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In the past few years I have tried to become more intentional in how I pray for others. For example, I have set up a system for praying for certain people throughout the month.You can read more about it here. Basically, I have created a calendar for myself in which each day of the month I pray for one or two people. For more example, on the first of the month I pray for my husband. This isn't to say I don't pray for him or others on other days, it just a means for helping stay the course and pray for all those who are a part of my life.
I started praying for others in earnest a few years back because I was going through a season of healing in which I needed to forgive some significant people in my life. It was a real struggle as their actions totally changed the course of my journey. I didn't know how to get past the pain and what they had done to me. I was stuck. Then I was reminded of the verse in which Christ asks us to pray for our "enemies" (Matthew 5:44). It was like God was calling me to be intentional and pray for those that inflicted the hurt. It was one of the hardest things I ever set out to do. At first, I could hardly even get the words out. These days, however, I pray for my "enemies" freely and without hesitation...prayers of blessings for them. It took a long time to get to that point, but I do believe that prayer was the answer to me eventually forgiving them.
If you would like to learn more about this concept of praying for those that you need to forgive, check out my post over at His Mercy is New about how to bless your enemies through prayer.
Another place I have really focused on in my prayer life is praying for my sons. Here are several resources for praying for your kids. I am going to include one for students also as I am a teacher and do spend time praying for my students.
Praying for Your Teen and Adult Children
The ABC's of Praying for Students
Praying for Your Kids Head to Toe
Another great idea is to create a "War Binder". What in the world is it and what does it have to do with prayer? A war binder is a notebook or journal in which you can put a prayer journal, prayer requests, sermon notes, gratitude lists, Scripture writing and so much more! The concept is based on the movie War Room. Basically, the binder allows you to keep everything in one place. If you are interesting in learning more here are some links:
A Flip-Through of a War Binder
A Prayer Journal
How to Make a Prayer Journal
Facebook War Binder Group {A wonderful group of ladies!}
And finally here are some great books on prayer:
Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer
Too Busy Not to Pray
Upside-Down Prayer for Parents
Wait Only Upon God: 40 Days of Praying the Scriptures in the Waiting
Praying God's Word
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