Podcast Summary: "You Can Be a Prayer Warrior"

Podcast: Red Rocks Church Weekend Messages
Host/Speaker: Pastor Doug (Red Rocks Church)
Date: August 16, 2025
Series: "Can We Talk?" — Week 2
Main Theme:
How anyone, regardless of background or spiritual experience, can develop confidence in prayer and become a "prayer warrior"—someone who persistently, honestly, and relationally engages with God in prayer, following the practical example and plan Jesus gave.

Overview

This episode is the second week in the practical teaching series "Can We Talk?" on prayer. Pastor Doug emphasizes that prayer isn’t reserved for spiritual “elites” but is foundational for everyone. He shares personal stories, biblical principles, and a simple, memorable strategy for making prayer effective and natural.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Family of Imperfect People Seeking a Perfect God

• The episode opens with a warm welcome to all joining from various locations, and Pastor Doug underscores the church’s culture:
  • "We're just a bunch of messed up, imperfect people, but we love to get together like this and pursue a perfect God." (00:40)
• Encouragement: You are loved, welcomed, and valued—no matter where you’re at in life.

2. Announcement & Context for the Series

• Exciting announcement: Red Rocks Church will have a special service at Red Rocks Amphitheater on November 4th, also recording a worship album. (01:30)
• The "Can We Talk?" series focuses on making prayer practical:
  • "Prayer is not just a monologue with God. It's a dialogue." (02:30)

3. Prayer as a Dialogue and the Call to Confidence

• Pastor Doug reviews last week’s message: God wants us to approach him with confidence, not fear or formality.
• Heb 4:16 referenced: God invites us boldly into the "throne room of grace." (05:28)

4. Who Can Be a Prayer Warrior?

• Personal anecdote: Doug recalls being a new Christian, unsure how to pray or what it means to be a “prayer warrior.” (06:30)
• Initial misconceptions: Thought prayer warriors were those who prayed long, complex prayers.
• True meaning: "It's just normal people like us who just decide, ‘I'm going to battle for somebody else in prayer. I'm going to battle for my life, my family's life… and refuse to give up.’ That’s all it takes." (08:01)
  • Memorable Quote:
    • "You can be a prayer warrior. Every single one of you." (08:13)
• Humorous story: Doug’s awkward start in group prayer, highlighting the common feeling of not knowing where to begin.

5. Parallels Between Physical and Spiritual Training

• Comparison to preparing for a Spartan race (09:45): Starting out overwhelmed, but gaining confidence through a plan.
• "Jesus goes, 'I got you. I'm the guy who created the whole deal, and I got a plan for you. You can walk into prayer with some confidence.'" (12:08)

6. Jesus’ Plan for Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer

• Jesus provides a prayer blueprint—Matthew 6:9–13.
  • "Prayer doesn’t start with what I need. It starts with who God is." (13:32)
• Jesus’ prayer involves five elements. The staff distilled these into a memorable acronym:
  • P.R.A.Y.S.—Praise, Repent, Ask, Your Will, Show Me
    • "A follower of Jesus PRAYS. A prayer warrior PRAYS." (16:21)
  • Slide Recap:
    • Praise & Thank God
    • Repent/Confess
    • Ask for your needs/wants
    • Your will be done (surrender)
    • Show me (guidance for daily life)

The P.R.A.Y.S. Model Explained

P — Praise (17:01)

• Start with worship, awe, and thanksgiving.
• Psalm 100:4 referenced.
• Practical tip: Make a gratitude list by alphabet; listen to worship music.
• "Father, I just want to tell you, man, you are amazing and I am so thankful." (18:48)

R — Repent (20:11)

• Confession and clearing the air with God.
• 1 John 1:9 referenced: God is faithful to forgive.
• Pastor Doug's gym conversation:
  • "You're not forgiven because you feel it. You're forgiven because God's word said it." (22:12)

A — Ask (23:30)

