SEVEN PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR USING THE PRAYER GUIDES
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The
spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"
Matthew 26:40-41
You are
about to embark on one of life's greatest adventures: the
life-changing discipline of fervent prayer! To ensure your
successful completion of the 40 Days campaign, consider these
practical suggestions:
1. Choose
a specific time when you will pray each day (Daniel
6:10). Be sure it is a time you will be alert (Matthew
26:40-41.) Choose a specific place to be when you pray
each day; make sure it is one where you will be undistracted
(Matthew 6:6).
2. Decide
now where you will keep this prayer guide so that you can
find it readily. For example, consider leaving it by your
bedside or in your Bible.
3. Each
day during your devotional time, read aloud the specific
prayer requests for that day. This will help your mind focus on
the petitions you will be offering. To track your progress,
check off the box by each date after you have completed that
day's petitions.
4. If you
are married or have a family, consider praying together (1 Peter
3:7.)
5. The
prayer guide also contains daily scripture readings; take a
moment to read each day's scripture aloud before praying,
to clear your mind and prepare your heart for your conversation
with God (Psalm 19:14).
6. The
prayer guide is designed to expand our prayer repertoire by
going beyond routine requests (Ephesians 6:18); therefore, be
sure to include ALL of the petitions in your devotions.
7.
Finally, remember that our Father wants to speak to US, too! Ask
God to help you be sensitive to the leading of His Spirit
(Romans 8:12-27, Galatians 5:16-18) and alert to the answers He
sends in your life (Acts 12:12-16)!
-Dan
Williams