IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR FUTURE LIVESTREAMS: I just saw some of you in the blog comments mentioning that you got on the site and it asked for a password and you didn’t have one. Prior to the broadcasts, there is a set up and test-run process involved. The password is so that, during the hours prior to us airing, only the ones testing the set up can get on. Otherwise, you’ll just watch Lindsee or several others on staff getting the set ready and volume adjusted. While the sanguine in me would think that’s kind of fun, it’s not the best way to do it. Grin. The password-only access gets lifted at least 15 minutes prior to going on the air. I’m so sorry if that caused you to miss our time together today. I didn’t know of the process myself or I would have given you a heads up. We’re all just learning here! Thank you, Lindsee and Sabrina for your hard work in helping to make this media possible!
What a blast, girls! If you joined us for our livestream chat this morning, our topic was prayer. Sabrina told Lindsee and I that the number of viewers spiked from 700 to 1400 during the course of our time together. Oh, how I pray that God found joy in it and will use our discussions today to build up this segment of the Body of Christ. Just one person’s effectiveness in prayer touches the lives of countless others.
As I promised you in the livestream, this blog post is for you to share with one another what “works” for you in your prayer practices. We defined “what works” as what produces fruit. We talked about the principle Christ gave us in John 15:2 – “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” The beginning of a new year is a great time let God cut away some things in our lives that are simply not bearing fruit and seeking Him for things that will.
So, have at it, Sweet Things! Share with one another what has been effective for you in your pursuit of God through prayer and in your practice of intercession. (By all means, share even if you weren’t part of the livestream.) I especially hope to see some of you moms of young children sharing practical approaches. You are also welcome to share what challenges you and where you could use some help in hopes that some of your sisters might offer practical advice. If there are more challenges than effective approaches and no one replies to you, don’t be discouraged. It’s not personal. People just run out of time and can’t get to all of the entries. Be sure and read through the other replies and comments to see if someone lends some insight to you.
I am so honored to serve you. May the pursuit of Christ be (or become!) the joy of your very valuable life.
With so much love,
Beth
What fun that was!!! This is not any kind of earth-shaddering breakthrough … BUT … my best place to have good prayer time is in my car. As a mother of 2 girls, I always seem to be driving somewhere. And sometimes we all 3 are praying together, which is fun. But I do especially cherish the complete quiet and stillness of the car when I can unload my deepest most personal thoughts to Him. Much love to you Siestas!!!
I’m a mom of three little ones and I agree, finding a consistent place when you’re not interrupted — for me that happens to be the shower!!! A great prayer closet. π
Such GREAT information and Inspiration, Beth!! What a blessing in the midst of my workday!
Sometimes after jounaling a prayer to my Abba, I turn the page and ask Him what He may have to say to me. Then I put pen to paper and write whatever comes to mind β and I mean βwhateverβ β no censorship. Every time I have done this it has been amazing! And His letter of love back to me is always filled with scripture. It has become a very meaningful practice to me and many of my ministry girlfriends.
<3 you all!
I love this-I should take more time to listen and RECORD what is there! I know he speaks, and I listen, but don’t always take it to heart at that moment!
Thank you so much for this live feed today! It has inspired me to go deeper in my prayer life! I am a mother of 5 children under the age of 4 (two sets of twins; 4 and 6mo and one in between, age 2) and so I find that the thing that works for me best is to be in continual prayer with Him. I also tend to have one or two people that I am praying for and during the Passion Conference develpoed a new discipline so that I would not FORGET to pray for that sweet girl that I had committed to pray for! I set my timer for 10am every morning and when it went off, I STOPPED everything and prayed for her. Now, my 4 year old daughter hears the beep from my phone and STOPS TO PRAY TOO!!! Right now, We are praying for a family friend of ours that is sick and they have a daughter her age. So my Anabelle prays for Grace, whose sheβs met once in her life, everyday when the beep goes off!! I was inspired by waking up and putting my face to the ground and am going to try to add a more formal time to my prayer life. I get up at 5:30am every morning to work out β for my mental sanity β and maybe can try to get up a bit earlier to roll over to my knees! Thanks, Beth for you wisdom this morning!
Brittney….ok so I am feeling like I should have all the time in the world with only 2 little ones compared to your crew. I am taking a minute right now to pray for you. I am inspired that if you can get up early then I certainly can!!!
Im praying for you too, Brittany. You have your hands full with those little ones! Enjoy, I miss mine that little!
Such a blessing to gather and pray with 1000+ sisters in Christ today via live feed! I’m sure our Father found great delight in it!
Beth, I am an avid journaler as well – but now am going to create my own “prayer logs” with similar categories (family/friends/church/missions/govt/etc) to have with me in quiet time so that I might lift up others’ needs more consistently.
Also – such a great reminder to PRAY THE WORD! The Bible is living and active and leads us deeper into the heart of God, why not use it to guide our prayer?? π
Blessings, sisters!
HI Beth and team!
Sorry I missed your live stream.
One thing that I love to do is to pray the Scripture out loud about certain
situations/needs….just need to do more of it!
Love you so much and thanking you for your ministry to me; you are such a huge help in my walk with Jesus!
