Step 20: AWCIPA Prayer
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Luke 11:1 (NIV)
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
This week, we continue our focus on prayer or, more specifically, developing a vibrant prayer-filled life. We began last week with the most foundational teaching on prayer. It is, in fact, how Jesus teaches us to pray and is essential. As important as the Lord’s Prayer is, it isn’t meant to be the totality of your prayer life. When we are exhorted to pray without ceasing, it doesn’t mean to just put the Lord’s Prayer on loop. So, how are we to pray, then?
I am always encouraged by the fact that the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. There is something so comforting about that. Everyone knows that part of following Jesus implies praying, but many feel they are not good at it. We leave our prayer closets wondering if we did a good enough job or if we prayed for long enough. If we were honest, sometimes we feel a bit disappointed in our ability to pray. Clearly, at least one of Jesus’ disciples felt the same way and asked for help.
I remember trying to pray as a new believer. I would hear from my mentors about how they would pray for long periods of time, and so I decided to give it a try. I went into my prayer closet and started to pray. It felt like I was in there for at least 30 minutes, but when I looked at the clock I realized I had only been praying for about 6 minutes. I kept trying and trying to no avail. Then I learned a technique called AWCIPA that helped my prayer life to grow by leaps and bounds. I would now go to pray and what felt like 5-10 minutes was actually 30-60 minutes. I learned to use AWCIPA in my prayer time.
Your Turn:
This week you will use the AWCIPA template to pray at least once a day. Put your phone away.
Go somewhere where you will be able to focus on God and not be disturbed.
When you go into your time of prayer, I find it helps to have a pen or pencil and a journal to write down what God shows you in your time together. Your Antioch 2026 “Follow” journals have a dedicated space for you to do this.
You can pray through AWCIPA quickly, but the power of this prayer is that it can really help you learn to spend time with God. If you take 5 minutes for each portion, that will add up to 30 minutes praying. It is important to learn how to talk to God in something more than just a soundbite.
Adore: It all begins with adoring God. Take a moment and start to proclaim who God is. This isn’t “buttering up” God so that He will listen to you; it is reminding you who you are talking to. Thank Him for all that He has done in your life.
Wait: Be still and know that He is God. Just be quiet and still for a few moments. Give God a chance to respond to you. So often we fill our prayer time with sound and don't allow space for Him to speak to us and for us to listen to Him.
Confess (and repent): Before we get to the part of prayer where we ask God to help with anything, take a moment to “clear the air”. He knows your sins. You know your sins. Just confess it and get it out in the open so that you can receive the forgiveness that Jesus is offering to you. Once you do that, you will be freed up to be able to ask for help.
Intercede: This is your time to pray for others. Start with your family. Write down each person’s name and ask Jesus how you should be praying for them this week. Don’t just pray what you think they need; ask Jesus. Write down how He tells you to pray for them and be consistent in praying it over them this week. There should also be at least one person who you are praying for to come to a saving knowledge of God.
Petition: You do not have because you do not ask God. You have a Good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children who ask Him. Don’t be shy. No request is too big or too small to ask. You can trust Him to filter the requests.
Adore: You end how you began, by pouring out your praise and thanksgiving. Mark 11:24 says “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Thank God in advance for answering your prayers. Workout your faith muscles. Choose to be confident and trust that He will cause all things to work for the good.