The New Testament Way of Prayer:

Tuesday 30th of September

From Striving to Victory

Scripture Reading:

Ephesians 1:17–23; Colossians 2:13–15; Matthew 6:5–8

Devotional Message :

Prayer has always been central to God’s dealings with His people. Yet, there is a profound difference between how men prayed under the Old Covenant and how the believer in Christ ought to pray under the New Covenant. Understanding this difference is vital if we are to live in the fullness of what Christ has already accomplished for us.

1. Old Covenant Prayer – Striving for What Was Not Yet

In the Old Testament, prayer was often an expression of longing and anticipation. God’s people prayed with expectation for what was still afar off. They cried out for God to rend the heavens (Isaiah 64:1), to visit His people, to send the Messiah, to pour out His Spirit, to heal the land, to turn away wrath. Their prayers were mingled with fear because sin had not yet been dealt with fully and final access into God’s presence was restricted to priests and sacrifices.

They prayed toward promises yet to be fulfilled.

They prayed for deliverance that had not yet come.

They prayed under the burden of law, conscious of sin, often uncertain of favor.

Their prayers were petitionary and outward, looking for God to act from above and beyond.

In other words, Old Covenant prayer was often like knocking on a closed door—yearning for God to open it.

2. New Covenant Prayer – Living From Victory, Not Begging for It

But in Christ Jesus, everything has shifted. Prayer is no longer crying for God to do what He has already accomplished in Christ. Rather, prayer is the believer’s participation in the finished work of Christ and the application of redemption’s reality to everyday life.

Paul’s prayers in the New Testament are strikingly different from those of the Old Testament saints. He does not beg God to give what is already ours. Instead, he prays that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened, so we may:

Know Him intimately – not as a distant deity, but as Father revealed through Christ.

Grasp the hope of our calling – the glorious destiny prepared in Christ.

See the riches of His inheritance in the saints – that we, the Church, are God’s prized possession.

Walk in the exceeding greatness of His power – the same power that raised Christ from the dead now works in us.

This is a revelational prayer, not a striving one. It is prayer from a throne-room perspective.

We do not pray to get victory; we pray because victory is already ours.

We do not pray for healing; we pray with the consciousness that by His stripes, we were healed (1 Peter 2:24).

We do not pray for power; we pray to walk in the power that already indwells us through the Spirit.

We do not pray to bring God down; we pray from the seated position with Christ, far above all principality and power (Ephesians 2:6).

Prayer is now less about “God, do!” and more about “Lord, open my eyes to what You have already done in Christ.”

3. The Difference in Posture: Begging vs. Reigning

Old Covenant prayer sounded like slaves petitioning a master.
New Covenant prayer sounds like sons communing with their Father.
Old Covenant prayer focused on external enemies, battles, and deliverance.

New Covenant prayer focuses on internal illumination, transformation, and reigning through Christ.
Jesus Himself warned that “the hypocrites love to pray” (Matthew 6:5). Every religion prays. But Christian prayer is unique because it is grounded in a finished redemption. To pray like the Old Testament today—begging, pleading, bargaining with God—is to ignore the cross and resurrection.

The veil has been torn. Access is open. Authority has been given. Victory has been secured. The Church is not called to pray as though defeated, but as ambassadors enforcing the triumph of Christ on earth.

Reflection Questions

Do I approach prayer from a position of lack and fear, or from fullness and victory?

How can I shift my prayer life to focus on revelation and understanding of what Christ has already done?

Am I praying like a son, or like a beggar?

Prayer Declaration

Father, thank You that in Christ I already have every spiritual blessing. I refuse to beg for what You have given. Flood the eyes of my heart with light that I may walk in the reality of Your victory. I declare that I am seated with Christ, far above every power of darkness. I live, move, and pray from victory, not for victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.