PRAY
Step 7 of the 12-Step Christ Intentional Living Plan
Introduction to Prayer
Why pray?
Prayer (CAT) plays a massive part in your relationship with God and Christ. Jesus prayed all the time. There are several passages in the Bible when Jesus would disappear to spend time with God, just the two of them, away from His disciples. We don’t know about you, but we wish we could be flies on the wall to listen to those convos between them!
Why pray and fast?
There’s such a beautiful purity in fasting, which allows you to humble yourself before God, The Creator of All – and – Christ, The Savior of All. It lets you show God and Christ how much you value them. Fasting gives you the opportunity to prove to God and Christ that what they say matters to you and your life and that you are in the business of pleasing them. Christ says in Mark 9:29 that some bad energies can only come out through prayer and fasting. Therefore, fasting also allows you to go full-warrior queen against bad habits, bad vibes and bad energy plaguing your life.
PART 1: PRAY
Christ’s CAT Method?
CAT (short for Care, Ask and Thank) is to have constant conversations with God and Christ using Christ’s CAT Method, known as The Lord’s Prayer.
What is prayer?
To pray is to care for God and Christ, ask for God’s help in Jesus’s Name and thank God and Christ for all the good things they do for you. That’s all prayer is: care for God and Christ, ask God for His help in Jesus’s Name and thank God and Christ for all they do for you.
Babbling, babbling away…
When you pray, you start a conversation with God and Christ. And prayer, if not handled properly, can be a string of babbles where you treat God as if He just doesn’t get what you are trying to say, while The G.O.A.T. (The Greatest Of All Time) owns intelligence and wisdom. Babbles stop God from listening to you and waste both His time and yours. Yes, God is all-powerful and self-sufficient. But God wants to have a relationship with you.
And so does Christ. Jesus is KYRIE (Lord and Savior of All) who went to hell and kicked butts in reverse by Himself and on His own so that you can have daily and eternal peace of mind. Like His Father, Jesus is all-powerful and self-sufficient, but He wants to be in a relationship with you.
Think of this as with any of the relationships in your life. When you talk to your mother or father, you don’t babble. Instead, you might ask them about their health. You might tell them how you’re feeling. You might even request something from them. Bottom line? You’re holding a conversation with them. It is the same thing with God and Christ. When you’re praying, you’re talking with them.
Where to pray?
Jesus (The Lord Jesus) gave us clear and specific directions when it comes to where to pray. The main takeaway from what Lord Jesus says below is that prayer is very intimate between you and God (The LORD God) and is best done somewhere private, away from prying eyes.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues (churches) and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. — Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, Matthew 6:5-6
Examples of where to pray
At home: any room in your home where you can be alone. If you can’t be alone, find a few minutes to be with yourself. Close your eyes, care for God and Christ, ask God for His help in Jesus’s Name or thank God and Christ for all they do for you.
At work/school: public toilets are usually the best place to pray at work or school. It takes just a few minutes to close your eyes, care for God and Christ, ask God for His help in Jesus’s Name or thank God and Christ for all they do for you.
On public transport/other public spaces: find a quiet spot or corner. Close your eyes, care for God and Christ, ask God for His help in Jesus’s Name or thank God and Christ for all they do for you.
How to pray?
There’s only one way to pray: The Lord Jesus gave us that model. The gist of what The Lord Jesus says below is that prayer is not a long line of babbles where you repeat the same stuff over and over again as if you are holding a one-woman show on the West End or Broadway rather than talking with The LORD God like a normal person would do. God knows you personally. He knows your struggles, and He knows what you need to overcome the struggles you’re facing before you even ask Him for His help.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. — Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, Matthew 6:7-8
This, then, is how you should pray:
‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”— Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, Matthew 6:9-13
How to apply CAT in your life
1) CARE FOR GOD AND CHRIST
‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
When The Lord Jesus says, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” He cares for The LORD God in two steps:
Jesus tells God that He cares about Him so much that He (Jesus) believes that God’s name should be hallowed, greatly revered and admired by everyone as God is holy and pure, untouched, untainted and uncontaminated by any evil.
Jesus then goes on to tell God how much He wants Him to be happy by saying that He wants God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as in heaven. The truth is, when you care about someone, you want good things to happen to them. And for God, having His will done is a good thing, a very good thing.
How to tell God and Christ you care?
You can tell God you care about Him by asking Him how He is. Remember, this is a conversation, a relationship. Just don’t come and dump all your crap on God and go. Put yourself in His shoes for a second and imagine billions of people all screaming at you, asking you for all kinds of stuff, all day, every day, 365 days a year. Mind-boggling, right? Today, be one of the very few who stop and care for God and His well-being.
