I recently read a post on praying for our inner man written by Mike Bickle out of the International House of Prayer. I thought it was so good that I felt the need to share it! We need these types of prayers to strengthen us, especially with the hour that we live in, at these pivotal moments in what I, and many others, feel to be the last days before the return of Christ. It is so important that we not lose heart and focus of what God is trying to do in and through us. We need to have open hearts, full of humility and humble to reproof and correction. It is only through a broken, contrite heart that the Lord can truly use us for His purposes. I myself, have fallen so short of obeying God's word and His standards, and I am so honored to know that despite my righteousness being as filthy rags, His beautiful grace and mercy cover me like a shield against the accuser of the brethren. His banner over me IS love . . . .
By: Mike Bickle
It is very important to pray for ourselves.
One aspect of prayer is to pray for ourselves, and specifically to pray for the strengthening of our inner man. This is often neglected, and yet it is a powerful reality. The most important part of our lives is our inner man, the place where we fellowship with God. It will remain for all of eternity. There is much grace that God is willing to give concerning our inner life with Him, but He is waiting for us to ask.
A great acronym for personal prayer concerning our inner man is the word FELLOWSHIP. We come before God, and we ask Him for:
F – Fear of God. We pray, “Father, give to me the fear of the Lord. Release Your presence in a way that causes me to tremble. Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
E – Endurance. “Father, strengthen my spirit with endurance, that I might do Your will with zeal and diligence, especially in difficult circumstances. Direct my heart, by the Spirit, into the endurance and patience that Jesus walked in.”
L – Love. “Father, pour out Your love into my heart by the Spirit. Release divine revelation of Your love and affections for me, and let it overflow back to You and to others. Take the reigns of my heart and direct it into the vast ocean of Your love.”
L – Light of glory. “Father, let me see the light of Your glory. Give me encounters with the Holy Spirit. Give me dreams and visions and angelic visitations as You gave to Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and John.”
O – One thing life focus. “Father, strengthen me to maintain a life in Your word. Give me grace to be a person of one thing. Give me grace to be one who sits at Your feet regularly. When I lose this focus, speak to me, that I might realign my heart and my schedule to have this focus.”
W – Walking worthy (holiness/purity). “Father, strengthen me to walk in a way that You consider worthy of my highest calling, that I might escape all compromise and stand victorious in full obedience.”
S – Speech. “Father, set a guard over my lips as I set myself to obey You. Free me from defensive, angry, and foolish speech.”
H – Humility. “Father, teach me how to walk in lowliness. I want to take Your yoke of humility on my life in my attitudes, speech, and actions. Give me wisdom on how to live before Your eyes in love, purity, and humility.”
I – Insight and wisdom unto intimacy. “Father, give me insight into Your word, Your will, and Your ways. Give me wisdom on how to live before You that I might walk in intimacy with You. Let me know what You are thinking and feeling. Let me know the secrets of Your heart.”
P – Peace. “Father, strengthen my heart with supernatural peace that overpowers fear and anxiety. Give me an abundance of Your peace, joy, hope, and comfort, that I might not sin.”
