The seeds of great discoveries are constantly floating around us, but they only take root in minds well prepared to receive them.
—JOSEPH HENRY
You’ve set a time. You’ve picked out your own special place. You’re almost ready. Only one more suggestion before you get started: Come prepared and equipped.
I know what you’re thinking. Who needs “stuff ” to pray? Why can’t I just pray? Ah. Glad you asked. Obviously, you can pray anytime and anywhere the urge hits you. But we’re focused here on your set-aside, one-on-one daily visit with God. To make the most of the time you’ve allotted, you need to consider including the following.
A Bible
I usually read at least one chapter a day, working my way through different books of the Bible. If it’s a long chapter, I’ll break it down and read it over the course of several days. The point isn’t how much scripture you read, but that you’re reading it. The Psalms are a perfect launching pad, and there are thousands of great verses throughout its 150 chapters.
I switch back and forth between Old and New Testament books. If you’ve never read the Bible through, that’s always a great way to learn about the Bible. Your local Christian bookstore has all kinds of planners to help you do that or look online for “read the Bible through” guidelines. Starting in Genesis isn’t necessarily the best way, so don’t hesitate to get some help. We’ll talk more about this in Chapter 10.
A Prayer Journal
I’ve never found the perfect journal for praying. And believe me, I’ve looked. Either they have only blank pages in a bound book, or they come filled with things I don’t really use or need. When I first started journaling, I used those blank journals with exotic, enticing covers. But I quickly realized a bound book was too confining. I needed a loose-leaf notebook so that I could add or pull pages from one section to another.
One of these days I’d like to design a prayer journal. If you’ve got unlimited monetary resources and you’re looking for a worthy investment, call me. I’ll bring my prototype. We’ll do lunch. For now I’ve made do by converting a Day-Timer® notebook for my needs. You can find them at most office supply stores. Mine is one of the smaller Day-Timers®, approximately 5x7 inches, with a cover that zips. These usually come with colorful tabbed dividers, a calendar, notepads, and lots of other accessories.
By the way, that notepad is essential. Trust me on this. It never fails—I start praying and BAM! I’ll think of something I need to pick up at the store or a phone call I need to remember to make. At my age, if I don’t write it down, it’s gone. Now, instead of having to go dig through my kitchen drawer for a scrap of paper, I just flip over to the notepad in my Day-Timer® journal and make a note to myself. More recently I’ve kept a pad of sticky notes tucked in my journal. I can easily make myself a note, slap it on my cell phone, then get back to my prayer time.
Same thing for the calendar that comes with the Day-Timer®. It’s amazing how often in the middle of my prayer time, my mind will begin to wander . . . Is my dental appointment this week or next? Or Which day is the dog scheduled for her grooming? But rather than get distracted, I just turn to the calendar, check on it, then immediately get back to praying.
I sincerely believe these rabbit-chases—dog, dental, or otherwise—are nothing more than attempts by the devil to yank us out of our time alone with God. Which only proves how important it is to be prepared for his fiery darts . . . which reminds me of a pastor whose tongue got tangled when he used that expression. I’ll let you figure out what he said. An innocent blunder, but I still chuckle every time I hear the term.
The most effective prayer journal is the one you can best adapt to suit your own individual needs. Once you get into this daily habit, you’ll know exactly what kind of journal works best for you. How is my prayer journal set up? I thought you’d never ask.
In the first section of my journal, I have my “Thank God” entries. Every morning, I start out my prayer time by writing down at least one thing I’m thankful for. A cool breeze on a summer’s day. A letter from a good friend. A warm bed to sleep in on a cold winter’s night. The brilliant splash of color in my flower garden. I find it helps put me into a prayerful attitude of gratitude and praise. It helps me focus on my God and Father.
Then I take the opportunity to come clean before God and ask for His forgiveness: a confession session, if you will. It’s important to get rid of anything that might stand between you and God in this time you have together. But the following words might not be the best way to start off that prayer.
Dear Lord,
So far today, I’m doing all right. I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent. I have not whined, complained, cursed, or eaten any chocolate. I have charged nothing to my credit card. However, I will be getting out of bed in a few minutes, and I will need a lot more help after that. Amen.
