OnCall Prayer

I’d like to share some excerpts from my book The Power of Three – How a Protective Shield of Intentional Prayer Can Transform Your Life – Handbook Edition available at oncallprayer.org, Amazon and Kindle.

How to Develop a Lifestyle of Intentional Prayer

1) Establish a quiet location to pray (your private Sanctuary) as a patio, park bench, or favorite chair. Change locations if or when you feel “dry” or “in a rut.”

2) Turn off or silence all electronic equipment i.e. phones, computers, televisions, radios, etc.

3) Do not read emails, or your social media sites until AFTER your quiet time.

4) When your mind wanders, have a note pad handy for a TO DO LIST.

5) When reading your prayer list, call the names out loud as you pray. (Refer to your OnCall Pocket Prayer Book©) An object, like a rock inscribed with a name, sitting by your coffee pot, is a great reminder.

6) Use the OnCall Prayer Journal© to hear from God . . . on paper.

7) Use different colors of markers and pens to mark important writings; use tabs to mark pages in your journal or Bible for future reference.

8) When reading scriptures read aloud and insert your name or the names of your loved ones in those scriptures.

9) Have photographs handy of people you pray for and/or post their photo on your phone wall-paper or computer desktop as a daily reminder.

10) Set phone alarms as prayer reminders especially for scheduled Conference Prayer Calls.

12) Pray specifically and intentionally. Mark 10:36 reminds us that Jesus asks his disciples, James and John: “What do you want me to do for you?”

13) An excellent habit to form: When you wake up in the morning before arising lay there a few minutes and think of all the things to praise God for. “Meditate within your heart upon your bed and be still.” Psalm 4:4 “Praise God from sunrise to sunset.” Psalm 113:3. TLB

14) Remember: Prayer is simply having a conversation with Father, God. He answers at the “set time.” See Genesis 21:2 KJV

15) Keep in the mind the 3 Deadly D’s: Distraction, Discouragement and Doubt.

16) To release unforgiveness: Don’t curse it, don’t nurse it, don’t rehearse it, disperse it and God will reverse it.

17) Delay?  You may be in a “holding pattern.”

18) Fact: Praise is the best weapon against the Enemy. Psalm 8:2

19) Too busy to pray? Just DO IT: Deliberate, Obedience, Intentional, Trust

20) The one prayer that never fails . . . “May Thy will be done.”

 Delay in not denial!

No prayer is ever prayed in vain!

“But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith (and are praying)?” Luke 18:8 TLB        

Begin praying by asking the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind.   If you are too busy to spend time with God you are too busy.

Choose a setting to be alone with God:

It might be on your patio with a candle, soft music and possibly the sounds of a fountain. Perhaps it is in a favorite chair in your home or study with a delicious cup of coffee, or a park bench near your workplace where you can retreat during your lunch hour. Spending time with God will change your life!

Scheduled prayer team conference calls:

This could be weekly, monthly or for a specific event or need. There are several websites providing the conference calls services at no charge to include: freeconferencecall.com, totallyfreeconferencecalls.com and others.

 Set your alarms for conference prayer calls:

Set phone alarms (or other alarms) as reminders of time to pray for a specific prayer request or scheduled conference prayer calls. These calls may be set up at the same time weekly or monthly.

Schedule prayer walks with a detailed list of prayer needs:

Give an itemized list to each person who is participating in the prayer walk. A location ex-ample would be to pray quietly in and around a facility where a conference or event is taking place, or walk in pairs down the streets of a neighborhood to pray for salvation and blessings for those living in those homes. Churches often do this and leave behind a door hanger.

 Have photos of people you are praying for on hand:

It is powerful to look at the face of a person or loved one you are praying for and calling out their name to God in prayer. This is especially meaningful for the people who ask you to pray for them and their family members.

 Pocket Prayer Book – a record of prayer requests:

One of the most important questions you can ask another person is “How can I pray for your today?” You may want to ask the waitress, grocery store clerk, fast food server, store clerk, and others. Use the OnCall Pocket Prayer Book© or a small notebook to record the names and prayer requests.

Another suggestion is to write prayer re-quests on the Prayer List pages of your OnCall Prayer Journal© or in a notebook. Periodically reflect back on those prayer requests and write in red ink how God has answered that prayer and the date.

Text Messages:

Text a short prayer to the person you are praying for. And if your Prayer Shield or Prayer Team is praying for you, text them the word “PRAY” during those specific times you need prayer.

 For Speakers:

Have your assigned Prayer Shield members or prayer team on site to pray for you before you speak. They can pray over your notes, the empty chairs in the room and for those who will sit in those chairs, and for the sound equipment. It is very powerful for your prayer warriors to remain in the room praying quietly as you speak. Or your prayer team may want to pray on site in another room during the time you are speaking to a group. It is especially meaningful at churches to have a specific team of warriors pray for the pastor during the service.

 Fasting and Prayer ~ Why Fast?

Fasting is not so much about food as it is about focus. Fasting and prayer is an outward response to an inward attitude and cry of the soul. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is taught in the Bible. Fasting releases God’s supernatural power. (Matthew 6) The focus of fasting is to be in the Lord’s presence without disturbance so that you can hear from God.

 40 Days of Prayer:

You or your Prayer Team Coordinator can schedule 40 Days of Prayer before an event or important decision. I highly recommend the book “Draw the Circle – The 40 Day Prayer Challenge” by Mark Batterson. Quoting this author . . . “There is nothing magical about forty days, but there is something biblical about it.”

 Very Important Reminder:

When you ask others to pray for you (especially in a serious or crisis situation) remember to get back with these intercessors to let them know the progress and/or how God has answered your prayer request. This is too often forgotten! This will encourage those who have been faithful to intercede on your behalf.