Luke 11:5-8 NIV

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, YET BECAUSE OF YOUR SHAMELESS AUDACITY he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.”

Luke 18:1-5 NLT

One day, Jesus told His disciples a story to show that THEY SHOULD ALWAYS PRAY AND NEVER GIVE UP. “There was a judge in a certain city,” He said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city CAME TO HIM REPEATEDLY, saying, “Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.” The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, “I don’t fear God or care about people, but THIS WOMAN IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. I’M GOING TO SEE THAT SHE GETS JUSTICE, BECAUSE SHE IS WEARING ME OUT WITH HER CONSTANT REQUESTS!”

1 John 5:13–15 NKJV

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US. And IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US—WHATEVER WE ASK—WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE ASKED OF HIM.

Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

KEEP ON ASKING, and you will RECEIVE what you ask for. KEEP ON SEEKING, and you will FIND. KEEP ON KNOCKING, and the door will be OPENED to you. For everyone who ASKS, RECEIVES. Everyone who SEEKS, FINDS. And to everyone who KNOCKS, THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED.

James 5:16-18 NLT

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. THE EARNEST PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON HAS GREAT POWER AND PRODUCES WONDERFUL RESULTS. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when HE PRAYED EARNESTLY that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when HE PRAYED AGAIN, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

Joshua 10:7-14 NLT

So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon. “Do not be afraid of them,” the LORD said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.” Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise…On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, JOSHUA PRAYED TO THE LORD in front of all the people of Israel. HE SAID, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” SO THE SUN STOOD STILL AND THE MOON STAYED IN PLACE UNTIL THE NATION OF ISRAEL HAD DEFEATED ITS ENEMIES. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS ONE BEFORE OR SINCE, WHEN THE LORD ANSWERED SUCH A PRAYER. Surely the LORD fought for Israel that day!

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NKJV

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 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.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Exhortation: Pray Audaciously

Audacious Faith is Unashamed to Pray Audaciously

AUDACIOUS PRAYER FLOWS FROM HAVING AN AUDACIOUS FAITH IN THE ALMIGHTY GOD who alone is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Those who know their God dare to believe and ask Him for the unattainable–things beyond their imagination–because they are fully persuaded that nothing is impossible with God. As believers they do great exploits for Him. God delights in answering their bold and daring prayers because audacious faith pleases Him. The Almighty consistently encourages His people to believe and trust Him and to pray audaciously so that He can show them great and mighty things:

• “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27 NLT
• “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV
• “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

Mark Batterson, the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. said this about praying audaciously: “It is absolutely imperative at the outset that you COME TO TERMS WITH THIS SIMPLE YET LIFE-CHANGING TRUTH: GOD IS FOR YOU. If you don’t believe that, then you’ll pray small timid prayers; IF YOU DO BELIEVE IT, THEN YOU’LL PRAY BIG AUDACIOUS PRAYERS.”

God’s People Who Prayed Audaciously

There are those mentioned in the Bible who prayed audacious prayers, and God answered them; people such as Abraham, Daniel, Elijah, Joshua, the apostles, and the early Church. They all shared these common characteristics in their walk with God:

• They BELIEVED IN GOD and prayed audaciously because their eyes were on Him, and not on their limitations, impossible situations or needs.
• They always PRAYED ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL, never their own will. God had revealed to them His will, and it had become their mission in life.
• They KNEW GOD and were ABLE TO DO GREAT EXPLOITS for Him because they sought and loved God with all their hearts.
• GOD’S MANDATES were always THEIR MISSION IN LIFE; therefore, they prayed audaciously, believing in Him. They obeyed Him in carrying out His mandates at all costs.

What is Audacious Prayer?

Audacious prayer is not just an inspired and emotion-filled prayer;
IT IS A PRAYER OF FAITH IN GOD. Therefore, it is bold, fearless, and unashamed to ask God for the supernatural. It is a faith that is convinced that with man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

Audacity implies a boldness that may not always be appropriate but is always daring. The dictionary uses such phrases as “recklessly brave” and “recklessly bold in defiance of convention, propriety, law, or the like.” The Bible is full of audacious prayers of many who sought God in faith and desperation.

