Unlock the Power of Prayer: Pastor Greg Laurie on the Lord’s Prayer, Forgiveness, and God’s Will

April 21, 2026
00:00 56:49
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Do you remember the first time you truly prayed? In this episode of The Greg Laurie Show, Pastor Greg Laurie opens up about the powerful, often overlooked practice of prayer—and why it can transform your relationship with God and your everyday life.

Drawing from his own journey as a new believer and his interactions with spiritual giants like Billy Graham, Pastor Greg Laurie shares candid stories, biblical insights, and down-to-earth wisdom to help you move beyond rote words and genuinely connect with your Heavenly Father. Centering the conversation around the Lord’s Prayer, Pastor Greg Laurie unpacks its role as both a prayer for all occasions and a practical template for your daily communication with God.

You’ll hear about:

  • How the Lord’s Prayer shapes your view of God—not as some distant force, but as a loving Father who runs to embrace His children, even in their brokenness.
  • The surprising reasons why many believers don’t pray as much as they want to—and how shifting your priorities can open the door to a more vibrant faith.
  • What to do when God seems silent, including a memorable framework: If the request is wrong, God says “no”; if the timing is wrong, He says “slow”; if you are wrong, He says “grow”; but if everything’s right, God says “go.”

Whether you’re battling doubt, longing for deeper purpose, or hungry to experience real spiritual change, this episode reminds us: prayer isn’t about getting our will in Heaven, but welcoming God’s will on earth—starting with our own hearts.

Ready to rediscover the wonder and life-changing power of prayer? Subscribe for more conversations like this, and let your journey with God grow richer, one honest prayer at a time.


CHAPTERS:
00:00 God Is Not an AI Search Engine
01:19 Pastor Greg’s First Answered Prayer Story
02:27 Emergency Lord’s Prayer—A Pilot’s Crisis
04:38 Praying the Lord’s Prayer at March for Life
05:41 Why Memorize the Lord’s Prayer?
07:47 Social Media vs. Time Spent in Prayer
09:45 Do We Really Believe Prayer Works?
12:49 Jesus Teaches the Lord’s Prayer: The Ultimate Model
13:37 God as Father—The Prodigal Son Parallel
19:46 "Father Knows Best"—What Sets God Apart
22:20 The “Hallowed Be Your Name” Lifestyle Test
23:53 Praying for Christ’s Return and Loved Ones’ Salvation
29:39 Never Stop Praying for Those Far from God
32:12 Wrestling With God’s Will—Jonah and Jesus' Struggles
34:42 Prayer Isn’t Getting My Will in Heaven
37:05 "Give Us This Day": Total Dependence on God
39:14 Whose Cookies Are You Eating? The Cookie Parable
41:48 "Forgive Us"—Power and Challenge of Forgiveness
44:49 The Destructive Power of Unforgiveness
46:21 Temptation Is So Tempting—How to Pray Against It
49:53 Ask, Seek, Knock: The Persistence Principle
53:21 Can Nonbelievers Pray? The Sinner’s Prayer Invitation
55:53 Closing Prayer and Invitation to New Believers

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Meet Your Host
Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, which has campuses in California and Hawaii. He began his ministry at the age of 19, leading a small Bible study group of 30 individuals. Over the past five decades, God has grown that small group into a thriving congregation of over 8,000 members, with a global ministry that has reached billions and recorded more than one million professions of faith.

In 1990, Laurie founded the Harvest Crusades, a series of large-scale evangelistic events designed to present the gospel to broad audiences. These events have since drawn more than 11.5 million participants in person and online. In 2012, he launched Harvest America, a nationwide outreach event that utilized HD livestreaming to broadcast to thousands of venues across the United States. Collectively, these efforts have resulted in over 700,000 documented professions of faith.

A prolific author, Laurie has written over 70 books, including House of David, Billy Graham: The Man I Knew, Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, Revelation: A Book of Promises, and Jesus Revolution.

His filmography includes Lost Boy: The Next Chapter, Hope for Hurting Hearts, Steve McQueen: American Icon, and Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon. In 2023, Greg and Cathe Laurie’s life and conversion during the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and ‘70s were depicted in the Lionsgate film Jesus Revolution, starring Kelsey Grammer and Jonathan Roumie.
Greg Laurie has been married to Cathe Laurie for over 51 years. They have two sons and five grandchildren.

Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit harvest.org

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