Tips for Fervent Prayer
1. Unbreakable Appointment: Set a time for daily prayer. Consider it an unbreakable commitment. Keep your set appointment every day for one week. For one solid week, let your scheduled prayer time be the centerpiece of your day. Arrange everything else to fit around it.
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matt. 6:5-6).
2. A God Place: Find a place in your home where you can be alone and undistracted during your prayer time. Keep your Bible, prayer journal, pen, and whatever tools you use in that place so that everything is ready. During your prayer time each day, this is a sacred place.
“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)
3. First Thing: Give God the first fruits of your day. For one week, give the very first 30 minutes of your day to prayer.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
4. Focus On The Lord: As you start your prayer time, before you say anything, let your mind’s eye see Him, high and exalted, and yourself in a position of worship before Him. Stay in that inner posture until His glory fills your thoughts as the train of His robe fills the temple.
“I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isa. 6:1).
5. Word of God Speak! Read your Bible with the awareness that you are listening to the words of His mouth. Stop at the first word, phrase, or thought that captures your attention and let the Father speak to you about it and let it shape your prayers.
“O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth” (Ps. 78:1).
6. Postures and Positions: This week, during your prayer time, use different worship postures: kneel, lift your hands, and fall on your face before Him. You may do this outwardly, or inwardly—in the inner sanctuary of your own soul.
“I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land” (Ps. 143:6).
7. United Prayer: Join someone else for agreement in prayer.
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18: 19-20)
