Back to Basics

Submitted by Mark Friz on January 28, 2011 - 12:43pm

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to return to an old prayer discipline in my life. Throughout the past several years, I've experiemented with several types of prayer.

  1. During the Alpha Program, Nikki Gumbal talked about keeping a journal of prayer requests, and then noticing how God had answered the prayers. I found this to be a very encouraging exercise, as I saw many ways that God answered my prayers.
  2. I learned to pray using Lectio Divina, an ancient method which includes reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. I learned to listen to the Holy Spirit, and to pray scripture. This enhanced my walk with God, as I opened my heart to new expressions of prayer based on the scripture for the day.

But lately, I've been convicted that there is nothing like a good, old fashioned "prayer list" to help a person remember to pray for "everyone," "all those in authority," "all people" (1 Timothy 2:1-8). There were two times when this conviction gripped my heart.

  1. The first was when I was in Germany last year, visiting church planters Andy and Claudia. I realized that they needed my prayers on a regular basis.
  2. The second time was preaching in January 2011 from 1 Timothy 2:1-8. Timothy uses the word "all," from the Greek, panton, six times in this passage. I was reminded that my prayers are to have a wide scope, and that I needed help on a daily basis to broaden my mind to think more like God, who "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4)l

Below is the personal prayer list outline which I have again committed myself to maintaining. It is not a list that one would go through every day. It is a list that might take a week, or two weeks, to move through on a regular basis. If it is any help to your personal prayer life, I encourage you to print it off and use it to help you be more authentic in your prayer life. How many people do you say you will pray for? This list will help you to keep your promises, and live up to your convictions.

Personal Prayer Sheet

I. Praise and Thanksgiving:

II. Penitence and Confession:

A. Individual:

B. Group:

III. People:

A. Family:

B. Mentors:

1. Sages or "Elder" Mentors:

2. Peer to Peer Mentors:

3. Our Mentees:

C. Friends:

D. Sick and Suffering:

E. Missionaries:

F. Beginners and Prospects:

G. Confirmands:

H. Adversaries and Enemies:

I. Backsliders and Lost:

J. Silent:

IV. Peace and Justice:

A. Authorities and Leaders:

1. Government:

2. Church:

3. School:

B. Social Involvement:

1. Social Service:

2. Social Action:

V. Programs and Plans in Current Ministry:

VI. Personal:

A. Needs:

B. Heart Burdens:

C. Plans/Vision: