Have a Prayer List
Having a well-thought-out prayer list will help you know who to specifically pray for and when to pray for them.
When I started spending a lot of time in prayer each and every day, one of the initial problems I faced was actually knowing who or what to pray for. This is a bit strange since the simple answer should be: just pray for anyone and anything that comes to mind. But that's not how my brain works. I usually end up not knowing who or what to pray for which is hugely de-motivating. Or I end up thinking about the many people and things I could pray for which leads me to feeling overwhelmed. I found myself at times just sitting and wondering what to pray about. I've come to realize now that the problem was that I simply hadn't thought through in advance who or what I should pray about. I came to my prayer times empty-handed and without a plan of attack.
Since then, I've come up with a simple solution to help me know exactly who and what to pray for each and every day. This strategy also helps me to not feel overwhelmed with the many people I could potentially pray for every day. The strategy I employed was simple: I created a prayer list. A prayer list contains all the names of people I want to pray for and it tells me exactly when I'll be praying for them. This helps me come to my prayer times prepared and eager to pray for people right away. I'm never left wondering who or what to pray for as it's all indicated in my prayer list.
I divide my prayer list into 3 parts. First, I have a daily list. These are the most important people in my life and I pray for them on a daily basis. This includes my immediate family such as my wife, son, parents, siblings, and in-laws. I pray for these people every single day without fail. Side note: don't let anybody else pray for your family more than you.
Second, I have a weekly list, which I use to pray for specific people on assigned days of the week (i.e. Mondays, Tuesdays, etc.). On this list are my extended relatives (uncles, aunts, and their families). I also pray for work and ministry items here on specific days of the week. For example, I pray for my team at work on Mondays and I pray for members of my church community on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lastly, I have a monthly list, which I use to pray for people once a month on specific days (i.e. first Wednesday, third Friday, etc.). On this list, I include people who I've promised to pray for such as missionaries and Christian workers. I also pray for people who have played a special role in my life such as mentors and other pastors.
Having a well-thought-out prayer list will help you know who to specifically pray for and when to pray for them. It cuts a lot of the guesswork out during your times of prayer. You won't need to waste time figuring out who you need to pray for as it's all been written down already. Instead, with a prayer list in hand, you will have less resistance to praying for people and you can concentrate on just doing that well.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
