Prayer

HOW:

1. Pick a place. Find a place away from your home or office where you can be alone and away from distraction. Turn your cell phone off. Take a Bible, a pen, and a notebook.

2. Make a plan. Divide your prayer time into three sections:

1. Wait on the Lord. Don’t hurry. Don’t look for some mystical or ecstatic experience. Read a couple of passages about waiting on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31 and Psalm 27:14 are good ones). Read Psalm 51 and the last two verses of Psalm 139 and wait on the Lord for cleansing. Pray about what you read. Then try reading Psalm 103 and Psalm 111 and wait on God in worship.

2. Pray for others. Take your time and pray in detail for the people you ordinarily don’t get a chance to pray for. Pray for leaders, missionaries, friends, and family. Paul’s prayers in the first and third chapters of Ephesians are good models to use when praying for others. Ask for others what you are praying for yourself in your walk with God.

3. Pray for yourself. If you’re facing an important decision, this is a great time to bring that before God. If there is a verse or a passage of Scripture that God has impressed on you lately, pray over that. Ask God, “What do You think of my life?” Spend some time thinking and praying about your activities. Ask God to help you evaluate your priorities. Use your notebook to jot down things you may want to change. Bring up problems or decisions you are facing. Ask God to give you guidance from the Scriptures.

Mix it up. Variety is important during your time of extended prayer. Read for a while. Pray a while. Take time to think. Get up and walk around.

Pull it all together. At the end of your time summarize in your notebook some of the things God has spoken to you about. Answer two key questions (the same questions Paul asked Jesus on the Damascus road in Acts 22:6–10): “Who are you, Lord” and “What shall I do, Lord?”

Don’t worry about coming up with some new discovery or revelation. That’s not the point. A “successful” time is when you have waited on God and exposed yourself to His Word. The test is not how exhilarated you are when you’re done, but how what you’ve done works into your life tomorrow. *Navigators

EXAMEN PRAYER

1. Prepare for prayer: Find a comfortable position. Begin with a few deep breaths to calm your heart and mind. Acknowledge the intent of this prayer: to grow closer with God. 

2. Thanksgiving: Start by thanking God for the gifts of the day and anything you are grateful for.

3. Review: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your day clearly. Now, walk through your day as though you are playing a movie in your mind. What stands out? Any particular emotions or moments? Any consolations – when you felt close to God or noticed Him working? Or desolations – times when you felt far from God and from who you are called to be?

4. Respond: Talk with God about what stood out from your day. What might God be telling you through your experiences and feelings? Take some time to ask forgiveness for the times you weren’t at your best. Offer up more gratitude for the blessings that stood out. Whatever comes to mind, talk with God about it. 

5. Look to tomorrow: What are you excited for? What are you nervous about? Visualize yourself walking through the day with God and ask for His help.

6. Close: Spend a few more moments with God, listening for Him and finding peace in His presence.

Strength from God

• I am your strength. (Psalm 18:1,2)

• I am with you and delight and rejoice in you. (Zephaniah 3:17)

• I walk with you through the challenges. (Isaiah 41:13)