As pastors and prayer leaders we all desire to see our people grow deeper and become more passionate about prayer. One of the best things we can do is to engage them in praying for things that are on their hearts already . . . and give them prayer guides or prayer points to help.
The second thing to do, is encourage them to keep at it with regular prompts.
So what are some things that are on their hearts that they will pray over if encouraged to do so?
Praying for the Nation and Upcoming Election
There are not many believers alive in the United States who are not concerned with what is happening in our nation and the unbelievable mess that is our upcoming election. Many of them are crying out to God, but need some focused prayer points to keep them going.
Email some prayer points to your people each week or pray through a guide like We Declare: 31 Days of Intercession for America (Multiple copy discounts are available at prayershop.org). Or encourage your people to sign up for 40 Days USA, which starts September 27 and ends November 5th, Election Day. Our sister ministry’s (Harvest Prayer Ministries), Kim Butts, wrote the prayer guide being used by this effort.
Praying for the Next Generation
Most believers have a heart for children, teens and college age young people—the next generation. They are very concerned with the dangerous and evil messages and ideologies young people are getting bombarded with daily. More people in your pews are praying for them than ever before. Every time I offer our kids and schools as a topic for prayer in my church’s weekly corporate prayer meetings, our intercessors take off with impassioned prayer and warfare!
There are a number of prayer guides you can use to help them stay focused. I recommend these two: Reclaim a Generation Volume 2: 21 Days of Prayer for Schools and the Collegiate Day of Prayer’s 30 Day Church Prayer Guide that focuses on college students and colleges and universities.
Praying for Their Community
Most people have a heart for the community in which they live. Encourage them to pray by putting a focused prayer initiative in their hands. Praying God’s Word Over Your City: 40 Days of Prayer toward a Transformed Community is an excellent guide that will focus their prayers on 7 key areas.
Praying for the Lost
Most believers have at least someone—usually a close relative or friend—who they are very concerned for spiritually. Tap into this, and inspire your people to pray for specific lost people around them. Here are a few great resources that can help you engage your people and give them biblical things to pray for the salvation of neighbors, co-workers, friends and family members.
Be Jesus in Your Neighborhood: Developing a Prayer, Care, Share Lifestyle in 30 Days
Praying for Your Unsaved Family and Friends
And here are two books that can inspire your people about the effectiveness of regular prayer for the lost and challenge them to commit to doing it.
Pick one of these hot topics this Fall and engage your congregation or group to pray! You will be glad you did. And remember. With any prayer initiative you try to engage your congregation with, they need continual reminders, encouragement and prodding to keep at it.
–Jonathan Graf is the president of Church Prayer Leaders Network. He is the author of numerous books on prayer including Praying Like Paul and Restored Power: Becoming a Praying Church One Tweak at a Time.
