Pray This, Not That!

by Melissa Nordell

Many Christians have asked me to write out prayers for them to follow. I usually focus on teaching saints to instead follow Holy Spirit precisely and prophetically to find roots that need repentance, curses that need breaking, prophetic acts that need to be done, declarations that need to be spoken out loud, evil ties that need breaking, for instance as these actions yield immediate fruit and transformation. However, I believe that a significant improvement in prayers of petition initially is vital in order to bring kingdom change. Saints must learn to petition correctly, safely, and effectively before they should engage in transformation and intercession. Without these improvements, there is no fruit.

Praying incorrectly is not only unsafe but can hinder (and even stop) Godly answers to prayer. How can God bless us when we pray amiss (James 4:3)? We can bring change in any area (cities, nations, families, individuals, businesses, churches) by directing our prayers in a biblical manner. If we are honest with ourselves, how many of our prayers are truly answered? This is most likely due to the way we pray.

It is imperative that we change old habit patterns as we recognize that some of our prayer methods are not aligned with the Word of God – and lack common sense. As Proverbs 19:2 (NIV) says: “Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!”

The Lord has sent me to various places to hear how His Ecclesia is praying. Here are a few examples of incorrect and ineffective prayers I hear, along with suggestions and scriptures to correct them so that you will produce results, as in PRAY THIS, NOT THAT:

