Page 35 - Principles for Discipling Others-Student textbook

Prayer Requests

General Guidelines: Everyone has different interests and needs so it is good to be flexible in making
guidelines for your special and individual prayer system.

Some people like to make prayer lists for each day…week…or longer term. Some people like to have
lists of prayer requests that are long-term…or short- term.

Types of Requests
Specific Requests…for self or others (no time limits). Answers to prayer may be a simple “yes” or
“no” or “wait” or “the Lord’s will be done.”

Lists of people…missionaries, members of a class, family, people you have been witnessing to..etc.

Lists of Organizations (Christian or secular) …schools, churches, missionaries, radio programs, etc.

Dangers of Prayer Requests
1. Become bulky to be covered easily…might become a burden and take the joy out of our fellowship
with the Lord. Edit regularly…delete requests answered or those for which the Lord no longer gives you
a burden.

2. May make your praying mechanical and/or too “wordy” (much-speaking). Sometimes it helps to try
to get in touch with the people you are praying for to give you more definite things for which to pray.

3. May take too much time…. Don’t hesitate to shorten your list….or limit the amount of time spent on
the list…or set aside more time for prayer. It may even be necessary to do away with the use of a list for
a time.

Answers to Prayer
Be patient…God does not always answer our prayers on our schedule. Also trust in God’s divine love and
wisdom realizing that sometimes, for our own good, a prayer request maybe not be answered with a
“yes.” It may be “no” or “wait a while.”

Note: It is not unusual to find over a period of time that you have all kinds of prayer requests that are
being answered in amazing…and even “miraculous” ways. As part of your legacy for your family, friends
and others, why not make an “Answer to Prayer Journal”? Keep a record of prayers answered with a
note of the date and special aspects of the request and the answer.

Note: “Prayer works; prayer is work; prayer leads to work!”

Note: Missionary to Russia, Peter Dyneka had a prayer quotation he used every time he presented his
ministry: “NO PRAYER- NO POWER! --- LITTLE PRAYER – LITTLE POWER! --- MUCH PRAYER –
MUCH POWER!”]

Prayer changes things!
(Many ideas in this section were suggested by Robert Velarde in his article, Prayer and the Difference it
Makes. https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/faith-in-life/prayer/prayer)

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