How To Bring Revival To Your Life - Part 2.5

BONUS BLOG

I wanted to do a three part series, but there are simply TOO MANY amazing resources I wanted to tell you about. SO, here’s a bonus post for Prayer resources – enjoy!

One of the things I tell the people in my local church constantly is that God wants to hear from us. The bible actually says that the Holy Spirit will HELP us pray. Sometimes we don’t know what to say, or what words to use, or anything – but the bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will literally interpret the groaning of our hearts to God. Even if our words are bumbling and messy – God knows what our hearts are saying. Reading the bible is one of the best ways to hear FROM God, and prayer is one of the best ways to communicate TO God. Put them together and you have a conversation! (And truly, isn’t it always a little awkward when you’re first talking to someone – but the more you know them, the easier it is to communicate with them). I have three quick resources to help you get started with PRAYER.

1.) Psalms

There is a whole book in the bible (and it’s LONG) that is FULL of prayers. The book of Psalms is a collection of poetry, but it’s very often just a person crying out to God in a time of need or thanksgiving or praise. If you struggle with what to say – go read a Psalm out loud. It’s a really great starting point.

2.) Book of Common Prayer

There is actually a whole BOOK of prayers that church leaders use all the time. It’s called the “Book of Common Prayer” and you can even find digital versions for free online (like here). They are organized by topic, time of year or even just as a daily rhythm. You are welcome to just simply open your mouth and start talking to God – but if that feels scary or you don’t have any idea how to get started – the book of common prayer is a handy way to start. Another good launching point is the Lord’s Prayer. If you’re not familiar, this is the prayer that Jesus gave his disciples when they asked, “Hey, how are we supposed to pray?” You can find that here.

3.) A Prayer List

Personally, I find having a prayer list is incredibly helpful for my prayer life. Basically, anytime someone shares something that needs prayer, I write it down on a list. I used to carry a little notebook around, but now I just have a note on my phone that keeps track. Whenever I want to pray, I just open up my list and walk through the names, praying for each person and whatever is going on for their life. It’s a great way to spend some time thinking of others, and to be honest – it’s one of the simplest and most effective ways of loving your neighbor in real time.

ONE LAST NOTE

Christian Education is very simple. It’s where we want to take that next step beyond sitting in a pew on Sunday, and start growing closer to God. This is the part where you develop the habits of the Christian life – and this stuff is truly transformative. It will change your life for the better. BUT, like almost everything – a lot of this stuff is best done in COMMUNITY. Having a group of people to help you grow in your connection with God is so incredibly powerful. I recommend a small group (or life group or growth group or whatever your church calls them). Find other people who ALSO want to learn about God and grow closer to Jesus. Work on it together – encourage and challenge one another. Almost everything in the Christian life is better when done with the support of a community. Simple, right?