Journey to Victorious Praying: Finding Discipline and Delight in Your Prayer Life

by Bill Thrasher, Erwin W. Lutzer (Foreword by)

Overview

Why do so many people struggle with the discipline and delight of prayer? Dr. Bill Thrasher believes we suffer from fear and a lack of understanding about the nature of prayer. In A Journey to Victorious Praying, he teaches readers that prayer is simply coming before Christ with an attitude of helplessness, opening up our needy lives to Him. Filled with practical insight, this book will give readers renewed enthusiasm for embarking on this essential journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802436986
Publisher:	Moody Publishers
Publication date:	05/15/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

WILLIAM D. THRASHER (B.S., Auburn University; Th.M., Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) has served on the faculty of Moody Theological Seminary since 1980 and on the graduate school faculty since 1990, where he oversees the Master's Program in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship. He is a frequent speaker in churches and retreats across the county. He has written numerous articles on a variety of subjects related to Christian living. His books include, Living the Life God has Planned, A Journey to Victorious Praying, Believing God for His Best, and Putting God Back into the Holidays published by Moody Publishers and he has also written How to be a Soul Physician, The Attributes of God in Pauline Theology, and Principles of Christian Living from Romans 5-8. He has written ¿Jonah¿ in the Moody Bible Commentary and has authored two online courses: Biblical Spiritual Formation and Biblical Spiritual Formation Lab 1. He is married to Penny and they have three sons- Will, Michael, and David.

Read an Excerpt

A JOURNEY TO Victorious Praying

FINDING DISCIPLINE AND DELIGHT IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

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By Bill Thrasher

MOODY PUBLISHERS

Copyright © 2003 Bill Thrasher
All right reserved.
ISBN: 0802436986

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Chapter One

Transforming Fear into Faith

I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weaknesses. He can't resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him. * Jim Cymbala

In April of 1982 I heard a Christian leader tell the great benefit of applying the principle of firstfruits to the use of his time. As he had deliberately given to the Lord the first few minutes of each day, the first day of the week, and the first few days of each new year, he had experienced special joys and blessings. I listened attentively as he spoke and began to process the possible application of the truth to my life. The discipline of giving to the Lord the first moments of a day and the first day of the week were things that I was already attempting to practice. However, I had never thought of giving the first few days of a year to the Lord, so I proceeded to make a note in my future planning to seek to do that in January of 1983.

When January arrived I was very tired. However, as a professor, I had a few days before my classes started, and I told the Lord that I desired to present those days to Him for His purposes. As I sought the Lord, He gave a few ideas of how to make use of this time. I first of all made an attempt to declutter my life and got rid of some clothes and some other possessions that had not been used in the past few years. During those days I also looked at some past journals that I had written. In this time three things stood out to me that gave me direction for the new year. I made a conscious decision to go into 1983 trusting God for those three things. The year was one of the most fruitful of my life as I had never previously deliberately entered a year trusting God that He would do specific things in my life during that year. I prayed for Him to allow me to see the beauty of His character in a new way, to be overwhelmed with His personal love for me, and to understand in a fresh way what it meant for Christ to be my life.

When the next year came around I decided to do the same thing and seek God to once again give me three things for which to trust Him for that new year. This has become a yearly practice. In 1990 one of the things that I went into the year asking God for was to be used of Him to raise up prayer among His people. As I pray these requests during the year, I try to keep notes on the answers and insight God is pleased to give. As I sought God for a year about this matter of how to be used of Him in this way, I learned only one insight. It is this insight that I would like to present in this section of the book. God showed me that the way to raise up prayer among His people was to share with them how to make use of their "needy moments."

What is prayer? O. Hallesby, one of Norway's leading Christian teachers, said that prayer is an attitude of our hearts toward God. It is an attitude of helplessness. This attitude of helplessness is not meant to drive you to anxiety but rather to drive you to God. In other words, prayer is helplessness plus faith. We may stumble over this until we realize that faith is simply coming to Christ with our helplessness. When we petition God in prayer, we come to Christ and tell Him what we and those for whom we pray are lacking. It is opening up our needy lives to Him.

Let us be very specific in defining some of our "needy moments" that promote this attitude of helplessness that can give birth to true prayers. Let us look at times when we tend to be fearful and anxious.