Silly, I know, but haven’t we all had days like that? Better yet, here’s a great verse to help get your heart and your mind prepared.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
—Psalm 139:23-24, NKJV
I used to just pray, “God, forgive me for anything in my life that’s not pleasing to You.” I eventually realized that was nothing more than a quick bypass, avoiding any serious confession of specific problem areas in my life. Now, in this section of my prayer journal, I have a list I run through to help “search me, O God, and know my heart.” It includes a search of:
• my thoughts
• my actions
• my words
• my attitudes
• things I’ve neglected to do
• times I’ve ignored God’s prompting
• times I’ve yanked back control in certain areas of my life
It’s by no means a conclusive list, but it’s a start. I find it much more revealing of what’s really happening in my heart. I also make a special effort to once again visualize Jesus sitting across from me, hearing my prayers. If I’m talking to Him face-to-face, I want to make sure there’s nothing standing between us. And remember, as the French proverb says, “There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.”
The next section is for intercessory prayers—prayers for others. It is so important to have written records of these prayers, enabling you to trace God’s hand through all the answers He provides. Again, you’ll know best how to set up this section for your own needs. In my journal, members of my family, extended family, and close friends each have their own page. Over time, as these pages accumulate I’ll paperclip them together. I never toss any of these previous pages because it records a history of prayer for that individual. I also have a page for my church, its staff members and families, as well as church family prayer requests.
I also have a page for urgent/special prayers for world or national tragedies—hurricanes or other violent weather, fatal accidents, wars, etc. When you actually see a written record chronicling the growing number of missing and murdered children, or the heartbreaking occurrences of missing and murdered wives, particularly pregnant wives killed by their husbands, you tend to pray at a much deeper level for those involved and for their families.
In this section I keep other pages like “Prayers for America,” including daily prayer for our president, the leaders of our country, and those serving in our military. There’s also a list of those I’m praying for who need to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. What a joy to see an answer to these prayers, some after decades of praying.
The last section is for my personal prayers. It’s amazing how these journal entries begin to tell the story of your prayer life. It helps pinpoint areas of your life that need special attention and enables you to see some of the amazing ways God has guided you and led you. It also helps you recognize recurring problems, challenging you to figure out why you keep dealing with the same issues over and
over.
Again, it’s up to you how your journal is set up. It is, after all, just between you and God.
Devotionals*
Why the asterisk, you ask? I tend to think of devotionals, books and prayer guides as optional. I’ve used them from time to time—some I’ve read over and over. If you have the time and the desire to add this to your prayer time, that’s great. As long as it isn’t sidetracking you from actually praying.
The ACTS Formula
I usually avoid things that come across as gimmicky. I can smell ’em a mile away. Why is it so many Christians cling to over-the-top schemes or methods to accomplish their purposes? I’m actually quite persnickety about these practices. Such as preachers who always use alliteration for key points in their sermons. It’s bad enough when it’s the first letter of the words, but the ones that set my teeth on edge are those that alliterate an entire phrase.
1. Suffer in silence to serve the Lord
2. Sacrifice in solitude to save the lost
3. Surrender in surgery to sweeten the leotards
Skip that last one. You get my drift. I always get the feeling these guys sit around for hours, cramming their sermon topics into these icky little devices. Give us a break, brother. And then there’s the old-school favorite, “Pack-a-Pew Night.” Church members are assigned a row of pews and are expected to fill it with friends, family, and other acquaintances. The winner with the most guests gets the coveted bragging rights and/or first in line at the ice cream social following services. Because everyone knows Christians love to eat, amen? If these practices come across cheesy to you and me, can you imagine how corny they appear to non-believers?
But while these tricks of the trade grate on my nerves, I have to say there’s one that can help structure your prayer time. It’s not really a gimmick (I just wanted an excuse to dish out some of my Christianese pet peeves). It’s more of a tool. It’s an acronym to help organize prayers by reminding us of the order in which to pray: ACTS.
Adoration: giving glory to God for who He is.
Confession: asking forgiveness for our sins.
Thanksgiving: expressing appreciation for the many things He has done for us.
Supplication: praying for needs in our own lives and those of others.
You have to admit, it’s a great guideline. Instead of starting our prayer time with a long list of gimmes, it helps us to first recognize God and praise Him for His many attributes. Then, as I mentioned before, it’s important to come clean with the Lord, asking His forgiveness for those areas in our lives that aren’t pleasing to Him; for wrongs we’ve committed, both in action, in word, and in thought; and for the sins of omission, when we’ve neglected what we know is right. Next, to give thanks for all that He has blessed us with, for all the things He’s doing in our lives and the lives of others. Finally, then, we can petition our Father for specific needs.
So there you have it. You’re armed and ready to roll. We’ve discussed the whys, the wheres, and the how-tos. But there’s so much more to think about as you start on this incredible journey. Take a break if you must, but please don’t stop here.