Vacation time will be here before we know it. Some may even now be making plans, reservations, and working out logistics. That’s all part of preparation. Then there’s the last-minute preparation of packing the luggage and the car. It all takes planning, especially if you’re limited as to how many pieces of luggage you have room for or are allowed enroute or at your destination. So you make lists, cross off unnecessary items, pack, repack, finally check everything off as completed, and you’re on your way. Bon voyage!
Oh, I didn’t include prayer in that preparation, did I? Is that a “given” for you? Are we sometimes like kids who need to be reminded to say their prayers before they eat or before they go to bed? Or are you in a perpetual state of praying without ceasing like Paul instructs to do?
So often I find myself wanting to pray specifically for someone but don’t know how to pray for them. The Bible gives us words, ideas, and concepts of what we can pray for others, especially when we don’t know the situation but feel the need to pray for them. As I read through Paul’s epistles, he mentions a lot of things that he prayed for the churches he ministered to which we can use in our prayers as well.
There are also many lists published by various organizations. One by CRU (originally Campus Crusade for Christ) lists 19 specific prayer ideas, what the Bible says about each one, why it matters, and a sample prayer. Wycliffe has a list of ways to specifically pray for missionaries as do other organizations.
I need to prepare myself for prayer at times and other times I just jump right in. Preparing for prayer may mean moving to another room in your home where it is quiet with no distractions. It may mean having a list in front of you to keep you focused and to remind you of specific requests you don’t want to forget. I love to take prayer walks outside when it’s nice. I pray for the people in the homes I pass even if I don’t know their names. When there’s something weighing on me, I use a prayer walk to pray about that matter.
When the Lord stops me and puts someone on my mind, I often pick up my phone and send a quick text to let them know I’m praying for them. I am amazed at how many times I get a response such as I needed that today, or I find out that there is something specific going on in that person’s life and they then shared it with me. On occasion I have spent hours praying for and responding to such texts, but these are not annoying interruptions—they are God appointments.
The place and position for prayer is not as important as the act of connecting with your Heavenly Father. I rarely physically get on my knees, though occasionally I do, and it’s a very good position for prayer—if it works for your body. I pray better while sitting or walking. I’ve adopted one particular chair in my small den as my place to pray in the morning using my list, but I find myself praying throughout the day as I cook, do dishes, clean, or just sit and look out the window. At different points in my life I have spent a lot of time praying on my porch swing, staring up into the sky, watching the clouds go by, and those were special because they were the times I felt closest to God.
So as we prepare for the season leading up to Easter, let us prepare our hearts by feasting on God’s Word (instead of candy), praying for ourselves and others (instead of gossiping), and remembering what Jesus has done for us (instead of complaining about what we don’t have). Each week during Lent (starting on Wednesdays), I’ll be focusing on a different theme. I hope you will keep coming back and growing in your faith even as I grow while I am writing and sharing. We will get back to talking about peace after Easter, so think about how these topics connect to peace…Preparation Prayer for Perfect Peace!
- Week 1 – temptation
- Week 2 – confession, forgiveness, and fasting
- Week 3 – listening to God and answering when He calls
- Week 4 – God’s love for us
- Week 5 – waiting, anxiety, and trust
- Week 6 – suffering, pain, and struggles
- Easter – resurrection and salvation