Appointment with God: Lord, Teach Me to Pray! Part 3

Congratulations on making it to the third blog in our three-part series!  In part 1, we discussed why we need to pray, how to create a Sacred Space to pray in, and the importance of being intentional about WHEN we pray.  Appointment with God: Lord, Teach Me to Pray! Part 1

In part 2 we went over the actual steps of an effective prayer time, giving praise to God, reading scripture, listening for his word in our lives, asking for repentance, asking for our requests and resolving to an action as a result of our prayer time.  Appointment with God: Lord, Teach Me to Pray! Part 2

Lord, Teach me to Pray Cheat Sheet

So in part three, we are going to elaborate a little more on the mechanics during the Appointment with God.

I stressed over and over in both of the previous posts about showing up with a prayer journal, yet I didn’t explain how or when to use it.  So far, I have stayed true to the integrity of Father Michael Scanlan's book, but this is where I will offer insights into how I have personally used it, in a way that works for me.

Like any relationship, my relationship with God is as unique as yours.  I speak to Him in a way that I find most effective in communicating with Him.  You are encouraged, and expected I suppose to do the same.

Because my brain really struggles to slow down and process one thought at a time, I most effectively pray through writing.  It is a way for me to properly channel my thoughts without getting distracted and forgetting what I was praying about.

Keeping a journal is also a way for me to go back and remember how the very thing I was praying for was resolved in a way I could never have imagined!  It is also a good way to chronicle the revelations we have received.  I have gone back and read journals from years ago and am blown away by what was revealed to me during my prayer time that I had forgotten entirely, but that was a profound thought given to me by the Lord.

So, where does this fit into the steps we learned last week?

If you recall, we begin by reading scripture, then pause when we feel the Holy Spirit stirring.  I may not know why I stopped, but there was something tiny there, so I rewrite the verse in my journal at the top of the page.  I often write, “Lord, what does this mean for me in my life?” and as I continue writing, the answer comes to me.  Sometimes it’s an invitation to love deeper, sometimes it’s a conviction to let go of something, sometimes it’s an act of repentance.

As I’m writing this, I will often naturally segue into my prayers of petition and continue writing the commitment part for the day as well.

Now, as we reach this point in our prayer time, I want to challenge you to pray BOLDLY.  If you are praying for someone who is sick, don’t just say, “Dear Jesus, please heal my friend. Amen.”

Instead, praise Him and really trust Him.  Try something like this, “Dear Lord, you love this person more than I ever could.  You want what is best for her.  I thank you for taking care of her and providing for her.  I have faith and confidence in You and believe that your plan for her life is perfect.  I thank you for your solution to her illness.  I praise you that you are a God of solutions and healing.  Her soul is most important; help her to grow closer to You, regardless of what happens.  I praise You, I love You, I adore You!  Amen”

Then wait and see what happens!

If you are praying about a broken relationship, I challenge you to pray in this way, “Oh God, I ask you to bless (person’s name) and pour out your Spirit upon him/her.  Make him/her as holy and as happy as possible, even if that means that he/she is holier and happier than I am.”

If you are willing to pray in this way, the situation WILL change.  Either you change because of the incompatibility between your prayer and how you feel, or the power of your prayer will change that relationship.

Keep in mind that I am giving you a basic formula to incorporate into your prayer time; your prayer life is your lifeline to God.  That means that you have to find a communication style that suits you best.  While I believe you can’t go wrong with the method outlined in the Appointment with God formula, there is so much room for customization based on how you connect best.

Maybe during your time of praise at the beginning, you start with a powerful praise and worship song, and give praise in that way.

Maybe instead of journaling your thoughts, you say them to God out loud if that seems the most natural to you.

Maybe your Sacred Space has lit candles to help you enter a prayerful mindset, or perhaps it's the quiet of your front porch.

The point is, this is an excellent place to start, but remember to make it your own.

Make your Appointment with God your own.

I hope you have taken the time to read through all three posts in our series, as they have built upon each other. I pray that you will be able to take some of the things you have learned through this series into your prayer time to make the absolute best Appointment of God you can make!

If you are new here and aren't a weekly subscriber, welcome! Our mission is to spread the gospel through storytelling. We took a break from our usual style to bring you this important series on prayer, but I want to invite you to come back next week to join us as we share our stories and encourage one another in the faith.

Until next time, your sister in Christ,

Leah

To print off an Appointment with God Cheat Sheet for yourself, head to our Prayer Printable page- Prayer Printables | Catholic Country Chronicles

You can get your own copy of this life-changing book here- Appointment with God | Apostolate for Family Consecration, Inc.