I’m going to be completely honest with you guys, my prayer life is something I really struggle with. I’m not talking about the kind of struggle where you forget to have quiet time one day or you don’t feel like you’ve spent enough time with the Lord lately. I mean the kind of struggle where I have been telling myself for years that I need to devote daily time with God. Some weeks I do well at kind of devoting time, sometimes I go months without it. I’m just being real here, y’all.
So I’m putting my foot down. I’m setting goals and I’m committing my prayer life to the Lord. I know that when I seek Him fully, He will draw close to me. I pray that over the next 31 days I would develop a prayerful heart and cultivate the habits of spending time daily in intentional prayer.
I got this idea for 31 days of prayer from a variety of places. Originally I was going to do 31 days of prayer for my husband, which I do hope to do someday. But instead I wanted to keep things even simpler and give myself a different person to pray for each day. For some reason, I do a lot better with praying for other people than I do praying for myself. But I’m hoping that over the next month I’ll be able to develop the prayer life that I’ve always wanted to have.
The Bible talks all the time about how important prayer is, for example 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “Pray without ceasing.” I do pray throughout my day and feel like in a way I’m in constant conversation with God but the area I specifically want to grow is setting aside a few minutes here and there to really?pray over these people in my life.?I would love for y’all to join me on this journey no matter what stage of your faith you’re in.
I made a list of 31 people to pray for over the next month and you can feel free to use this list or create on that works for you. My idea is to pray for this person in different ways. It might be someone you know a specific need for and you can pray for that, or it may be someone who is far from the Lord and you can pray for that. You may not know a thing about them but you can still pray for the Lord to be working in their life.
Click here for part two including a printable list of all 31 prompts!?
Madison says
That’s awesome Felecia! I can’t wait to work through this list as a blogging community!
Madison says
I hope that you will Madaline 🙂
Madison says
Thanks Courtney!
Rachel Walker says
This is such a great idea. I’ve really been working on being intentional in my prayer life, but it’s so hard sometimes. I think this list is going to be great to keep us accountable!
Madison says
I agree Rachel! I’m excited to have this blogging community coming together to try to all grow closer to the Lord! It’s so exciting 🙂
rachdillard says
This is such a great idea. I’ve really been working on being intentional in my prayer life, but it’s so hard sometimes. I think this list is going to be great to keep us accountable!
Beckey says
Great idea Madison! I am also trying to get my prayer life in order and be more committed to daily prayer.
Beckey
http://www.etsy.com/shop/queenbsbusywork
Madison says
I hope this list is helpful to you 🙂
Beckey says
Great idea Madison! I am also trying to get my prayer life in order and be more committed to daily prayer.
Beckey
http://www.etsy.com/shop/queenbsbusywork
Madison says
I agree Rachel! I’m excited to have this blogging community coming together to try to all grow closer to the Lord! It’s so exciting 🙂
Madison says
I hope this list is helpful to you 🙂
Caroline @ In Due Time says
Love this!!! What a great idea 🙂
Madison says
Thanks girl! 🙂
In Due Time says
Love this!!! What a great idea 🙂
In Due Time says
Love this!!! What a great idea 🙂
Teresa says
I struggle with this as well! There are weeks where I am really good about and then it drops off for a few months or so. Not something I’m proud of, but it happens. I love the idea of 31 days of prayer!
Madison says
I am totally on the same page. Let’s do this as a blogging community and all grow closer to the Lord! 🙂
Teresa says
I struggle with this as well! There are weeks where I am really good about and then it drops off for a few months or so. Not something I’m proud of, but it happens. I love the idea of 31 days of prayer!
Madison says
Thanks girl! 🙂
Madison says
I am totally on the same page. Let’s do this as a blogging community and all grow closer to the Lord! 🙂
TheJessaOlsonBlog says
I am LOVING this!! I need to do be better about this. I feel like I’ve been slacking in this dept.
