We surveyed our group leaders and members to learn the best prayer practices for praying in your group, with your group members, and for personal prayer time.
We had 24 ideas for praying with your group and 23 ideas for personal prayer.
Below is a summary of what we learned.
What is 1 idea you can use in your group and your own personal prayer time?
24 Ideas For Group Prayer Time:
Who You Pray With:
Split Gender: for more intimate or personal sharing
Smaller Groups: 2-4 people for more sharing/closer relationships
Accountability: only 2 people pray together. Ask same 3 questions each week:
1. How was your week?
2. What next step are you going to commit to this week?.
3. How can we hold you accountable/what do you need from us?
Sharing Prayer Requests:
3x5 Cards: Write prayer on 3x5 Card with phone number and name, exchange for check in during week
Sticky Note: use instead of card so you can post it somewhere you’ll see
Group Texting: Share prayer requests at meeting, follow up through text during week, share results during week for celebration/prayer
Groupme Texting app: Use this app to help you organize group texts
Email: Emailing prayer requests and updates during week
Praying Instead of Sharing Requests: Instead of sharing your requests and then praying for them, pray your requests. Then you can spend more time praying instead of talking about prayer.
Write Down Requests: Add prayer requests to notes app or notebook to share or review personally.
Accountability/Followup:
Assign Weekly Partners: Exchange 3x5 cards or pair up another way for weekly check in.
Daily Prayer For Someone Struggling: Assign a different group member each day to pray with and for a group member who is really struggling.
What to Pray:
Praise and Request: 1 thing you are thankful for, 1 request .
Confess Sins and Be Vulnerable: group members will follow the leaders example.
Bring A Prepared List: Bring a list of things to pray for during prayer time.
3 Topics (Thanks/Growth/Request):
1 thing you are thankful for
1 area you need to grow (a goal)
1 general request
3 Accountability Questions:
1. How was your week?
2. What next step are you going to commit to this week?.
3. How can we hold you accountable/what do you need from us?
If Nothing Personal Is Requested: If people don’t share a personal request we get to pick a prayer request for them and each pray that for them (like a fruit of the Spirit).
Format:
Praying Instead of Sharing Requests: Instead of sharing your requests and then praying for them, pray your requests. Then you can spend more time praying instead of talking about prayer.
Before Discussion: Pray before discussion to prioritize enough time to pray so it is not rushed in the end.
Short Prayers: Pray 1 sentence prayers or short prayers to make it safer for those who are new to prayer.
Ask For Volunteers:
This makes it safe for those who are not comfortable praying. Not everyone has to pray, but we can pray for everyone.
Popcorn Prayers: Have everyone pray spontaneously, instead of a circle, to make it safe for those who are uncomfortable with prayer and don’t want to be put on the spot.
Immediate Prayers: Have a person pray right after each person shares instead of trying to pray for all of the requests at the end.
Praying For Person On Your Left
Set a Timer: Set a timer for each person to share so everyone gets equal sharing time, this helps when you have some especially long winded people.
23 Ideas for Personal Prayer Time:
Time (When):
Continuous Prayer: Prayer throughout the day. Make the resting place of your mind to focus on Jesus between tasks and throughout the day.
Morning: Praying first thing in the morning
Go to bed on time so I can wake up early.
Evening: Praying in evening when more awake
Multiple Times Daily: Praying same times each day (morning, meals, in car, before bed)
Prayer in Car
With Other Habits: pair prayer with another daily habit that you do the same time each day.
The same time each day
Strategies:
Praying Out Loud: in my personal prayer time
Use Bible: reading, meditation, memorization to focus your prayers
Prayer Walks
Journaling Prayers: Write out your prayers
Praying With Spouse
before bed
While going for a walk
Praying In a Massage Chair
Give Spirit Control: Ask the Spirit to redirect your mind and heart.
Guides:
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
ACTS acrostic: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication
1 Scripture Verse: Focus on 1 verse, pray over scripture over people.
Tools:
Prayer Apps:
Worship Music: Use worship music for prayer
Devotionals: My Utmost for His Highest, The Songs of Jesus
Sticky Note Reminders: on wall/mirror with each group member name.
Digital Reminders: Set reminders/prayer alarm on phone.
Prayer Lists
