I’m a distracted, side-tracked prayer warrior. I loved the movie The War Room, but I could never for the life of me sit in a closet and pray because I’d zone out, fall asleep, or start praying gibberish after four minutes. Gibberish like, “Lord, bless all the socks in my life.” (Not even kidding. God is witness to my zoned-out prayer rambling.)
I pray best when I’m moving, so instead of sitting in a “war room” closet, or even at my kitchen table, I go to the park. I take my war room with me and pray while I walk:
As I walk around the trail, I get out my prayer mini-book. Later I slip it into my purse or pocket, set it on the car dashboard or next to the kitchen sink. It’s the best way I can think of to pursue continual prayer:
God’s gripping me with a vision for prayer and its power.
Here in the Middle Eastern country where I live, when people pray, they recite memorized prayers in a language they don’t understand. Most people here have never once heard their name spoken aloud in prayer. Most young people who come to Christ don’t have mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, or uncles who pray for them. I believe God’s calling me to step up to the plate and do spiritual battle for some of them.
Here and back home, I have friends going through tough times. I want to pray for all of them, but sometimes I forget, or I get so overwhelmed by how many needs there are that I don’t pray for anyone.
You probably have lots of people in your life who need prayer too.
Do you ever tell someone, “Oh yes, I’ll pray for you” and then forget? Last week I wrote about how prayer is more than standing in line at McDonalds with a “To-Do list for God, but lists do help keep the people we love and their needs present before us. For me, writing someone’s name on a list represents a commitment to pray for them.
I am so not a DIY person, but I enjoy making little mini prayer books with the names of people I love and want to pray for. I used to use pretty craft paper, but that was before writing, church planting, and high school at home. Now I go for simple. It’s not pretty, but it works.
A Simple Prayer Mini-Book for Distracted, Non-DIY Women
1. Take a piece of paper and fold it like this:
2. On the cover, write a favorite Bible verse or one you want to keep in mind.
3. Write the days of the week on each little “page” of your mini-book. I include a one or two word prayer request for myself: more faith, joy, healing, anointing, passion for Christ. (See last week’s post for more ideas.)
4. Make a rough draft list of names in 3 groups: people you want to pray for daily, several times a week, and once a week.
5. Fill in each day with names. Some names you’ll write once, others several times, depending on how often you want to pray for them.
I consider prayer our most important ministry, but it’s easy to go AWOL due to overwhelm or distraction. Keeping my mini prayer book handy reminds me to stop at different moments in the day to pray for someone I love. It’s the easiest way I know to pray without ceasing.
Now it’s your turn: Do you keep prayer lists? How do you do it?
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Love the foldable! Being a teacher, this is right up my alley. What a great way to keep thoughts organized for prayer. Thanks for the tip!
Oh yes, I guess this is up a teacher’s alley. (From one teacher to another. 🙂 ) Blessings to you, friend.
This is a great, practical way to keep your focus! I just love visiting you here, Betsy! I usually keep a journal with days of the week pages and prayer notes in the front! But that’s mostly because I enjoy lugging around a 47 pound purse! LOL! Blessings, my friend!
Thanks for visiting, Liz. 🙂 You’re making me smile with your 47 pound purse! I guess I’ve gotten used to traveling light. 🙂
I’m pretty attached to my notebook that I’ve used for ages, but I have to admit that my life right now is more geared to a piece of folded up paper that I can grab and go with. You’ve given me much to think about, Betsy.
I use a notebook in the mornings, but I can’t carry that thing around with me. 🙂 Blessings on your new life, friend. Grace to you.
Great idea, Betsy! I love how practical and helpful your posts are. And you had me laughing about the sock blessing. Too funny! I’ve fallen asleep many times praying. You’re not alone with meandering, sleeping prayer. Maybe that’s not a good thing, but just maybe it’s a good way to close out the day… 😀
I’ve prayed for gloves too. As in “bless my gloves.” Seriously. I have to keep moving while I pray!
This is a great idea! I need to try this!
Thanks for reading today, Sarah.
I love the idea of a war room on the go. As a teacher, I love foldables. Your mini book and idea of walking works well for my personality too. I pray most often when I am in the car or when I am out walking. I cannot even imagine having a secluded place to pray mostly because I love to be out in the open.
Thank you for this great idea. Hope your week is blessed!
May your week be blessed too, Mary. I appreciate you. I love car prayer too. I call it my “altar on wheels.” When I remember, that is!
oh yes … there’s something about writing names down {in pretty colors} that prompt us to do a better job at following through on our promises to pray for someone.
this morning I sat and colored while listening to Hillsong … and each song brought a new person to mind that I talked with God about while worshiping Him.
He loves when we connect with Him through the day. Betsy, thanks for showing us how we might do this more effectively!
Coloring is one thing I DON’T do, but I’m intrigued by people who do, so more power to you, Linda! I have to be WRITING in color. 🙂 May the Lord pour out His pspirit on us, no matter how we seek to draw near.
Love the idea of the mini book! So handy and such a great visual reminder to pray! <3
Thanks, Lauren. Blessings to you, friend.
Betsy, faithful wisdom is always on your tongue. Thank you for being you. I think prayer is the ministry of my heart, and I’ve been loving all these prayer posts of yours. ((xoxo))
Hi Betsy! You are a very faithful pray-er. I love this idea of a small booklet, listing all the people who need prayer, or have asked you to pray. You are truly trusted by a lot of people, your list is huge!