1. Let us say you are praying about abortion. Instead of telling God what He already knows, PRAY THIS: “I decree and declare that abortions stop now in my area and that people who are considering an abortion have dreams and visions to see the consequences of what they are considering. Lord, give them knowledge that it is murder and not the choice of the baby; and above all I command salvation to come to them…” (1 Cor 9:26; Isa 55:8-9) NOT THAT: Let us stop saying things like: “Lord there have been 10K abortions just this week in my territory and it is ungodly, and it is murder and…” which is what God already knows and asks nothing at all. Let us always pray proactively, making requests that make impact. Do not just complain to God. See the difference?
2. Let us say you are praying something about gender confusion. Instead of preaching to God and the people in the room in corporate prayer, PRAY THIS: “Lord, I thank you that you have assigned at birth the perfect gender for an individual’s calling and destiny so I ask you to change laws, show legislators how evil it is to allow children to change their gender without parental permission, heal our children and our land, and save those who are gender confused….” (Eph 3:20; James 4:6-7; Matt 6:7-8; Phil 4:6) NOT THAT: “Lord my area is promoting gender change without the parent’s permission in our schools which is so wrong and evil, from the devil, a sin in your eyes….,” which is only preaching, bragging about what one knows, telling the others what they already know, not affecting anything, and not asking for anything at all. This is praying from the mind and flesh – and does nothing. Does the Lord, and the people, not know this? And it might be putting people to sleep!
3. Let us say you are praying for Israel and about the attacks from Hamas. Instead of praying mean, unbiblical, hateful prayers against those we disagree with even if they are doing horrible things, PRAY THIS: “Lord save the people in Gaza, including Hamas, so that they see that you are the One True God and Creator and that what they have been believing and doing is wrong by showing them a dream or vision, by having someone minister to them, and by showing them their future in hell if they do not change. Lord, break off the deception and heal them of their anger and hatred. I decree a full stop to terrorism by your Mighty Hand. Lord, save them since I know that you love them too. Lord, send angels to protect Israel. I declare full Holy Spirit revival to come to Palestine and a lasting change in their government; but I also ask for your perfect justice and plead the Blood of Jesus over them…” (Matt 5:44; Matt 7:1-2; Gal 5:22-25; Eph 6:12; 1 Pet 4:17; 2 Pet 3:9; 1 Cor 13:1,6; Rom 12:17-21; John 4:11-12; Ps 66:18; Prov 25:21-22; Psalm 9:7-8) NOT THAT: “Lord, have the exact same happen like rape and beheadings to Hamas just as they did to the Israelis on Oct. 7…,” since this is highly contrary to the Word of God as He does not want any to perish. He instructs us to love our enemies which is His will. Praying destruction, hatred and violence is exactly what Jesus said not to do; and death is up to God. Be aware that hateful and destructive prayers can come back on you and never effect the other person(s). Let us not be reactionary but pray God’s will according to scripture. Also, do not pray mean, selfish, judgmental prayers, for instance to burn a business down, claim someone else’s property, or declare an earthquake to happen in a place for judgment, as these are some charismatic witchcraft examples.
4. Let us say you are praying for something and want to say, “I stand against,” whether it is to stand against the devil or any evil spirit you want to deal with. Instead of using the words “I stand against _____(Satan or another evil spirit)_____,” PRAY THIS: “Satan, I STOP you from speaking, effecting, or influencing anyone in my city, and I decree and declare that you foul spirit must leave my land, you are forbidden to speak to anyone in this regard as I declare you deaf, mute, and unable to influence anyone here by the power and Blood of Jesus Christ. I set a bloodline around this city and its people, send chaos into your camp and plead the Blood of Jesus over you. Lord, I ask you to strengthen the mighty warriors of God to fight this evil spirit and take away its strength. I call for God’s kingdom to come now in this regard…” (Luke 10:19; Ps 91:9-13; Matt 6:10) NOT THAT: “Satan (or any other evil spirit), I stand against you…” which does absolutely nothing but puts you at risk because you have taunted an evil spirit. There is no scripture anywhere in the Bible that says to do this. Imagine David saying “I stand against you” to Goliath without actually doing anything! Goliath would have “eaten him for lunch” with all of Israel. Jesus never said “I stand against” at any time. If you are not comfortable or trained to bind an evil spirit, there are so many other biblically sound ways to pray.
5. When you are tired of praying for any issue, run out of things to say or just do not know what to pray, PRAY THIS: pray in tongues first and foremost. Declare out loud the Lord’s prayer and insert the country, person or issue’s name in that prayer. You can worship, declare salvation of the people involved, give God praise and thanks for good results, go to the courts of heaven, ask for justice, decree an appropriate scripture in God’s Word, plead the Blood of Jesus, take the authority given to you by Jesus in faith, believing…“ (James 14:16-17: Rom 8:26; Jude 1:20; Eph 5:19-21; Prov 3:5-6) NOT THAT: Instead of saying: “I just don’t know how to pray anymore about _____,” get to the root, rely and depend on Holy Spirit instead of your own mind’s understanding and flesh which is the base reason you do not know what to pray. Rely fully on Holy Spirit which will bear rapid, good fruit. Praying in tongues should be the first thing we do – not the last resort.
6. Instead of praying that certain people should be humbled, PRAY THIS: “Lord save _____ (if they are not saved). I decree and declare God’s will for their life. Lord, pull them into the divine destiny that you have called them to since before they were born, show them what you want them to do and say, send Holy Spirit minister to them, bring healing to their deepest traumas and issues.” (James 4:3; Prov 3:5-6: Matt 7:1-2) NOT THAT: “Lord, humble ______ in Jesus’ name….” Do not be judgmental, remember how you were before salvation, healing and deliverance, and recognize the reality of hell for those that are not saved. Realize that being humbled should be determined by God and may not be what they need. Maybe they need encouragement or boldness, healing or prophetic insight, or a word of knowledge or scripture to help guide them along life’s pathway. Maybe they are truly humble but need healing from traumas. Or maybe the Lord called them to be bold just exactly how they are. Look at your own level of pride instead of others as it is prideful to call for someanyone else to be humbled.
7. Instead of praying for anything and forgetting to use Jesus’ name at the end of the prayer, PRAY THIS: “Lord, I ask _________, in Jesus’ mighty name.” (John 14:13-14; John 15:16; John 16:23-24) NOT THAT: Praying anything and leaving off “In the name of Jesus” does nothing at all. Nothing will be accomplished without it. It is just “hot air” and a waste of time, not to mention being scripturally unsound.
8. When you are decreeing and declaring, including God’s Word, PRAY THIS: “Lord I decree and declare your Word, ________,” out loud and in faith, believing. (Heb 11; 2 Pet 1:3-4; 2 Cor 5:7; Matt 21:22; Luke 1:37; Mark 11:22-24) NOT THAT: Do not decree and declare words without faith, conviction and boldness. Nothing happens without faith. Also, it makes more impact to be led by the Lord as to what to decree and declare, and which scripture to boldly speak. Let us not be like the ten spies; but be like Joshua and Caleb, knowing that God will answer your decree and is more than able to solve the issue.
9. Let us say that you are praying for America. Instead of making negative statements that cancel what you pray, PRAY THIS: “Lord, I thank you that you can do all things, and I expect, decree and declare full Revival, Transformation and Reformation for the United States, as I know by your Word and by faith that America will be saved. These times are important and leading up to your Second Coming, so I ask that You raise up a Movement…” (Prov 18:21; Ps 8:6) NOT THAT: Do not say negative words like “we are in dark, unprecedented times” or “America is so dark and headed to destruction” or “America is turning to the devil,” not expecting any change and not having any faith. Because death and life are in the power of the tongue, be proactive and full of faith-filled words, expecting answers. Do not give the enemy any power but believe that God is bigger, all-powerful, and the devil cannot win if you pray in faith. Know who you are in Christ and the power and authority that Jesus gave you. Never negate what you just prayed.

I encourage you to look up the scriptures for each example so that you are sure how to pray correctly, and sure of the will of God in a situation.

Above all, let us be mindful of our words, pray in a manner that you would want others to pray for you, and pray according to God’s Word and will. Do not copy other people but emulate (imitate) Jesus Christ and how He prayed. Make sure that there is a scripture to back up how you are praying. This is how you will bear more fruit, accomplish great things, and change the world around you for the kingdom of God.

Pray on Warrior!