NOTE: GOD HELPS EVERY HUMAN HE HAS CREATED
When you are a God-friendly and Christ-friendly woman, you have the direct line to God’s ear because Christ fights your corner. Always. However, that doesn’t mean that God answers only the prayers of God-friendly, Christ-friendly or Christian women. No. God answers the prayers of every single one of the human beings He has created. Every single one of the world’s seven billion or so. There is not one person on this earth who can argue that God has never had their back. No one.
As the Bible shows, Jesus spends most of His time constantly negotiating for good stuff on your behalf to God. Always. When you ask God for something in Christ’s Name, Jesus will fight for you to get it. He does it without requiring or asking anything from you at all. So, today, be one of the very few who stop and care for Christ and His well-being.
Promise God and Christ that their will will be done in your life. How? By doing more of what they like and less of what they dislike. If your mother hates it when you swear, you will try to swear yourself out before visiting her. If your father hates you running down your boss, you will try not to run down your boss when he’s around. The same goes for God and Christ. If God and Christ don’t like lying, you should try to control your white lies and big lies.
2) ASK GOD FOR HIS HELP IN JESUS CHRIST’S NAME
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
This section is in four folds:
Ask God for whatever you need from Him in Jesus Christ’s Name. There’s no limit here because Jesus doesn’t put a limit. If, for you, “daily bread” is the latest designer coat or bag, you’re allowed to ask God for it. It’s between you and Him.
Ask God to forgive you for everything you have done to hurt Him and Christ as you forgive others who hurt you in Jesus Christ’s Name. If you can’t forgive your crazy colleague for badmouthing you to your manager, which made you lose your promotion, then don’t expect God to forgive you for lying or cheating. It’s a bit harsh, but you get what we mean.
CAVEAT: PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Forgiveness is not synonym for forgetting. If someone hurts you, you forgive them (whether they deserve your forgiveness or not) and let it go by not thinking and talking about what they’ve done to you over and over again until your resentment and need for vengeance give you an ulcer. BUT don’t forget what they’ve done. That is, if someone you know is badmouthing you behind your back and you choose to let it go, you’re allowed to break your friendship with them and keep them at a distance as you know their true colors. Toxic people have no place in your life. Jesus ended his friendship with Judas.
3. Ask God to remove stuff from your lane that can stop you from living what matters to you the most in Jesus Christ’s Name. This stuff can be anything from obsessing over other people’s successes to plotting to take your revenge on those who hurt you instead of achieving your goals. It can also be spending your whole morning on Instagram on your downtime, salivating over celebs’ to-die-for lives. #goals! #goals! Huh, no, you go live your life. It can even be backstabbing others to get ahead. Not a big deal? Life’s payback can come for you, and one day, your bad behavior might bite you back.
4. Ask God to protect you against the evil one in Jesus Christ’s Name. There is the devil and lots of devils and evil spirits out there that are working against you. They try to get you into accidents, incidents and other stuff to derail your life. The good thing is you don’t need to concern yourself with them. As long as you always hang out with God and Christ, God WILL protect you against them in Jesus Christ’s Name.
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father (God) will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. — Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, John 16:23-24
3) THANK GOD AND CHRIST
Jesus forgot this?
Always thank God. Always tell Him how grateful you are for what He does for you. And always thank Him for all He does for you because of Christ. Imagine if there was someone in your life that you helped all the time, and they never took the time to thank you. How would you feel? How would God feel if you never thanked Him for everything He does for you and your loved ones? So, thank God daily for always having your back, even when you don’t realise it.
Always thank Christ. God decided to send Jesus to die an atrocious death for you so you can have daily and eternal peace of mind. Jesus agreed. But He could’ve said no. Yes, Jesus is obedient to the extremes when it comes to God, but He could’ve still said: “No, I’m not going down to Earth to die for mere mortals. I’m Jesus THE Christ! The Only Son of God!” However, He did not. He came to Earth and went through appalling suffering (truly inhumane) so you can have daily and eternal peace of mind. So, thank Christ daily for agreeing to die for you and for always sticking by your side.
Should you do CAT together?
You don’t have to do CAT together. Prayer should feel natural to you. You don’t talk to your partner, parents and friends about the same thing every day. Some days, you will chat about the weather or ask them how they are. On other days, you will talk about work, money or relationships. The same applies to prayer.
On Monday, you can care about God’s and Christ’s well-being.
On Tuesday, you can ask God for His help in Jesus’s Name.
On Wednesday, you can thank God for always providing for you.
On Thursday, you can thank Christ for always fighting for you.
On Friday, you can thank God for always having your back.
On Saturday, you can thank Christ for always sticking by your side.
On Sunday, you can ask God for a promotion in Jesus’s Name.
