when you have to pray for a couple of hours a day, after a while, the question "what can i pray for" comes up. one of the best ways to solve that problem? have a prayer list(s).
you don't have to pray for every single thing on the list every day. you might pray for 2 or 3 on one day, or go through the entire list on another day. it is a tool that's there to help you "know" what to pray for, and you don't have to use it all the time.
there are 3 focuses that are helpful to think about when developing a prayer list..
1. Intimacy - things that you want to connect with God about
- take time to focus on giving love and devotion to God.
- includes worship, meditation on the Word, fellowship with the Spirit
I used to think that all i had to remember was that God loved me and that was it. always forgetting that it's a 2-way relationship and that i need to tell God that i love Him too. i also never used to like reading the bible, because it never really seem to make sense, but now, i'm slowly starting to learn to meditate on specific verses, and let the words just sink into me over a few days or a week, and then i begin to see that it really is applicable in my daily life. i've also learned to take joy in woshipping and adoring God, and simply enjoy being in His presence.
2. Petition - praying for God to touch you
- asking for God's blessing upon your life and ministry
- ask for a breakthrough in inner man, personal circumstances and ministry
- for God's power to be released through your hands, words, deeds
i guess it might just be human nature, but it's never too difficult to demand of God to do this, or make that happen, especially when the situation becomes desperate. but over the past week, i've learned that it's not just asking God for the things that we want. but take time to center our lives around God, and then ask for things that would enable us to move further along the narrow path following His plans. and you'll be surprised at how much God is willing to give you, and how much quicker it comes, because really, He's just waiting for you to ask, and He'll give it according to His time and plans.
3. Intercession - praying for other people, for God to touch them
- asking for God's power/justice for others
- pray for people and places
- pray for strategic issues in society
through the walks of life, it is inevitable that one would come across people who need God. it doesn't matter if they know God, and it's ok if they don't even know that you're praying for them. i've learned that it's your committment to pray for the person/issue that opens the doors and allows God to work through you. Especially with many situations that are beyond your control, lifting up prayers and asking God to intervene is probably the best thing that you can do to help.
it's only been about a week, and i'm already learning so much through praying on a daily basis. it's not easy, and so many times i just want to give it a misss but i have to keep reminding myself to stick with it. the challenge is going to be greater once classes start again, but at the same time, i'm looking forward to see how much more there is to learn about God.
