CREATIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL PRAYER
BY FREDI TRAMMELL

Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewes once said, a “sweet duty”.

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business, industry, and administration- Theses people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, “The least shall be the greatest among you.” Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Have You Seen Us?
We’ve all seen them – the pictures of missing children on ShopWise advertisements. The ad urges you to call 1-800-THE-LOST if you spot the child pictured below. Instead of throwing those envelope size ads away, here’s a great way to use them in your prayer time: Call out the child’s name before the One who knows where he is! Ask the Lord to bring the little one into a safe place where he can come to know God.
Pray that the child will be kept from dangerous situations that would harm his soul, and if it would be good for the child, that the Shepherd would bring hem back home.

Pray the Picture!
Do you have a lot of people, places, etc., you like to pray for on a daily basis? Get a sharp picture of why you’re praying for them by making a prayer picture ring (this works wonders for a child’s prayer time, too!) With a Polaroid camera, take pictures of everyone you want to pray for. Write their name and special need on the bottom of the picture. Hole punch the upper left corner; slide picture onto a custodian size key chain. Flip-flop, your prayers will hop!

Journal Your Journey
Take five minutes a day to write down what you’ve asked the Lord to do. Then as He answers, record his wonderful works. As you journey through life, these written reminenscings will be a reference point that you’ll return to again and again. And as a family keepsake, your journals will demo a godly heritage.

Chip Off the Old Block
Want to see God do something marvelous in your neighborhood? Then take a hike. Take time every day to walk around your block or down the street. As you go, claim the people behind the doors for the Name above every name. Pray a different name of God over your neighborhood every day; for example, as you walk, you could pray that Jehovah Rapha would heal in a miraculous way those who are sick en your area. Another prayer is that you would be able to meet and witness to those who are hungry for truth.

Remember, prayer is the fishing line that makes us fishers of men.

Business Cards Offering Free Prayer
Many computers have programs which allow the user to prepare business cards using 8.5 by 11 size perforated stock (Wal Mart or Office Depot). Information which needs to be on the card is the offer for prayer and an email address where requests could be sent. Possibly a Bible verse and a short prayer could be included also. When a request is submitted, be sure to respond with an assurance that you prayed and request a future update.

Show Yourself Friendly
Pick one friend that doesn’t know the Lord. For seven days, pray for that person in a different way. Be sure your life mirrors your prayers.

• Pray that they will see how much you care.

• Pray that they will trust you.

• Pray that they will ask for help so you can point to Him.

• Pray that their family will be at peace.

• Pray that they will feel at home in the church services.

• Pray that their hearts will be good ground for the Word.

• Pray that they would be satisfied with nothing less than Jesus.

Praying the Newspaper
Surely your town is like the average place. Your newspaper is probably full of needs, crises, hurts, and troubles that cause the heart to break. Could these things have been prevented if there had been an
intercessor to make up the hedge? Each person represented in the paper deserves to have someone who cares enough to stand in the gap. Read the paper with the eyes and heart of Christ, and ask God to mercifully intervene.

Prayer Booth
This could be done during your town’s homecoming or fair days. Set up a booth where people can leave prayer requests and be prayed for on the spot. Hand out testimonies of saints in your church who have been saved, healed, and delivered through prayer. This will greatly encourage those desirous of prayer in certain areas. If the plans are to pray over the requests during the next church service, it might be wise to use first names only.

Tell the ones needing prayer that your church is standing with them during their time of need.

Shop `n Drop (to your knees)
Nowadays, the receipt we get from the cashier almost always has her name on it. Don’t throw it away after you enter it into the checkbook; highlight her name and hang it on the fridge. When you pass by, take a
moment to bow before God and ask Him to save her. As you prepare the food you paid her for, ask God to send other witnesses her way. Upon saying grace with your family, let each person pray for her out loud.
Send a card to the store letting her know you have prayed for her.

Prayer: It Does His Body Good
Take a week or month to pray over our Lord’s body (church). Sunday – Mouth: All those who preach and teach His Word Monday – Hands: All those who do physical labor for His kingdom Tuesday – Elbows: All those who can be leaned on in weary times Wednesday – Knees: All those who are intercessors Thursday – Big Toes: All those who help keep the balance Friday – Neck: Leaders who show where the Head is going
Saturday – Arms: All those who draw the hurting in for a hug

THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY FREDI TRAMMELL. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.