Good morning! Enjoyed the broadcast. Feeling very challenged. I have young kids, 6 year old boy and 3 year old twins. I feel that I’m turning a corner and it is getting easier to find time for myself and God. Just started getting up before them and exercising. So now, I’ll add in quiet time on the off days. It may be the only way to get these things done!
Besides the quick prayers throughout the day!
Thanks for all you do!!
I loved the ideas Beth shared! Is there a way to get a sample digital file to use as a starting point?
As a homeschooling mom with 3 children, sometimes I just crave some QUIET! π I do not claim to have a perfect prayer life AT ALL. God is still growing and stretching me so much in this area!!
But, one thing that I do that has really, really helped me is to set my phone to go off at certain times of the day – however many times you want to do it. On my phone I just put the reminder PRAY. I usually have it go off 1x mid-morning, lunch time, 1x mid-afternoon, etc.
When my alarm goes off, sometimes it is in the middle of a horrible moment – and I am reminded that prayer should be my first go-to tactic for helping this child OR calming myself! Sometimes it is in the middle of a chaotic moment and I try to find something to THANK GOD for…THANK YOU for these little ones and that they CAN play happily and noisily in my home. π
It is not legalistic or anything, but just helps return my focus to GOD and talking with Him at multiple times a day. It has helped me many a moment when I just needed that little reminder to change my focus. π
Candace, I love the idea of the phone alarm. Sometimes we just need to be jolted back to reality. Thanks for sharing!
I also just wanted to add THANK YOU to Beth and her team. This morning was just what I needed. Thank you for the encouragement!
Candace, I like the alarm idea. It is a great idea to be reminded throughout the day to be still for just a moment. I am a homeschool mom also. I have 4 kids (homeshcool 2 right now). It would be a great thing for my kids to hear the alarm going off and know what that means. Teaching moments! There is always something going on so I think the alarm idea is a great idea to help bring my focus back to where it needs to be as well as my kids’ focus. Thanks for sharing!
Immediately, I thought of a post I wrote oh, so very long ago on the subject of prayer (Kissing the Prayer List Bye Bye). I stated my reasons back then for doing away with the list altogether, but left the door open to someday bringing it back again in another form. That was my branch to cut; and at the time, it was sooo freeing! I think part of the reason Christians are so hindered in prayer is because we get too hung up on doing it the right way.
I still think that. Chucking that list was the best thing I ever did. I spoke to God whenever, wherever, and however; and our relationship deepened. I also journal from time to time — when I have time, or when I can’t stand it anymore and make the time. But, it’s not every day. I’ve found that if I have a list of requirements in my head of how I should pray or read my Bible; then days, weeks, and (gasp!) even months can pass when I’ve done not much of either.
However, I’m getting older and busier and more forgetful, so I am open to bringing in a tool that would keep me more organized and effective. I am intrigued by the journal/calendar shown on the video, and also look forward to hearing from others.
I use the 2959 Prayer Plan (pray2959.com). It is a great tool to keep me focused, record prayers (I keep it brief, just a word or sentence) and answers to prayer. The looseleaf binder is divided into the seven days of the week and a daily prayer section. So every day I pray for certain things (family, close friends, special needs of which I’m aware) and then throughout the week I also pray for other things (one day for missionaries, another day for government officials, another for my church and other neighborhood churches, etc.). Thanks for the great time today and last week, Beth. What’s next?
I am becoming cultivated in prayer, ironically praying I will take more time in prayer. To take it seriously.
I do find when I am really raw with my words with Jesus, simple words. When I stop trying to write a prayer and just say, ‘Im not going to say it right, but here it is…’ I do feel HIS Peace.
And its wierd b/c there are those times when I do that that I feel like my Spirit answers, ‘NOW that was a prayer.’
Makes me wonder what i try to do other times. Oh well, Grace its a glorious thing.
That was a blast! I needed some encouragement so bad! And I got it! It was so much fun! Fun motivates me more than anything! π Come on! Admit it! It motivates you,too! Now, I have to figure out how to have fun while doing the laundry! Talk about fruitless! LOL! I could just keep telling dumb jokes and laughing at myself!
I did both by the way π The laundry while making dumb jokes and laughing at myself. I thought of one that I just had to share and was cracking myself up! As I was moving laundry around into piles, I thought about how Jesus said if we had enough faith we could move mountains. (Well, I moved mine a little but it came back! I seriously can’t catch up! Really! Pray for me! I get really behind when I’m in such deep emotional pain I can’t function and it’s hard to catch up! I suffer from depression and PTSD to clarify, so you know why. That’s the general explanation. Much more complicated than that, but I won’t divulge on here.) But, I thought, you know He’s right, He just forgot to mention the blood, sweat, and tears involved in moving mountains as well! Really wish He’d have mentioned that, cause I’ve tried praying and asking God in faith to move my mountain while I’m sleeping and I wake up and it’s still there!!! Darn it!
I love talking with God in the morning, however, I don’t seem to do this all the time.
I am so wanting to start this year in Gods word everyday.
Thank you for your teachings, Beth!
Prayer is essential. A direct talk with God. A show of our relationship with Him. He isn’t a distant cousin or grandparent…. When we talk to God, it is personal. Our friend, our Father, our Love.
