BOLD PRAYER

God’s Heart on BOLD Prayer

Bold prayer is a journey of faith and trust in God’s unchanging character. Keep seeking Him with an open heart, knowing that He is a loving Father who delights in your prayers.  God desires an intimate relationship with His children, and part of that relationship is communicating with Him through prayer. Bold prayer reflects faith, trust, and confidence in God’s character and His ability to work powerfully in our lives. The Bible encourages us to approach God boldly, not because of who we are, because of who He is. Here's what Scripture reveals about God's heart on bold prayer:

God Invites Us to Approach Him Boldly

God’s heart is open to His children, and He encourages us to come before Him with confidence. Bold prayer is not arrogance—it’s rooted in faith and trust in God’s love and willingness to hear us.

  • Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
  • Ephesians 3:12: "In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

God’s Heart: He longs for His children to come to Him without fear, knowing that His throne is a place of grace, mercy, and help.

God Honors Faith-Filled Prayers

God is pleased when we pray boldly, believing in His power and trusting His will. Bold prayers demonstrate our faith in God’s sovereignty and His ability to do the impossible.

  • Mark 11:24: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
  • James 1:6: "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

God’s Heart: He responds to prayers offered in faith, desiring that we trust Him completely, even when circumstances seem impossible.

God’s Power Is Unlimited

Bold prayers align with God’s ability to do immeasurably more than we can imagine. Praying boldly acknowledges that God’s power is far greater than our limitations.

  • Jeremiah 32:27: "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"

  • Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."

God’s Heart: He delights in showing His strength and power in response to the prayers of His people.

God Encourages Persistence in Prayer

Bold prayer is not just a one-time act; it often involves persistent faith. God honors the prayers of those who continually seek Him with a bold and expectant heart.

  • Luke 18:1-8: In the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus teaches that we should always pray and not give up.

  • Matthew 7:7-8: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

God’s Heart: He values perseverance in prayer, knowing that it strengthens our faith and draws us closer to Him.

God Answers According to His Will

Bold prayer seeks alignment with God’s will, trusting that He knows what is best for us. While we are encouraged to ask boldly, we must also humbly submit to His plans, knowing that His ways are higher than ours.

  • 1 John 5:14-15: "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 6:10: "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

God’s Heart: He desires that our bold prayers reflect a deep trust in His perfect will and timing.

God’s Love Fuels Our Confidence

Bold prayer is a response to God’s unchanging love and faithfulness. Knowing that God is a loving Father who desires good for His children gives us the courage to pray boldly.

  • Romans 8:31-32: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"

  • Matthew 7:11: "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"

God’s Heart: He invites us to pray boldly because He loves us deeply and desires to give us good gifts.

A Prayer for Boldness

Heavenly Father, thank You for inviting me to come boldly before Your throne. I trust in Your love, Your power, and Your perfect will for my life. Teach me to pray with confidence and faith, knowing that nothing is too hard for You. Align my heart with Yours, and help me to seek Your will above all else. Give me the courage to persist in prayer and to believe in Your promises, even when the answer is delayed or different from what I expect. I surrender my desires to You and trust in Your greater plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Steps to Having Bold Prayer

Praying boldly is about approaching God with confidence, faith, and trust in His promises. It involves aligning your heart with His will and believing in His power to do the impossible. Here are practical steps to develop boldness in your prayer life:

Build a Relationship with God

  • Step: Spend time with God daily through prayer, Scripture, and worship. Bold prayer stems from knowing God’s character and His love for you.

  • Scripture: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

  • Action: Start by thanking God for who He is and reflecting on His attributes—faithfulness, love, power, and sovereignty.

Approach God with Confidence

  • Step: Remember that through Jesus, you have direct access to God. Approach Him without fear or hesitation.

  • Scripture: "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

  • Action: Begin your prayer by acknowledging that God hears you and wants to meet with you.

Pray in Faith

  • Step: Believe that God is able to answer your prayers, even when the situation seems impossible.

  • Scripture: "And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

  • Action: Declare your faith in God’s power. Speak His promises over your life and situation.

Be Honest and Specific

  • Step: Share your heart openly with God. Tell Him exactly what you need, and don’t hold back your feelings or struggles.

