A Simple Journal Method to Change Your Entire Outlook on Life (Updated)

Sometimes the simplest thing can have a huge impact. This is a method I have used that has had a big impact personally. Maybe it will do the same for you.

The most spiritual thing that you may do today is pull out a notepad and pen and put it by your bed. This process should not take a long time, maybe a couple minutes. I simply:

1. Write the date

2. Write 5 things I am thankful for from that day

3. Close the book

Sometimes at the end of the day I am surprised what things I will come up with that I have forgotten. Although I don’t do this most nights because I want to cut back on my media right before bed (it can effect your sleep). Another option is to simply email yourself the 5 things at the end of the night. Then in the morning when you get up you can put it in a folder. Or you could use Evernote or some other system. The key is to make it simple and something that you will actually do. I have a whole chapter on this and a lot of other prayer ideas like it in Enjoying Prayer.

This video is a remake of a video that I did a few years ago. It was by chance that I am wearing the same shirt. 🙂

You can watch that here.

Learn about how this method is part of a plan to eliminate worry from your life.

10 Reasons Why People Don’t Come To Your Prayer Meeting

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Most pastors will tell me that the most important meeting of the church is the prayer meeting. They will also tell me that it is the least attended meeting in their church. I am told that people will come easy to a pot luck but not to a prayer meeting. But the power of a well attended prayer meeting is vital to a church.

I have been amazed at the connection between the size of the Sunday morning service and the size of the prayer meeting. It is consistently 10 percent of the Sunday morning attendance that is at the prayer meeting. An increase in attendance at the prayer meeting seems to increase attend on Sunday morning to get it back to that 10%.

But people don’t seem to like to come to pray meetings. Now I understand that part of that has to do with spiritual warfare. The enemy would love nothing better than to have people come to the prayer meeting.

That however is only part of the story. There are things as leaders that you can do to help the meeting be better attended. Here are 10 ideas why people don’t come to get you started.

1. The prayer meeting is boring.

People are struggling already that prayer is boring. The last thing they need is to come to a prayer meeting and find that also to be true. Creativity is a key to that.

2. The prayer meeting is a gossip session.

It is too easy for prayer requests from the floor to simply become a means to gossip. This behavior needs to be dealt with and taught how to be avoided.

3. No leadership in the meeting.

Some leaders are intimidated because they are not the best prayer person in the room. What the meeting needs is leadership not for the strongest prayer person to be in charge.

4. People are scared they will be called on to pray.

I try to never call on people to pray who I haven’t asked beforehand. It breeds an atmosphere of fear for new people.

5. They fear no end time.

Every prayer meeting should have an end time that is very clear. You can allow people to stay longer if they want, but people fear getting stuck in a meeting that they can’t get out.

6. It doesn’t seem to be a priority of the leadership.

If you are the leader of the group and this is a priority for the church or ministry you must make it a priority yourself. If the time doesn’t work for you don’t make it the main prayer time.

7. Not engaging their whole being.

Sitting or standing for the whole time will cause people to check out. Engaging the head and not the heart is not good, and so is touching the heart but not the head.

8. They fear a meeting with no variety.

If the prayer meeting is exactly the same forever and ever with no life people will not come back.

9. The prayer meeting takes place in the dungeon of the church.

Too often the prayer meeting is held in the most sad or distracting room of the church. Think through where you meet come up with some ideas to switch it up.

10. Long winded prayers without power.

Charles Finney encouraged people in the meeting to pray short prayers with passion. He would only have people pray who he knew would lead people in prayer. Key decisions about a meeting can be who ends up praying.

If you would like to dig deeper on a strategy of building a church that prays I recommend the Prayer Saturated Church by Cheryl Sacks.

 

The introvert and extrovert guide to a prayer life

My wife sent me some videos the other day by Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. It produced some interested thoughts the practicality of our walk with God. Most of you would define yourself as an introvert or extrovert, but we are really somewhere on a spectrum. Wherever you are on that spectrum these next four things can help you enjoy your prayer life.

1. If you are an introvert embrace your enjoyment of time alone with God.

Some people would be surprised to realize that I am more on the introvert side of the spectrum (since I speak around the country and world). But I cherish that time alone just me and God. If you also enjoy your alone time, don’t be afraid to invite Jesus into that time. This is not taking away from your alone time since God is with you anyways. Inviting Him into that sacred place will make the time richer and more enjoyable.

2. If you are an extrovert don’t use that as an excuse to never get alone.

I don’t know where Susan Cain is on her faith journey, but she said something every Christian needs to realize: “Without the wilderness there is no revelation.” She even made reference to the fact that Moses and Jesus went away into the wilderness before engaging in the crowd. If you identify yourself as an extrovert this does not mean you don’t need times alone with God. Our personality does not excuse us from our calling to obedience. In the story of the Good Samaritan he couldn’t say, “I won’t engage that person on the side of the road that is hurting because I am an introvert.”

3. Learn to live with your personality in the prayer meeting.

A great place to see the clash of introverts and extroverts is the prayer meeting. This is especially true when praying together in groups. I have been in prayer meetings when introverts will even come late if they believe there is group prayer near the beginning. Let me encourage my introvert friends to commit to engaging at those times even when it is uncomfortable. Your prayer, even if short, can be crucial to that prayer time. For the extrovert, don’t miss the prayer meeting! As you learn to enjoy the prayer meeting not only will you bring a life and relationship component to the meeting it will bring comfort and confidence to you when you set time to be alone with God.

4. Learn to bring who you are to your time with God.

As you are building your time with God I encourage people to start somewhere. As an extrovert you may want to start focusing on finding a prayer partner. As an introvert you may want to start with stealing moments of quiet with God which will energize you anyway. I wrote a post about emotion and prayer which could be important to check out as you think about this subject, but if you start with your strengths it may help you as you grow in your prayer life.

Whatever your personality engage with God because He loves you and made you and wants to spend time with you!