Seven Habits of Highly Effective Prayers

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In my first year of college I was assigned to read The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. It is a classic book on effectiveness in life. But the seven habits can easily be applied to an effective prayer life as well.

1. Be proactive– It is important for people of prayer to understand their role in coming to God in prayer. I often teach that whenever you have a desire to pray it is probably coming from God. The question is will we not only follow those promptings, but also proactively set aside time to pray.

2. Begin with the end in mind-This is a powerful idea when coming to God in prayer. The end is eternity and life with God in heaven. That is a great place to start our thoughts thinking as we begin our prayer time.

3. Put first things first– I love to begin my prayer time with thanksgiving and praise to God. It shifts my perspective to a healthy place right from the start.

4. Think Win/Win -Building on the habits we already developed we pray for the Lord to win in the world. Jesus encouraged us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” Effective people who pray understand that is a win for them as well.

5. Seek first to understand then to be understood– Listening before asking creates requests that change history. Starting with Scripture creates a foundation for powerful asking. This takes our prayer to a new level.

6. Synergize– This reminds me of two parts of effectiveness in prayer. First, I am reminded of the power of agreeing together with others in prayer. Second, it reminds that after hearing from God before asking we are actually working together with God.

7. Sharpen the Saw– We can always grow in our prayer life. That is why we create our resources. What will you do to learn and develop your prayer life?

Let me encourage you to take one of these habits and build it into your prayer life in the next month. See how your effectiveness increases.

5 Things Kids Can Teach Us About Prayer (Updated)

 

Having a kid brings with it a responsibility to teach, but I am learning a lot as well. Kids remind us what it was like to be young again. Jesus was right when He said that unless we become like a little child we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. It is also true that when you watch a young child ask for something we can learn something about how we should pray.

1. Kids don’t give up very easy.

If you have ever seen a child asking for something they really want you will see a lesson in persistence. Let me ask God with that much tenacity.

 2. Kids are not afraid to ask.

My daughter does not seem to have a hesitancy at all to ask me for what she wants. Maybe we become too afraid of getting a no that we don’t even ask God for things He may be more than willing to give us.

 3. Kids trust their parents have the ability to answer.

No request is too large for my daughter to ask. She doesn’t wonder if I can answer or not. I have limited power to answer, but in prayer I am going into the throne room of the universe.

4. Kids believe that their parents want to answer.

When my daughter asks she really believes that I want to give her good stuff. Do you believe that God wants to give you good and perfect gifts? As Steven Furtick reminds that the old kid’s prayer is really good theology: “God is great. God is good…”

5. Kids are excited when they receive.

Although I have to teach my daughter to express gratefulness, I don’t have to teach her to get excited when good things happen to her. I have to learn from her about what it is to celebrate. Would I put a smile on God’s face if I celebrated like she does when He gives me good things?

Maybe you could take one of these and try it next time you pray.

Why Pray? 10 Reasons to Make an Investment in Prayer (Updated)

So why pray in the first place? Let me give you just some of the benefits to a consistent life of prayer. This is hardly a complete list but since this is a post not a book I figured I should start here.

        1. Relationship with Jesus.

If this was the only reason to pray that would be plenty. We get to build a friendship with God. But there is more.

  2. Health Reasons

The science that I have seen indicates that there are many health benefits to taking time to pray. Things like blood pressure, strengthened immune system and helps with arthritis.

3. Helps with my relationships.

I find that I am easier to deal with after a time of prayer. This makes it a positive thing for those people close to me when I pray. If I am a nicer person to be around my friendships have a better chance to grow.

4. Prayer impacts my family.

I see the difference in my family when I pray. I am investing in my daughter’s future every time that I pray for her. My marriage can get deeper and deeper as I pray for it.

5. Prayer impacts whatever I am praying about.

If I am praying for my church and leaders it makes a difference. It is like a buffet (and I like buffets). Anything in the world that I would like to impact can be touched in my prayer life.

6. I get direction for my days as I pray.

Sometimes God will speak to me about specific assignments for the day or topics for this blog. Other times He will give me more long term direction. I never know what God will say when I pray.

7. Prayer gives me perspective.

It is easy to get focused on my immediate concerns, worries, and cares. Prayer helps me step back and get the perspective of heaven and eternity. This makes life issues take on the right size.

8. Prayer helps me avoid temptation.

Jesus teaches us to pray, “Lead me not into temptation.” We don’t know all the sin we avoid simply by praying this prayer. I figure it is worth not having to go down that road.

 9. Prayer makes me more effective.

It is amazing what I get done when I prayer over my list of things to do. I somehow am more productive than otherwise. And sometimes things that seem so important just get eliminated from my list altogether.

10. Answers for needs

I have seen too many answers to prayer over the years to not include this. Miracles happen! But will we ask?

As I said reason number one would be enough, but none of the others are too shabby either. Let me recommend taking a moment right now to get some of the benefits.