternal separation from God — and it is only through Christ our Savior that we are saved from eternal damnation.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
As faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17), God convicts through His Word, and the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us. We acknowledge that we must repent and turn from sin to God in obedience.
Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…”
Luke 13:3 – “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
At this point, we place our faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ our Savior, who died and rose again for our sins, conquering death on the cross for each one of us.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”
Romans 10:9–10 – “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus… thou shalt be saved.”
We become what the Bible calls born again — in Christ, we are a new creature.
John 3:3 – “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”
We are adopted into God’s family and are no longer slaves to sin.
John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…”
Romans 8:15 – “…ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Once we are His children and begin to grasp the blessed miracle of salvation in Christ, we must learn the Essentials of the Faith in order to grow and be victorious in our walk with God — becoming more like Christ. It is Our desire to be obedient to God’s command in Matthew 28 to “go therefore” and, once you have become sons and daughters of God, to do our best to equip you for growth by teaching the Essentials of the Faith — so that you can become all that God desires you to be.
It is so easy — whether you're a new believer or have been in the faith for years — to become discouraged or confused in your walk if you haven’t been taught how to seek God and feed yourself spiritually. That’s why our goal is to teach you how to feed yourself through God’s Word so you can grow by learning the Essentials of the Faith. Coming up, you will learn how to walk with God — or as the Bible puts it, how to abide in Christ, staying connected to the true vine, our Savior Jesus Christ. The Church is called to equip the saints — and that’s exactly who you are in Christ.
Thank you for joining our journey of walking through the Essentials. Please come back each week for more tools for growth from our TOOLBOX.