When I was a teenager (and now I am a mom of three), my friend’s mom who lead our girl’s group would always say, “Have you prayed about it?” I think that this constant reminder has kept prayer at the forefront of my mind for years to come. I am grateful for the Mamma who repeated those words to us over and over…. “Have you prayed about it?”
Just recently we have been praying for a friend who is pregnant. The doctor’s found a dark spot on the baby’s kidney. She was sent to a specialist and the first few ultrasound all came back the same, it was still there. This last ultrasound, two days ago, the cyst/spot/fluid, whatever it was, is gone! Prayer works. God hears. God is faithful.
The live stream was great; just what I needed today! Thank you Beth.
:ast year I read “A Praying Life” by Paul Miller, and it completely changed how I look at prayer and has made my prayer life so much more fruitful. I use a journal for personal prayers and issues and to work out what I am reading in scripture, and I use index cards as prayer cards for individuals who I am praying for.
And Beth, I so agree with you about starting the day in prayer. I have a 6-year old and a 3-year old, and it is so HARD to get up before they do. The key for me is to go to bed earlier than I want to, and rely on God to give me strength to get up. But that quiet time with Him is so sweet, and so worth the effort. I also highly recommend a programmable coffee maker!
A Praying Life is my all time favorite book on prayer! It is SO encouraging and SO practical at the same time! I love it! I read it a few months ago! π
I love it, too, Candace. Jennifer Kennedy Dean is a prayer warrior if I’ve ever met one.
Great post. Thanks. Encouraging and practical.
My best prayer time takes place in the shower. I have post cards that are posted on at the other end of the shower so they don’t get wet that lists the people I pray for along with key topics. Its been a great time for me to be alone and focus on washing my “spiritual” body while I wash my phyiscal body. Love the livestream! Keep pressing on towards the goal set before you. Praying for you and your team! Pam
I write mine with dry erase marker on the top tiles of the opposite side of the shower! Glad to see I’m not alone.
Good thinking, Sarah! You can also let your conditioner set in your hair a little longer. Grin.
I’m a curly girl, so letting conditioner set for a while is just good doctrine!
Thank you, thank you Beth for all you do. Please know every heartbreak from ministry is also bearing much fruit. Words can’t express what LP means to me.
I pray in the shower as well!!..Sarah great idea with the dry erase marker!!
I love this and can’t believe I never thought of it! I frequently pray in the shower but it’s more like praise time, not petition. I love the card idea.
Just curious how long you all stay in the shower?!? ξξ
It’s so funny that so many of you pray in the shower – of all the places I talk to God the most -the shower is probably it! You know sometimes when you’re talking away and need a good cry – no one can see you.
Thanks for the encouragement this morning Beth! I so needed a kick start to my prayer life again.
What works for me is like your dog, I need to get out of my warm comfy bed and not make any more excuses. I do lay there and pray every morning while my husband is getting ready for work, but the quiet time on my own in scripture is what I have been lazy about. I am reading Jesus Calling and daily through the Message Bible every day, but not writing down as much of the other prayer requests! I will be getting the prayer journal going today!
What I also know that the more I am listening to the Holy Spirit, the more I pray on the spot for the need before me. Yesterday I was in my BSF small group and an urgent request was made, I heard loud and clear to pray NOW, so I did. There was such a peace that came over us, as we didn’t just write it down and promise to pray later, but had instantly raised our dear sister up that very moment.
Sometimes we hesitate to do this out of fear of what would people think, or we don’t have time, etc. but that is what Satan wants us to think!
I love that Beth said she changes it up, and doesn’t just do the same thing all the time too! I can get stuck in a rut of routine and loose sight of the prayer altogether!
Thanks again for such a blessing of this community of Siestas!!! Can’t wait to meet many of you next week, Lord willing.
In Christ,
Lisa
I loved the livestream. SO FUN! My 3 year old watched with me…my 2 year old was “too busy”…he evidently feels he already has a handle on his prayer walk:)
I loved what you said about prayerlessness being the secret sin of the church. That has certainly been true in my life at times.
What has helped me is creating a prayer journal that works for me. I bought a small 6 ring binder from amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/All-Pro-Software-Loose-Leaf-Binder/dp/B000X1IYNG/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1326389483&sr=8-9
I then got tab dividers and loose leaf pages. I have my dividers labeled as follows:
Daily
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Current
Global
ASK (This stands for Ask, Seek, Knock) These are the prayer requests listed each week in my Bible Study Fellowship group.
Under daily I have listed specific requestes for myself, my immediate family etc.
Then I take all my other requests I want to pray for and divide them up over the days of the week. For example my husband has 3 siblings. I pray for a different one on different days of the week. I divide up my close friends this way too.
Under Current I will write in things people may ask me to pray for. This would include sickness and specific “urgent” needs. I also include the date.
Under Global I will pray for the nations and our government.
I have two boys, 3 and 2. I found myself sitting down to pray in my VERY limited time and feeling overwhelmed by so many things I wanted to pray for. I would end up either not praying at all or just hitting the highlights.
This journal helps me feel like I am being more intentional and effective in prayer.
I actually ordered the Debbie Williams journal after hearing you talk about it because I think I may like having one journal per year to go back and look at in later years.
Can’t wait to see the other suggestions:)
Love this approach.
