“Will you pray for . . .?” is perhaps the question I'm most often asked. I'm thankful when invited to intercede in prayer, it allows me to be a part of God's process and work in others' lives. Although I still have much to learn, I thought I'd give you a peek into my prayer life.
I have a large “daily planner” containing a monthly calendar and pages for each day. I've added sections to the planner to use for prayer. It's a loose-leaf binder and pages can be easily added or removed. Each individual or ministry has its own page where I record Scriptures that apply to their need. I log dates of prayer requests and answers received.
Prayer sections:
- Daily: My family and a few close friends (These are some of the Scriptures I pray):
For my husband: Ephesians 1:17-19; Psalm 15:1-2, 92:12-15
Our children: Colossians 1:9-12; 2 Corinthians 13:7-9; 1 Timothy 4:12, 6:11,12; 2 Timothy 2:22; Proverbs 2:20
Nancy DeMoss: Psalm 71:17-18
- Sunday: My pastor and church leaders, worship team, our church, and other churches I'm burdened for
- Monday – Saturday: various ministries, revival, our nation and its leaders, friends, and church members, are divided over these days
- Praise Report: This section is a compilation of various answers to prayer
Intercession Tips:
- When someone asks for prayer, if at all possible pray with her right then.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to bring this to mind at critical times when intercession is needed.
- Write down the prayer request. If you keep a log or prayer journal transfer it to the appropriate category.
- When an individual is facing a potentially severe trial, ask if you can include a group of women for a specific time of prayer over her. It may be necessary to enlist women to pray at specific times in order to have a regular cycle of intercession.
- Use every opportunity to intercede: when driving and you recognize someone in traffic, when passing a friend's house, or when hearing a song that reminds you of someone–pray for them.
- Keep reports or updates from ministries in order to pray for specific needs.
- If your prayer time is interrupted by thoughts of things needing to be done, jot them down and return to prayer, keep in mind these interruptions may be things that need prayer as well.
You don't have to use a prayer journal or set specific times to pray, however, I've found that these things help me to be diligent in accomplishing prayer rather than having good intentions that never come to fruition. I love the freedom of coming to God anytime, anyplace, praying about anything–that should occur all throughout the day. What I've shared with you today applies to the disciplined intercession that can at times seem monotonous, but is labor that yields reward.
One of life's greatest joys is seeing God answer prayer. Would you share a testimony of answered prayer?
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Comments
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 12:12 pm
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 12:46 pm
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I praise the Lord for His very evident work of grace in your life. You are a living testimony of His transformational power as is seen by your ministry now to other women facing similar fears.
Thank you so much my dear sister for your kind words, it is a joy to labor with you in the service of our Great King!
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I use a notebook too; so when someone calls, I can just add the request to that date. However, as the Lord answers, I highlight the request in yellow and write the answer next to it in red.
It's so encouraging to see how much and how often God answers prayer - and how often the answer is very different or even very much greater than I had asked.
Our God is an awesome God!
And sometimes I just flip back through and praise Him for all the "yellows" I can see!
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I love to look back at His wonderful works and He loves to hear those prayers of praise and thanksgiving :-)
Thanks for sharing.
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 3:03 pm
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Thank you for these practical tips! Although I love to pray and by God's grace have seen many answers to prayer, I have not been much of a consistent journal-keeper. I would like to start, as the Lord leads, and perhaps one day (when there is time) take time to record some of the prayers and answers to prayer from days gone by. Like scripture meditation, this is another discipline I have been wanting to add to my life. Through this ministry (and God's work in my heart!) I have now started memorizing scripture regularly (what a blessing!). Kim, would you pray that I will be faithful in this area too (writing in a prayer journal), as the Lord would lead in my life? Thank you!
In His love,
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I want to start a prayer journal like what you've described above...but I just don't know where to start! There are sooo many things that need prayer, and most of the time...I just don't know WHAT to pray. I feel like that person or situation needs to be lifted up in prayer, but I just don't know what to say.
I really want to start somewhere. Could you wonderful ladies pray for me? Thanks!!!
