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The Bible Teaching Commentary on Genesis: The Book of Foundations
Commentaries that specialize on training the teacher!
The Development of Prayer in a Believer’s Life
– Through the Perspective of the Flow –
Paul J. Bucknell
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Development of Prayer | New Believer Stage | Young Believer Stage | Mature Believer Stage
Nature of our prayer Life | Chinese podcast (中文)
Purpose: The Development of One’s Prayer Life analyzes how prayer develops at various levels of Christian living through The Flow including identifying what problems occur when prayer does not properly develop and how to strengthen our prayer lives at each level of spiritual growth.
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It is important to see how prayer develops within the believer’s life. If at any point, prayer does not properly develop, then the development of one’s prayer life and spiritual life will be hampered. Ministry will be negatively affected. Personal stress will greatly increase. We were not designed to withstand the evil one without proper prayer.
Right after Paul listed the parts of the spiritual armor in Ephesians 6, Paul says Ephesians 6:18. Prayer is so essential!
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
What you Really Believe about Prayer
Ephesians 6:18-24
The reason prayer is mentioned is that it is through prayer that the armor can be put on and kept on! Without constant prayer, our responses are weakened and we are vulnerable to the evil one’s attack (Ephesians 6:16). We need to pray regularly for ourselves and for others.
Now let us look at the development of prayer. 
We will focus on the three stages of a believer's spiritual growth though briefly mention how prayer relates to the seeker and Christian leaders.
This growth chart called ‘The Flow’ is developed primarily from the Apostle John’s insight into the spiritual life process stated in 1 John 2:12-14 but can in parts be found elsewhere referred to (see podcast to the right).
We will first briefly discuss the seeker, those seeking the kingdom of God, which forms the entrance to God’s family though these are not officially part of God’s kingdom.
On the far right we have a circle representing the leadership stage, but we must remember that this is really just a part of what should be the third circle. Our focus is on the believer. Each fits into one of the three circles between the two lines.
Do remember as we go through this chart in this article, we will primarily speak about how prayer develops. We could talk about how other parts of the Christian life grows, but we have referred to these things elsewhere in length.
The Seeker
The seeker’s first sign of life is his or her desire to pray. It might be something like, “God if you are real, come into my life. Forgive my sin through Jesus.” Genuine prayer (as opposed to ritualistic prayer) is one’s spiritual lifeline.
A person does not automatically come to the Lord when he or she prays, but often prayer plays an important part of their repentance, confession and request for the Lord to save and lead his or her life.
Now let us continue on and see the developing role of prayer in the believer's life. At each stage there is a self evaluation. You might be surprised to discover what you find out about your prayer life!