Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
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How to engage God in consistent prayer for your community.
This is a resource some of us are using to engage God for our community. The desire to regularly pray for our friends and family is great and God honoring. This resource is meant to help us contend in prayer for our community.
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Step 1:
Listen for needs or desires when you are in a conversation with a family member, friend, or neighbor. What are they wanting or needing? You might consider asking this question, “What is one miracle you want in your life?”
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Step 2:
Ask if you can pray for that miracle, desire, or need. If they say yes, then tell them you will put the request in your phone to remind you to pray. Then offer to pray for them before you leave the conversation.
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Step 3:
Write down the request in summary in your calendar while you are with the person. Enter the prayer reminder at the time and day you heard the request. Tell them you are doing that to remind you. Ask them to let you know when the request is answered or no longer needed.
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Step 4:
After the conversation make sure to edit the calendar entry to include some frequency of repeating the request. Some requests might be a daily reminder while others might be monthly. Make sure you turn on your alert so your phone will remind you to pray.
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Step 5:
When you are alerted to pray at whatever frequency you chose, then take time to pray. Sometimes you will only be able to pray a very short prayer while other times you might take a longer time to pray. Just make sure to pray when you get the alert.
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Step 6:
Don’t give up praying. Consider getting in touch after some time with the person to see how they are doing regarding their request. Get in touch to tell them you are praying for them. This usually encourages people to know they are being thought of by others. Use the follow up opportunity to remind them they are not alone and that God loves them.
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Step 7:
Ask God to do even more than you are expecting on behalf of the person for their good and to his glory. Do not give up. Keep praying. With enough conversations, entries into your calendar, and frequency of requests, you will find yourself praying without ceasing for the needs, desires, and miracles of your community! Imagine God hearing you and answering those requests all around you! May it be so!