I really don’t keep a list of prayer intentions. I try to remember as much as I can, and then ask the Holy Spirit to fill in the blanks for me. But…I think God would love the intention and faithfulness of keeping a list like this. I’ll have to go find some paper to fold! I love walking outside too, so I think this will fit in very nicely.
Blessings!
Ceil
A lot of the people I’m praying for several times a week, my family every day, so it’s not that many names…I love the idea of asking the Holy Spirit to fill in the blanks.
Love this practical idea to remember others in prayer. But it’s the grace poured out that touches my heart. Grace that says we can all be prayer warriors even when our prayer times look different from one another. Thank you, Betsy, for sharing. : )
Amen, grace POURED out. Beautiful.
I attended a conference last year where Lisa Bevere spoke. Someone asked her what her time with God looks like. Her answer was something along the lines of, “I don’t do devotions, I live devoted.” And I loved that for so many of the reasons you mentioned here. Stillness is not a strong suit, and while I love my time with God, I also need God to go with me. To pray on the go, in the moment, to talk to Him while I make the bed, or cook dinner. I love your encouragement to do what works for us and be willing to think outside the box. God meets us where we are at and this is such a great example of that, Betsy. Big hugs, friend.
Amen, so well said, Tiffany. I think the greatest value of quiet/still time with God is that it equips us to better recognize Him going with us throughout our day. 🙂 Love to you, Tiffany. I so appreciate you.
What a great idea with the foldable! I’m also one who likes to pray while I’m moving. When people ask me to pray for them I do it immediately regardless of where I am or I’m afraid I will forget. I also write it down in my notes on my phone to remind me to keep them in my prayers. Thanks for sharing!
That’s such a great idea too, Laura! To pray for people immediately. So much better than forgetting later, which I’m apt to do. 🙂
I agree. It’s very hard for me to pray in certain expected norms. My thing is silence. I need to pray most of the time out Loud. This helps me not lose my train of thought and be distracted.
So when my kids go to school and it’s just me and my two smaller ones I am free to pray out loud. Doing mundane chores or even driving. Your idea of a little prayer book sounds lovely. For me I set an alarm on my phone to pray at certain times a day for Certain people.
I find praying scripture very important. It helps keep my focus as well.
Great Ideas. Thank you
I love that! Praying out lout. I do it a lot too. I also pray scripture over my people. An alarm I never tried. Thanks so much for your ideas! So good and helpful.
You are rocking the blog, Betsy! I love your posts. I always come away with a practical idea. That’s a gift God is using to bless so many. Take care and have a great week. I’ll enjoy sharing this all around and stashing in my idea file!
Oh Ginger! You don’t know how much you’ve encouraged me today. Thank you, friend.
Oh Ginger! You don’t know how much you’ve encouraged me today. Thank you, friend.
Love, Love, Love this. Thank you, Betsy. Praying for you right this moment, sweet friend! Prayers are powerful, and I’m so encouraged by your example.
Sarah, thanks so much. Praying for you back, right now! May the Lord pour power and joy over you.
Betsy, I’m a distracted prayer warrior too. I love, love your mini prayer book idea and that you showed us exactly how to do it. I always get good “stuff” when I come to your place!
Bless~
Wonderful! Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
What a great idea Betsy!! I am leading a small group in our church as we go through Priscilla Shirer’s “Armor of God” study- and this fits in PERFECT with what we’ve been chatting about!!
Thanks, Brandi! Blessings on your group! I’m so glad you’re doing that.
This is so great in so many ways!!! Thank-you for this wonderful idea 🙂 LOVE IT! Can I share this on a FB page for my m organisation?
Belinda, Yes, you can certainly share this on Facebook! 🙂 Thanks.
What a beautiful prayer book, Betsy. I go through seasons where I keep lists of names and circumstances to pray over, and other seasons where I *think* I can remember it all (I can’t!!). So I appreciate your gentle nudge reminding that it’s better for me to write it down than to forget it.
Thank you, Lisa. I don’t use one always, but in this season, it’s helping me.
Love the mini prayer book idea. My bible study is going study prayer after the first of the year and this is a good idea to present to the girls. I am gathering ideas to help us have a better prayer life. It was freeing for me to know God does not have just one way to pray, I don’t have a prayer closet but I do have a prayer ottoman where I kneel and pray. And I try to pray in the moment when I am ask for prayer or I read a prayer request. Sometimes the person does not even know I am praying for them but God does and I know so when I read or hear my prayers answered it builds my trust in Him to hear me. Good post, glad I stopped by.
Love this, Betsy. My mom and aunt created a monthly prayer calendar with names of all the members of our family. For some of them, like your friends, this is the only time someone prays for them. I must admit I’ve neglected the calendar since we moved. But, you have inspired me to get back to it.
I’ve really, actually been thinking of making a small prayer book to keep in the car if I’m waiting, just to be more deliberate in prayer, probably with prayers written out, crafted prayers of sitting down and praying out specific callings that God has released over us, and calling our children into their destinies. This looks great!
I hope you give it a try, Lizzy. It works for me, EXCEPT that right now my book is lost! I mean like really, how do I lose that? 😉 I’ve used mini-moleskine notebooks too.