"The reality is, as a human being, he very much needed to pray like we did"

Joseph Parker, senior pastor of Trinity AME Church, discusses the power and priority of prayer.


Everybody has some things they do that help them to prayer. I'd love to know personally, what are some things that help with a dynamic, personal prayer life?

Well first of all, it helps us to model our prayer lives after Jesus.

The reality is, as a human being, he very much needed to pray like we did.

As you referred to it a moment ago, spiritual warfare is all around us.

When you're in warfare, you have to function differently than you do in times of peace.

It's good for us to pray, "Lord, anoint me with the Spirit of prayer today."

Not only having a season of prayer in the morning, but also praying throughout the day.

What are some practical suggestions you'd give to someone who wants to start praying?

In Matthew chapter 6, we find the Lord's prayer.

Our prayer life should be a lot more beyond the Lord's prayer.

I believe couples should pray every single day as husband and wife.

Spending time, praising and worshiping God.

Believers should regularly pray for the president, the vice-president, and leaders in our nation.

We're told to pray for those in authority!

We should pray for our family, pray for those around us.

Take to to talk to God, asking him for wisdom and guidance.

I think it's very important to make prayer practical.

Are there any practical prayer guides that you could point people to?

It's called, "Praying in Victory."

It gives guidance, it gives a specific prayer for government, praying for family, praying for children.

I like to encourage that guide.

Also God's word itself.

The prayer of Jabez is a prayer that has become more famous...but it's a prayer found in 1 Chronicles chapter 4 verse 9 and 10.

You can pray the ten commandments, for example.

It's a good guide to take the word of God and pray the word of God.

Have you found that we're praying too much for things and not praising enough in prayer?

At the forefront as we get started in prayer on a day-by-day basis.

It's good for us to spend time with the world in whatever mood we may be in...but praise and worship should be a critical part of our prayer life.

Very few churches that I've noticed...prayer meeting....

I'm not sure if I'd call it a flaw.

Something that I have in my church has been very helpful....we have a prayer line.

It's a way to encourage prayer, but also to pray corporately.

It is a way to keep prayer going and to pray with one another.

Have you ever been a part of something that's citywide prayer?

I think it's definitely a good thing.

There's no such thing as praying too much.

Prayer can always make a good thing better and a difficult thing better.

We hear the tragedy of prayer getting put out of school, but I think if we pray in our homes, that can fill the void.

It's good for parents to really make it a goal to pray with their children every day.