Epaphras Prays Podcast

In our desire for answered prayers, we often grasp desperately at promises while missing their source. Prayer is not primarily about getting what we want, but about drawing closer to the One who knows what we need. This profound truth resonates throughout Scripture and finds clear expression in Mark chapter 11, where Jesus teaches his disciples about the power of faith.

If we believe and do not doubt when we ask for something, we will receive it.

How can we have this kind of faith? Let's explore this with insight from pastor and Bible teacher Andrew Murray.

The secret of believing prayer

Jesus promised his disciples that faith is the key to answered prayers.

Jesus, answering, said to them, Have faith in God. For surely I say to you,... Whosoever shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he asks shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says - Mark 11:22-23

Faith is about trusting God completely

Our faith should be like Abraham's

Here’s the main point: The true purpose of prayer is not to mainly obtain specific outcomes, but to deepen our relationship with God, which naturally strengthens our faith and brings alignment with His will.

Jesus once asked a blind man, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Luke 18:41)

This question demonstrated Jesus' kindness and His willingness to respond to faith. It invited the man to express his needs directly, revealing how personal Jesus' care truly was. It's similar to how we pray in faith and ask God for help. Jesus is always there for us and cares deeply.

Today, we might ask, "How can I help?" or "What can I do?" While we can't make a blind person see, we can pray and ask Jesus for help. We often say, "If there's anything I can do, just ask." Usually we mean something like give them a ride, or buy them some groceries, or just talk over coffee. We offer practical and tangible assistance, even knowing they might never accept our help.

But what if there's something helpful we could always offer, and always do? We may not always be able to help in the way someone needs, but we can still do something important: we can pray.

Here's the thing most people miss: Our praying is doing something. In fact, praying is likely the best and most important thing we can do!

Prayer involves God

Prayer is practical action

Praying doesn't mean that's all we do

We like to say at Epaphras Prays: Start on your knees and roll up your sleeves.

Conclusion

Prayer stands as both our greatest privilege and most powerful tool. When we pray, we don't simply speak words into empty space—we engage the Creator of the universe in our circumstances. As we make prayer our first response rather than our last resort, we invite God's wisdom, strength, and supernatural intervention into our lives and the lives of those around us. Let us remember that in every situation, prayer isn't just doing something—it's doing the most important thing.

We often spend our prayer time interceding for others—family, church members, and neighbors—asking for blessings in their circumstances, health, salvation, and spiritual growth.

Sometimes, when it comes to praying for ourselves, we can feel a bit lost, even selfish in spending prayer time solely on ourselves. Personal prayer time should focus partly on asking the Almighty that His kingdom come and His will be done in our lives through Christ.

Perhaps your prayers are for health or a better job, for blessings and help, or for finances or your marriage. All well and good—we should pray for our circumstances at home, church, and work. We should pray for our ministry activity in preaching, teaching, praying, and evangelism.

But what do we find in God's Word that we can pray personally? What does the Lord want for you?

For your spiritual growth, your heart being transformed into the image of His Son, your deepening relationship with Him. Here are 12 specific traits, or attributes we find prayed for in Scripture that we can personally pray for ourselves:

Perfect, Complete, Mature

Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding

Fruit, Gifts, Speech

Strength, Character, Love

These twelve suggestions have been personalized for devotional praying as we seek to grow and mature in our spiritual life. They come directly from God's Word (His promises), and therefore we can trust they will be heard and answered. When we petition the Lord for godliness, we can be assured this aligns with His will.

In my own praying through these, I’ve often felt like a tree planted by a stream of living water and bearing these fruits in season. May this be true for you as well.

Welcome to the PrayerCast, like a podcast but with prayer.

In this Episode:

PRAISE

O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! - Psalm 8:9

Let my mouth be filled [with] thy praise [and with] thy honor all the day. - Psalm 71:8

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. - Psalm 146:1

THANKS

But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15:57

O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever. - Psalm 118:1

CONFESSION

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy. - Proverbs 28:13

Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they [have been] ever of old. - Psalm 25:6

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness [is] good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. - Psalm 69:16

SALVATION

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few; - Matthew 9:37

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. - Matthew 9:38

INTERCESSION

For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; - Colossians 1:9

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you: - 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Thanks so much for listening and praying!

Have you ever noticed how technology has changed the way we navigate? These days, most people rely on GPS and smartphones to guide them from point A to point B.

While these tools are certainly convenient, there's something special about traditional folding maps that digital screens can't replicate. The tactile experience of unfolding a paper map, tracing routes with your finger, and seeing the big picture all at once creates a different kind of connection with the journey ahead.

This reminds me of another kind of map we have - one that guides us not on physical roads, but on our spiritual journey through prayer. God's Word serves as our ultimate roadmap, offering divine guidance for our conversations with Him.

The Value of Traditional Maps

God's Invitation to Prayer

Understanding God's Response

The Bible as Our Prayer Guide

Praying Through Scripture

Conclusion

When we ask the Lord - whether for help, love, maturity, assurance in His will, grace, or wisdom from above - we are asking from His roadmap of promises. Just as a physical map guides travelers safely to their destination, His Word guides our prayers toward His perfect will. We can be sure this map will take us exactly where He wants us to be.

What About You?

Many Christians believe the primary purpose of prayer is to ask God for help and blessings. Yet research shows that in the Bible's own prayer book—the Psalms—praise actually outweighs petition by nearly two to one. This stark contrast matters more than ever in our current age of instant gratification, where the 'prayer as wishlist' mindset has potentially diminished our understanding of true spiritual connection.

The misconception runs deeper than we might think.

