(This is part 2 of a 5 part series on spiritual disciplines, check out part 1, part 3, part 4 & part 5)
Do you find prayer satisfying?
Do you sense the presence of God when you pray?
Does prayer give you joy?
Most people I talk to, including myself, would answer no to those questions. Worse, we would blame ourselves and feel guilty about our answers. We know prayer is important and we want to do it, but we struggle to stay consistent.
That’s been true for me. Of all the spiritual disciplines prayer is the hardest one for me. That is sad to write, but it’s the truth. In my devotional time with the Lord, I love to read the Bible. I get excited about Scripture Memory. But when it comes time to pray it’s easy for me to skimp.
It’s rare to meet someone who is satisfied with their prayer life.
But hey! Instead of feeling guilty about it, let’s do something about it!
No matter how far along we are in our prayer lives we should always be motivated to pray more, and better.
I’ve learned there are 2 “Prayer Propellers” that can jumpstart your prayer life! I’m committed to including these in my prayer HABIT to start 2020.
So here they are!
#1 – A Plan
One of the biggest reasons I struggle with prayer is because I sit down and don’t really know what to pray for!
A plan helps!
Brandon Rietz was the first person to show me this simple prayer plan that serves as a guide to pray for specific things each day. It goes like this:
- Monday: ME — I pray for myself and what I want to grow in
- Tuesday: TASKS — for things I’m working on
- Wednesday: WORLD — for missionaries & unreached countries
- Thursday: THANKS — spend extra time thanking God for specifics
- Friday: FRIENDS/FAMILY — pray for people by name
- Saturday: SINNERS — for lost people I’m sharing with to know Jesus
- Sunday: SAINTS — for my disciples, for the local church
Whichever day it is becomes the category I start with when I begin my requests.
In 2020 my habit is to write these down each day in a prayer notebook I carry with me. That is really helping me keep track of my prayers and circle back if God answers specific ones.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND writing your prayers down in some way! I don’t write them down word for word. I will just write the topic and a few details. It’s enough to remember what I’ve prayed for.
So get some kind of notebook or journal to write in!
First, you need a plan to guide you! Second, you need…
#2 – A Prompt
The reality is we get distracted throughout our day. Reminders can be HUGE to help to kickstart your prayer life.
This past year I had a reminder set on my phone that went off at 2:20 pm every day. It reminded me to pray for our 2020 winter conference called SMC. That was a huge help!
There are probably thousands of apps that could remind you to pray and keep track of lists but one I am using to start this year is called: “My Daily Office.”
It has guided morning and evening prayers. I have set a notification to go off at 7:00 am and 7:00 pm that remind me to pray.
The app has several prayer guides, Scripture, Historical prayers, the Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, and more. It even has a place where you can type in your own prayers you would like to be reminded of each day.
It’s been very helpful so far! It’s gone off while I’ve been in the car or watching TV and I’ve included my wife and kids in on the prayer time.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE:
So here is what my devotional time looked like today (Tuesday, January 7) combining the Plan and the Prompt:
- I reviewed my Scripture Memory verses (more on that next week!)
- I spent around 30 minutes reading Luke 9:37-45. My takeaway was that the “faithless are fruitless.” The disciples tried to heal a boy in their own strength and couldn’t. Jesus rebuked their faithlessness.
- Tuesday: TASKS — I wrote out the 5 things I want to get done this week and prayed for each of those.
- At 7:00 pm my notification on my phone went off. I prayed through the evening prayer with my kids.
This is a pattern that is working and been encouraging for me!
Which of the 2 Prayer Propellers are you going to try this week? Let me know in the comments below what you think will help you!