One year I asked God to give me clear insight into my own unhealthy fears. If you do this you may be surprised how significant a motivating force fear is in your life. For example, ask the Lord, "What are things I say or do not say and things I do or do not do that are motivated by a fear of rejection?" The relevance of this is that we are to seek God in prayer at every point of our fears. Look at Psalm 34:4: "I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears."

As we seek God at our point of fears, we need to look for specific promises that can transform our fear responses into faith responses. The first time I was asked to speak on a nationwide radio broadcast and answer questions from people who would call in from the audience, I agreed to pray about it. My fear was what would happen if I could not answer the questions. As I sought God He used Psalm 67:7 to assure my heart and calm my fears. That verse says, "God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him." I saw the principle that I could count on God's blessing as I sought to benefit others. God is eager to help us process our fears as we seek Him in prayer.

In Philippians 4:6 God graciously commands us to "be anxious for nothing." If He stopped there with His instruction it would only make us more anxious. Now we would be more anxious because we would also realize that we are clearly disobeying God!

In God's kindness He also instructs us how to process our anxiety. Every time you are tempted to be fearful or anxious, view it as a prompting of the Lord to pray. God uses three words to explain this process-prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. In prayer we talk to God about our anxiety. We may even need to ask Him what it is that is bothering us. In supplication we petition Him and tell Him what we would like Him to do about it. You will never have real peace until you do. In thanksgiving you turn your attention away from the problem and to God. If you only prayed and supplicated or petitioned, and neglected thanksgiving, you would become more wrapped up in the problem. Thanksgiving links your heart to God as you praise Him for His knowledge and concern of the situation as well as His desire to carry the burden.

CASTING OUR ANXIETIES ON THE LORD

In prayer God can train us to cast our cares upon Him (I Peter 5:7). Some anxieties are easier than others to cast upon God. The more something means to you, the harder it is to trust God with it. God tells us that when Abraham offered up Isaac on the altar, his faith was "perfected" (James 2:22). It was "perfected" in that God's goal for Abraham had been reached. His goal is to train His people to trust Him with the most precious thing of their lives. The most precious gift of God to Abraham was his beloved son Isaac. In previous times he had had lapses of faith where fear struck him and Abraham took matters into his own hands (Genesis 12, 20). At this time he had come to the point that he could trust God with his most precious gift-even when being asked to do something that he did not fully understand (Genesis 22; Hebrews 11:17-19).

What is your "Isaac"? Are you willing to surrender the matter to God and realize that He is able to guard what you entrust to Him (2 Timothy 1:12)? What you try to control is up to you to worry about and work out. Let this battle be used of God to raise up many times of precious prayer. Why not talk to Him right now about your "Isaac"?

Chapter Two

God is not aloof. He says continually through the centuries, "I'll help you, I really will. When you're ready to throw up your hands, throw them up to Me."

A Pastor told me about a personal experience that has been a great help when I feel inadequate and unworthy of God's blessing as I pray. He said that after a very difficult day he was trying to pray before he went to bed. As he sought God amidst the discouragement of this difficult day, he thought to himself, Would you have any problem praying if you had led somebody to Christ today and had a great time studying the Scripture? He reflected on this thought and responded to himself, No, I would have no problem praying; but this is not the kind of day I had. I have had an awful day that has been characterized by many wrong responses. During this time of seeking God and reading the Scriptures, he related how he sensed a loving rebuke from God as he reflected on praying in Christ's name: "Do you want to come to Me in your name or in Jesus' name?" Only when we learn to pray in Jesus' name can we use our times of feeling unworthy and inadequate and turn them into confident intercession.

What is meant by the concept of "name" in Scripture? It refers to one's character. God's changing a person's name foreshadowed a change of character that He planned to work in that person's life (cf. John 1:42). It also refers to one's corresponding reputation. In this sense the Bible refers to the desirability of a "good name" (Proverbs 22:1). Third, it may refer to one's authority. If you made a request to a fellow employee, and he seemed reluctant to follow through, would it not radically change things if you informed him that the request is being endorsed or authorized by the president of the company?

