How to Make a Prayer Journal

How to make a prayer journal

Purchase a notebook, or journal to use only for prayer. Write in it daily! Keep an ongoing prayer list for others and a separate one for yourself. Write down all of the decisions you need to make and questions you have. Make sure to also write down all of the blessings and answered prayers. Write out prayers to God. (like a letter).

The Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13)

The model prayer is made up of six important ingredients.

1. Adoration
2. Meditation
3. Confession
4. Prevention
5. Intercession
6. Petition

There are 66 words in the model prayer.
The first 24 words- relate to the attitude of the disciples.
The next 28 words- relate to His application to the Father.
The last 14 words- relate to the answer the disciples received.

Seven distinct parts, each teaching a vital element or principle of prayer.

1. Prayer is based on a relationship.
2. Reverence is required.
3. Reign of God as Lord of your life.
4. Reliance upon God to supply your needs.
5. Repentance for sin and restoration of those who have sinned against you.
6. Release from the power of the Tempter and deliverance from evil.
7. Rejoice, God hears and God answers.

Requirements of Prayer

• Faith
• Honesty
• Open minded (hearted)
• Love
• Thankfulness
• Patience
• Listening
• Be still
• Don’t be anxious
• Don’t give up

A-C-T-S of Prayer

A- adoration (praising God’s name)
C- confession
T- thanksgiving
S- supplication (ask for others and self)

Positions of Prayer

Standing- I Samuel 1:26, Matthew 6:5-6 (secret place alone), Mark 11:25, Luke 18:11

Kneeling- I Kings 8:54, II Chron. 6:13, Ezra 9:6, Psalm 95:6, Daniel 6:10

Prostration- Joshua 7:6, I Kings 18:42, Neh. 8:6

Times of Prayer
“Open their windows toward Jerusalem,” and pray “toward” the place of God’s presence.
I Kings 8:46-49; Psalm 5:7, 28:2, 138:2

Daniel knelt 3 times a day to pray. (Daniel 6:10)
Daniel’s regular times of prayer:

1. Morning- 3rd hour (Acts 2:15)
2. Noonday- 6th hour (Acts 27:35, Matt. 15:36)
3. Evening- 9th hour (Acts 3:1)

Confession

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

Sin in the life of a Christian will hinder your fellowship with God.
1. Confess your sin specifically
2. Confess your sin immediately
3. Confess your sin daily

What should I pray about?

Daily ask the Lord, “what do You see missing from my Christian life?”

MAKE NO DECISION WITHOUT PRAYING ABOUT IT FIRST!!!

Daily, take to the Lord in prayer your:
Burdens            Requests
Dreams            Concerns
Desires            Hopes
Troubles            Doubts
Fears

Pray for others at a different time than you pray for yourself.  Focus all your attention on them. Ask God to reveal any unconfessed sin, or unforgiveness.

The Bible tells us to pray for:

• Opportunities to witness (Col. 4:3)
• Courage to speak (Eph. 6:19)
• Those who will believe (Jn. 17:20)
• The rapid spread of the message (II Tim. 3:1)
• More workers (Matt. 9:38)

What does God want us to pray for?

Pray for others:

• To be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
• To have a walk worthy of the Lord.
• To fully please God.
• To be fruitful in every good work.
• To increase in the knowledge of God.
• To be strengthened with all might, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.
• To give thanks to the Father for our inheritance.
• To be delivered from the power of darkness.
• To have forgiveness for their sins.

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:9-14)

Who should I pray for?
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, I Timothy 2:1

Make sections in your prayer journal. Keep an ongoing list.  Set aside time to pray for everyone in each section.  You might want to take a section a day.

• My Petitions
• Family and Extended Family
• Church Family- Pastor, Church, Missionaries, Christians under persecution
• Unbelievers
• New Believers
• Civic Leaders- Government, State and World Leaders, Judicial System
• Police, Fire Department and Military
• The sick and homeless
• Educators- Teachers, Principals, Board Leaders and Superintendents.
• Doctors

Causes of Unanswered Prayers

• Unharmonious marriage- I Peter 3:7
• Selfishness- James 4:3
• Unforgiving spirit- Matthew 5:22,24
• Unbelief or doubting- James 1:6,7
• Known sin in the heart- Isaiah 59:1,2; Psalm 66:18

What happens when I pray?

• Your faith increases.
• Prayer will help you to become pure.
• You will grow in your spiritual life.
• Prayer is the only way you can build a relationship with God.
• Deliverance from bondage

Meditation

Here are 4 principles that will guide you into meaningful meditation.

1.  Review the past.
How has God operated in your life in the past?

2. Reflect upon God.
As you reflect on God you should consider these facts:
1. His Greatness
2. His Grace
3. His Goodness

3. Remember God’s promises.
You must review His mighty promises.

4. Make a request.
There is a time to make requests.

Requirements for Meditation

1. A season of time- The length of time will be determined by your purpose.

2. Stillness- Stillness brings you to the point where you can concentrate.

3. Seclusion- God wants you alone because He wants your absolute, undivided attention.

4. Silence- If you quiet yourself before Him, God can interject His thoughts into your thinking.

5. Self-control- You may have to labor mentally a bit to focus your attention on God.

6. Submission- If you are rebellious in your heart and insist on having your own way, you will not meditate.

The rewards of spending time alone with God

1. A new perspective
2. Peace
3. Positive attitude
4. Personal intimacy
5. Purification
6. Passion for obedience