What is the name of the Debbie Williams Journal?
I’m a mom of 4 kiddos, so understand that FLEXIBILITY is a key word with a caution of praying just to go through the motions. A key when I’m not sure to begin is to assign a calendar style to prayer, but being sensitive to the Spirit if I’m asked to pray for something else. Ex: Mondays, pray for my husband and children; Tuesdays, pray for my accountability partner or pastor; ect..
First off, as a busy mom, I have found it NECESSARY to etch out a time (half day or more) that is devoted to just prayer without any distractions. Obviously, this would be a special event…once every few months…you’ll know when your spirit needs that alone time. It is VITAL for my prayer/spiritual walk. Even if you are able to leave the kids home with dad and go on a nature hike.
Being busy, my most fruitful prayer times have been when I’ve been disciplined in making it happen daily. However, God has blessed me many times by answering prayers when it’s just a whisper under my breath to him (ex. ‘Lord, please let this car repair be in our budget’)
A couple of things I’ve used in the past to help me get started with journaling:
With my regular reading time, there may be a verse that jumps out at me. I stop there. Pray over it. Read it in different Bible versions (Amplified, the Message, NIV, NLTetc) Really comb over what God spoke to me with that passage and ask how it applies to my life and what can I pray with it.
Use the SOAP to tie in scripture reading with prayer.
S – Write down the scripture that catches your heart
O – Write down your personal observation of that scripture
A – Write down how the scripture applies to your life
P – Write down a prayer in relation to the scripture…
It’s been a while but I have used the SOAP method and got a lot out of it, sometimes really surprising myself about what would come out as I started writing.
The SOAP approach is what our youth minister is having us do for Bible Study/Discipleship this year.
What works – personalized scripture. I take scriptures for what/who i am praying for and put in the name of the person/situation. Example, my dad is sick so I pray “by your stripes, Ed is healed”. I write the long term issues, ie my dad’s sickness, on index cards and pray over and over, other wise I let down on the long term things.
What’s not working right now – TIME. I have let other things crowd out MY time. (i call my time in the word and pray MY time because without it I am just not the new me I became in Christ) I need it now more than ever.
The word the Lord gave me for the New Year was COMMIT. And i could only say, “I am committed to you God”, what do you mean? Well, Thanks Beth for bringing the answer home today. COMMIT TO PRAYER is what I heard the Holy Ghost bringing up in my spirit throughout the chat.
Prayer changes everything. I cannot wait to see what all God does this year. I am going to use your prayer grid this year to maintain focus and accountability. Awesome.
Bless you Beth and thank you so much! There are still over 400 on the chat…not all chatting but there… and I so agree with all you suggested and spoke forth. I’m going to watch the video again (and again)!!!
I’m a prayer warrior/intercessor (it’s in my blood) and have a team blog just for prayer. It’s so discouraging because I’ve set it up with a team to be interactive and hardly anyone comes to pray! But a faithful chord of 3 of us! Instead of comments the intent is to leave a prayer.
Have one blog post every month to leave prayer requests and then hope that others will join and pray…not being done. But we press on and I pray often. Anytime I see a prayer need on the blogs, I go and post it there…
I share and follow Germaine Copeland’s WORD Ministries and share her DAILY PRAYER on that blog. She’s the author of “Prayers that Avail Much”. I do pray that people are passing by and praying there even if they don’t take the time to leave a prayer. I pray it is being effective anyways. My heart breaks when I do not see others join in prayer when there are so many hurting and crying out. I think many are intimidated in leaving a prayer…but I have seen many wonderful blogs with prayers written in them… so why won’t people come and pray?
I’ve just about given up. I even share the Presidential Prayer team and Prayer Central and
other resources, hoping to encourage their prayers. Even the original team members are no longer coming and praying, so 2 are carrying the load…
I love all you shared and write! I watch your videos from Beth on Weds. over and over. I can so relate with that sanguine personality that it fires me up. So keep on keeping us in God’s Word and back on our knees… journaling, whatever it takes to be closer to Jesus and His light in this broken world, so in need of PRAYER!
Love and much thanks,
Peggy (from MN living in MX)
also I have found great sites on Prayer and books. But the one by Larry Crabb “Papa Prayer” really made me think.
Some sites (some I mentioned above):
http://blog.prayers.org
http://prayercentral.net
http://scripturenow.com
and new ones I found last night after listening to Dr. Cindy Timms on Sid Roth
http://www.trimminternational.com/
http://www.pray-the-scriptures.com/authority/authority.html
I’ve had a huge question rolling in my mind for a few weeks now…a major decision to make. So last Saturday, I took a 3 hour prayer retreat with only 1 issue to discuss with Him, a notebook, Bible, and pen. I was there to make 1 plea…wisdom. He spoke so clearly and quickly and with so many answers that I had trouble writing it all down quickly enough! Praise Him! And He has done so much since then to confirm the direction for me. That is only grace! That is the most effective prayer time I’ve ever had.
I can remember a time when prayer felt like talking to the ceiling. A train derailed and without destination. I want to encourage any ladies reading today with the same advice I was indirectly given.
Pray until you pray.