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Thank you for the reminder to protect the privacy of those you are interceding for -- good word!
I love your request, and will be praying for you to "keep your ears open for His leading in all things." Please pray the same for me.
Father, thank You for the women reading this blog. Thank You for Ann's desire to follow Your lead. Thank You that You are willing to lead us. Holy Spirit, would You begin burdening the women on this blog site to commit to a devoted life of prayer? May we serve as intercessors in the battle for our families, our churches, this nation, and for your kingdom to be established on earth. May our prayer lives bring pleasure to You, Almighty God.
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 9:49 pm
It is never too late to start recording your prayers in a journal. It doesn't have to be lengthy. It helps if you already have a regular devotional time established and you can incorporate this into your normal prayer time.
You don't need a fancy notebook or expensive binder. I like the kind that I can add pages to, as I fill up a page for an individual, I can insert a blank one behind the one that is filled. That way I can easily refer to what I've been praying for them and how God has been at work.
I'm excited you want to start this, and as you requested, I will be praying the Lord gives you grace to stay faithful. Don't be overwhelmed trying to fill in a whole list of requests and Scriptures the first day, start with your family members first and gradually add others. As you pray for them write down things the Lord brings to mind. As you read Scripture, if you come across a passage that would apply to a need in their lives, record it on the page dedicated to that person.
May you find great joy in interceding for others!
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I'm so glad you want to start a prayer journal! Please read my comment to Leslie above for some suggestions about getting started.
As you stated, I too, am unsure of what to pray for individuals at times. That is why I am so thankful we have the Holy Spirit to intercede when we're unsure of what to say (Romans 8:26-27).
Here are a few things I'm learning about praying for others, though:
1) Pray with an eternal perspective in mind. What I mean by this is, pray larger than just the person's immediate circumstance. Ask God to use this particular situation in their life in the advancement of His kingdom. I don't always ask God to "fix" or "heal" or "provide abundantly". Sometimes I ask God to withhold the "abundance" if He knows it will hinder the individual from being more conformed to His image. That is praying with an eternal, rather than temporal, perspective (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
2) Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight in how to pray for the individual. Ask Him to bring Scriptures to mind that would be good to pray for that person. Also Ask Him to bring that individual to mind at times when it is critical for you to pray for them.
3) Don't be discouraged if you don't see answers to your prayers right away. This past week God answered a request I've been bringing Him for 4 years. Two years ago the Lord answered a request I had for 2 decades. Don't grow weary. It is a rich reward to see prayers answered after years of faithful intercession.
I will be praying for you start this new spiritual discipline - I am excited for you. It is a joy to intercede for others and know that God is listening and at work.
Please let us hear how its going sometime!
on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 10:26 pm
One way of jotting down prayers is to put them in a large type of calendar.
I abbreviate (my own code) & jot it down for each month as it comes & as as needful.
I put it at the bottom in the empty squares or on the side, depending on the style of calendar.
Sometimes I draw a stick drawing too:=)FUN!!!
I have super old calendars to remember special memories, at the cost of not much time either...
on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 1:34 am
Thank you so much!! I have started the journal, and am excited about it. May it be a tool that leads me deeper in my relationship with Christ and in my service to others. I'm also using the same notebook as a quiet time journal -- I have journaled on and off in my quiet times -- but think this will help me be more organized (separate sections for Bible studies and prayer journal).
I feel like I am in Bible school with ROH, between Nancy's teachings and Kim's mentoring (and Paula, Mary K., and others). What a privilege; my life is being enriched and I am greatly thankful. May it all be to and for the glory of our dear Lord Jesus, in my life and the lives of my sisters in Christ. Thank you, Leslie N., for your tips also -- it was good to hear from you!
Heavenly Father, I pray that we sisters in Christ might glorify you as we pursue you in prayer, pray for others, and seek to do your will through the precious gift you have given us, that of prayer. Thank you, Father, for this gift of communion with you; how awesome. Please guide and help us in all our endeavors. In Jesus' name, Amen.
on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 9:16 am
I'm so excited for you to get started in this! I also use the same journal for my quiet time. I record what I'm reading in Scripture on the dated page.
