Use these different methods to guide your time in extended prayer.
Pray through Scripture
Use a section of scripture to ignite prayer. Read a verse then pray a response back to God. Pray through Psalm 37:1-11.
Psalm 37:1-11 (NASB)
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. 2 For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; {it leads} only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be {there.} 11 But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
Alphabet Praise– Using each letter of the alphabet, praise God for His many attributes and characteristics (Awesomeness, Beauty, Creator, etc.)
Prayer Walking– Pray while walking
Pray for the Nations– Use different guides to pray that God will advance His kingdom in the world. When Jesus gave a prayer request it was for more laborers (Matthew 9:36-38).
www.operationworld.org -> Pray Today
Praying through your Journal– Write a paragraph about what God has been doing in your life recently. Pray over it praising His movement and asking Him to continue to work in your life.
Prayer Letter– Write a letter to God asking about a specific situation
Dynamic Group Prayer
The six S’s of small group prayer by Evelyn Christenson
1. Subject by Subject: (praying together, along with each other).
Introduce the subject, pray, let others pray, next subject etc. The subjects eventually will need no introduction. Allow spontaneity – the direction of the Holy Spirit.
2. Short Prayers: Long prayers can put other people off praying and also – When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:7-8
3. Simple Prayers: Prayer is just conversation with God. We don’t need long or theological words.
4. Specific Prayer Requests: Write down requests and date them, also the answers dated. God answers prayer sometimes taking longer or in different ways to what we expect. It is good to do, both for the encouragement of the group and to praise God.
5. Silent Periods: Let them be. Don’t try to fill them. They are needed as time to listen. Prayer is a two – way conversation.
6. Small Groups: Divide into groups of 4 or 5, 2 or 3 are good too. Small groups are valuable.
ACTS (Or CATS)
Adoration – Praising God for His attributes (who He is).
Confession – Asking and claiming forgiveness for the sins you have committed.
Thanksgiving – Expressing gratitude for His blessings, answers to your prayers (which He has done).
Supplication – Asking for anything and everything that comes to mind for yourself and others.