AN A TO Z OF PRAYER PRACTICALS
While we all pray at some point every day, in order that we drink fully of prayer's richness and experience the purposeful, powerful and peaceful life that God promises us through prayer, it is important to learn how to pray. It is important to grow in this area. Here are some practicals. This is in no way an exhaustive list of ideas on how to pray, but hopefully there are a number of tips here that you will find useful. Stay creative. You may not be able to implement all of these practicals all at once, but keep trying different ones and your prayer life, which is so vital in the pursuit of a godly heart, mind and life, will be varied and vibrant.
ALOUD - Hebrews 5:7 Jesus was not whispering. He was passionately expressive with God.
BELIEVING - Mark 11:24 In prayer, faith is crucial. Pray, believe and receive. If you doubt, then you seal your fate.
CONFESSION - Luke 11:4 Confess specifically and ask for pardon. God already knows what's happening in your life, so feel free to talk openly to him about it.
DAILY - Ephesians 6:18b Make it great every single day. Each day and each prayer is an opportunity to draw close to God.
EXHALTATION - Psalm 111 It is important to appreciate God deeply and praise him richly.
FAST - Joel 2:12 When your needs are particularly urgent, fasting before God is powerful. It demonstrates a determined effort of heightened proportions to rely on God even as you pray.
GROUP PRAYER - Acts 1:12-14 This builds unity among disciples/spouses/roommates/friends.
HANDS RAISED - 1 Timothy 2:8 This is one of several postures for prayer.
IMITATE Imitate prayers from the Bible and also prayers of disciples around you as well.
JOURNAL Record your requests in a journal and keep track as God answers your prayers.
KNEELING - Daniel 6:10 This is another biblical posture for prayer.
LIST Have a list as you pray, to help you be specific, clear and directed in your conversation with God.
MANY WAYS - Ephesians 6:18 Implement all sorts of ideas and possibilities on how to pray, including the practicals put forward here.
NIGHT - Luke 6:12 Jesus prayed all night before making an important decision. Have an all-night prayer time alone.
OUTDOORS Acts 21:5 Prayer walks are wonderful. Find a conducive place for this, e.g. the beach, a park, a scenic foot path, etc.
PERSISTENCE - Luke 18:1 Keep praying for things that you need and do not give up. Pray on for years if you must, just keep on praying.
QUIETLY (alone and in private) - Matthew 14:23 Don't rely only on group prayer. You must have a great and intimate personal, individual walk with God. Get off alone and in private to spend bonding time with God in prayer.
REQUEST - Matthew 7:7,8 Ask God to provide for your needs. He wants to give. He simply wants also that you ask as you show your reliance on him and not on your personal efforts, talent or wisdom.
SUBMISSIVENESS - Matthew 26:39,42 Put before God what you want and prefer, but trustingly be open to what God decides and allows.
THANKSGIVING - Psalm 107:1 If you stop to think more you will stop to thank more. There is much to be thankful for. Even in the face of trial, there are good things God is doing and had done for us. We need only to think of and remember them.
UNHINDERED - 1 Peter 3:7 Deal with and get help with the sin in your life, otherwise that sin will hinder your prayers. Also pick a time and place where you can concentrate well in prayer without hinderance.
VERY EARLY - Mark 1:35 We all ake up early for things we enjoy or deem to be important. There is nothing more important than prayer, so let us, like Jesus, get up early to spend time with God daily.
WORK AT IT - Luke 11:1 We need to want to learn more about prayer. We all need to grow in our prayer life. Work at it. Take it higher and deeper. Don't settle for where you are in your walk with God at any given time, but look to draw progressively closer and closer to God.
X-PEL (EXPEL) BITTERNESS - Mark 11:25 Forgive your brother before you go to your father.
YOURSELF (be yourself, be real) - Psalm 13:1,2 Like David here, be honest with God about what is on your heart, even if it is not positive at the time. Be real. Get God to help deal with your sinful feelings rather than pretend that those feelings are not present.
ZEAL - John 2:16,17 Jesus was consumed with zeal that the temple be used for prayer and not for money-making. It's hard to be zealous when you become routine and monotonous. If we employ a whole range of practicals and keep our prayer lives varied and fresh, we will be enthusiastic and zealous about praying.
Let us not mere pray. Let us pray well.
Make it practical, powerful and personal.
Explore the endless range of methods, manners and mindsets for prayer.
Remember that God longs not only to hear from you but also to bless you abundantly in response to your heart.