Prayer is seldom easy, and sometimes we need guidance to get started. Here’s a way your small group or church might plan to pray next week. Print this plan, and challenge your folks to begin praying this way this coming Sunday.
SUNDAY: Pray as a church the words of Jesus’s disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
MONDAY: Pray at least four times this day, praying through the ACTS outline:
Adoration: praise God for who He is
Confession: admit sin
Thanksgiving: express gratitude
Supplication: pray for others
TUESDAY: Use the entire day to simply praise God for who He is. From the moment you wake up to the moment you lie down, praise Him for His goodness, grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, power, etc….
WEDNESDAY: Use the entire day to confess sin. Ask God to point out every ounce of sin in your life, and then confess it when He brings it to mind. This day is a tough day, but the cleansing power of the gospel will be refreshing.
THURSDAY: Use the entire day to express thanksgiving. Consider all the things you might be grateful for: waking up, having a warm bed, having food on the table, having a job, having a family, etc. You could pray non-stop this day simply by remembering that everything we have is from God.
FRIDAY: Use the entire day to pray for others. Pray for non-believers, the sick, the unemployed, missionaries, co-workers, etc. Focus on others this day, and you can pray without ceasing — the needs are that great.
SATURDAY: For this entire day, pray for God to do something mighty when your church gathers on Sunday. Pray this prayer in the morning, at lunch, and in the evening. Throughout the day, let the words echo: "Please God, move in your church."
Think about this pattern: focus on God, confess sin, express gratitude – then pray for others and the church. Get your heart right the first days of the week, and prayer will be more powerful the rest of the week. You will be pumped to gather with the people of God on Sunday.