  • Scripture: "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

  • Action: Write down specific requests or concerns to present to God in prayer.

Align with God’s Will

  • Step: Bold prayer isn’t about demanding your way; it’s about seeking God’s will and trusting His plans for your life.

  • Scripture: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (1 John 5:14)

  • Action: Include a prayer for God’s guidance, asking Him to align your desires with His perfect will.

Persist in Prayer

  • Step: Keep praying with boldness, even when answers are delayed. Persistence shows faith and trust in God’s timing.

  • Scripture: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

  • Action: Set aside time each day to pray about your request, and don’t give up even if you don’t see immediate results.

Pray with Gratitude

  • Step: Bold prayers are rooted in thanksgiving, trusting that God is already working on your behalf.

  • Scripture: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)

  • Action: Thank God for past answers to prayer and for what He is doing, even if you can’t see it yet.

Use Scripture in Your Prayer

  • Step: Pray God’s Word back to Him. Scripture is powerful and reinforces your faith in His promises.

  • Scripture: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword." (Hebrews 4:12)

  • Action: Find verses that speak to your situation and include them in your prayers.

Trust God’s Timing

  • Step: Bold prayer trusts that God’s answer—whether yes, no, or wait—is always for your good.

  • Scripture: "He has made everything beautiful in its time." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

  • Action: End your prayer by surrendering your request to God and trusting in His perfect plan.

Celebrate God’s Faithfulness

  • Step: When God answers your prayer, boldly give Him praise and share your testimony of His goodness.

  • Scripture: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)

  • Action: Write down answered prayers in a journal and thank God for His faithfulness.

A Bold Prayer for Healing and Freedom

Heavenly Father,

I come before You with a heart that is weary, burdened, and longing for freedom. You are the Creator of all things, and You know me intimately—every thought, every fear, and every struggle I face. You have promised that Your plans for me are good, plans to give me hope and a future, and I hold onto that truth today.

Lord, I boldly ask for Your healing power to break through the chains of this struggle. Tear down every lie that tells me I am not enough, that I am unworthy, or that I must earn love. Replace those lies with Your truth: that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, chosen, and deeply loved by You.

Give me the courage to face my fears and to walk the path of recovery, even when it feels overwhelming. Help me to seek the help I need and to embrace the wisdom of those You place in my life to guide me. Let Your Word be my foundation, and let Your Spirit strengthen me in my weakness.

I surrender control to You, Lord. I surrender my fears, my insecurities, and my need for perfection. I place my body, my mind, and my spirit into Your hands. Fill me with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, and teach me to see myself as You see me—whole, loved, and redeemed.

Father, I declare that Your power is greater than any stronghold, and Your love is greater than any fear. In the name of Jesus, I speak freedom over my life. I believe that You are able to do immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine, and I trust You to lead me into a life of wholeness and joy.

Thank You for loving me unconditionally, for never leaving me, and for walking this journey with me. I trust You, Lord, and I choose to walk in Your light, one step at a time.

In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray,
Amen.

DISCLAIMER NOTICE: The information contained in this resource is general in nature and is not intended to provide or be a substitute for advice, consultation or treatment with a duly licensed mental health practitioner or other medical professional. This resource is intended to provide practical faith-based guidelines for balanced living and is not a replacement for medical advice. Professional services should be pursued whenever necessary and/or appropriate. By utilizing this resource, individuals acknowledge that Men of Faith is not providing direct clinically-oriented mental health treatment or therapy, and that it does not create a therapeutic relationship between any individual and Men of Faith.  Individuals who use this resource also agree to indemnify and hold harmless, Men of Faith, its licensees, affiliates, and assigns, as well as the officers, agents, and employees of Men of Faith and its licensees, affiliates, and assigns, from and against any and all liability, loss, damages, costs, charges, legal fees, recoveries, judgments, penalties, and expenses, which may be obtained against, imposed upon or suffered by Men of Faith. Additionally, certain views and opinions expressed in this resource may be those from sources other than Men of Faith and do not necessarily represent the views of Men of Faith, nor imply an endorsement by Men of Faith. All rights are reserved worldwide and no part of this resource may be reproduced in any form (print or electronic) without the expressed written permission of Men of Faith.