Perhaps you feel your prayers are cerebral and not spiritual. Perhaps you don’t even know what you’re praying about. Just keep talking. Once you run out of words, that’s when the Holy Spirit’s ability to pray on our behalf will be more evident than ever.
Pray until you find you are truly praying and you’ll never pray the same again. It’s a process, figuring out how to move from talking to communicating through the Spirit. Once you experience it your prayer life will become truly alive!
Pray until you pray.
I love that!
Pray until you pray…
Like this, thanks.
“Pray until you pray” . . . thanks, I needed to hear that!
Wow! So true, thanks for reminding me!
Thank you so much for sharing Beth! What an affirmation in what I am already doing, and a challenge to stretch myself in what I am already doing. Would you mind sharing the categories in your Prayer journal. I’ve got the family/friends down…but was interested in whatever other categories you had. They sounded good, I just didn’t write fast enough.
Okay have 18year old, 8 year old and 3 year old. Finding time…I’m not opposed to using baby praise or another such device to get my quiet time/prayer time in. I try to do it first thing in the morning, my days just go better if I do. At one point, when the baby was really young and not sleepingn properly, I would do it when she woke up in the middle of the night, early morning, and then napped when she napped. It’s so hard to find the time when they are little. One thing that freed me was when an older wiser woman told me that God understood that my quiet times wouldn’t be as before I had kids.Not that it was a carte blanche to do whatever I wanted,but I tend to be a perfectionist and was waiting for perfect silence and focus time. That just wasn’t going to happen. God would rather have me spend time with Him, even if I’m going to be interrupted, than not spend time with Him at all. Things have gotten better, though not perfect. I figure He blessed me with those “interruptions” He understands. He probably even smiles at their antics at times, just like their grandparents do!
Thank you for sharing your heart on the live stream. I love you so much Siesta Mama. We live in a beautiful; but rural, out-of-the-way, area. I use to look at the almost 45 minute drive to our church with longing for a shorter drive; but no more! Every time I get in the car alone, I now commune with my Father. And the trips back and forth do not seem as long either because I’m pouring my concerns out on Him, praising Him, asking Him questions, hearing Him speak or He is showing me some part of Himself in creation on the drive. He’s turned what was once a drudgery into delight.
Beth’s words have changed my life in so many ways that I can’t even begin to express. I’m curious, though, if there is a place on the blog where those of us in CA can watch it. It’s hard to catch it live as it’s the same time we’re getting our kids to school. Thank you and God Bless!
Mimi, you should be able to click on the link that went to the livestream and watch the recorded version. I was able to see the last one that I missed also! π
Thanks to you, Candace! I was able to figure it out. π
I just have to say I had a blast on the livestream today and it came at the perfect time for me. I really don’t have a prayer life and got some GREAT ideas on how to start one.
I really enjoyed the livestream and it totally reaffirmed everything God has been saying to me these last couple of weeks. I am the mother of 2 teenage boys, and you would think that would make prayer life and quiet time a little easier, but now our house always seems to be filled with teenagers. Sometimes I feel like I can’t get a quiet moment even in the bathroom and it makes me feel like deja vu when they were toddlers again. So, I am trying to figure this out with God, and make some changes, and He has definitely been giving me that exact message about pruning some things from my life this new year!
Blessings
Michelle V
I am a mother of a 7 yr old and 3 yr old. I have found time to pray the following ways:
1. During the 3 yr olds nap I with with him on the couch and have some quiet time. Usually I read Jesus Calling, journal a prayer, read the Bible or do some of my Bible Study Fellowship ‘homework”. Then, if time allows, I close my eyes and just silently pray and then always end up falling asleep!
2. I take a hot bath and read every night after the kids are put to bed. I use this time to pray and reflect and read a spiritual book like one of Beth’s, Lysa Teurkerst, Priscilla Shirer, BIll Hybels etc. It is good to have many teacher of that wonderful Word.
3. Vacuuming is when I pray the best. While Im working around the house and that white noise envelops me I pray away and the world falls to the side.
Thank you for the continuous encouragement.
Great ideas for us busy moms.
BETH – Thank you so much for your effective words of encouragement today! Great hair day too!
I am a mother of a 7yo boy & 3yo girl. I don’t make time to journal like I did in college, and oh how I miss it! And yes, those journals are priceless & precious to me. Cannot wait to share with my daughter later in life.
I have found myself making print copies of prayers from Stormie Omartian and sticking them in my purse. Random times throughout the week, I will read over it.
I have also taken photos on my iPhone of prayers from her books. When I’m eating lunch, or waiting in line at Walmart, I’ll read over those prayers on my phone.
Hugs & Kisses Siestas!
OH! I also set the alarm on my iPhone every day to pray for specifics. Right now, it’s set to praye for LPL event in Charleston this year. It’s also set to pray over my husband’s career … he was laid off in December. Both alarms have specific prayers in the note section to read when the alarm goes off. Has been very effective with keeping me accountable!
Beth, Thank You for doing the LIVE Streaming and especially getting all of us to get on our knees and pray together. It has been SUCH a blessing!
Prayer. Hmmm. I have used a journal before. More like a written dialougue diary, between me and God. I have also had a notebook sectioned off so that I could fip through and pray daily, for specifics for people or situations. It’s easier for me to remember things if they are written down.
