10 Powerful Characteristics of A Prayer Warrior
A prayer warrior is a person who chooses to fight personal and spiritual battles through prayer and the wisdom of the Lord instead of in their own strength. We have a tendency as humans to slap all kinds of man-made labels and qualification onto the tasks God has given to us, yet we are qualified because God called us to this work. Our obedience defines our success. We become successful prayer warriors by obeying when God calls us to pray and praying in agreement with His will as outlined through Scripture. Prayer warriors are people who prioritize God’s will above their own and use prayer as a means of bringing His will about.
Duties of A Prayer Warrior
It’s hard to separate the duties of a prayer warrior from the character of a prayer warrior because the two are so deeply woven together. To be effective, one must fulfill several key duties:
- Study the Bible – to pray in agreement with God’s words, we must first know His words.
- Make time to listen to God – as prayer warriors, we should become familiar with God’s voice so that we can hear his instruction and follow his lead for specific prayer assignments.
- Be available for prayer – we can’t be so busy with life that we put time with God to the wayside.
- Acknowledge who the real enemy is – prayer warriors recognize that most battles are spiritual battles first and that there is a real spiritual enemy behind them (Ephesians 6:12).
- Worship through hardships – worship keeps us humble, confessing what we believe, and battling in the strength of the Lord.
- Speak life-giving words (Proverbs 18:21).
- Rebuke life-stealing thoughts, words, and temptations (2 Corinthians 10:5).
- Put on the “Armor of God” – these are the tools that keep us thinking, acting, and speaking in alignment with what is true even when that’s not what we physically see (Ephesians chapter 6).
Characteristics and Qualities
The character of a prayer warrior, the tasks of a prayer warrior, are both so deeply embedded in our call to be Christ-like. As you read through this list of character traits for prayer warriors remember, that a prayer warrior, like every other Christian in the world, is a work in progress. It’s rare that we will nail every single one of these character traits every day. That doesn’t make us any less of a warrior for the Lord; it simply makes us human and in need of God’s grace.
Prayer warriors are submitted to the Lord. They must know how to use this weapon we’ve been given by God — especially when in seasons like the one we’re in. I believe to be effective in our prayer life we must train our perspective on prayer. Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with Christ. We must ask ourselves: What is God’s will in this situation? What brings Him ultimate glory? Is my will aligned with His?
Training Your Perspective: Paul’s Prayer Examples
To assist in your training, consider the following list taken from the New Testament. Relief, provision, healing, and protection are excellent things to pray for, but the gospel is why we are here on earth and God’s glory is what we must long for most.
| Scripture Reference | Prayer Focus |
|---|---|
| Romans 1:8–10 | Thanksgiving, and that Paul would be able to come see them. |
| Romans 10:1 | Salvation for others. |
| Romans 12:12 | Encouragement to pray. |
| Romans 15:5–6 | Harmony and unity between believers. |
| Romans 15:13 | For joy and peace to fill their lives. |
| Romans 15:30–33 | That Paul’s gospel efforts would succeed. |
Use these prayers as a way to invite the conviction of the Holy Spirit into your own prayer life. Try praying for only gospel-centered things for 3 straight days — multiple times per day. Start listing out your prayers and keep track of how many revolve around you and your wants, then work to balance spiritual and physical requests. Accomplishing training is not what qualifies us to pray; we are qualified because God called us to this work.