Madison says
I think it’s really important to not feel guilt and shame over “not doing good enough” but to remember that the Lord offers us grace! I think it’s great for us to all want to strive to be better but we shouldn’t let guilt consume us 🙂
TheJessaOlsonBlog says
I am LOVING this!! I need to do be better about this. I feel like I’ve been slacking in this dept.
Life as a Convert says
Great list. I am very good at spending time with God alone at night, but I always have a better day if I do it in the morning. I am working on morning devotions.
Madison says
I can definitely relate! I’m such a night owl anyway, but my day definitely starts on a great foot if I spend time with God in the morning!
Madison says
I can definitely relate! I’m such a night owl anyway, but my day definitely starts on a great foot if I spend time with God in the morning!
Lena says
This is such a great idea! Maybe I will join you on this little journey! I am very good at praying continuously throughout my days but setting time aside has never been easy! How many minutes a day are you carving out for the cause?
Madison says
Hey Lena! I would love for you to join me 🙂 I totally know what you mean, setting aside time is definitely a challenge for me too. I’m actually planning on using my drive to work every day! It’s a time I normally just fill with eating breakfast and listening to the radio. But spending it in prayer (with my eyes open of course 😉 ) is a much better way to spend it I think! My drive is 10-15 minutes. For me, this challenge is more about dedicating some amount of time every day, rather than a specific amount of time if that makes sense. It’s about building the habit for me!
Lena says
This is such a great idea! Maybe I will join you on this little journey! I am very good at praying continuously throughout my days but setting time aside has never been easy! How many minutes a day are you carving out for the cause?
Madison says
I think it’s really important to not feel guilt and shame over “not doing good enough” but to remember that the Lord offers us grace! I think it’s great for us to all want to strive to be better but we shouldn’t let guilt consume us 🙂
Madison says
Hey Lena! I would love for you to join me 🙂 I totally know what you mean, setting aside time is definitely a challenge for me too. I’m actually planning on using my drive to work every day! It’s a time I normally just fill with eating breakfast and listening to the radio. But spending it in prayer (with my eyes open of course 😉 ) is a much better way to spend it I think! My drive is 10-15 minutes. For me, this challenge is more about dedicating some amount of time every day, rather than a specific amount of time if that makes sense. It’s about building the habit for me!
rebecca lewis says
“Thought of the week: experience vs knowledge”!
Emily says
This is so great! I love this challenge and the list! Thank you for sharing at The Wednesday Round Up!
Emily says
This is so great! I love this challenge and the list! Thank you for sharing at The Wednesday Round Up!
Natalie says
What an awesome idea! I know that at times I lose track of where my prayer life is and can get so busy that I forget to pray for people in my life. Thank you for following the tug on your heart and encouraging us to do the same!
Natalie says
What an awesome idea! I know that at times I lose track of where my prayer life is and can get so busy that I forget to pray for people in my life. Thank you for following the tug on your heart and encouraging us to do the same!
Chantel Klassen says
This is such a great idea! I’m a couple days late but I’m totally going to jump in!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing says
This is such a great idea! I’m a couple days late but I’m totally going to jump in!
Chantel -A Harvest of Blessing says
This is such a great idea! I’m a couple days late but I’m totally going to jump in!
Devra Pomeroy | thePomeroyLife says
It’s a few days late, but my husband and I are joining! Made our own list and put it on our blog: http://www.thepomeroylife.com/2014/07/09/31-day-prayer-challenge/
Thanks for the idea, accountability, and the sense of unity with other Christians!
Madison says
That’s totally okay! Join anytime! I am going to check out your list now, but I’m SO excited to have you joining me on this!
Devra Pomeroy says
It’s a few days late, but my husband and I are joining! Made our own list and put it on our blog: http://www.thepomeroylife.com/2014/07/09/31-day-prayer-challenge/
Thanks for the idea, accountability, and the sense of unity with other Christians!
