Take up the prayer challenge!
Posted on 09. Oct, 2010 by Ruth Sheath in Blog, Challenges
Our almighty Father God has saved us and wants us to pray to Him and to use us through our prayers for His good purposes. Yet most of us struggle to pray, let alone “devote” ourselves to prayer (Col 4:2) or to be “faithful in prayer” (Romans12:12).
This is a challenge to take some time to:
- learn more about prayer and God
- learn to pray God-centred prayers.
- put into practice some strategies for making prayer more of a habit and more purposeful
1. Bible passages
A. Read and consider a number of passages about prayer. (i)
B. Memorise 2 or more helpful verses which relate to prayer. (i)
C. Write down reasons we should pray.
2. God-Centred Prayers
A. Read and consider a number of prayers in the bible (and you could look at other godly prayers eg in a Prayer Book.) (i)
B. What do you learn about patterns, content and attitudes of prayer from these? Write this down.
3. Read a Book or Article on Prayer
(optional especially for younger challenge takers)
This will help you as you think through what you are learning or wanting to put into practise regarding prayer.
4. Strategies for Prayer
A. Plan to Pray
We are to “pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Think of when you would like to pray and aim to make that a habit
eg in the car on the way out for the day, before you get up, at meal times… (use a physical reminder such as a sticker initially until it is a habit)
B. Practical ways to stop mental drift
Consider what would help you in being less distracted as you pray
–eg. pray out loud, use a prayer list, write in a journal, kneel down, pray with someone else (in person, on phone, email prayer points)…
C. Prayer partners
Consider what the advantages are of praying with someone else
–praying with someone else regularly, purposefully
D. Prayer Plan
Develop a Prayer Plan/ List /System
Whatever suits you and you feel will help you to be less distracted and more purposeful, faithful and systematic in your prayers (ii)
Helpful Resources
“A Call to Spiritual Reformation” by D.A. Carson
Ruth thinks this title is a bit scary and it should be called “About Prayer – especially from Pauls Prayers”)
This book helpfully points you especially to the prayers of Paul and unpacks what we can learn from them.
It encourages us to be systematic and purposeful in our prayers.
A helpful quote from this book: “prayer is the fruit of a relationship with God, not a technique for acquiring blessings”
“Prayer and the Voice of God: Listening to the living word will transform the way you pray”
by Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne
This book looks at what prayer really is, why we should pray and why we don’t. It is also a practical book that offers motivations to get us back to praying and discusses what we should pray for.
“Help for a sick prayer life”(A Minizine from Matthias) like a small magazine with helpful articles.
“Christian Prayer” - 5 talks on prayer by Phillip Jensen. This would be good for those who prefer to ‘listen’ rather than read.
(i) Suggested Bible Verses
The Lord’s Prayer (Matt5:5-15)
Verses listed in the discussion of Why We Don’t Pray
Prayers in the Bible (“A Call to Spiritual Reformation” has a handy list of the ones in the New Testament)eg. 2Thess1:1-12, Col1:9-14, 1Thess5:23-28…
(ii) You could look at the following articles for ideas:
A Personal Prayer List
A Family Prayer List
A Family Prayer Time Book
NB. You do not need to use a prayer list to have a Christian Prayer life! We are called to devote ourselves to faithful prayer not to a prayer list.
However I (and many others) have found a list to be very helpful in focusing me and helping me to be diligent in prayer.
Check out some other resources on prayer from our website here.
