Welcome back to Five to Thrive, our journey through five spiritual habits that help us move from surviving to thriving as disciples of Jesus. Last week, we explored Scripture Engagement—reading the Bible and doing what it says. This week, we’re diving into something that’s often misunderstood, underused, and deeply transformative: Extraordinary Prayer.
🚨 Prayer Isn’t Just a Spiritual 911
Let’s be honest. For most of us, prayer has felt transactional. We pray when we need something fixed, healed, or changed. It’s like calling heaven’s customer service line—submit a request, hope for a good outcome.
But here’s the problem: when prayer is only about getting something from God, it starts to feel like a chore. And when the answers don’t come the way we want—when God says “no” or “wait”—we start asking, “What’s the point?”
Jesus offers us something radically different.
🙌 Prayer That Moves Heaven Starts by Surrendering Earth
In Matthew 6:5–18, Jesus teaches us how to pray—not as a performance, not as a transaction, but as a relationship. He gives us a model we know as the Lord’s Prayer. It’s short. It’s simple. And it’s powerful. Why? Because it’s a prayer of surrender.
Extraordinary prayer isn’t about changing our circumstances. It’s about changing us. It’s not about getting heaven to agree with earth—it’s about aligning earth with heaven.
Here’s how Jesus’ prayer breaks it down:
1. Worship: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
Start with who God is—not what you need. Worship shifts the focus off ourselves and onto God’s character. It’s the first act of surrender.
2. Surrender: “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done…”
This is the heart of extraordinary prayer. It’s risky. It’s vulnerable. But surrender isn’t giving up—it’s letting go so God can give us something better.
3. Dependence: “Give us today the food we need.”
This isn’t about five-year plans. It’s about trusting God for today. It’s daily dependence, not occasional desperation.
4. Forgiveness: “Forgive us… as we forgive…”
Confession and reconciliation. We surrender our right to stay angry. Because bitterness creates distance—and distance kills intimacy.
5. Mission: “Rescue us from the evil one.”
We ask for protection, yes—but also for purpose. Where is God sending you today? Who does He want you to notice?
🕒 Your 10-Minute Challenge
Want to thrive? Try this: set aside 10 minutes a day for extraordinary prayer. Same time. Every day. No distractions. Use the Lord’s Prayer as your guide:
Minutes 1–2: Worship
Minutes 3–4: Surrender
Minutes 5–6: Dependence
Minutes 7–8: Forgiveness
Minutes 9–10: Mission
Then ask yourself—not “Did God answer my prayer?” but “Do I feel closer to Him?”
