In How to Spend a Day in Prayer, Lorne Sanny give us some practical tips on how to utilize your extended time alone with the Lord.
Scheduling your time
Divide the time into three parts:
1. Wait on the Lord-to realize His presence, to be cleansed, and to worship Him.
2. Pray for others. Ask specific things for them. Use Paul's prayers in the New Testament to pray for them, and pray for them what you are praying for yourself.
3. Pray for yourself. Be totally honest with God, and yet not too introspective. (In many cases, a person will do better to pray for himself before praying for others.) As Lorne Sanny said, "You will end the day worse than you started if all you do is think of yourself and your own problems."
Making a worry list
While you need to heed Sanny's warning about spending the whole day absorbed in your own problems, you may find it helpful to follow the steps below in making a "worry list." This will help you pray more effectively for yourself.
1. Give some thought to current conflicts, problems, concerns, or frustrations, and write them down and number them. List anything that is "bugging" you. No matter how small an item is, if it is of concern to you, list it.
2. Every worry you have in the world should be on that piece of paper-it is all there! When you are satisfied that this is so, go on to step three. (It is not uncommon for a person to have 20 or more items.)
3. Go through the list item by item. On each item determine whether you can do nothing about it because it is beyond your control, or whether you can do something to resolve it.
Whatever your conclusion, pray about each issue. But if you feel you can take action about it, write down what you plan to do. (You will probably find many other things to add to this "do list" throughout your time of prayer.)
What to take with you
The essential items to have with you are a Bible, paper, and a pen or pencil. Other helpful items include.
- A clock or watch
- A favorite devotional book
- Your current prayer list
- Your quiet time journal
- A hymnal Scripture memory cards
- Notes from your last extended time in prayer
- Your family or personal budget
- A bag lunch and beverage
- A calendar
Next post: How to stay awake & alert during extended times like these
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