At the heart of my prayer times is my prayer journal. This has probably helped me to grow in the area of prayer more than anything else. Each day I get out my A4 day to a page diary and I sit with my Bible, a devotion booklet and God. I write down what is on my mind, anything that I get from my devotional study or Bible reading and I record my prayer requests. In this article I thought I would share the different types of prayer I pray.
1. Praise and Thanksgiving
This is essentially being thankful to God for the many blessings he given me. This might include things like having a roof over my head, food in the fridge, for my family, God’s blessings. It also includes daily things that have happened where I have been blessed and for answered prayer. It is all about realising where my help comes from and thanking God.
Psalm 136:1 - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
2. Petition
This section is for my general prayer requests for my family and I. It might be bringing issues we are facing or about things we are seeking God’s guidance on. Some of the things I pray for is wisdom on how to reach people for Christ, wisdom in leading my family and help with the various things that are coming up. Part of this is praying for God’s blessing and protection for each of my family and myself. This section also includes confession of any personal sin.
Psalm 27:7–12 - Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
3. Intercession
Intercession for me is a regular thing. It usually involves praying for people I know who are going through a situation and they need God’s help, guidance or provision. In a sense it is like a lawyer pleading someone's case before the judge. It is like representing someone before God and asking for a favourable outcome. Many times I have been awoken in the night to uphold someone in prayer or something has been dropped into me to pray for.
In John 17:20–26 we see Jesus praying for His disciples. This is a good example to follow.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them".
4. Listen
A key part of my prayer times is to spend some time just sitting with God and asking if there is anything He wants to say to me or anything He wants me to do. For me this part is about tuning in to God and is like tuning in your radio to the station. I simply sit and wait. Before long I find I have a strong impression on my heart to do something or look up some Bible verses.
John 10:27 - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
How does this work practically?
As I shared above I record my prayer requests in an A4 diary. On the page I draw a cross which takes up half of the page. At the top of each section I write one of the above headings ie praise, petition, intercession and listen. Then I work my way through each spending 5-10 minutes on each - thanking God or praying for things that are on my heart. By the time I do this and spend some time reading the Bible and doing a daily devotion about 30 to 40 minutes has gone by.
If you find it difficult to establish a regular prayer time this format might help you to get started. It is a great way to become more disciplined in prayer and spend time listening to God. It is also a great way to look back and see how God answers your prayers.