filling the Quiver
How to fill the Quiver?
How one prays matters
“5 When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
- Matthew 6:7-13
Posture matters, words matter
Notice how Jesus starts with how not to pray, making clear two postures to avoid:
Do not pray like the hypocrites – praying for show
Do not pray with many words – praying becoming rambling
The antidote for the first is to pray in secret (e.g., prayer closet). This doesn’t mean that prayer doesn’t have corporate importance. What it does mean is that the posture of any prayer is NOT to be for show, but to move God’s heart.
The antidote to the second is simply to speak less. This is about intentionality and specificity. There is power in specificity! Not praying endless words hoping that they stick, but being discerning with what you say and how you say it increases the potency of your prayers.
Knowing how not to pray keeps the quiver from shooting empty arrows (as Jesus described). If you pray in the ways Jesus’ said not to and/or pray out of God’s will (e.g., praying for evil things to happen to people, praying for things forbidden in God’s Word, etc.) those aren’t arrows of prayer being launched from your bow. In fact, they are no arrows at all. They are merely empty prayers, ramblings, and posturing’s. None of which please the Lord. All of which the enemy takes great pleasure in. Don’t allow a tool of the Lord’s to be made a mockery.
Secrecy and specificity are the foundation on which we are to pray. From this foundation, we are instructed to hit each of the following areas:
God, You are Holy
God, let Your Kingdom come and will be done here
Provide for us
Forgive us (as we forgive others)
Deliver us from temptation and evil
Note how the starting point is a declaration about who God is (i.e., His character). Start every prayer with a statement of who God is (e.g., holy, provider, protector, healer, Savior, etc.).
See how the movement of Jesus’ template goes to advancement of God’s Kingdom. Thereby, pray for God’s Kingdom to advance in every prayer.
Also see the “asks” part of Jesus’ template (3-5). Ask the Lord. He already knows what you need, but it takes true humility to admit you are in need.
Starting with 1) making a statement about who God is (His character), 2) pleading for God’s Kingdom to come, and 3) laying out personal and/or collective asks is paramount to staying in step with the Lord in the place of prayer and keeping your quiver full of sharply, refined arrows.
How one Approaches God’s Throne Matters
“14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- Hebrews 4:14-16
Confidence Matters
Many have difficulty praying with confidence as a result of feeling like one’s prayer aren’t good enough. In other words, feeling insecure about praying. How does one throw off insecurity? Jesus is how we turn insecurity in the place of prayer to fully secured confidence. From such a place of confidence, one can begin to fill their quiver full of arrows that are powerful and effective (James 5: 16).
How often one Approaches God’s Throne Matters
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…”
- Ephesians 6:18
“pray without ceasing…”
-1 Thessalonians 5:17
Frequency matters
How often we approach God’s Throne matters. In fact, frequency of approach is synonymous with the amount of arrows loosed.
Bringing it all together
How one Prays Matters
It sharpens, instead of dulls (Matthew 6:7-13)
How one Approaches God’s Throne Matters
Turns insecurity into fully secured confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16)
How Often one Approaches God’s Throne Matters
Frequency is synonymous with amount of arrows loosed (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)