Prayer Lists

Before I share another scripture to use in praying for others, I thought I would talk a little about something that has greatly helped me in my prayer life. Ever since about my junior year in high school, I have kept some sort of prayer list. Being the perfectionist that I am, my prayer lists used to be quite extensive, and as a result, not very effective in helping me to pray. Then I tried the Puritan method of writing out my prayers. And while I don't want to bash this method which can be wonderful for a variety of reasons, it really didn't help me in being consistent in my prayer life which has been my aim for these past 15 years (I know - I'm a slow learner).

It was in 2007 that I started using a very simple method that has really helped me. I keep my list in a journal and I use two bookmarks for it. My first bookmark goes to a list of long-term requests. These are requests that I am fairly sure won't be answered overnight, but I know are extremely important to uphold to the Lord. I have called this list my Bold, Audacious Prayers list. For example, I have one of my major sins on that list and my prayer is that God would give me victory over that sin. I also have Peru on that list and under Peru I have listed specific requests for that country and the Church there. My second bookmark goes to a monthly request list. Each month I write a list of requests out. If I tell somebody I am going to be praying for them, they go on that list. If I have a specific need that needs to be answered right away or if I am worrying about something, it goes on that list. When a prayer is answered, I (try to) mark it with a check mark, write the date, and the answer to the prayer if appropriate. At the beginning of the next month, I rewrite my list and keep requests on there that need to stay and drop off those that are no longer relevant or have been answered. I don't include everything on there. I pray for my husband and children everyday, so their names are not on there. But if I am really struggling with how to discipline one of the kids about something, that item goes on the list. The whole process doesn't take much time, it helps me remember what to pray for, and it is a great way to keep track of how God has answered prayer and worked in my life.

Here's another helpful verse in praying for others:

Ephesians 1:15-20
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.