The Recipe for a Prayer Plan

I have to confess that for the past few weeks I have been doing a great deal of praying. Praying for this quarantine to be over, praying for my family's continued health, and for the members of our church to remain safe. Maybe you have been preoccupied by fears and worries about what might be next, more stay at home orders, or food shortages. There is only one place to take these concerns. To the Lord. In an article on prayer the author hit on a fact that I have heard so many people say during times of trouble, he said “We tend to use prayer as a last resort, we pray when there’s nothing else we can do.” But like the author, I feel that God wants it to be our first line of defense; to pray before we do anything. Not as if praying is all there is left for us to do but knowing that without the Lord's intervention everything is already lost. But where do we start?

One of the most repeated bible verses on this topic is Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” To pray over everything large and small, and to pray with confidence knowing that they have already been answered. Add in the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice, always pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God.” And you have the recipe for a prayer plan. I know it sounds hard to rejoice in these difficult times, and to be thankful for our trials is near to impossible, but it is the “will of God” that we take our situations and share them with Him. We need to call out to Him about the things that are worrying us. How do we learn to pray without ceasing? We make a daily plan!

Each day is an opportunity for us to speak with Jesus about different areas of concern in our lives. Seven times a week whether you work or stay home, find the time to pray. But don’t hold yourself to a time limit, praying can be done anywhere and even while you are doing other tasks. Make praying a habit, but don’t put your prayer life in a box. Where you can only pray if you are in a perfect location or all alone. I make one thing constant, and that is to pray about a specific area of my worries each day, but I always add in things that come up that need immediate action. Have a schedule but be flexible in using it, but be sure your prayer recipe includes four main ingredients.

1. A new topic each day.

2. Use scripture in your prayers.

3. Approach God in confidence when you ask for His help.

4. Thank Him for answering these petitions. This is how my prayer plan looks.

MONDAY: Prayers for your family.

Make a list of concerns and needs for each member of your family. Remember to be Specific, no vague or weak requests, be bold. If you are asking the Lord to make His presence known to an unbelieving child, sibling or spouse ask God to move them in a way that would leave them no doubt that God was working in their lives. Spend the day discussing with God all the things each person you love needs and that you want God’s intervention on.

TUESDAY: Prayers for your Church family.

Pray for church growth and finical security. Protection from Satan and the persecution of the church body in your community. Pray for the Pastor and his family, ministry leaders, deacons, and elders. Church staff and volunteers. Members and their families. If your church publishes a list of prayer needs you could use that, instead of making one of your own.

WEDNESDAY: Pray for your community and neighborhoods.

Pray for an end to bickering and hurt feelings in the people of your town. That your schools and local businesses would be open to the Lord’s intervention. For teachers and administrators that they would be Godly people. Pray for the children that they would have food and safety. For the men and women who are first responders, Nurses, Doctors, city workers and your Mayor.

THURSDAY: Pray for your Nation.

Pray for the revival of God’s people, and for a re-awaking of the Holy Spirit in their lives. For the President and his staff. Pray that God would bring unity and respect of His laws back to our government. Pray for all the political leaders in charge of our welfare. Pray about national issues, laws, and our economy.

FRIDAY: Pray for the world.

Pray for the persecuted church worldwide. For missionaries preaching the gospel in non-Christian countries. Pray for people suffering from hunger and sickness. Pray for soldiers, and an end to war and death. Pray for people who are in bondage and prison. For relief from natural disasters.

SATURDAY: Pray for the helpless, hurting and lost.

Pray for people who are homebound. In nursing homes. In hospitals. People living on the streets, and victims of abuse. Children in foster care. For the people who haven’t found the healing of God’s spirit. For all the people who dedicate their life to the care and protection of the lost and hurting.

SUNDAY: Prayers for yourself.

Pray for others but don’t forget to pray for your own needs. Talk with God about your dreams and desires. Seek His guidance and protection from the hurts of the world. Ask for His love and blessings, on your health, and finances. Ask him to show more Himself to you each day. Ask Him to use you to build up the kingdom of God.

You can use my plan or make your own, but the most important part is the more time you spend with Jesus the better you will feel.