Epaphras Prays Podcast

We often spend our prayer time interceding for others—family, church members, and neighbors—asking for blessings in their circumstances, health, salvation, and spiritual growth. Sometimes, when it comes to praying for ourselves, we can feel a bit lost, even selfish in spending prayer time solely on ourselves. Personal prayer time should focus partly on asking the Almighty that His kingdom come and...

Welcome to the PrayerCast, like a podcast but with prayer. In this Episode: PRAISE O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! - Psalm 8:9 Let my mouth be filled [with] thy praise [and with] thy honor all the day. - Psalm 71:8 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. - Psalm 146:1 THANKS But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. -...

Have you ever noticed how technology has changed the way we navigate? These days, most people rely on GPS and smartphones to guide them from point A to point B. While these tools are certainly convenient, there's something special about traditional folding maps that digital screens can't replicate. The tactile experience of unfolding a paper map, tracing routes with your finger, and seeing the big...

Many Christians believe the primary purpose of prayer is to ask God for help and blessings. Yet research shows that in the Bible's own prayer book—the Psalms—praise actually outweighs petition by nearly two to one. This stark contrast matters more than ever in our current age of instant gratification, where the 'prayer as wishlist' mindset has potentially diminished our understanding of true spiri...

Do you pray for people you know? Do others ask you to pray for them? Most requests for prayer come to us because of a need someone has. It is likely a physical need, such as health, or finances, or a job, etc. It is very common for folks to ask for us to pray for them when they have a big problem (in marriage, with children, at work, and so on), when there is a big decision to make, or an opportun...

Have you ever wondered why some prayers seem to precede remarkable breakthroughs in your life? This pattern isn't coincidental—it reflects a profound spiritual principle woven throughout Scripture and Christian experience. When we examine God's interactions with His people, we discover that prayer often serves as the key that unlocks Heaven's storehouse of blessings. The Lord gives what He has in...

A PrayerCast is like a podcast, but instead of talking or reading, it’s praying. You are welcome to pray along as we do. Hello there, I'm the voice of Epaphras, and today we'll be praying for the people of God from the Word of God. By studying the Bible, we can gain insight into God's intentions for His children. The prayers made by patriarchs, kings, prophets and apostles all reflect our Lord’s w...

But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not . --Luke 22:32 I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you . --John 16:26 He ever lives to make intercession .--Hebrews 7:25 In the journey of faith, understanding Jesus Christ's role as our intercessor brings profound comfort and strength. Instead of tirelessly striving to live uprightly, believers can find peace by resting in Christ...

Epaphras Prays is a newsletter about personal and intercessory praying. We encourage the People of God to pray from the Word of God for other People of God. Sign up here: Prayer is often described as the lifeblood of a Christian's relationship with God. Yet, amidst the busyness of life, it’s easy to neglect or rush through this vital practice. Jesus’ teaching in Luke 18:1 reminds us of its importa...

Epaphras Prays is a newsletter about personal and intercessory praying. We encourage the People of God to pray from the Word of God for other People of God. Sign up here: Some years ago, I sat in a planning meeting for an upcoming church event. The team was eager to brainstorm ideas—venue logistics, promotional strategies, and volunteer schedules dominated the discussion. Everyone brought great en...

We cannot hear his voice, but we can pray these printed words along with Charles Spurgeon: Glorious Liberty OUR Father, we bless Thy name that we can say from the bottom of our hearts, “Abba, Father.” It is the chief joy of our lives that we have become the children of God by faith which is in Christ Jesus and we can in the deep calm of our spirit say, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be...

Introduction Prayer is often described as the heartbeat of a believer’s relationship with God, but what gives prayer its power? According to E. M. Bounds, the answer lies in a single, profound element: desire . Desire is more than a fleeting wish; it’s a deep, soul-stirring hunger that propels us into God’s presence with purpose and passion. Without it, prayer risks becoming empty words. In this p...

I love Christmas hymns, the ones we sing in church or hear on our radio. Songs like O Little Town of Bethlehem , The First Noel , Away in a Manger , Joy to the World , and Silent Night are some of my favorites. Their melodies are beautiful, and I enjoy singing them even all year round. These songs become part of our traditions and help us celebrate the season. However, sometimes when we sing them,...

The “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” were first told by an angel of the Lord to some shepherds tending flocks in the fields. He told them of a baby born in nearby Bethlehem who is Christ the Lord. As Luke shares the story, then “suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goo...

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” —Matt. 9:37-38 I have several evangelism strategy books on hand, you might also, and one thing I find strange isn’t what is in them. It’s what isn’t. While most of the ideas are good, helpful, and encouraging, what is lackin...

The building of the church isn’t about the building itself. Jesus is the builder and designer of His church, using people as laborers who do the work through prayer. Prayer is a primary tool for building the church, and it should be kept sharp and consistently used. The early church was birthed from a prayer meeting, and the apostles continually gave themselves to prayer. Effective prayer of the r...

There is first of all, a lack of praying (to our Lord)--of spending time personally, privately, in our own closets in quiet devotion, or intercession. We do not watch and pray as we have been instructed, and so fall asleep. What hindrances might keep us from praying? There are secondly, hindrances to our praying rightly . Jesus tells us ask , so, let us ask! But when we do ask, when we do pray, le...

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 107:1 PrayerCast Notes: Goodness and Mercy —from Spurgeon’s Prayers Count Your Blessings —A Prayer Hymn Thanksgiving and Prayer for Pardon —Liturgy of St. Mark Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. --Colossians 4:2 Start with TAG When we are stressed, angry, sad, or busy—ev...

We are instructed by Almighty God to pray for others. We call this intercessory prayer, and we see this numerous times in Scripture. This is often how Jesus prayed and we see Paul do so in his letters. It is a privilege for us today to intercede for the well-being of the Beloved of God. Our prayers, first and foremost, are (but not only) for God’s own people, the Believers in Jesus as the Christ w...

Reading and studying the prayers found in the Bible is beneficial for me to learn to pray. So we’re beginning an occasional study at Epaphras Prays of the rich history we have in Scripture of God’s people crying out to him. Who better to begin with than a man after God’s own heart, the one who penned many of the Psalms, the King of Israel: David. Our short study of his prayer of praise and blessin...

But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life. And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.   Ju...

We need to make a it a point to seek God's guidance before making decisions. This is in keeping with king David as seen in 1 &2 Samuel. Acting without God's guidance can lead to negative consequences, as demonstrated in the story of King David's census in 2 Samuel 24. Why? Because God, as our heavenly Father, wants to help us and is always ready to provide assistance. And prayer enlists His help....

You have prayed long, you have prayed hard, and you are to be commended. But now is not the time to rest from our prayers, for the battle is won, but the war rages on. So, fellow intercessors, I encourage you, do not grow weary, nor grow comfortable, for the foe does not sleep. Press in to God, and occupy a place before his throne and mercy seat from your prayer closet. These are important things...

Imprecatory praying is a special type of prayer. This type invokes a curse, and involves asking for divine judgment or punishment. These are found throughout the Bible, primarily in the Psalms, where they pray for God's judgment upon their enemies. Many were written by King David, the man after God’s own heart. While Jesus and His disciples seldom quote these prayers directly, they emphasize the i...

Many nations are living in Psalm 2—conspiring together and raging against the Lord, and rushing headlong to destruction . In this PrayerCast we're praying from the Psalm, praying for the nation's government leaders—asking for good and godly government across the land. We come in Jesus' name and pray that the kings and rulers of our nation would serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling,...