Know Your Rights — Present Your Prayer Claims Before the Ultimate Judge

I think this can really move the needle in earth-born situations — I’m beginning to realize there is an aspect of prayer which is legal in nature. We can come before the Throne Over All with bold prayer claims, asserting our standing in Christ.

Jesus used a teaching-narrative (a parable) to show there is a legal nature to prayer — see Luke 18:1-8.

The Persistent Widow Who Knew Her Rights

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart …” (Luke 18:1).

Jesus tells us about a widow who kept coming to a judge seeking legal protection from her opponent. She was saying, “Give me justice.”

This judge was wicked and rebuffed her. He even self-identified as not fearing God nor respecting man. But the widow did not shrink back. She kept appearing before the judge.

Pray consistently and never give up! Assert your standing and rights in Christ.

The judge eventually rendered a decision and gave her justice. If for no other reason than she was wearing him out!

Jesus then says:

“Now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8 NASB).

So Jesus is using a teaching-narrative — a story about a legal matter — to show us that we ought to pray in faith at all times.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.

Psalm 89:14 NASB

You see, prayer is about justice. It’s about the design and will of the Father. It’s the activity of the Ultimate Judge setting things right. But we have to exercise our faith. And at times, we have to make our case in prayer.

Related: See all articles and podcast episodes in the PRAYER THAT WORKS category

Present Your Prayer Claims Before the Ultimate Judge

A legal instrument expresses a legally enforceable process or act. It secures a legal right.

Effectual prayer submits a claim before the Ultimate Judge. It’s a legal instrument in Heaven’s Court.

A Prayer Claim says this is what’s happening. Something is not right. Something needs to align with justice. A Prayer Claim communicates the basis on which a favorable decision should be rendered.

Mind how you pray. Make real business of it. Let it never be a dead formality … plead the promise in a truthful, business-like way … Ask for what you want, because the Lord has promised it.

Charles Spurgeon

The legal basis for prayer includes Christ’s Firstborn rights over all creation … all things have been handed over to the Son … all authority has been given to Christ … he has given that authority to his followers … and more. (Look for more articles on the legal nature of prayer.)

We can bring a need or desire out of the shade into the light of the Throne of Grace … “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NASB).

Justice is a high value with God. The justice issue you are bringing to the Throne of Grace could be:

• You or someone needs healing in their body. The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus healing people. It’s a key part of the Kingdom Message.
• A financial or material need.
• Someone needs to be delivered from the oppression of dark spiritual powers.
• There is a need for reconciliation between individuals, in a family, or within an organization, etc.
• What about justice issues? The poor. Sex trafficking. Economic oppression. Religious persecution. Abortion. And more.

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What Is the Source of Our Prayer Claims?

Here are 4 basic thoughts to get us started:

1. Start with the Word. Everything that God does is through the agency of His Word. Our prayer petitions are sourced and shaped in the Word of God. The Living Word will speak to you personally through the Written Word. The Scripture also renews our mind and conditions our heart so that our inner man more accurately aligns with the Design from Above. See #4.
2. Seek to know the will of God. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15 ESV).
3. If we don’t know how to pray about something, depend on the Holy Spirit. “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27 NASB).
4. Don’t undervalue your own thoughts, desires, and aspirations too much. As we develop in the mind of Christ, we should have more confidence that he is mingling his thoughts and desires with our own. Grow to trust your inner man. “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB).

Related: How to Self-Sabotage Your Prayers (Jesus Smart)

I Encourage You to Write Your Prayer Claims

There is dynamism in writing. Research is now showing that writing out your goals improves the likelihood you will achieve them. Don’t just keep them in your thoughts.

What if we were to write our Prayer Claims and Affirmations of Faith? Writing anchors things and gives power to our heart desires.

Possibly use index cards. I recently purchased a pack of 4 x 6 index cards of various colors. I will write Prayer Claims with supporting scripture and affirmations of faith on these cards.

I want to become organized and absolute in my prayer life. The approach is to target areas of need and aspiration.

In effect, these will be Prayer Claims I’ll consistently bring before the Throne of Grace. Jesus said God the Father will speedily issue justice for those who cry to him night and day.

I believe the Lord will respond to our resolve.

You may want to use a journal for this. You could use an app, but I encourage you to write your Prayer Claims. There’s something about the physical act of writing.

What you could do is snap pics of your cards and drop them into a file in Evernote or another app. You can then access your Prayer Claims on your phone wherever you are and invest a few moments in prayer — lunch break, waiting for someone, etc.

Prayer is cumulative. It builds, reaching critical mass.

I plan to be serious about it. Even more than if I was preparing to appear before an earthly court. And I’m excited to see what may happen with a new prayer initiative. Prayer is limitless!

Will you join me in this? As always, you can reach out to me via the Contact tab or in the comments below.

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