Example of CAT, easy as 1, 2, 3
It is easy to pray once you realise that prayer is just a conversation with God and Christ. Let’s say you are on your regular commute to work/school and decide to pray. This is what the full CAT Method should look like after you’ve closed your eyes and shut off the world around you:
1) Care for God and Christ in 2 Steps:
Hi, God. Hi, Christ/Jesus. How are you both today? All good? I want to do what’s right by you both. If there’s anything I can do to be better for you, please change my thinking or let me know. I’m open to any and all suggestions from you.
I know you don’t like it when I hold grudges, so I promise to forgive anyone who messes with me today. And to be honest with you, I’m not even in the mood for that as I KNOW Tom will start his bull-sweet again. But I love you both and want you both to be happy, so I’ll let go of my grudges.
2) Ask God in Jesus Christ’s Name in 4 Steps:
I need this promotion, God. Please, if you can just give it to me in Jesus’s Name, I’ll be eternally grateful to you. Oh, and I don’t really know where to start with The Holy Spirit. Please, can you help me with this in Jesus’s Name?
By the way, God, I’m sorry for cheating on my presentation. I know I was short of time, but there’s no excuse. I’ll make an effort to be better for you. Please forgive me, in Jesus’s Name, like I forgave my malignant narcissistic colleague, who shall remain nameless, for lying about me.
Please, God, Sir, help me not go on Instagram today to post shady comments on XYZ celebrity’s reels. Please help me to use that time instead to work on my goals in Jesus’s Name.
Can you also please protect my family, friends and me from all the evil spirits out there looking to harm us in Jesus’s Name?
3) Thank God and Christ in 2 Steps:
Thank you, LORD God, for always having my back, always being there for me, and always listening to me. I’m grateful that you are in my life––and that I know you.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for always sticking by my side, always thinking of me, and always fighting on my behalf nonstop. I’m grateful that you are in my life––and that I know you.
PART 2: PRAY AND FAST
What is fasting?
Fasting is to abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink for a limited period.
Benefits of fasting
In its most basic form, fasting aids weight loss by limiting calorie intake and boosting metabolism. In its highest form, fasting connects you to God and Christ.
When should you fast?
Every woman’s body is different. The level of every woman’s faith is different. Every woman’s coping mechanism is different. So, before you embark on a fast, always seek help from a qualified medical professional in the first instance. This is especially essential if you suffer from any ill health.
How to fast?
Jesus (The Lord Jesus) gave us clear and specific directions when it comes to how to fast. The main takeaway from what The Lord Jesus says below is that fasting is very intimate between you and God. No one but God (The LORD God) needs to know you are fasting.
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. — Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, Matthew 6:16-18
How to get God to bless your fasting?
There’s nothing worse than depriving yourself of food for a long time only to find out you fasted in vain. To get God to bless your fasting, you must fast the way He wants you to. Below are the eleven rules of fasting taken from Isaiah 58:1-12. Although these rules are from God (The LORD God), we have modified the wording slightly to fit our time. It’s really worth reading the full text of Isaiah 58:1-12 to see how God Himself views fasting.
The 11 Rules of Fasting
Don’t do whatever you want. Instead, respect God by doing what He wants. That is, if God doesn’t like gossip, stay away from gossip while you are fasting. That also includes celebrity gossip on social media.
Don’t exploit other people or manipulate them.
Don’t get into any arguments or conflicts.
Humble yourself before God by kneeling or prostrating (lying face down on the floor with your forehead touching the floor) while praying.
Be kind and fair to others.
Be there for those less fortunate than you.
Share your food with those less fortunate, or donate food/money to a food bank.
Help in a soup kitchen or donate money to a homeless charity.
If a family member needs your help, extend your help to them.
Don’t make other people’s lives difficult.
Don’t accuse other people and backstab them.
How will God bless you if you fast right?
This is how God (The LORD God) will bless you if you fast right:
“[…] If you do [right by me]*,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”— God, Creator and Ruler of the Universe, Isaiah 58:9-12
*The original text reads: “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed…”
What is your fasting objective?
Before you start a fast, you must have an objective. Your fasting objective can be anything from humbling yourself before God and Christ to asking God to do a big miracle in your life in Jesus’s Name. Whatever the objective of your fasting, it’s between you, Christ and God only. You don’t have to justify yourself or your reason to anyone.
Fasting Options
Fasting Option 1
(Do not fast for more than 6 days in one month)
Fast for ONLY 4 hours per day from 10 AM to 2 PM.
You can have your breakfast in the morning before your fast.
You cannot eat anything from 10 AM to 2 PM.
You cannot drink juice.
You can drink water.
Fasting Option 2
(Do not fast for more than 3 days in one month)
Fast for ONLY 6 hours per day from 10 AM to 4 PM.
You can have your breakfast in the morning before your fast.
You cannot eat anything from 10 AM to 4 PM.
You cannot drink juice.
You can drink water.
If you need any help with prayer or fasting, please get in touch.