• “Then Moses said, ‘NOW SHOW ME YOUR GLORY.’” Exodus 33:18 NIV
• Elijah said, “…THERE WILL BE NO DEW OR RAIN DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS UNTIL I GIVE THE WORD!” I Kings 17:1 NLT
• Jairus pleaded, “My little daughter is dying. PLEASE COME AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON HER SO THAT SHE WILL BE HEALED AND LIVE.” Mark 5:23 NIV

Audacious prayer is a deep, focused, and passion-filled petition to God. It is a persistent prayer that presses in until there is a breakthrough. Most answers to prayer are not instantaneous; they involve our persistence, patience, thankfulness, and faith. THE AUDACITY OF FAITH IS THAT IT NEVER GIVES UP BUT PERSEVERES TO THE END.

Audacious prayer is not just a way of aligning and communing with God; IT IS ALSO A POWERFUL TOOL FOR CHANGING BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE PERSON WHO PRAYS. Hannah, although barren, became fruitful and had children through audacious prayer. On his deathbed, Hezekiah received healing and a new lease on life for fifteen more years. The widow’s dead son came to life through Elijah’s prayer. WHEN YOU PRAY WITH DEEP FERVOR, YOU TAP INTO A SOURCE OF DIVINE STRENGTH THAT CAN HELP OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE, AND INTO A POWER THAT WORKS OTHERWISE IMPOSSIBLE MIRACLES. These are mountain-moving prayers.

Audacious prayer is often coupled with fasting. Jesus often fasted and prayed. Fasting is the act of abstaining from food and drink or another type of sacrifice (many today refrain from social media, television, or other distractions) to devote time to earnest supplication.

Because it is a prayer of faith, we do not pray according to our capabilities, but according to God’s character. It is faith in who God is and what He can and loves to do for those who trust and call on Him.

• God is gracious, compassionate, filled with lovingkindness and faithful to hear the cries of those who look to Him, and He is quick to help. Psalm 145:14-19 NLT
• God loves audacious and persistent prayers of faith. If an unjust judge would give justice and help to a persistent widow, God will most assuredly give justice and help to His people who cry out to Him day and night. Luke 18: 6-7 NLT
• God will respond to all those who seek Him with shameless persistence at any hour. Jesus spoke a parable in Luke 11:5-9 about a persistent person who sought help from a friend in the middle of the night for another in need. Although inconvenient, the friend got up and gave what was needed because of his audacious persistence. In verse 8 NLT, Jesus said, “I tell you this—though he [your friend] won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.”
• God loves us far beyond all earthly fathers and surpasses them in blessing and meeting the needs of His children. Luke 11:13

If a corrupt judge, a disgruntled friend, and a good (but sinful) father will give us what we need, how much more will our compassionate, generous, perfect Father in heaven—who loves us more than we can ever imagine, who has limitless resources at His disposal, and who delights in giving us good things—answer our audacious prayers?

Pray Audaciously as Jesus Prayed to Live as He Lived

The Father always answered Jesus’ prayers and gave Him what He asked because Jesus always asked according to His Father’s will. Jesus lived for one thing—to do His Father’s will and finish His work. He had no other priorities or passions besides loving, obeying, and glorifying His Father to the utmost.

This was the audacious faith of Jesus—He knew and believed that His Father would always answer His prayer. In John 11:40-44, when Jesus prayed for Lazarus to be resurrected, He said, “FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME.” He never doubted for one second that the Father would raise Lazarus. He was not begging, but He commanded Lazarus to rise from the dead, and Lazarus came forth alive. Death was defeated.

Jesus was never afraid, or doubtful; instead, He was fearless in His petitions to God. In prayer, He boldly made claims on His Father’s grace and favor. Impossible situations, insurmountable needs, and vicious demonic attacks did not move Him. He defied death by raising many from the dead. He walked on water, turned water into wine, fed the 5,000, healed the sick, cast out demons, opened blind eyes, preached the Good News in power, saved many, called a motley twelve to follow Him, and raised them as His disciples. He yielded Himself to be crucified as the Lamb slain for the salvation of the whole world, subjecting Himself to death but audaciously believing that the Father would raise Him up on the third day and seat Him by His right hand in heaven. Jesus was not afraid of anything or anyone. He loved fearlessly, lived uncommonly, prayed audaciously, obeyed radically, served selflessly, and gave recklessly.

