According to surveys, almost 75% of Christians feel bad about praying less than they should.
It can lead to an abundance of guilt and self-recrimination, which is definitely unhelpful for thriving in the Christian journey.
One problem I noticed throughout my ministry is that most people do not have a “system” for prioritising prayer requests.
How do you find the time to pray for each individual every week? Are there methods of praying that do not exhaust us? What’s the best way to prioritise prayer topics that really need to rise to the top?
We may be tempted to think that praying longer prayers, using more words, and generally going the extra mile would increase the likelihood that God will hear and answer our petitions.
However, this is not the case at all.
On the contrary, Jesus very clearly discouraged people from believing such things! According to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns his listeners NOT to emulate those who “use vain repetitions…. for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6.7)
How can we pray smarter rather than harder? Here are three quick tips to think about.
1. Prioritise your prayer list.
Though every prayer need seems equally important, there are bound to be some things that may wait a few hours, or perhaps a few days, until we can devote our whole attention. To say something like that is not to be judgemental; it is simply common sense!
Many of us have extremely hectic lives, with conflicting demands from jobs, family, friends, and personal life to balance. No, God does not require us to work ourselves to exhaustion to serve him. What good are we to God if we wind up strewn on the floor in a heap?
We should first pray for those things that just cannot wait — and then devote as much of our time, attention, and energy as possible to them. The rest of those prayers can be put off until later when we can dedicate our whole focus to them.
Why not commit to praying for THREE people or situations this week and continue to do so for the following seven days? It’s an achievable objective, and you’ll be satisfied knowing you’re making progress in prayer without feeling overwhelmed.
And don’t feel in the least bit guilty about NOT praying for the many other things on your prayer list that you didn’t get around to. God understands your limitations.
2. Share the load
Don’t be scared to enlist the assistance of a friend to help you with your prayer burden.
Some people find this challenging, especially if they are the sort of person who does not want to give up control of their life.
After all, those individuals asked that YOU pray for them.
We may feel honoured or humbled that someone has asked us to do something — but we must be careful not to get conceited! I don’t think God cares who brings a need to Him; what matters is that intercession occurs.
Important side note: It’s important to remember that whenever confidential matters are involved, you absolutely must keep your prayer request to yourself and not share it with anybody else, no matter how busy or tired you may be.
Another option is to enlist the assistance of a trustworthy friend to pray for you. Inform them of your desire to pray for others and of your burden to do so. Request that they continue to pray for your spiritual protection as you continue in this crucial work.
3. Batch Praying
Perhaps this suggestion on the list will raise the most eyebrows.
Granted, it may not be helpful for everyone, but perhaps you might consider “batching” together prayer requests?
What do I mean? Batching is a productivity hack widely regarded in the corporate sector as effective and efficient.
For example, if you have a large number of emails on your laptop, respond to all of them at the same time to save time. To make phone calls, take a seat, make yourself comfortable, and then make all of the calls at the same time.
We get onto a roll. Because we have previously completed one activity, executing more tasks of a similar nature will not need a significant increase in effort.
Those of you who — unlike me — spend lots of time in your kitchen will be familiar with the term “batch cooking.”
I think we could take the same approach in prayer. If we have many people to pray for, we can get into the ‘zone’ and bring ALL those people before the Lord.
This doesn’t mean simply whizzing down a list and shooting out perfunctory prayers. It means heartfelt prayer and the deep work of spiritual intercession. It’s simply that we maximise our time by praying effectively.
Praying smarter, not harder, may seem like a strange notion at first, but following these basic guidelines can significantly increase the effectiveness of your prayers.
Getting things done only takes a little prioritising, sharing, and batching.
Which of these smart hacks will be most helpful in YOUR spiritual life?
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