The summer months are usually busy up until August then most folks settle down and get ready for 'back-to-school'time. We tend to get e-mails from folks who want to use the extra summer time for God in some way. We respond and list a bunch of activities they could do with the time, however, most folks usually settle down with the idea of starting a prayer ministry at home. Now, first it isn't all that lofty of an activity and it doesn't require special training and so on. All Christians pray, most pray several times a day. So what's the difference with starting a personal prayer ministry? When one begins a personal prayer ministry they tend to set aside a certain amount of time at specific times each day to pray for the well being of others. Many will 'adopt' a specific prayer target such as abortion or family violence. Unfortunately, there are far too many trouble areas that could use many extra prayers. Another approach to beginning a prayer ministry is to take prayer requests from Christians via your church, website or even a small ad in a local newspaper. Regardless, of which type of ministry you decide to begin, please do so with complete reverence and religious professionalism. Any small mistake can become a major point of contention and a stumbling stone for weaker spiritually mature persons. When another asks you to pray for them for a specific reason, you had better pray for them when you say you will! It is expected by people who ask others to pray for them, that a consorted effort of more than just a brief rambling mention at next meal time prayer. No I am not saying that your prayers need be long and complex. Your prayer needs to be serious, directed and asked with an intended result in mind. If you don't agree with the person asking for prayer, tell them and tell them straight up, that you will not pray for them under those conditions or whatever the reason may be.
Many people who begin a prayer ministry at home find it much easier to be organized and well prepared. Many people purchase professional prayer journals, some crafty types will even make their own. Again, there is no writen rule that you must first have a prayer journal and secondly that you must spent a lot of money on one! Many professional prayer journals will come with helping tools such as little printable prayer cards that say, "I will be/or I did pray(ing) for you and your intention at 3:30 Friday, please join with me in prayer at that time". Religious index cards that you can carry with you to write down specifics of certain prayers and so on. Others will have scripture guides to direct people to specific passages that deal with their situation. Actual logs to tract what, when and for what reason you prayed and what the result was. Notecards and stationery as well as a prayer charts to pray for specific issues at specific times each day. This joins your prayers with thousands of others for real action in our world! However, if you are a less organized type of person, you certainly would not need or want these tools. Again, you don't need any tools because of any rule or law. Most people starting out enjoy having some structure to help get them going. A vist to this OLIN page will display both professional, pay for journals as well as some completely free of charge journal samples and journal pages at the bottom of the page to help get you started quickly. Either way you choose, we're not talking about much money. Usually well under (10) ten dollars will be enough to set you up very nicely!
I'm sure that if you are one of these types of Christians who are feeling the need/call to do more for God this summer, then you will find a prayer ministry fits prefectly for you. Simply watching the evening news one night wil give you many idea's of what needs God prayer power! For those of you who seem to organize others to you to assist you, will find activites such as pot-luck lunchs and knitting/crocheting circle prayers great ways to have others join in with you to help our broken world. As with most events, the more the better, especially when we join together with others in agreement with us in prayer! Lastly, as I said before, there is no written or unwritten rules of what must be said, done, used, or constructed to begin a prayer ministry. Mixed couples or all ladies will work great! Don't be an obstacle for God's power of prayer, rather be a conduit!
If for some reason starting a prayer ministry doesn't feel right for you, it is okay! There are many area's that you can put your skils to help God's kingdom! If you have run out of idea's, you may email us and/or you could ask your Pastor/Priest for direction. As with most things, when we have a little extra time, God is testing to see if we wish to put it to His good use! The fall is coming just around-the-corner. Maybe your gift of time will be better suited for the end of summer, beginning of fall. May God bless and protect you and yours this summer.
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Roy Twogood Jr is Managing Director of OLIN e-Publishing Company and OLINeBooks , Denver Colorado- http://olinepublishing.com/ . Hope you are enjoying your summer, please feel free to re-post this anywhere with any URL's and this byline! Thank you!
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