Posted on by Austin

Back in July of 2014, I began to approach my personal time of prayer differently. I created a topical schedule. Truthfully, I wish this had come of my own brilliance, instead I had been inspired to apply this new approach by something I heard in a weekly podcast by a minister I was listening to. He outlined how throughout the week he had specific topical focus’ to his prayer time.

The challenge is this: Take one hour per day to pray with specific deliberate intentions, outwardly focused. I’m talking about the time you, Christian, spend talking to God, reading scripture, and wait on The Lord.

Here is how I proceeded to break down my focused prayer throughout a week:

Day 1: Local, State and World Leaders.
verses: Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-6

Day 2: Pastors, Businesses, and Friends
verses: Hebrews 13:7, 1 Timothy 2, Ephesians 1:15-20

Day 3: Me (Strengths & Weaknesses)
verses: Ephesians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Luke 22:42

Day 4: Family
verse: Ephesians 6:1-4, 1 Peter 3:1-12, Acts 16:31-34

Day 5: Missions (Local & Global) – The Lost
verse: Luke 10:1-16, Deuteronomy 10:16-19, Matthew 16:15

Day 6: Your Local Church
verse: Ephesians 4:11-16, Matthew 18:19-20

Day 7: God (Praise, Honor, & Worship)
verses: Psalms 103, Hebrews 13:8

The verses are starting points; references that I started with. As you begin to take focused time to pray over specific topics search the scripture to see what God has to say about what you are praying.

You may be thinking you don’t have that kind of time in your daily life. I would like to respond: You don’t have time not to. Life is fleeting, constantly moving past us. Eternity is ever approaching and there are no extra lives or reset buttons. As professing Christians we have stated that we believe God exists, Jesus is the Son of God and died to save humanity from Hell, the Bible is the Word of God and we will live our lives by His Word. God is not something we have added to our lives. He is life, we are added to Him. The Holy Spirit comes only once room has been made for Him.

Matthew 21:21-22 says:

21Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith
and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more.
You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and
thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for
anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
If you can’t find time, look again. What is coming in between you and God? Could you turn off the TV and miss this weeks episode? Could you sacrifice sleep and wake up a little earlier in the morning, or stay up a little later? I don’t always succeed at taking one hour every day, nor do I always follow a specific days topic, but as I have purposed to become more deliberate and focus in prayer I have begun to see a change in my life. At TheInterstectionChurch we have been studying out of 2 Chronicles 7:14
14Then if my people who are called by my name will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their
sins and restore their land. 
As we humble ourselves, pray, and seek the face of God, we will hear Him answer us, experience the forgiveness of Christ, and have wholeness restored in our lives. I pray this will help and encourage you. I would love to her from you and what God is doing in your life.
BibleGateway & BibleStudyToolsOnline are great online resources to find scriptures and commentaries on topics for you to study.

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