|
The Lord never intended your prayer life to be dull, passive and stale!
Like any worthwhile relationship, your relationship with him needs intermittent
times dedicated to restoration and rejuvenation. Ask the Lord to lead you
as you seek to bring a fresh perspective to your times with him. Some of
the ideas and thoughts in this brochure may be helpful tools in that process.
For more information on growing in your relationship with God, contact
NHC Spiritual Life & Growth Ministries at 763-536-3226.
- Breath Prayers: Short prayers offered up to the Lord constantly
throughout the day. Anything or anyone around you might spark the topic
for these prayers. Let the Holy Spirit continually show you what and
how to pray as you go about your day.
- Prayer Box: Keep a decorative box where you typically pray at home.
Fill it with various prayer lists, quotes, photos, small objects–anything that may help prompt your heart
in prayer. As the Lord leads, open it up and ask God to use the items
to guide you as you pray. Add to it as you come across new ideas.
- Prayer Journal: Keep a record specifically for prayers and
the answers God allows you to see.
- Daily Journal: Use this journal to freely write thoughts, feelings,
ideas, prayers and other things from your head and heart. Don’t
worry about grammar, content or allowing anyone else to view its contents.
Use it to pour your heart out honestly before the Lord.
- Prayer Corner: Consider having a chair or a specific place where you
can go to pray. Make it a special area you know is designated to go to
when you want to spend time with your closest friend.
- Devotional Books: At times, you may wish to use a book specifically
written to guide you along in your times with the Lord. Ask the Lord
to speak to you as you read the insights given by the author.
- Song Lyrics: Songs can often be a wonderful resource to help
put words to what your heart feels. Pray through the words of a song
that has been meaningful to you. Maybe you’ll even want to sing
some of it to the Lord.
- Annual Prayer List: At least once or twice a year, make a
specific effort to take several hours or more away with the Lord. Ask
him to bring to mind themes for your life for the coming six months
or year. Make a list of prayers which are currently on your heart and
refer back to this list in your prayer times over the coming months.
- Drawing: Give the Lord complete freedom to use whatever creativity
He desires as you spend time with him. Pull out some crayons, markers,
colorful pens or paint. Don’t worry about the finished product–just
draw out your thoughts, feelings, scripture and/or prayers. Incorporate
tiny creative, “doodles” in your prayer journal to add
meaning as you write. ( This is a great activity to later involve your
children with. On a regular basis, invite your children to draw pictures
of their prayer requests.)
- All Your Senses: Let the Lord speak to you through each of
your senses. Have your favorite scented candle burning, play some soothing
instrumental or praise chorus music, wrap up in a comfy blanket, sip
some yummy tea or coffee, or open a book with some of your favorite
art pieces pictured. Think of other creative ways to ask the Lord to
touch your senses.
- Day Trip: Plan a day away for just you and the Lord. Pack a lunch,
a good devotional, your journal, some worship music and a Bible, and
head for a special destination such as near a lake or in a park. Soak
in all the Lord has for you in this new venue. Let God use the “out-of
-the-ordinary surroundings to lead you in your prayers.
- Checkbook/Daytimer: We all know how important our checkbook
and daytimers are. Just think of how you feel if you misplace them.
They also reveal what we value most in life. During your time with
the Lord, open them up and pray about what you see. Ask the Lord how
to prioritize your time and money. Pray about upcoming appointments
and events. Dedicate your resources to Him.
- Scripture: This may be especially helpful when you find it difficult
to focus or don’t know what to pray for. Open up to a passage of
Scripture. (The Psalms are often a good place to start.) Verse-by-verse,
read the passage and use it as a guide to lead you in praying for things
in your own life or the lives of those around you. The great thing about
praying through passages of Scripture is that you know God’s
Word is always his will.
- Unified Prayer: Scripture is clear about the great power there
is in praying as a couple or a group. Look for ways to bring people
together for this purpose as the Lord leads. Think creatively by bringing
some of the above aspects of prayer into your prayer group.
|
