The Prayer Warrior

THE  NEWSLETTER OF THE FAITH AND LOVE CENTER PRAYER MINISTRY

January 2017

The start of the new year is often a time of reflection.  We review what we have done and seek ways to improve.  If your prayer life is not what you would like it to be or where you know it should be here are some practical guidelines that may make your time with the Lord more fruitful.

1. Choose a specific place to pray away from distractions so you can concentrate.

2. (If possible) pray at the same time every day.

   Make it part of your regular routine and it will become a habit. Write it into your schedule and then treat it just like a daily appointment.

3. Pray out loud.

   For many of us silent prayer for an extended period of time results in wandering thoughts and sleepiness.  When we pray out loud we are better able to concentrate on what we are praying about.

4. Keep a note pad handy so you can jot down different things that come to mind while you’re before the Lord.

5. Make a list to keep track of your prayer needs.

   This can be done in several ways. Prayer needs can be listed by category like “Church,” “Family,” or “Unsaved friends.” Or they may be listed by the days of the week.  Each day you pray for a different set of needs. You may want to include prayer every day for a different area of society that has a tremendous influence on the direction of our nation.  These seven categories include 1) the church 2) the family, 3) the media, 4) government, 5) education, 6) business, and 7) media.

6. Actively seek time for prayer out of unused portions  of your schedule.

   Those who have to drive to work can use the time talking with the Lord Busy homemakers can combine prayer with housework, especially if the task doesn’t require a lot of concentration. Joggers, swimmers and cyclists can use their workout time for prayer.

7. Change the pace during your prayer time.

   Include praise, thanksgiving and singing as well as petition. Spend some of your time reflecting on the Scripture, meditating on it and digesting its meaning.

8. Keep a prayer journal.

9. Pray with someone else.

   Though some prayers can only be said in solitude, there will be times when you’ll want to join hearts with another person in prayer. If you commit to meet on a regular basis, the accountability can really help build consistency.