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SOUL DANCE (excerpt): What I Have Learned About Prayer in Bible College

by Tonja Taylor
10/08/2024 / Prayers

Although I have been praying for decades—since I was saved in elementary school while attending Vacation Bible School at my small rural church—I have learned many things in my Bible school prayer class.

Not only have I learned many facts about prayer, but I have seen true, heartfelt prayer that moves and glorifies God demonstrated by the pastor leading the class! I have felt the sweet Presence of God, Who inhabits our praise, as the pastor worshiped the King of kings, and led us into genuine Spirit-led prayer. Praise God!

This same pastor also taught me about “hell’s intercession,” a term I had not heard before, just like when the crowd started (very wrongly, but loudly and boldly) crying “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”—and it was done. Of course, we know it was the plan of God to save the world. However, hell is “interceding” very loudly and boldly about many things that are against the Word of God, and I agree with the pastor that Heaven’s intercession must be louder and more persistent!

I have learned that true prayer is not rote nor ritual; not a formula, but rather led by the Holy Spirit. This means it may look different (and most likely will) every time.

Learning this, especially from listening to Pastor Terri’s CD, “Praying Like a Grownup,” and reading The Master is Calling by Lynne Hammond (VERIFY) have helped me have great peace that, the times that I’ve started off with a determination to pray in the Spirit a certain number of minutes, then flowed into singing in the Spirit was not wrong, but actually God-ordained! I used to wonder if I was distracted or undisciplined when that would happen. Now, I believe He was pleased with that, and actually authoring it. Praise God!

I also have wondered if I was doing the “Courts of Heaven” prayer right, because, after being intimidated by preparing my first prayer when I learned about this from Robert Henderson and Dr. David Herzog, I started out with my Word-based prayer, then—even in the Courts (where I chose to believe that I actually was, by faith!)—I flowed into worship of my dear Daddy God. I could not help it! There were lots of tears, probably some that came with this new level of the seriousness of my endeavors (unlike anything I’d experienced before, that I knew of, besides going into groaning intercession from actually praying in the Spirit for an hour or so a couple of times in my adult life).

Part of this worship, I know, came in gratefulness to the Grace of the Righteous Judge Who is first and forever our Daddy God, our Abba Father (Praise the LORD!), Who knew I had some fear about this new venture, and Who kindly whispered to me, as I trembled while holding my little paper full of scribbled Scriptures, that “It’s not about the performance; it’s about the passion!”

Hallelujah!

So prayer is sublime communication between us and our Father, through the Holy Spirit, through the Living Word, Jesus, our Intercessor; whether spoken out loud, or breathed in our hearts.

In addition, it was affirmed to me that, as Dr. Copeland stated, we have the right to have our prayers answered because we are blood-bought children of God. Hallelujah!

We know that true faith expects results (Mark 11:23-24), so that, when we pray, we believe that, as I John 5:14-15 says, we know that God hears us because we pray in His will, and thus we have what we ask.

Prayer is to be effective, according to Dr. Copeland, who states that, “As blood-bought Believers; adopted sons and daughters, born again, it is right that we have our prayers answered. …We believe, pray, thank Him and rest…”

I have also learned many things that Pastor Terri Copeland Pearsons makes many statements about in her teachings for this class:

There are two sides to prayer: Legal and Vital.

Prayer must align with God’s Word.
Prayer is actually an act of dominion.
Position and relationship equal power.
The whole Bible is a Book of Prayer—every books is a result of their prayer time with the LORD
God’s not in a box anymore…Ask what the LORD wants to pray.
Prayer is as big as God Himself.
Prayer is the catalyst for the harvest of souls.
Without Spirit-led prayer, we would not have the Bible.
When there is no more concern over time, you’re praying spiritually.
The purpose of prayer is that we be changed from Glory to Glory, till we all come to maturity in Christ…That can’t happen apart from prayer.”

This class has helped clarify for me, as it echoes and reinforces the statement I’ve heard other places that, as Pastor Terri says, “God truly is limited to what He can do in the earth, dependent on man’s participation in prayer.”

The LORD is so good, that He leads us by His Spirit so specifically. He teaches us to pray; to commune with Him; helps us to pray; then rewards our prayers. Wow! How good and gracious is our God, Who is the true God, the LORD and only Savior of all!

Prayer does not just happen, although I’ve been delighted to discover that it can truly become a way of life; like breathing throughout the day—communicating with the Father within, even while talking out loud to others. Hallelujah!

It’s not by power, nor by might, but by His Spirit! (Zech 4:6)

Prayer is a definite way of bringing Heaven to earth; both the experience of it, and the result of it.

As I’ve learned in class, effective prayer gets results and, while that is the main goal of most of us when we pray, I believe that the more we love God, the desire to be with Him (as His is to be with us!) is as important, and can supersede the other!

(God is so good, that it’s always a win-win with Him! We can never outgive Him, and when we choose to devote time to Him in true prayer, we are most blessed; so rewarded, as He touches and changes us, with HIs Spirit flowing to and through us. Glory to God!)

Who are we,that the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator and Sustainer of all life and the universes would care to hear us? Yet we are, through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, He invites us to His Throne, and even before we cry, He answers! Hallelujah! Praise Him!

Yet, who am I to come before the Creator and Sustainer of all life, of the universe(s)? However, I am learning more and more (via prayer and worship and The Word) that I am so precious to Him; an orphan rescued, adopted, and redeemed, whom He holds close to His bosom; that He actually needs my prayers; that He needs “watchmen” or intercessions; a “man to stand in the gap”.

Although the LORD is never too busy and will listen to us for hours (praying in the Spirit, bringing His Word to Him, and other types of real prayer (as opposed to the complaining/ or mix with complaining that I did too much of in the past! Praise the LORD for His great mercy!) I’ve proven Him innumerable times with just a couple of words, “Help me, LORD!” Truly, even before I cry (as He spoke to me years ago), He answers (Isa 65:24)!

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.

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