Improving Your Prayer Life

Many times your mind may be weighed down by worldly concerns, but do not be deterred. Call to mind the truths of God's revelation and these truths will set you free. You will rediscover daily that God is your Father and that he delights in giving gifts to his children.

"Lord, Heavenly Father, I come to you in praise and thanksgiving. You are my God; you have created me. I believe in the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus. He rose to glory and I want to rise with him, victorious over the things that keep me from you. Send your Holy Spirit and anoint my mind with the truths of your kingdom. I praise you my God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

Many people benefit from using a structure in their prayer as it provides the order that is often needed by many as they begin or grow in the practice of daily prayer. While a structure may be helpful, you should remember that the desire to praise, adore and worship God and to learn from him is more important that the structure.

You may find it useful to begin your prayer time by reading the Scripture passage and daily meditation from The Word Among Us. This prayer "starter" might last about ten minutes. If you find this difficult to achieve, work up to it, setting weekly goals. In prime time, you may want to increase your prayer and Scripture reading to thirty minutes or more. It will take time for most people to develop the habits which will make this possible.

In addition to the ideas presented in the prayer chart, the following suggestions may be helpful to you:

• Set aside twenty minutes or more for prayer and Scripture each day.
• Pray during "prime time," a time - preferably in the morning - that is free of distractions.
• Use a good readable Bible.
• Read the Scripture passage along with the daily meditation.
• Ask the Lord for a thought that can direct, inspire and give life to your day.
• Use a hardcopy of this page as a notebook, underlining and making notes to recall your thoughts.

These suggestions should help your prayer grow and develop. Expect that you will begin to hear God in your life.

A Structure for Prayer

1. Choose a TIME.
Make it a definite time dedicated only to prayer.
Try to make it the best time for prayer you can find.

2. Choose a PLACE.
It should be free from distractions.

3. Go over BASIC FACTS in your mind.
Do not focus on your problems but on the truths revealed in God's word.

• God created you out of love and loves you always.
  (Genesis 1:27-31; 1 John 4:10-11)
• God sent Jesus who gives us life.
  (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-5)
• Jesus died and rose, conquering sin and death.
  (Romans 5:12-18; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26)
• Jesus promised to be with us and so gave us the Holy Spirit.
  (John 14:16,26; 16:7)
• Jesus intercedes for us constantly in heaven.
  (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1)
• Jesus is coming again.
  (Matthew 16:27; 25:34)
• 4. ASK questions.
  Seek the things that are above (Colossians 3:1). Ask questions about the daily meditations, weekly essays, and/or Scripture passages.
• 5. PRAISE God.
  He is worthy of all praise (Psalms 22, 95, 136).

6. LISTEN for an answer.
Expect to hear God (Isaiah 49:15-16):

• within yourself;
• from Scripture;
• during the day.

7. RESPOND to God.
We do this by:

• asking forgiveness;
• praying for wisdom
• praying for others.