For example, today's reading was: Deut. Chapters 2-3, Psalm 67, Prov. 11:27 & Luke 6:12-38. The daily planner page is lined; with today's date on it. Psalm 67 was a blessing today, and I copied a few verses that stood out to me. Often I will note the particular way God speaks to me through the portion of Scripture that I've read.
I jot down significant events that will occur on any particular day, I also record anything from my devotional book I'm reading (Spurgeon) or a prayer from "The Valley of Vision" that I want to include.
Today, a friend and I are taking my invalid father to an appointment and tonight we will be ministering in a prison in our area, so I've written a prayer on this page requesting God's grace for the needs of this day, noting these ministry opportunities.
You don't have to take the time to record all these types of things in your journal, it can be as brief as the good suggestions Leslie Dawn shared above (thanks, Leslie!) but I've found it is very encouraging to have prayer needs and highlights in my spiritual journey recorded. At times of spiritual struggle, desert seasons or times when I need my faith increased, it helps to look back through things I've jotted down in my journal and see how God has been at work.
Enjoy this new endeavor and let us know how God uses it in your life! Blessings to you this day dear sister,
on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 10:41 am
on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 11:54 am
I once kept a pocket prayer journal on just that - one of those pocket calendars that fit in my purse. It was great because it made me totally focus and be specific in what I wrote without being wordy, something I have a tendency towards doing. I know God is good and He can work with whatever form our prayers take, but it really did help me stay on track. Either that or I had to write really small! :-)
on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Writing down prayer requests and the answers helps us to remember God's faithfulness in the past so we can trust Him with trials in the future.
He or she who prays, will praise!
on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 10:17 am
You might consider asking God for a friend that will help hold you accountable with your commitment to "become a woman of prayer". Perhaps she would be willing to be a prayer partner with you. We will join you in prayer as well. The Lord delights in answering hearts that desire to learn more concerning prayer.
In case you didn't read my first post this month (3/03: Practicing Ceaseless Prayer), let me recommend one of my favorite classics to inspire you as you start your prayer journal: "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence. You might want to look for an updated or modern revision of this old classic.
Knowing you are starting a prayer journal and desire to be a woman of prayer is truly a blessing! Stay in touch and let us hear how it goes :-)
on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 12:36 pm
on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Thank you, Kim.
on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 10:43 pm
This reference is for Christ's obedience to the Father after the Father said "no" and Christ went to the cross to die for us. I wanted to back my comment with Scripture.
Blessings to all you ladies who posted. The posts were encouraging to me to press on.
on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 11:05 pm
God Bless!
on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 4:55 pm
So glad to have you joining us. We thank God for leading you to this site. I'm so glad you are committing to starting a prayer journal. Let us hear how God uses that in your life.
If you've never been on the Revive Our Hearts website, you'll want to check it out, too. It is filled with great resources and the teaching ministry of Nancy Leigh DeMoss. You can listen to her daily radio program on that site or read the transcripts.
http://www.reviveourhearts.com
May you be encouraged and blessed in your walk with Christ and in your pursuit of becoming a True Woman!
on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 5:53 pm
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he already lives to intercede for them."
This verse reminds me that Jesus is continuously interceding on my behalf and I have a great privilege of interceding also for others by bring the concern of my husband, friends and enemies His feet. Sometime I think why tell the Lord what He already knows, but then I realize that the Lord Jesus wants to hear from me in my own words the concerns of His people, just like Moses did for the people Israel. My prayer is that the Lord continues to refresh my memory with His truth and challenge me in my prayer life to be obedient.
on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Thank you for quoting Hebrews 7:25 -- I love that promise!
Great prayer request, too, thanks for sharing. May you be filled with the joy of Christ's presence as you call on Him to refresh your memory with His truth in order to walk in obedience!
"Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven." Psalm 119:88-89
on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 10:48 am