I tend to pray for things when they come up, too! You know, like an email or phone call or someone you ‘bump’ into. I will stop and pray right then, if not my brain has a hard time remembering…sometimes. I definitely have a constant conversation with Our Father, throughout the day.
I think I agree, with how we struggle with prayer. I truly struggle with consistent prayer life. It is SOOO important. And so many things get in the way, but any ideas to help that happen sincerely and consistently would be so apperciated. I like the setup you had in the binder/notebook. Opening the curtains and letting “The Light” in every morning was truly helpful, too! It helps me to visualize. (Like having an “empty cup” in the morning before I get out of bed ;0)
Can’t wait to Live Stream with you ALL, again! Love you Siestas and Siesta Mama! Keeping me encouraged and sharpened!
My life is in prayer makeover. I truly want to get up earlier, but with already getting up at 6 to get kids off to school I am struggling. My husbands and mine only quality time is after the kids are in bed and it makes it hard to head to bed earlier. So I am praying God help me with this. Right now it is during naptime for my youngest while my 9 year old is doing her own work. I do want my kids to see me in the Word, but struggle that I need to be hitting the floor with it. I guess I am just going to have to man (woman) up and do it. I have always journaled but think the idea of more organized columns would help me. Tomorrow is a new morning and I plan to begin on my knees.
What a blessing! I listened as I was driving down the interstate. Needless to say I did not get to “watch” but I still was part of the community of believers on line and able to hear this powerful word on prayer. I was challenged! Thanking God for Beth and technology.
I have mentioned this before, but it fits so well right here.
When someone tells me of a hurt, or a pain in their heart (or body) I just pray with them. Right there, on the spot, outloud. To say “I’ll pray about that”; well, life gets busy and I must have short term memory loss or well, life just gets in the way and I forget, or remember a LONG time later. I have found that as simple as it is, it is profoundly powerful to just open up my mouth and pray. I’ve been told I have a gift of prayer, but I don’t really feel that way. I’m super gifted at talking, (too much, most of the time) so when I pray, I simply talk to God. I remind people what God says about the subject, and pray for the Spirit to have room to work (which often means we get out of the way).
I guess in order to do this, I have to KNOW what God says about the subject, so I have to keep my nose in the Word. That is how I know how to pray. I remind people of what God says to us.
I hope I am not coming across any other way then informational. I am sad at how many people don’t pray out loud, because there is so much power in the spoken word, especially in God’s spoken word. So I just do what comes easily to me, I open up my mouth. Make no mistake, sometimes God tells me to SHUT IT!, but not during prayer. π
Texas, i’m glad you’ve said this again… the first time i read it i challenged myself & then shared it with a group of sweet college girls i meet with. we all agreed this has been a powerful way that others have ministered to us & we want to do the same. thanks for the reminder!!!
I didn’t get to watch, my grandson is ill so went to Dr. with him and Mom. I will get in on the next one! I am one who would sign on and go ahead and clean something or load the dishwasher while I waited. So probably would have missed it because of the password. Thanks for the heads up.
Since it was on prayer, I should have been in on this one. I seem to run hot and cold with it. I even have an app on my phone (Prayer Popper) to remind me to pray, and sometimes I do, and other times I don’t. Think that needs to be my priority for 2012. I do stop and pray if I get an email or text….I will pray right then, but other issues are very inconsistent.
Thanks, Beth for all you do to help us be better Moms and grandmoms!!
So much enjoyed the livestream today. I have already been struggling this year with feeling like my prayers are useless. Although I know HE hears me, I don’t even really know how to find the words to pray. They seem redundant. I love the idea of the ‘calendar’ with the names listed & hope to create something along those lines to keep my prayers ‘organized’. I believe to be effective you must have a plan… never really thought of it like that until today though. Routine vs. discipline is a major thing for me… I MUST learn to be disciplined & not get caught up in being so routine. I am so not a morning person, it’s not even funny! I really WANT to be though. The Lord will sometimes wake me before my alarm sounds & what do I do but roll over & go back to sleep. Lord, help me to get up & get into the Word & communion with you!!!
One more thing… the car is definitely my sanctuary & the steering wheel my alter!!
Love to you, Mama Beth!
My journal has really been the most helpful tool to help keep me accountable to God for prayers and praises. It keeps me accountable because when a prayer is answered it becomes a praise I can record. And it also helps me remember those things or people I need to keep lifting up to God. I love going back through old journals to see how far God has brought me in my journey.
My challenge is that sometimes I go through periods of time where I’m really keeping up at it, and then periods where I’m not doing it at all. To help me with this, I’ve been making a routine out of sitting with my journal first thing in the morning before I have to do anything else. It might mean waking up a little earlier, but it makes a world of difference in the rest of my day when I do it. One of my biggest goals for this year is to make it a year of unceasing prayer! π
The Bible teaches there is power in numbers. I was burdened to send a letter to all my family members and close friends asking them to join me in a wall of prayer on a specific day and time every week so that we could come together in one accord for issues in all our lives (urging them not to neglect the rest of the week :-)). I use a wall of prayer approach for urgent prayer needs as well. What a great blessing it has been.
