Pray
Scripture instructs us we should pray. Jesus' example shows us we should pray. Our own inner being cries out we should pray. Yet, we often remain prayer-less. Why? There are many answers to that question, but I think D.A. Carson is right on target when he suggests that many Christians fail to pray because it is not a priority for them and they have no plan for prayer.
We can make prayer a priority by setting aside a regular time to pray. It may offend your sense of spontaneity, but making a daily appointment with God to pray does not restrict the Spirit or reduce prayer to a mere routine. Rather the daily prayer time becomes a place to meet with God, hear from Him, and speak to Him.
You might ask, "Why do we even need to discuss a plan (or guide) for prayer?" The discussion is needed because many people will confess (privately, at least) that they do not know how to pray. Even Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. I am reprinting below a guide for a personal prayer time that I shared with some friends a few weeks ago. It is not meant to restrict your prayer life, but rather to give you some ideas about ways you can pray.
A GUIDE FOR A PERSONAL PRAYER TIME
1. Give God praise. When we come into the presence of God, it is a time for "turning our heart home"…a pause from our activities to focus on God, and God alone. Spend some time praising God for who He is and for some of the specific blessings He has given you recently. You might even want to sing a favorite worship song or hymn that focuses on God and His attributes.
2. Confess your sin. Even as we know God is aware of all our faults and failures, it is important to let God know that we are aware of them as well. Too often we can hide and deny the places that hold the most pain. Too often the world rushes us on and we allow situations to fester. Confession may lead us to some painful realization as to our need for repentance, seeking forgiveness, reconciliation, and guidance.
3. Give God thanks. After we have worshipped Him and come clean before God, then we are ready to give thanks. We "count our blessings" as we recognize all that God has done for us. From the smallest gift to the awesome love of God in the Grace and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ... we give thanks.
4. Pray for spiritual renewal in the body of Christ. Spend some time praying for genuine spiritual renewal/revival in your church family; then widen the scope to embrace believers in your city, state, etc. Pray that God will stir up complacent Christians and cause us to seek Him as never before. Pray for walls of division to be torn down and for biblical unity to come within the body of Christ. Pray for God to continue to pour out His Spirit on believers in a fresh and powerful way.
5. Pray for not-yet believers. Spend some time praying by name for individuals and families that need to be saved, asking the Lord to remove the barriers and blindness that are preventing them from seeing the light of Christ. Spend some time praying for individuals and families on your block, in your community and throughout the region who need to be saved. Pray that God will send into their lives believers who will witness to them and lead them to Christ. Pray that you will have opportunity and boldness as one of those witnesses.
6. Pray for those in government. Spend some time praying for world, national, state, and local leaders/representatives.
7. Pray for the specific requests of yourself and others. Spend some time praying for specific needs (spiritual, physical, emotional) of which you are aware.
8. Praise God for answered prayer. Conclude by expressing faith and confidence that God will answer your prayers and give Him praise, in advance, for what He will do.
