Prayer Centre

Prayer lies at the heart of our church life and. witness.
Please click on any of the links below to explore a life of prayer.

What is prayer?

Prayer is conversation with God. It opens us up to those matters which concern God. Prayer opens up a wide channel through which God can come and bring His order, love, peace and mercy into our lives. It also draws us into His heart and will: we learn to feel what He feels and be moved by what moves Him.

Prayer is about communication. As thoughts, feelings, attitudes, morals, behaviours, desires and actions are shared between God and the pray-er, a relationship built on love, trust, faith and respect is built.

Although God knows every detail of our lives (see Psalm 139) He yearns for intimacy with us. The distance we keep between Him and us grieves Him. This spiritual intimacy is the key concern on the heart of God. Prayer allows, enables and nurtures this intimacy.

Prayer is the key to really believing that Jesus is the Lord of your life. A you put all other matters aside and concentrate on Him, and your relationship with Him, His Lordship is released in your life.

Prayer is lifetime’s journey into God – Delia Smith

How to pray

You can pray anywhere, anytime, but it usually helpful to take a step aside from the hustle and bustle of daily life, find yourself a quiet spot, and give God your full attention.

There is no “special method” – just speak to God as you would to a trusted friend. Talk from your heart, being open and honest with Him about yourself, your circumstances, the needs of others, and all those matters which affect you deeply.

Be sure to wait and listen also. It takes time to “discern” the voice of God, but be patient and wait on Him.

Some suggestions about how to talk with God.

• Read some passages of the Bible and talk about these to God. (see the sections prepared prayers and prayers from the Bible)
• Give praise to God for Who He is and for the things in your life that are good.
• Mention to God the things that are troubling you – if there is something you can’t cope with, tell Him. If you are unhappy, tell Him.
• Ask God to help you.
• Ask God to advise you what to do.
• Pray for people you love and ask God to help them, bless them, and make them well.
• Pray for your neighbours, your city, your country and the world.
• Ask God to reveal His will for your life

A good starting points is to use the acronym ACTS: - Adoration, Confession, Thanks and Supplication. This can be the basic structure around which you build your prayers, and is also helpful as an order of praying.

• Adoration. God is amazing! Creation astounds us. His love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion are endless.
• Confession. Be honest about the things you have done that have offended God, hurt others and damaged yourself. Remember those things you should have done but did not!
• Thanks. Be grateful for all the resources and provision of your life; the big and the small
• Supplication. Ask Him to help you, family, friends, government, school, anything. Jesus once said, “ask, seek, knock”.

Prayers from the Bible (New King James version)

The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9 - 13
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

The tax collector’s prayer Luke 18:13 - 14
And the tax collector, standing afar off would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

The Prayer of Jabez - 1 Chronicles 4:10
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested.

Jonah’s prayer – Jonah 2:2 - 7
"I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of the pit I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.' The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple." (Jonah 2:2-7)

Prayer for strength Ephesians 3:14 - 21
"I pray that out of God's glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3 v 14-21)

Praise – Psalm 103 (selected verses)
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the LORD, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Blessing from Numbers 6:24 - 26
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Blessing from 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Blessing from Hebrews 13:20 – 21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing from Jude 1:22 - 24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Saviour Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power,
Both now and forever. Amen.

Other Bible prayers to consider
Psalm 51- King David’s prayer of repentance
Psalm 23 - The great Psalm of confidence in God
Psalm 139 - God made us and knows us
John 17 - Jesus prays for His people

Prepared Prayers

The sinners prayer
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Saviour. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Gideons International is an organisation that seeks to place bibles all around the world in specific places of need. One of their ministries includes prayers for people in all sorts of life situations including;

Comfort in time of loneliness
Guidance in time of decision
Courage in time of fear
Rest in a time of weariness

To access these, and many other specific prayers, please follow this link:

http://www.gideons.org/ReadTheBible/Helps.aspx

Prayer Events

Our church has many opportunities for corporate prayer:

• Healing prayer group on Tuesdays at 6pm at a private home.
• Various home prayer groups throughout the week.
• Community Prayers 6.30pm on the first Thursday of the month at the chapel – followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
• Pre-church prayer at 9:30am on Sundays at the chapel – this group prays for blessing on the Church service.
• Intercessory prayers – there are opportunities for corporate prayer within the Sunday worship service.
• Private Prayer – private prayer with the minister or prayer team is available after the service every Sunday.

Prayer Visits

We would love the privilege of visiting you and praying for you personally. This could extend to sick family members or friends, to people in aged care facilities or hospitals, or simply in the privacy of your own home. To have someone visit you for prayer, call:

Pastor Danny Parkinson
Phone 0433 843 624
Email minister@brightoncc.com.au

David Millar (Elder)
Phone 0408 598 043
Email treasurer@brightoncc.com.au

Pray over the Phone

People need people. If you would like to have someone to talk with privately and then pray with you over the phone, please call:

Pastor Danny Parkinson 0433 843 624
David Millar (Elder) 0408 598 043

Email us a Prayer

Click on this link to email us to support you in prayer: elders@brightoncc.com.au

List the subject matter and any detail you would like to share, and we will pray for you in our various prayer gatherings. This service is totally confidential, and only first names will be used when praying for you.