Opening The Windows on Your Prayer Life

When spring finally arrives in this part of the world, there’s something exhilarating about being   able to crack open the windows for the first time and chase the stale winter air out with each fresh breeze!  How often do we, as believers, get stale in our prayer time – same thoughts, same words, same requests? It can feel like we’re breathing out stale air with every prayer!  Do you need to take a fresh look at how you pray?  Let the following headings guide you as you pray and expect God to speak to your heart in a new way as you seek Him.  Then choose one or more suggestions from under each heading every day, reflect on the scripture passage and let your prayer closet get a good ‘airing out’! 

Worship & Praise God for:

*  His faithfulness (Psalm 36:5-6)*  His unfailing love (Psalm 32:10)*  His compassion (Psalm 103:13)*  His holiness (Rev. 15:4)*  His strength (Psalm 28:7)*  His power (Luke 1:37)*  His watch over us (Psalm 121)*  His care (1 Peter 5:7)*  Never abandoning us (Hebrews 13:5) (Matthew 28:20)*  His plan of salvation (Acts 4:12)*  The gift of His Son (John 3:16)*  Being true to His word (John 1:1) 

Pray for cleansing from your sin:                                                            

*  Ask God to search your heart and show you anything that displeases Him (Psalm  139)

*  Confess your sins (Psalm 32:3-5)*  Ask forgiveness for your failures and wrong attitudes (I John 1:8 – 2:1) 

Pray for the salvation of others:

*  Ask God to save your family and friends who don’t believe in Him (1 Cor. 10:33)

*  Pray that Satan’s hold on people through drugs, alcohol, pride, entertainment, money,  cults,

    false teaching, etc. would be broken  (2 Tim. 2:25-26)

*  Pray that the Spirit of God would be preparing the hearts of unbelievers to hear the gospel

    (Hebrew 3:7-8)

*  Pray that believers would come into the lives of the unsaved and boldly share the Gospel

    (Acts 4:29)*  Pray that you would be bold in sharing the gospel with unbelievers in your life (2 Tim. 4:2)*  Pray that you would be a godly example to the unbelievers in your life (Titus 2:7)

*  Pray that unbelievers would see the emptiness of the world and want something more       

    (I Peter 1:18-21)*  Pray that unbelievers would be hungry to hear the Word of God (Nehemiah 8:2-12)*  Pray for people in areas of the world where the gospel is not preached (Romans 10:14-15) *  Pray for people to go into all the world with the gospel (Mark 16:15) 

Pray for the needs of others by praying for:

*  The sick (James 5:14-15)*  Your family and friends  (Phil. 4:6)*  Our government (1 Tim. 2: 1-2)*  The lonely (Psalm 68:6)*  The poor (Galatians 2:10)*  Your boss (1 Tim. 2:1-2) *  People who are facing crisis and loss (James 5:13)*  Other believers in your life to be growing in their faith (Ephesians 3:14-19)*  Your pastor and other Christian leaders (Ephesians 6:18-20) 

Pray for your needs and ask God:   *  To give you a desire to please and serve Him (Galatians 6:8)*  For understanding as you read the Bible (Psalm 119:27)*  For courage to share your faith (1 Cor. 16:13)*  For direction for your future (Proverbs 3:5-6)*  For God’s leading throughout the day (Psalm 143:10)*  For purity of thought (Philippians 4:8)*  For humility towards others (Titus 3:2)*  For compassion for those in need (Ephesians 4:32)*  For help in difficult situations (James 5:13)*  To help you be faithful to Him no matter what (Rev. 2:10)*  To help you to be self-controlled (Titus 2:11-12)*  To restore joy in your life and to be willing to do His will (Psalm 51:7, 12)*  To help you to make good use of your time (Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5)*  To keep you from saying things you shouldn’t (Matthew 12:36)*  To be kept from the love of money and possessions (Matthew 6:19-21)*  To be able to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14)*  For persistence (Hebrews 12:1-3)

*  To grow the fruit of the Spirit in your life (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,  

     goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control) (Galatians 5:22-23) 

Thank God for:*  Hearing your prayers (1John 5:14)*  Your circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18)

*  Saving you (Hebrews 7:25)

*  His goodness and mercy (Psalm 25:6-9) *  Wanting you in His forever family (Matthew 18:12-14)*  The people who are helping to shape your life (1Thess. 1:2-3)  

Tips: 

1. Start a prayer journal in a small coil book, scribbler or blank journal.  Set up a rotation of people to   pray for and other prayer requests for each day of the week – leaving lots of space to add requests as you go and record answers to prayer. 
2. Set aside a time every day to pray that NOTHING but a true emergency can interrupt.
3. Choose a place to pray that is quiet and free from distractions.
4. Pray even if you don’t feel like it – prayer is to prepare us for “the battle” and to help us put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:1-20). The battle will happen whether we feel like it or not!
5. Get in the habit of praying throughout the day, wherever you are and in whatever you are doing.    These short conversations with the Lord will remind you that He is always with you and desires to guide your life.

 Sandy Semenyna  -  BGCC Nat’l WM Prayer Team Coordinator