We are to come to God in Jesus' name (John 14:14). We must pray for things that are in line with His revealed character and for requests in which His answers would enhance His reputation. We are also to come to God in Jesus' authority. I will never deserve God's blessing and neither will you, but that is not the point. The marvelous truth is that because of God's grace, Jesus died in order that we could experience all of His blessings (Ephesians 1:3). We must humble ourselves before God and receive His gracious gifts. God's name is honored as He forgives our sin, for it shows His loving, merciful, wise, and righteous character (Psalm 25:11). His name is honored as He gives us guidance (Psalm 23:4) and allows His people to experience His rest (Isaiah 63:14). When a sheep ends up in the right place, discerning people do not praise the sheep but rather the loving and caring Shepherd.

The key is to come to God with confidence during your needy moments. Humble yourself before Him and let Him use your life to display to the world how kind and gracious He is (Ephesians 2:7-look it up!). At the Tower of Babel the people arrogantly attempted to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). A believer in Christ has the awesome privilege of living for God's name (Psalm 115:1). In all of life our wonderful Lord can teach us how to draw attention to Him-even in the routine of life (I Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17). This will happen as we learn to come to Him not in our own name but in Jesus' name.

Chapter Three

Sharing Your True Desires with God

I had rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.

A student, I will call him Jim, told an exciting testimony of a very valuable lesson he had learned in prayer. Jim's struggle with an ungodly habit in his life led him to cry out to God for deliverance. Nothing happened. One day a person came up and had the love and discernment to graciously confront Jim by saying, "Why are you asking God to deliver you from this ungodly habit? You love this ungodly habit. You do not really want God to answer your prayer." Jim admitted that this was precisely the truth.

Jim said that one of the most humbling things he had ever done was to come to God and tell Him that he loved this ungodly habit and did not really want Him to answer his prayer for deliverance. Jim also informed me that this honest prayer was the beginning of the process of breaking him from the habit!

This testimony helped opened up the truth of Hebrews 4:16 to me. We are told to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace." My question was, How do I come to God with confidence when I am thinking the wrong things, and I know I have the wrong attitude? The answer is knowing what He means when God says to "draw near with confidence." To "draw near with confidence" means to come with freedom to the throne of grace in the authority of Christ. This is what Jim did when he came to God and told Him that he loved the ungodly habit. How does God respond when we do this? Exactly as He has said He would-by sending His mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). His mercy speaks of His empathetic and understanding aid; His grace refers to His timely enablement that He gives to those who humble themselves before Him (James 4:6).

There are many opportunities throughout each day that encourage you to draw near with confidence to God's throne of grace. When you are struggling with anger, you need His merciful and gracious aid. You will receive it only if you first come to God and tell Him about your struggle. The first step is to honestly admit to the Lord, "I am struggling and am angry at _______________________, and I desperately need Your help." When you are angry your soul is hurting. Unrighteous anger is the wrong response to this hurt, but God is not indifferent about your pain. You can draw near with confidence to His throne of grace and ask Him to put His healing touch upon your heart. As Jesus walked the earth, His compassionate touch transformed the lives of those whom society looked upon as completely incurable. One word and one touch forever changed the impenitent leper in Mark 1:40-42. This same Jesus is our risen Lord today, and He cares about the hurts of your soul. Although He is opposed to the proud, He deeply desires to pour out His gracious help to those who come to Him in true humility. It is this grace that can heal your heart and give you assurance that He can even work together for your ultimate good the past hurts of your life that are so painful.

The conviction that God can work together for good the pain in your life cannot be reached without drawing near to the throne of grace. As Betty processed the pain of her life with an alcoholic and irresponsible father, she greatly struggled. The breakthrough came when she first admitted the struggle and in time began to see how God had used this experience to give her a deep sense of gratitude to her own husband for his life of sobriety. Her heart was filled with joy when he would simply come home at night from work! She had a profound gratefulness for a man who would bring home a paycheck that had not already been foolishly squandered. This grateful joy was a part of the good that God had graciously worked out of her pain. God uses the past and present difficulties of your life to lead you into a life of prayer.

No one ever just decides to be a prayer warrior. God does something in a life that makes the person sense this need of God. Theologian John Calvin called prayer "the discipline of your weakness." As you process the temptations of your life, this is another wonderful opportunity to pray.

Continues...