Devra Pomeroy says
It’s a few days late, but my husband and I are joining! Made our own list and put it on our blog: http://www.thepomeroylife.com/2014/07/09/31-day-prayer-challenge/
Thanks for the idea, accountability, and the sense of unity with other Christians!
Madison says
That’s totally okay! Join anytime! I am going to check out your list now, but I’m SO excited to have you joining me on this!
Christy Murphey Curley says
I love this idea! My husband and I were just talking this morning, during our study time, about how we should be more intentional about praying for the various needs and the hurting in this world. I like the idea of making a list to hold yourself accountable. I may not use this list exactly, but I think I will borrow this idea and make my own. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Madison says
That’s awesome Christy! You can borrow whatever part of the list you’d like! I’d love to see your list when it’s finished 🙂
Christy Murphey Curley says
I love this idea! My husband and I were just talking this morning, during our study time, about how we should be more intentional about praying for the various needs and the hurting in this world. I like the idea of making a list to hold yourself accountable. I may not use this list exactly, but I think I will borrow this idea and make my own. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Madison says
That’s awesome Christy! You can borrow whatever part of the list you’d like! I’d love to see your list when it’s finished 🙂
Tiffany MrsTee Haywood says
What an amazing idea. It is often so easy to fall into the habit of praying for what’s immediate: a need, a want, a dream but taking the time to extend your prayers to others is such an amazing thing. Thanks so much for sharing this…
Tiffany MrsTee Haywood says
What an amazing idea. It is often so easy to fall into the habit of praying for what’s immediate: a need, a want, a dream but taking the time to extend your prayers to others is such an amazing thing. Thanks so much for sharing this…
stephanie says
i just saw this on pinterest and it was the most perfect timing of it in the whole entire world because i was literally thinking today about how i feel so lost in my prayer life. i’m doing this.
Johny says
I am confused. If we have free will (because I guess we have no choice other than to have it, so it’s not free will, but still), how can prayer be effective? If the Lord intervenes he will be interfering with our free will. So therefore, prayer is completely pointless. Or is it that God wants us to constantly thank him for things that come naturally to him?
Madison says
Hi Johny, thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts! Free will is definitely a hard topic to grasp and I definitely don’t think it’s something I understand 100%. I will say though that I know a few things to be true. 1) Prayer isn’t just about asking God for things. Prayer is about building a relationship with Him, which is ultimately what religion/Christianity is all about. 2) I would challenge you to ask yourself (as I ask myself often) if not understanding the way that something spiritual/super natural works is enough to shake your faith in God. Does not completely knowing how free will/pre-destination works change your understanding of a Creator? If it does, then I would encourage you to take a look at what you believe and ask God to help you to believe and see His works.
I truly believe that having a relationship with Jesus has trumped all uncertainty I have in things in the Bible that I cannot understand or principles in the Christian faith. At the end of the day, I know where I was before Jesus and my relationship with Him and I know where I am now, and that in itself is enough for me to know that He is real and He loves me more than I can imagine. So it’s only natural for me to want to respond to that good news by prayer and having communion with Him.
Chelsea Eubank says
This is really great. I think I’ll write out a list like this and tape it to my mirror.. that way while I’m getting ready I can also be praying. Thanks for sharing your list!
Sophia says
This is an awesome idea! I’m Muslim but I sure can do this as well, can’t wait to get started! Thanks for sharing <3
Shaylynn Cherry says
I love this so much! And I love your blog! I was looking around at it a few weeks ago and it really gave me the encouragement I needed to start writing again. Thank you for setting a beautiful example in all that you do!
Madison says
Thank you Shaylynn! Definitely keep writing, your blog is such an encouragement!
Valerie says
Hello! I just stumbled upon your post and thought I’d say hi. My middle name is Wetherill. My parents named me after my moms maiden name. I have a Christian Family Blog at http://www.cordof6.com. Great to see a family name!
Madison says
That’s too funny! I’ll check out your blog 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Madison says
So cool! Thanks for the sweet comment 🙂