By Matt Hess

As our family has had the privilege to enter another season of planting a church, I have been reminiscing often on our church planting journey over the years. I have been thinking on God’s kindness, His mercies, His grace, and most importantly His presence. 

In the beginning we found ourselves afraid, confused, and wondering how to even start something out of nothing. Looking back, I can see one dominant theme laced throughout our calling…prayer.

We prayed: God led. We prayed: God provided. We prayed: God moved.

Before, we were called to plant a church we thought we knew a thing or two about prayer. After all, we had served in ministry for nearly a decade, we had led individuals to Christ, and made disciples. However, leaving all of your comforts behind and entering into a foreign mission field strips away all of your dependencies and leads you to a new place of Spirit dependency.

I want to share with you several lessons we have learned along the way when it comes to praying bold prayers for your family.

Praying Bold Prayers

I was reading a book on church planting and I read words that struck fear in my heart: “You shouldn’t start a new church unless you have a core team of at least fifty people.”

What?! Fifty people?! The averaged sized church in Canada at the time was forty people total. We had five people in our church counting all of the Hess kids and we hadn’t even taught them how to tithe yet! Prognosis? “We’re in trouble!”

I began to cry out to God. “Lord, I know you have called our family here. I know deep within my soul you desire to start a new church here through us. But God, I am scared and I don’t even know the first step I should take.” Something began to happen in those quiet moments.

As I opened His Word, He began to direct, He comforted, He loved, He gave me peace, and He began to give me a plan for what He desired this church to become.

I believe in those moments that God was taking me to a place of desperation. I confessed my neediness and ultimately His worthiness. As my friend and founder/president of Strategic Renewal Ministries, Daniel Henderson likes to say, “We are needy but He is worthy.” 

You see, I have learned something when it comes to prayer. Prayer is not about some rote, religious, and dry activity. Prayer is about simply basking in the presence of God, and just being with Him!

Over the next decade of our time in Toronto God showed up big time! Countless souls were saved, multiple churches were planted, many leaders raised up, and best of all King Jesus was glorified! But my wife and I learned that absolutely nothing replaced the importance of bold prayers. 

Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. “

I want to share with you three things that will help you in how to pray bold prayers.

1. Understand Your Position Before God

Hebrews 4:14-16:

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.“

How can we BOLDLY approach God in prayer?! Because of how good we are? Because we go to church? Because we read our Bibles? No! BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE!

You see Jesus took our sins on His back, died on the cross, and rose from the grave. That’s not just some moment in time for us to look back on and celebrate once a year at Easter! But rather when Jesus rose from the grave He gave ALL who will place their trust and faith in Him alone as Lord and Savior.

ACCESS. Access to what? Access to whom? He gave us access to the Father in heaven through the powerful, cleansing, and precious blood of Jesus!

I served in the Marine Corps. I was once stationed in Quantico, VA near Washington D.C. Before I became a follower of Jesus Christ, I would go out to these clubs with my buddies. It would never fail, we’d be standing in line to get in and some professional athlete from the Wizards, the Commanders, or Capitals would walk by EVERYBODY in the line and security would wave him on through.

Now why did they get immediate ACCESS while others didn’t? Because in the eyes of the owners of the club those professional athletes were VIP’s. They were somebody special.

Well, listen in the eyes of God you are a Very Important Person. Why? Because you’re so famous, you have so much money, you’re so smart and talented? Nope! Because you know SOMEBODY, you know Jesus! And your relationship with Jesus gives you access to the throne of God.

When our children need something from us they boldly come into our presence and simply ask. Why? Because, they are our sons and daughters. They understand their position before us and know that we love them and want the best for them.

Often, we do not pray because we have forgotten Whom we have access to, not by our merit but through the finished work of the cross! We can pray boldly when we remember our position before God. Secondly, we can pray boldly when we…

2. Claim the Promises of God

One of my favorite books in all of the Bible is 1 John. As a matter of fact God used this little book to convict me of my sins and show me that I needed to place my trust in Christ alone. 

1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.“

This is such a powerful verse because often I believe that one of the biggest reasons why we don’t pray with boldness is the fact that we don’t know if what we are asking is according to the will of God.