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Excerpted from A JOURNEY TO Victorious Praying by Bill Thrasher Copyright © 2003 by Bill Thrasher
Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Table of Contents

Section One:  Help of Your Weakness
1.  Transforming Fear into Faith
2.  Praying with Confidence When You Feel Unworthy
3.  Sharing Your True Desires with God
4.  Turning Your Temptations into Victorious Prayer

Section Two:  The Help of the Holy Spirit
5.  Experiencing the Spirit's Motivation in Prayer
6.  Receiving Strength to Believe God
7.  Being Guided in Prayer
8.  Receiving Help When You Don't Know How to Pray

Section Three:  The Help of Companionship
9.  Receiving Help in Prayer from Others
10.  Achieving Victories You Never Thought Were Possible

Section Four:  The Help of Scripture
11.  Learning George Mueller's Secret
12.  Experiencing True Properity
13.  Learning How to Pray for Christlike Growth
14.  Learning to Pray Scripture

Section Five:  The Discipline of Prayer
15.  Realizing the Struggle of Prayer
16.  Understanding Jesus' Patterns of Prayer

Section Six:  The Importance of Prayer
17.  Gaining Strength Through Prayer
18.  Realizing God's Desire to Bless You
19.  Understanding How God Works

Section Seven:  The Help of Fasting
20.  Learning When to Fast
21.  Experiencing the Benefits of Fasting
22.  Getting Started

Section Eight:  The Waiting of Prayer
23.  Experiencing the Joy of Waiting
24.  Discovering God's Purposees While You Wait
25.  Transforming Your Anxiety into Peace
26.  Knowing When to Keep Praying

Section Nine:  The Power of Praise
27.  Experiencing the Goodness of Praise
28.  Understanding the Meaning of True Worship
29.  Abiding in the Lord
30.  Cultivating a Lifestyle of Worship

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

When you know someone is a person of prayer, it is easy to be taught by them regarding prayer.  My friend Bill Thrasher is one of those people.  As you read his words you will be impressed not only with the importance of prayer, but you will find your heart stimulated to get busy about the ministry of prayer ... again.
-Joseph M. Stowell, former President, Moody Bible Institute

Here are refreshing words from the pen of a man who takes prayer seriously.  His study reveals new possibilities for the believer who dares to access God's unlimited provisions for His beloved children.
-Howard G. Hendricks, Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Center for Christian Leadership, Dallas Theological Seminary

As a born worry wart, like my father, I have had to learn to seek His face to find strength.  I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Thrasher that, "in God's kindness He instructs us how to process our anxiety."  I pray that this book blesses many.
-Elisabeth Elliot Gren, Author and Speaker

A Journey to Victorious Praying is wide-ranging in conception, refreshingly biblical, and ever practical.  Bill Thrasher has mined the Scriptures and the literature of prayer to give us a volume that will change lives.  I sense that he did this magnificent work on his knees.
-R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor, College Church in Wheaton

This is the best book on prayer I have ever read!
-Ben Haden, speaker "Changed Lives"

Bill Thrasher's book A Journey to Victorious Praying was a personal inspiration to me, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to the whole church and to anyone who desires to bring their prayer life to a new level.
-Dr. John Perkins, President, John M. Perkins Foundation 

Dr. Bill Thrasher's book should be placed in the hands of every new Christian.  This is a splendidinvitation to much more than a spiritual discipline, it is a call to an exciting way of life with our personal and loving Lord.
-Lyle W. Dorsett, Professor of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation, Wheaton College

Bill Thrasher is "a man after my own heart"--one who lives and walks in prayer and fasting as a normal lifestyle, not dry religious duty.  This very solid and balanced book studies how God is always desiring to orchestrate prayer-filled eruptions and expressions from the conditions of our daily life and calling--some which might appear difficult and challenging, but which often bring the most precious and delightful spiritual returns.  One of the most truly refreshing studies on prayer to appear in years.
-Gary P. Bergel, President, Intercessors for America/Youth Interceding for America

Bill Thrasher's new book is a solid read for anyone who struggles to succeed in making prayer a serious and strategic part of daily life.  I think you'll find A Journey to Victorious Praying a welcome companion on your path to prevailing prayer.
-Phil Miglioratti, National Prayer Network