I’m hooked on praying the Word back to the Father. I sort of take the stance, “God, you said this – so may it be so, as you have said!” That way I’m also praying His will, as John tells us to do in his gospel – then just watch the answers and joy come rolling in. “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
Bummer I missed the live feed:-( ! But reading your comments is encouraging. One of the best things I’ve learned for my own prayer life is to pray aloud or with a whisper. It just helps my mind stay focused. I also love the location of my closet (a walk in closet)… It’s private and helps me rid myself of any distractions ( except if it’s messy or I notice a cute shirt I haven’t worn in a while)….a list is helpful. And I also love setting my phone to remind me to pray. All of these comments and this Post has inspired me to be more consistent! Thank you Beth.
This is the second time this week I’ve heard a wonderful person I love and respect (a pastor friend and Beth) speak on prayer, so my spirit is heightened to the sacred echo on this subject.
Okay – what works for me is having a plan and a specific place for what Beth called formal prayer (I LOVE THAT BETH). Over the years I will say that oftentimes my “plan” consumed me more than my praying, but for many years now, the simplicity of using prayer targets for each day (along with my daily list of family) is what bears fruit. I’ve been doing this so long…but I love what Beth said – it isn’t a routine – it is a discipline.
Daily – my family, our church’s staff pastors/wives, my women’s ministry team;
SUNDAY – Our Pastor, my husband as he leads in worship, our choir, Bible study teachers, nursery workers – and the worldwide church worshipping Jesus!;
MONDAY – Friends and extended family;
TUESDAY – Ministry leaders (this includes Beth & LPM, & Travis Cottrell); missionaries, & government leaders
WEDNESDAY – Sick, hurting & bereaved people
THURSDAY – Salvation for specific folks
FRIDAY – Me & some specifics in my life
SATURDAY – Miscellaneous – sometimes I will journal on that day as I’m off work and have extended time. (I have a journal for each of my grandchildren that I’m keeping to hopefully give them on their wedding days.)
This isn’t to say I won’t pray for someone having surgery on a day besides my “Wednesday target,” but this is my “will you put this on your prayer list?” list. π
The informal prayer that Beth mentioned is PRECIOUS to me. I pray all day long – sometimes outloud, sometimes under my breath as I’m walking through the grocery store, or when I need wisdom for a project at work or when I need extra grace to keep my mouth shut! π The reason I know this works is because I love to pray along life’s way (without drawing attention) – even if it is in public. When someone asks me to pray and it’s where I can I say, “may we pray right now?” Never has anyone said NO.
I love you Siestas,
GA Jan
I Peter 4:7-8: 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Thank you, GA Jan, for showing us how you break down prayer requests over the week instead of feeling like you need to pray over every one of them everyday. I guess that is something I struggle with, but didn’t recognize until right now: the feeling of having to pray for everything every day or just wondering “am I supposed to pray for all these things every day?”
Kristin, Renton, WA
Loved this Gran Jan.
I’ve learned so much! I’m one of those older moms with a younger child, having teenagers and a preschooler! I learned with the first two that no matter how hard it is, I MUST get up before the little one and have my “formal” time with God! I also journal my prayers, trying hard to follow the example of the Lord’s Prayer. I really try not to ask for anything or even intercede for anyone until I have first spent some concentrated effort of praising Him in prayer…it sets my perspective. I also journal brief prayers asking for wisdom and and a fresh word at the beginning of day of bible study, write it right on the page abover Day 1, Day 2, etc.! I have a team of new friends who have committed to set their alarms for Wednesdays at noon and pray for each other. And I have one specific prayer girlfriend that keeps me accountable…she is such a prayer warrior that I’ve been so motivated by her! And of course, I’ve learned to breathe prayers almost all the time when I’m overwhelmed or need quick direction. He is so good to listen and answer!
Like Beth said at the end of the broadcast I feel like I am crumbling in my prayer life. When I am faithful to prayer I see much fruit from it…then it seems like the enemy overwhelms me…I get defeated…you’d think that would make me come to the Father all the more but I fall into this cycle…I really struggle with my prayer life…being consistent.
I have struggled the most this last year. I have Gone through the selling of my husbands practice, making a 1,600 mile move. Being “homeless” and living with all of our extended family every coupe weeks switching houses…all this with three little ones whom I homeschool. Waiting for husband to get hired (finally got a great job) but it moved us another487 miles. My mother has been in the hospital for the last 6 weeks. My oldest son is having some issues. And we are having some problems with the (husbands side) extended family. I have some health issues that concern me…my anxiety level is through the roof. In need of prayer. And in need of longing for prayer, making time to pray and enjoying it.
Sorry so long and selfish. Thats where i’m at.
Love you siestas.
VAmamaof3
I would encourage you with God’s word. He gave me this scripture at a very difficult time in my life.
Eph. 3:13-21 I ask you, therefore not to be discouraged because of my suffering for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
I will be praying this scripture for you.
God bless you with His presences and peace.
Loved reading this…how fitting. I’m in tears. Thank you sweet sister.