Consider King David's approach.

Let's break this down into practical understanding:

Our prayers naturally shift from panic to peace, from demands to trust.

Look at portrait of God:

The Psalmist recognizes and acknowledges the glory of the Lord of hosts.

This isn't just poetry—it's a prayer that changes the one who prays it.

The next time you pray, try this: before presenting your requests, spend time simply declaring who God is. Watch how this practice transforms not just your prayers, but your entire perspective on your relationship with the Divine. After all, in heaven, praise isn't just part of the conversation—it is the conversation.

Do you pray for people you know?

Do others ask you to pray for them?

Most requests for prayer come to us because of a need someone has.

It is likely a physical need, such as health, or finances, or a job, etc. It is very common for folks to ask for us to pray for them when they have a big problem (in marriage, with children, at work, and so on), when there is a big decision to make, or an opportunity and they are hoping it will turn out in their favor.

Why do others ask us to pray for them?

* Feeling helpless - recognizing we are unable handle something ourselves

* Feeling unworthy - to ask alone or our faith is weak

* We see it in Scriptures, and are taught in church to pray for each other

Why should we pray for them?

How can we pray?

First. we respond by actually praying, and by praying as was requested.

These are prayers for material blessings.

But that is not all we pray for them

Secondly, pray from the Scriptures.

These are prayers for spiritual blessings; they are all according to the Word and the Father’s will—prayers that find a yes in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).

One more prayer for others

Thirdly, that the Lord’s will be done—what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

And for salvation

Perhaps the request is for a person who may not know the Lord, and so we pray for their salvation.

Remember, whatever the problem or request, what we most need is the Gospel!

Even those who are saved by His grace need to be reminded of this. I know I do.

Have you ever wondered why some prayers seem to precede remarkable breakthroughs in your life?

This pattern isn't coincidental—it reflects a profound spiritual principle woven throughout Scripture and Christian experience. When we examine God's interactions with His people, we discover that prayer often serves as the key that unlocks Heaven's storehouse of blessings.

The Lord gives what He has in store for us, as we ask Him for them from His Word.

Thus says the Lord God: "I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them:" — Ezekiel 36:37

Prayer is the forerunner of mercy.

Your assurance was the result of prayer.

Prayer is always prior to the blessing.

Prayer connects with blessing to reveal its true value, necessity, and importance.

Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw; Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw; Gives exercise to faith and love; Brings every blessing from above. —C.H. Spurgeon

Understanding this vital connection between prayer and blessing transforms how we approach our relationship with God. Rather than viewing prayer as a mere religious duty, we can embrace it as the divine invitation it truly is—a gracious opportunity to participate in God's work in our lives and in the world. When we grasp that God actually wants us to inquire of Him, prayer becomes less of a burden and more of a privilege.

Today, what blessing might be waiting for you to simply ask?

A PrayerCast is like a podcast, but instead of talking or reading, it’s praying. You are welcome to pray along as we do.

Hello there, I'm the voice of Epaphras, and today we'll be praying for the people of God from the Word of God.

By studying the Bible, we can gain insight into God's intentions for His children. The prayers made by patriarchs, kings, prophets and apostles all reflect our Lord’s will and desires for the Church, both in past and present times.

As believers, we can trust and pray these prayers for other Christians, knowing that God will answer them in accordance with His will. These prayers, grounded in God's own word, provide a reliable guide for His plans, purposes, and covenant.

Through prayer and faith, we can approach God's throne of grace and request that His will be fulfilled.

Episode Notes:

A Prayer of Blessing (1 Chronicles 29:10-13)

A Prayer to Grow in Grace (2 Peter 1:2-3)

7 prayers from the Psalms to pray for ourselves this week:

* Psalm 1

* Psalm 24

* Psalm 39

* Psalm 43

* Psalm 51

* Psalm 90

* Psalm 139

How To Start Praying More Part 3--Romans 8:26-27

A Way To Pray: Attributes. Being clothed in Christ. (Colossians 3:12)

Praying on the Armor of God

God wants us to have the readiness given by the gospel of peace, as shoes on our feet. (Ephesians 6:15)

Divine Support

Finally, I pray for you, specifically if you are listening and if you are subscribing: This prayer is one of the Puritan Prayers.

But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. --Luke 22:32

I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you. --John 16:26

He ever lives to make intercession.--Hebrews 7:25

In the journey of faith, understanding Jesus Christ's role as our intercessor brings profound comfort and strength. Instead of tirelessly striving to live uprightly, believers can find peace by resting in Christ and relying on His intercession to navigate life's challenges.

Today we’ll look into the depth of Christ's intercessory role, highlighting how His prayerful action empowers us to live victoriously through faith.

Christ's Resting Place for Believers

Resting in Christ brings renewed resilience and radiant hope.

The Power of Christ's Prayer

Faith-Fueled Prayer

Faith gently guides our prayers, weaving them seamlessly into the divine tapestry of Christ's purpose.

Embracing Christ as our intercessor shifts our focus from human effort to divine reliance. It transforms prayer from a mere ritual into a powerful exchange where faith meets divine grace. By resting in Jesus and engaging in consistent prayer, we obtain the limitless strength and victory that His unwavering intercession provides.

May this understanding deepen our faith, fuel our prayers, and empower our walk with Christ, today and every day.

NOTE: Many of the most insightful and enduring lessons we learn concerning prayer come from Andrew Murray. This article is based on an earlier post—Christ The Intercessor, which is an excerpt from his work With Christ in the School of Prayer, the Twenty Sixth Lesson: I have prayed for you. It was lightly edited and available here for further reading: