What if God’s people moved from praying only in moments of need to praying with intention—a strategic plan to see His kingdom expand?
“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples’” Luke 11:1
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, He gave them the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1–4). This wasn’t meant to be just a set of words to memorize—it was a model. A starting point. A framework for prayer that can guide both our personal walk with God and our ministry impact.
If we want to create a prayer strategy, this is the first place to begin.
Step 1: Use the Lord’s Prayer as a Model
The Lord’s Prayer covers every part of life with God:
- Worship — “Father, hallowed be Your name.”
- Surrender — “Your kingdom come.”
- Dependence — “Give us each day our daily bread.”
- Repentance — “Forgive us our sins.”
- Intercession & Protection — “Lead us not into temptation.”
By walking through these themes, we learn to pray beyond just our immediate needs and into God’s larger purposes.
Step 2: Learn from Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer (Luke 11 & 18)
Jesus reinforced the importance of persistence in prayer. In Luke 11, He tells the parable of the friend knocking at midnight. In Luke 18, He shares the story of the persistent widow. Together, these passages remind us that prayer isn’t just about form—it’s about faith, endurance, and trusting God’s timing.
Step 3: Begin Writing Out Your Own Strategy
After studying these passages, start shaping your own daily rhythm of prayer. For example:
- Morning: Worship and surrender.
- Midday: Pray for needs, guidance, and strength.
- Evening: Thanksgiving, reflection, and intercession.
This becomes your personal prayer strategy—a simple plan that keeps you grounded, consistent, and intentional.
Step 4: Expand into a Ministry Prayer Strategy
Prayer doesn’t stop with us individually. Ministries, churches, and groups can develop strategies that fuel their work with prayer.
At Expand Network, our prayer strategy includes:
- Prayer Focus — each season we highlight key needs, people, or initiatives to cover in prayer.
- Rhythms — regular patterns of prayer that keep us connected, such as weekly staff prayer and daily touchpoints.
- Fasting — setting aside intentional times to seek God’s direction and depend on Him fully.
- Monthly Corporate Prayer — gathering together as a community to intercede, give thanks, and discern God’s leading.
Having this plan written out helps us live out Colossians 4:2: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
The Prayer Strategy Workshop is designed to be held with your community. Together, you’ll walk through Jesus’ teaching on prayer, explore the Lord’s Prayer as a model, and begin developing both personal and ministry prayer strategies.
If you’d like to host a A Prayer Strategy Workshop with your team, small group, or church, we’d love to serve you to make it happen.
