Practical Help for your Prayer Life (1 Timothy 2:1-6) Prioritize Prayer - "First of all"

1. Realize the potential of prayer. Someone said, "When we work we work, when we pray God works."

2. Recognize the place of prayer. "First" prayer is so important it must be first. Before you read your Bible, start your day or do anything PRAY!

3. Remember the promises - consider Jer. 33:3, 1 John 5:14-15, Luke 11:9-10 guarantee from God that HE WILL ANSWER prayer.

Plan Prayer - "Supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks"

1. Discern the difference.

A) Supplicate - to ask.

B) Prayers- approaching God.

C) Intercessions - Approach God on the behalf of another. Giving of thanks!

2. Deliberately focus - All prayer will include a measure of supplication and Giving of thanks, but prayer may not always include intercession.

3. Divide your time - Best to give attention to your personal needs just after your devotions. (Supplication, prayers, giving of thanks) Then plan another time where you can give your full attention to praying for the needs of others. (Intercession)

Plot Prayer - "Made for all men, for Kings and for all that are in authority"

1. Make a list - No way can you effectively pray without having some list to guide you.

2. Divide the concerns - Personal needs, others needs, Bulletin list, Sick, Lost, Missionaries/Preachers.

3. Record the answers - Great encouragement to look back and see how God answered prayer, specific answers to specific prayers!

Example of weekly Prayer list

PERSONAL - Go over after your devotional time

1. Husband/Wife
2. Children/Parents
3. Spiritual, Physical, Financial concerns
4. Other concerns

INTERCESSIONS - Pray over at a specific time when you can focus on the needs of others.

1. Church Bulletin list
2. Other concerns brought to your attention
3. Lost people
4. Missionary /Preachers

This is a very simple list to go by. You can add to as required. Keep a prayer journal and update the list each week. Review from time to time and record answered prayer. Then you can look back and be encouraged to pray because God has been faithful to answer in the past!