• Bring your needs, desires, and requests daily.
• Reminder: Prayer is about relationship, not just problem-solving.
• Story: Doug’s son wanted to "quit school and focus on baseball"—our requests as children may not always be answered the way we expect. (25:00)
• Honest struggle: What about when God doesn’t answer as we hope?
  • Personal examples: Loss of an aunt, miraculous healing of his son, unanswered prayers for friends and self. (27:41)
• Encouragement: "Prayer always works, even when we don't get exactly what we're asking for in the time frame we're asking for." (34:42)

Y — Your Will (36:40)

• Echoing Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane:
  • "Yet not as I will, but as you will."
• "What I want is this, but what I want even more than that is what you want for my life." (38:21)
• Growth comes from surrendering to God’s better plan.

S — Show Me (40:03)

• Ask for guidance, wisdom, and clarity in decisions (James 1:5).
• Pastor Doug’s life stories of praying for direction (career, marriage, moving).
• "God wants you to have your stories." (41:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the essence of being a prayer warrior:
  • "Prayer warrior is not for the spiritual elite—it’s just normal people who decide, 'I refuse to give up in prayer.'" (08:05)
• On unanswered prayer:
  • "You’re not forgiven because you feel it. You’re forgiven because God’s word said it. And God’s word trumps our feelings every single day." (22:12)
• On choosing trust:
  • "Even if he doesn’t, you can’t have my worship. What if we were a church where thousands...prayed even if he doesn't…I'm gonna keep trusting him. I'm gonna keep battling for lost people. I'm gonna keep battling for my family. I'm gonna keep battling for my freedom. Cause I’m a prayer warrior dog…" (37:53)
• Simple, bold encouragement:
  • "Red Rocks Church, just pray." (45:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:40 – Intro, church welcome, and main culture
• 01:30 – Big announcement: Service at Red Rocks Amphitheater
• 02:30 – Purpose of the series: Making prayer practical
• 05:28 – Recap: Confidence entering God’s presence
• 08:01 – Explanation: What is a prayer warrior?
• 09:45 – Spartan race story: Parallel to starting out in prayer
• 12:08 – Jesus' plan for prayer revealed
• 13:32 – "Prayer starts not with what I need, but who God is."
• 16:21 – The P.R.A.Y.S. acronym introduced
• 17:01 – "P" for Praise explained
• 20:11 – "R" for Repent explained
• 23:30 – "A" for Ask explained; discussion on unanswered prayers
• 27:41 – Honest stories of disappointment and healing in prayer
• 34:42 – "Prayer always works…"
• 36:40 – "Y" for Your Will explained
• 40:03 – "S" for Show Me (guidance) explained
• 45:22 – Final call: “Red Rocks Church, just pray.”

Conclusion/Call to Action

• Pastor Doug closes with a passionate call for everyone to step into their identity as prayer warriors, using the P.R.A.Y.S. pattern to deepen their relationship with God and find new confidence.
• Imagined impact: "What if this week we all decided I’m called to be a prayer warrior and I’m going to talk to my father with some confidence...Do you understand the kind of world changing we could experience…?" (44:32)
• Closing prayer for bold steps toward prayer, life change, and spiritual renewal.

Summary Table: P.R.A.Y.S. Prayer Framework

| Letter | Focus Area | Key Scriptures | Practical Application | |--------|---------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------| | P | Praise | Psalm 100:4 | Begin with thanksgiving & worship | | R | Repent | 1 John 1:9; Matt 6 | Confess & clear the air with God | | A | Ask | Matt 6:11; Phil 4 | Boldly bring your requests to God | | Y | Your Will | Matt 6:10; Luke 22 | Surrender; ask for his will | | S | Show Me | Matt 6:13; James 1 | Seek guidance for daily decisions |

Final Encouragement:
No matter how unqualified or uncertain you feel, you can be a prayer warrior. Start today. Use the P.R.A.Y.S. plan. Trust your Father. And just pray.