That is, we don’t know if God really wants to answer our prayer because we’re not sure that He wants this to happen in our lives. Author and pastor, John Stott says this…

“Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or for bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating our will to his. It is by prayer that we seek God’s will, embrace it and align ourselves with it. Every true prayer is a variation of the theme ‘your will be done.’” 

Powerful Prayer Quotes

But if God longs to answer prayer that is centered in His will, how can we be sure that we are praying God’s will? Here is a great start….CLAIM THE PROMISES OF GOD! 

From the time we discovered Arrica was pregnant we immediately began praying over our children. Precious memories abound in my heart as I think back to reading Bible stories even in the womb to our unborn children.

Over the years we have sought to be diligent in having a consistent time of family worship each day where we corporately have a Bible lesson, worship, and pray. However, Arrica and I have both been convicted that as our children have gotten older it has become too easy to lean on our own counsel and experience with the Lord as we give advice to our kids.

Recently, we have re-committed that when approached with questions from our kids, our first words will be “Have you prayed about this?” or “How do you see the Lord is saying to you about this from His Word?”

You see, the Word of God is infinitely more valuable to our children than any human wisdom or experience we may have to offer.

Did you know that within the Scriptures there is found over 3,000 promises from God? If you want to pray with boldness, open the Bible and claim these wonderful Truths from our wonderful Savior. 

Let me give you a couple of examples of what this looks like in my prayer time.

Example #1 of a Promise to Claim: 

I may be in a season of doubt. I feel like everything that I have put my hands to hasn’t gone well.

When I sense those feelings, I’ll stop and turn to, Jeremiah 29:11 : “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.“

I’ll pray, “Lord, I know you have good plans in store for my life not disaster. Lord, I know that you want to bless my life and give me a future and a hope. Lord, take these negative thoughts and doubts away from me. In Jesus name I pray, amen.” 

Example #2 of a Promise to Claim:

Or I may be in a period of depression or anxiety. Or I feel overwhelmed with the pressures of leading my family, our church, and network.

When I startto feel like that I turn to, Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“

I’ll pray, “Lord, I praise your holy name for giving me rest when I am weary and burdened. In Jesus name, Amen. “

Why is it so important for us to claim these promises in prayer? Because everything that we truly need is available to us within the confines of God’s will. Everything that exists outside of His will will only hurt you or destroy you.

Do you know who the greatest example was in praying inside of God’s will? Jesus Christ. Jesus constantly zeroed in on God’s will for His life and ministry…

John 4:34: “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

John 5:30:“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

We can pray boldly when we remember our position before God. When we claim the promises of God. Finally, we pray boldly when we, 

3. Observe the Power of God

Next time you are having a difficult time believing that God could really answer your prayers raise the blinds on your window and look at the trees.

Observe the wind rustling through the leaves. Look at the birds perched on their branches without a worry in the world. Listen as they sing their beautiful melodies echoing throughout your neighborhood.

Who created all of that? God did. The One to whom we pray. Remember He is powerful, able, and in control.

Colossians 1:16 states: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him.“

Whether you are starting a church or simply walking with the Lord one thing is for certain, prayer is the key to a vibrant relationship with God!

It is impossible to live a life on mission for the glory of God apart from prayer. I still have so much to learn when it comes to prayer, but I know this, God wants to commune with His children, and when we do, everything is found at His feet! 

A Bold Prayer for Your Family

Father God, you are the designer and ordainer of the family institution as the foundation for our society. In your infinite kindness, through the family unit, we see the mirrored image of your love for us embodied.

Father, I pray and ask that you would grow our family’s affections for you. I pray that as a couple, my spouse and I would develop a deeper love for you, your Word, and one another.

I pray that our children would grow in unity and kindness towards one another as they seek to obey their parents and grow deeper in their faith.

Ultimately God, I pray that our families lives would exist to bring you glory, live on mission together, and advance your Kingdom until you return for your people. In Jesus name, Amen.

Guest Blogger Bio.

Matt Hess is a church planting catalyst with the North American Mission Board, Church planter at Waypoint Wentzville, MO, and a father of 4 amazing kiddos. Oh, and let’s not forget, he’s married to an amazing woman!!

More from Dr. Hess: Spiritual Fasting for the Everyday Christian

4 Steps for Living On Mission for Christ