When you finally set aside some time to pray have you ever felt like this – I don’t even know how to begin. There are so many needs- my kids, my friends, my spouse, that “issue,” an urgent request…and then there’s me, oh my; I’m already discouraged and I haven’t even begun to pray!
If we are really honest, each of us feels this way at some time. And if you are a Mom with little ones, before you even get started praying some small person will likely interrupt you!
I spend a lot of time hanging out with young Moms. Recently in three separate conversations I was asked,
“Susan, how in the world do you organize your prayer life? Do you have a plan?”
Actually I do have a plan. It’s always evolving and it’s not perfect. But it does help me to focus and it keeps me from feeling overwhelmed with too many needs for one time of prayer.
I have a simple notebook in which I have inserted dividers–one for each day of the week.
Every day I pray for myself, my husband and each of my five married kids and their children.
Monday’s theme is our relationship with the Lord. (Matthew 6:33)
I begin by praying the Lord’s Prayer inserting each of our names within the prayer. I pray for discipline in quiet times, a hunger for God’s word, and whatever relates to this theme.
Tuesday’s it’s our marriages.
Right when our kids were born I began to pray for their future spouses (if it was God’s plan that they marry). I prayed these little boys and girls would come to know Christ at an early age and I prayed for the parents who were raising them. I secretly hoped there were parents somewhere praying for me! Today I’m praying for my grand children’s future spouses.
Wednesday the theme is close friends.
Girls need a soul sister. Guys need guys even though they may not recognize it. We need friends with whom we can be completely vulnerable, friends who’ll push us to Christ and to our mates, folks who’ll challenge us, cry with us, and stick with us.
Thursday’s theme is boldness to proclaim Christ. (Psalm 138:3)
I pray for confidence, courage, and conviction-especially for the next generation.
Friday’s is “heart for the world” day.
How desperately we need a vision and love for people outside our cloistered circles. I ask God to give to each of us a passion for one country and ways to invest in the poor in our own communities.
Saturdays are reserved for extended family and Sundays simply for worship!
In addition to family prayers each day I pray for different groups. One day it may be friends looking for mates, another for friends struggling with infertility, a day for our church staff, a day for friends in other locations, a day for specific Hollywood actors and actresses to come to Christ, a day for each of the girls in my Bible studies, a day for ministries abroad, a day for special people to come to Christ, a day for our country’s leadership and so forth.
It may sound overwhelming but dividing subjects up into days keeps me from feeling discouraged. I constantly add to my pages and they are messy. There’s not one right way to do this. Mine is only one idea.
So as a new year begins take steps to organize your prayer life. It’s easy to start. Go buy a fun notebook, some dividers, and some new pens!
JOY will come when we look back and see how God has answered scrawled out prayers in a well-worn journal!
“For the word of the Lord is right and true. He is faithful in all he does.” Psalm 33: 4
Thanks for this Susan! This will help me and I will be passing it along to friends as well as young moms that I mentor.
I also enjoyed your blog about praying the Lord’s prayer for your family. Thank you for sharing!
I believe God has put you in his life for 2 reosans.1. God wants you to break upIf your reason for breaking up with your boyfriend is sincerely because he lacks the faith in God and the Christ-like leadership as a potential husband, a breakup should send him to God’s arms. If it doesn’t he’s not the man you need to be with anyways. If he’s not a leader for you now, he won’t be for you or your future children either without growth. Don’t be afraid to let a good thing go for God’s best. Being unequally yoked with your partner should be scarier than being in a relationship that doesn’t glorify God. I understand the men in the past have hurt you, but you need emotional healing of your wounds and the faith that there are plenty of wonderful men out there that have a heart for God that want to treat their significant others with the utmost Christ-like love possible. Pray about it and try to put your own opinions aside and follow Christ with your whole heart so you can end up with the man God truly has in store for you. 2. God wants you to stay togetherStaying together means obvious change on both of your parts is imperative. You need more open communication. You shouldn’t be asking an online forum of people for our opinions on this matter, you should be talking to your boyfriend about what you need from him in this relationship, and Lord willing, marriage, but since you asked, here’s my take on it. If you truly think he is God’s best for you, bring out the Christ follower in him. If he know’s who God is but doesn’t follow him, inspire him want to be more the man of God than he’s ever been. Do that by challenging him in his faith. Start small with little things like starting a bible study that you do on your own and talk about every day later. Don’t be overbearing about it, but give him the opportunity to really show you how much of a Godly man and leader he can be by needing him spiritually. Pray together, go to church together, go to bible study together, praise and worship God together, serve together. Focus on building a relationship with God as a couple. However, don’t let that be your only source of holiness. You both need separate relationships with God because you are both individuals. You should have your own quiet times and if he doesn’t, inspire him to start. Be weary not to be his crutch, but a reminder that he needs to step up and be a Godly man. If he is up for the challenge and sees that the changes are worth more than losing you, you’ve got yourself a keeper.These are the outcome of any relationship. Relationships either end broken up (or divorce unfortunately) or end in marriage . Either way, pray about all these things. Make sure you’re in tune with God on all of this. Seek first the kingdom of God. In the end, God’s will will ultimately be fulfilled. Have faith either way that God has amazing plans for you and your boyfriend regardless of your outcome as a couple. Best wishes and God bless.-Jeremy
What a great plan for prayer! Enjoy reading your posts!