LIVE IN PRAYER
EQUIPPED: TO PRAY
There are many underlying reasons why Christians don’t pray, but at the end of the day, most Christians don’t pray because they simply don’t PLAN for it- they don’t PRIORITIZE it- they don’t deliberately make it a part of their SCHEDULE
REMEMBER: Praying is NOT easy, it is NOT a given, it WON’T just happen because you are a Christian- EXPECT resistance, distraction, noise from the enemy- he HATES when you pray because he KNOWS the power and change God actually works through it
May WE believe more in the power of prayer than the enemy does and let that be reflected by us having more FERVENCY to pray than the enemy has in stopping us from praying!
Pray everywhere and at all times (pray without ceasing)
In private (closet, room alone)
Deep fellowship w/the Lord- planned- intentional- alone- may mean waking up early or staying up late- MAKE TIME to be with your Father
With your spouse/family
Setting example, power of praying together/for one another
In the gathering of believers
IMMEDIATELY- on the spot if possible- praying for one another in each other’s presence- don’t say “I’ll be praying for you” unless you will- and save yourself the possibility of forgetting- PRAY WITH THEM NOW! There is power, comfort in hearing a brother or sister interceding for you, joy in interceding for a brother/sister
With unbelievers
IMMEDIATELY- on the spot if they are okay with it- bring them before the presence of God- witness to those watching
With the Bible open in front of you
PRAY through the scriptures- helps to focus your mind- align you with the Lords will and wonder- read, pray, meditate, pray
With a good devotional prayer book
I highly recommend ‘Valley of Vision’ by Arthur G. Bennett- pick it up on a break at work or before bed, read one entry and pray whatever the Spirit moves you in from what you’ve read
Practical suggestions for time/remembrance/making it a true HABIT of grace
PRAY with your kids at dinner/family devotion/bed time each night
PRAY with your spouse each day either before work or before bed
SET alarms on your phone/watch/computer to remind you to read/pray- one morning, one lunch/afternoon, one late afternoon/evening
PRAY during your commute to and from work/errands/etc.
PRAY before meetings at work, before class, before watching TV, before making decisions
START a prayer journal- be amazed to see how God answers and how you grow in the process- REMEMBRANCE- biblical- we all are in need constantly
SET up measures of ACCOUNTABILITY with others- spouse or friends- check-in with each other weekly/monthly (how is your prayer life?)
“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.” - John Piper