OVERVIEW

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5.17) and we should strive to do the same. This can seem like a pretty daunting concept though. The Prayer Cycle is a simple tool to help guide us in 12 ways to pray. Engaging in each for only 5 minutes can help us exercise our prayer life in a way to work towards ceaseless prayer.

TIPS

• Do not be legalistic. If you can only do 1-2 minutes of a section, just do that and work your way up to 5 minutes.
• Set a 5-minute timer. If you want to continue in that section for longer though, go for it!
• If you get distracted easily, try journaling and writing out your reflections and prayers.
• If you have less than an hour to pray, simply divide up the time. 30 minutes: spend 2.5 minutes on each section.

12 SECTIONS

1. Praise — Start your prayer hour by praising the Lord. Praise Him for who He is and His attributes.
2. Wait — Use this time to surrender to Jesus and ask the Spirit to lead and guide your time.
3. Confess — Ask the Spirit to show you anything in your life that might need confession. Read the Confession of Sin below. Remember: The heart of sin is unbelief in who God is, resulting in idolatry. Reflect on the 4 G’s: Where might you have unbelief?
4. Read the Word — Spend time reading a passage of Scripture. (A Psalm is a good option)
5. Petition — Make specific requests for yourself.
6. Intercede — Make specific requests on behalf of others. Start with your closest relational circle (i.e. family) and move outward.
7. Pray the Word — Use the passage you read earlier as a beginning place to pray.
8. Thanksgiving — Give thanks to the Lord for what He has done in and through your life, family, and church.
9. Sing — Listen to or sing a song that is on your heart.
10. Meditate — Merge everything together that you have prayed, read, and sung; What is the Lord communicating to you?
11. Listen — Ask the Spirit to speak to you. Write down what you hear and talk to another believer about it.
12. Praise — Praise the Lord for the time you have had to spend with Him and any impressions He has given to you.

OVERVIEW

Praying for our enemies is a very important aspect to our faith and witness in Jesus. The concept of not merely praying for, but also doing good, blessing, and loving our enemies is against most of what is taught in our culture and world. The saying, “Scratch my back and I will scratch yours” is the predominant base of our relationships. However, this is not the base for Jesus’ relationships―his base is selfless love, blessing, and goodness―no matter who they are. Forgiveness is at the heart of praying for your enemies. This process of forgiveness may take a long time, but the more you pray to bless and love them, the easier it will be to forgive.

SCRIPTURE

Luke 6.27-36

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

YOUR ENEMIES

Think about people in your life (past and present):

• Who do you have a difficult time being around?
• Who brings about anger or frustration at the mention of their name?
• Who has hurt or mistreated you?

As you think about that neighbor, co-worker, boss, friend, acquaintance, etc.; take time to pray for them. When you pray for them, if you still have resentment, anger, frustration towards them, pray routinely for them. If you are around them consistently, think of ways to love and bless them.

PRAYERS

Humble Blessing:

God, bless _________ : raise him/her above me; give him/her greater love, support, and community than I have; give him/her greater success than I have; and help him/her participate in the restoration of the world more than I do. Amen.

Reconciliation:

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead ________ and me/us from prejudice to truth: deliver ________ and me/us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

REFLECT

Read one or more of these passages and reflect upon them.

• Matthew 5.43-48, 6.9-15
• Romans 12.17-21
• 1 Peter 3.8-18

OVERVIEW

The Daily Prayer of Examen is a tool developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). It is a practice of prayerful reflection on the day’s events in order to detect the movement of God in all the people and events of our day. For the disciple maker, The Prayer of Examen has many helpful benefits: we become more aware of God and what he is stirring in us; we gain a better understanding of God’s perspective and insight; we make better and wiser decisions; and experience more peace and joy.

PREPARE

• Find a place where you are able to reflect on your day with God in solitude and prayer.
• Set aside at least 15 min for the prayer.
• Recommended to pray The Examen at the end of your day, but you can reflect upon the previous day in the morning if that works best for you.
• You may find that on different days you are drawn to spend more time on certain parts of the prayer and less on others.
• Allow the Spirit to lead the time.

MEDITATE & PRAY

1. Become Aware of God’s Presence―Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. If the day seems confusing to you, like a blur, ask God to bring clarity and understanding.
2. Review the Day with Gratitude―Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did and the people you interacted with:

• What did you receive from these people?
• What did you give them?
• How was God in the smallest of details?

3. Pay Attention to Your Emotions―One of St. Ignatius’s great insights is that our emotions can be gateways into understanding how God wants to move and work in our lives.

• Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Joy? Resentment? Boredom? Compassion?
• How do you think God wants you to respond to these emotions? If joy, perhaps gratitude; if fear, maybe trust; if conviction, probably repentance.
• God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Take note of these instances, but look deeply for other implications.
• Do you have concern for a friend? That feeling may indicate that you should not only pray but also reach out to her in some way.

4. Choose One Feature of the Day and Pray for It―Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of joy or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.
5. Look Toward Tomorrow―Ask God to give you insight for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delight and anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask Him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

OVERVIEW

Prayer walking is about partnering with God as he opens up the hearts of the people in areas of your city and neighborhood. It takes us to the areas where we want to see God most move and work. In prayer walking, God opens our eyes to see where he is working while we pray that He opens others’ eyes to him. We want to be open to how God is working in the area and how we can participate with him. Prayer walking can open the door to conversations with people and bring healing to the problems or injustices in this part of the city.

Prayer walking is a posture of prayer before God. If kneeling/bowing in prayer conveys humility, need for God, and sorrow in heart; standing conveys praise, gratitude, and worship; so walking conveys a desire to see God move and enter into mission with him.

PREPARATION

• Where do you want to see God move? Express your vision for the area to others who will prayer walk with you.
• Invite others who have the same desire and vision for the area. (There is intentionality in why Jesus sent out disciples two-by-two.)
• Prior to walking, spend time in prayer. Pray for: encounters, the Holy Spirit to take the lead, and protection from the enemy.
• Divide into small groups―pairs work best, but three can work if there is an odd number.
• Read one of these passages: Isa. 35.1-10; Isa. 58.6-12; Isa. 61.1-4.

PRAYING & WALKING

• Keep your eyes open and walk as you pray out loud.
• Observe people and places; reflect on those who work and live in the area.
• Ask God to direct where you walk.

HOW TO PRAY

1. Healing to broken relationships: for families to be restored and reconciled―that they would know the Prince of Peace.
2. Breaking oppression and addictions: for people to come to know the Healer. 
3. Jobs and the needs of the poor: that they would know the Provider.
4. Welcoming of the marginalized: that the forgotten would find spiritual family.
5. Comfort for those who are suffering: that they would realize the work of the Comforter.
6. Safety of the people: Love and protection for the children. That they may hear of the God who loves and protects people.
7. God’s People: that the Holy Spirit would come and reveal God’s Kingdom in and through his people.
8. Salvation: For God to draw people to himself.
9. Persons of Peace: God would bring you to people who can be conduits for the gospel and relationships.

DEBRIEF

• Spend a few minutes thanking God for working in this area. 
• Discuss and write down what God showed you―to remember for the next time you go
• Pick the next date (the following week if able) for another prayer walk.