Prayer schedule. What prayer schedule?
I’ve been there. I’ve been in a place where I wanted to pray and pray regularly with a routine but I just couldn’t. If you don’t know how to get started praying, download my free guide to the structure of prayer. It will help give you a direction to go in!
Prayer schedule failure
Man, I wanted to be one of those fancy, eloquent prayer people so bad, but I just couldn’t ever find the words. Better yet, the courage to pray like them.
I can remember being in college and being so lonely, lost and broken. During that time I joined a Christian co-ed fraternity. Boy oh boy, was it outside of my comfort zone. I was so shy and far from confident any time I spoke to people. I didn’t have a clue about life nor how to speak to people.
While in that group, I didn’t get involved much or make many lasting friendships, but I did learn some life lessons. I can remember going to my first meeting at this girl’s house. About 20 of us sat in a circle and went around telling each other our happy/crappies from the week. Then, the person next to the speaker prayed out loud for them. In front of everyone. On the spot. Prayer. Out loud.
Whew, did I start sweating.
As stressful as that day was, boy was it beautiful. It taught me how to pray for people on the spot and in real time. It taught me to listen to someone’s struggles and blessings and immediately go to God on their behalf.
I showed up week after week, praying with and for these strangers. Did majority of the people there have “better” prayers than mine? You bet it felt that way. But in reality, God was proud of my progress, not perfection. He was proud that I scheduled this time to show up and pray.
Fast Forward
Now, I have a family of my own. My husband and I have four kids in total and guess who they all come to when they need prayer. You guessed it.. Us. It is the absolute best feeling. We’re teaching our kids to have a peace beyond understanding in the midst of chaos. They come to us and pray with us because we schedule time for prayer.
My husband and I don’t always have schedules that match up, but we make it a priority to pray together before going to sleep. Sometimes this looks like us praying before getting into bed and sometimes it looks like us praying out loud together before one of us falls asleep as the other is just getting home. The key is, we do it and prioritize it.
We always schedule a prayer with our kids as they are getting into bed. This usually looks like laying with them and having them thank God for all of the good things that happened that day. Then we add to their prayer. This consistent modeling and scheduling of prayer has laid so much good foundation. Now, our oldest boy prays out loud over people wherever we go. He has no fear and it’s amazing to see. Our youngest boy just gibber jabbers with his hands up and his eyes closed and then says a quick “amen.” It’s seriously the most heart warming thing to witness.
Your Prayer Schedule
Do you have a prayer routine? It’s not as difficult as you may think. Instead of being intimidated by leading your family to prayer, pray for it to happen. Don’t force it, but show up daily with simple prayers to grow over time. Being consistent in your prayer life sets the example. Be the change you want to see.
How to create a similar prayer schedule:
- Pray for God to create a desire in you to have a prayer routine
- Pray for God to give you and your family an open heart and open mind for prayer
- Pray for wisdom and guidance in leading your family in prayer
- Pray for the courage to pray even when you’re nervous or don’t know what to say
- Pray for God to anoint your words
- Pray for prayer requests to find you
- Pray for God to continue to grow and change you and your family to look more like Him
Related Articles:
Family Prayer Can Happen For You
Designing Your Life How YOU Want It
If you want guidance on how to pray, download my free structure of prayer guide to help you get started. Working on your prayer life is something you won’t regret!
May Heavenly thing constantly interrupt your Earthly things.
