Organized Prayer

Developing a prayer life is so hard. After we come to know the Lord, by whom are we taught to pray? Hopefully by our parents, but that isn't the reality for many of us. More often in churches and in Christian circles, it's just assumed that we all do this, and we all know how.

It's not unusual, though, for even a seasoned Christian to fail in this area. There are starts, stops, excuses, and finally, giving up for a while.

The good news is that the more we pray, the more we want to pray. Whatever your previous prayer history, start now with a concrete goal, but not too lofty the first week, lest you get discouraged. True change comes after we plan for it. So decide on a goal, or start with this one below, and then add days or minutes to it after one successful week.

First Goal: 20 minutes, 3 times this week

Jump in, get started, and pray for God to light a fire in your heart for prayer.

  

The Holy Spirit will speak to you about what to pray, but a simple structure to help you get started is the ACTS acronym.

A = Adoration (start by praising God)

C = Confession of sins

T = Thanking God

S = Supplication (prayer requests)

There will always be urgent prayer requests to cover each day, and in addition to those, here are more supplication ideas, organized by day. You can cover all these in one day, or once a week, depending on how long your prayer time is.

I think mothers of young children have the most difficulty setting aside devotional time every day, but with God's help, it can be done.

Monday - Your Children (Future & Present Issues)

~ their Christian walks

~ their future marriages

~ their physical health

~ their future spouses and in-laws

~ your future grandchildren

~ humility for all

~ strong relationships with you

~ your daily discipleship efforts

~ any heart issues that stand out

~ their schools and teachers and peers, if applicable

 Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work. -- Oswald Chambers

Tuesday - Your Marriage

~ communication skills

~ humility

~ physical health

~ purity

~ selflessness

~ the heart to submit to your husband; your husband's heart to lead

~ biblical view of finances

 There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. -- Brother Lawrence

Wednesday - Your Relatives

~ salvation and/or disciplined Christian walk

~ physical health

~ relationships

~ biblical view of finances

We hear it said that a man will suffer in his life if he does not pray; I question it. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God within him, which is nourished not by food but by prayer...Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished. -- Oswald Chambers

Thursday - Neighborhood & Workplace & Country

~ salvation

~ relationships

~ physical health

~ evangelical opportunities

~ for political leaders to know and follow God

~ for whole-country revival; for hearts to be convicted about abortion

~ that Christians will vote

Friday - Church & Missionaries & Personal Ministries

~ salvation of fellow churchgoers

~ church children & teens & singles

~ pastor & his family

~ disciplined Christian walk for congregation

~ evangelical opportunities

~ strength & courage

~ biblical view of finances

~ ministry health & effectiveness

 "I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach; A minister's highest mission ought to be to teach his people to pray." -- MacGregor

Saturday - The struggling; the least of God's people

~ global orphan crisis (and how can I personally help)

~ widows

~ end to human trafficking (and how can I personally help)

~ end to governmental corruption in 3rd world

~ that more Christians will sponsor and write to 3rd world children through Christian sponsorship organizations

~ for the end of abject poverty in the world (Much progress has been made in this in the last 50 years. There will always be poverty, but not necessary abject poverty.)

When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy. -- Corrie Ten Boom

Sunday - Your Friendships and Your Own Christian Walk

~ salvation and good health for friends & their families

~ disciplined Christian walks for friends

~ deal with any unconfessed personal sin

~ your prayer life

~ your Bible reading discipline

~ your own health issues

Bless you in this endeavor, and let me know how it goes this week?

Sharing with Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family



Reworked post from 2013.