Just as God wanted to fulfill His will and finish His work through Jesus Christ, He too wants to do the same through His Church. We must pray as Jesus prayed. The fulfillment of God’s will on this earth cannot be hindered or delayed because the Church struggles in prayer, be it prayerlessness or weak and faithless prayer. Jesus said in John 14:12 NLT, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”

HOW TO PRAY AUDACIOUSLY

• DARING prayers for MIRACLE BREAKTHROUGH

Mark 11:22-24 NKJV

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, HE WILL HAVE WHATEVER HE SAYS. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Jesus was teaching His disciples to have bold faith in God and to pray with shameless audacity, believing whatever they asked in prayer would be done. What is audacious to us is nothing to God, who can do all things. God is eager to answer audacious prayer because it delights Him, and it is His will to do the supernatural and miraculous through us.

• FERVENT prayers that AVAIL MUCH

James 5:16-18 NKJV

THE EFFECTIVE, FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILS MUCH. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

God responds to the ferverant prayer of the righteous. Therefore, we must pray fervently and believe for the following:

• Churches to awaken, repent, return to first love for God, and obey all God’s mandates.
• All sons and daughters to return to faith in God.
• Loved ones bound by strongholds and demon spirits to be freed.
• Supernatural provisions for missions and the work of God.
• Missionaries to be raised, trained and sent out to all nations.
• Power and ability to reach and see the younger generations saved and mentored to be mighty men and women of God.

• PERSISTENT prayers—keep on praying and NOT GIVING UP

Romans 12:12 NKJV

“Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER.”

1 Samuel 1:15-17 NIV

Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I WAS POURING OUT MY SOUL TO THE LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.”

To pray audaciously, we must pray with persistence, never giving up no matter the challenges we may face. We must be patient in our prayers, remain faithful even in difficult times, and continue to petition with hope and trust in God’s timing.

Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel, but the road to becoming a mother required great faith and persistent prayer because she was barren for many years. She never gave up but agonized in deep, intense, and relentless prayer, and God heard her. The Lord remembered Hannah. He saw not only her pure intent and desire to be a mother but also her intent and desire to be a faithful servant to the Lord. It was because of the Lord’s favor and Hannah’s arduous prayer that Samuel was born. Samuel would become one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, and not one of Samuel’s words fell to the ground. He became the prophet who crowned not only the first king of Israel, Saul, but also the king after God’s own heart, David.

• POWER OF SECRET Prayers—REWARDED OPENLY

Matthew 6:6 NIV

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

• Praying and NOT WAVERING at the PROMISES

Romans 4:16-22 NIV

Therefore, THE PROMISE COMES BY FAITH, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham…He believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. AGAINST ALL HOPE, ABRAHAM IN HOPE BELIEVED and so became the father of many nations…Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. YET HE DID NOT WAVER THROUGH UNBELIEF regarding the promise of God, BUT WAS STRENGTHENED IN HIS FAITH and gave glory to God, BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT GOD HAD POWER TO DO WHAT HE HAD PROMISED. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Audacious prayer does not waver at the promises of God but believes and hopes even when situations seem utterly hopeless. Abraham, against all hope of being a father of many nations, never wavered in hope; he believed, and was fully persuaded, that God had the power to do what He had promised. His faith and prayer were audacious, and God fulfilled His promise. The audacious prayer of faith is not shaken by the hopelessness of the situation nor the humanly impossible enormity of the promise of God. Faith simply believes that God has the power to do all that He has promised.

• The Power of FASTING and Prayer

Matthew 17:19-21 NKJV

Then, the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. HOWEVER, THIS KIND DOES NOT GO OUT EXCEPT BY PRAYER AND FASTING.”

Daniel 10:2-3 ESV

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.

Daniel 10:10–14 ESV

And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, YOUR WORDS HAVE BEEN HEARD, AND I HAVE COME BECAUSE OF YOUR WORDS. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

Daniel’s life of prayer and fasting gave him the courage and power to remain faithful to God amid severe persecution and entrapments by those who were jealous of him and wanted to kill him. Because of his life of consistent prayer and fasting, God gave him an excellent spirit, wisdom, and understanding above all others. On one occasion, he fasted and remained deep in prayer for twenty-one days. God had immediately sent the angel Gabriel with a message for Daniel when he began his fasting and prayer, but Gabriel was delayed because of the demonic spiritual forces withstanding him. Nevertheless, Gabriel came through with the help of Michael, as Daniel persisted in prayer and fasting. God is not slow as some of us count slowness; instead, He knows the exact time and measures to be taken to answer prayer. God assures us that He will answer those who call upon Him in faith and boldness and give them what they ask.