I pray throughout the day and my morning run is dedicated to prayer time (and memorizing my scripture!). My daughter (age 17) a few months ago began getting up at 5:50 a.m. to prayer journal. She was such an inspiration to me that I am now doing the same. Now, I go to bed looking forward to the alarm clock. Also, last summer I read a book by Paul Miller entitled, A Praying Life. He describes a prayer method of using prayer cards for individuals you’re praying for. Your choose a verse that is applicable to each person’s need and then record 3 or 4 things you’re praying for regarding that particular person. You date the card also and as prayers are answered to record that too. I love this method! My son is 22 and just graduated college. My verse for him is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you.” This has been a real blessing to my prayer life.
Hope to meet a lot of you in Houston next weekend! Blessings – Shawna from Boise
Thank you, Beth for bringing this topic to our blog. It is the one thing that I hold close, my time with God! I like how you said that He talks to us through scripture and we talk to Him through prayer! So obvious, but never thought of it as our ‘conversation’! When I open my eyes in the morning, and that could be four or five times between going to bed at night and when I actually get up the next morning!, I always talk to Him! It could be just a ‘here I am again Lord, sleep is just not there! Or “Good morning, Jesus, I’m ready for Your schedule”-guide the way!”. This past year I missed your Spring study because of my shoulder surgery, not being able to drive in. I let many branches stack up that really needed pruning, and really paid the price. My time in His Word fell to a “when I took the time”. When I realized my crankiness was due to a lack of “Him”, I began this year with the study of James! I love it and OMW, is He conversing with me now!!! I so needed this and will be forever grateful for your time and effort to share this amazing book with us.
I also pray during the day, anytime I feel the need or someone else makes a request. I am enjoying everyone’s input. So many to take in! I would say He is working mightily through this one post!
Whooohooo! that was so much fun! It was a challenge to keep up with the comments and listen at the same time , but what fun! Travis got celebrity status!
I loved getting new ideas about how to organize my prayer journal!
Something that made a major impact on my prayer life this fall was praying through the book of Psalms. I would rewrite them as my prayers to God. God revealed to me as I was praying that many of the Psalms where David is calling down trouble and horrible things on his enemies is how I need to pray against the enemy of our souls. It made me feel powerful against him and like I was really fighting the spiritual battle. An example would be in Psalm 58.
Here’s what I wrote: “The enemy devises injustice and violence, Lord. He speaks lies. Break the teeth in his mouth, O God; tear them out, O Lord, the fangs of this roaring lion. Let him vanish like water that flows away. Let his arrows be blunted. May his plans against me not see the light of day. May he be swept away. Defeat him, Lord, in the battle for (inserted current situation I was praying for). May You be victorious and have the glory!”
Using God’s own words against the devil! It made quite an impact on me. I did it for about two or three months. It has made me feel powerful and effective when I was praying for situations that I was not quite sure how to pray for. It built up my faith and gave me such comfort to know that I could leave these things at the feet of Jesus. It does say that we can boldly come before the throne and receive what we need. I really felt that when praying through the Psalms.
That was awesome! I really needed that encouragement for my prayer time. It seems so superficial sometimes… just doing to say I did. I want to be a journaling person so I can have that record as well. Praying for GOD to give me that desire for prayer and journaling. Can’t wait until the next live stream!!
What a blast and a HUGE encouragement today was!!! Thank you Beth and all at LPM for making that possible!
One piece of advice I got a long time ago that was brought back to mind today was the idea of using certain days of the week for things that may go above and beyond our “normal, everyday” things we pray for. Or to take more time on those certain days to pray for things more specifically. For example. Mondays=family, Tuesdays=Church, Fridays = Friends day. I may have some friends I pray for everyday but I also have other friends that ask me to pray for them or other people I know that I need to remember to pray for certain prayer requests for. Along the same idea you could also assign each child a special day of the week. Because while of course we want to and do pray for our kids everyday, sometimes it’s nice to spend some extra special dedicated time on a child. So for example in my case I would probably do special time for Kid #1 on Monday, Kid #2 on Tuesday, Kid #3 on Weds and Kid #4 on Thursday. And some extra special prayer for my hubby time on Friday π LIke I said, I certainly want to pray for those people each day, but this can also give you some dedicated time to do a little extra special prayer time for certain things on certain days. Hope that helps someone. It was a huge help and a blessing to me when it got suggested to me years ago as I was feeling very overwhelmed by a long list of things to pray for. Have a blessed day!!! π
Crystal, thank you so much for sharing how you break down your prayers over the week. GA Jan shared something similar just a few posts up from you and I am very inspired by both of you ladies. Not that one wouldn’t pray for someone on the day they hear of a need, but generally speaking have a routine or schedule for the purpose of keeping prayer requests manageable and keeping daily prayer realistic instead of feeling overwhelmed by how much there is to pray for that one doesn’t pray at all.
Kristin, Renton, WA
I would have to say that evenings are the best time for me to have formal prayer. It is the only time of the day that I can get on my knees without worrying about being interrupted. The same is true for my Bible reading. I don’t keep a journal because of privacy concerns, but I do find praying Scripture important, not just to effective prayer, but to staying focused and reverent in prayer as well.
One area of conviction as I listened to Beth was that I need to pray more for others. Between confessing sins and praying for needs and offering thanks, I spend too much of my prayer time talking about me. Those things are important, but I wonder if the Lord is waiting for me to get past myself and spend more time talking about the needs of others. I do pray for others, but that is a definite area of improvement.