When it comes to prayer, we’re all beginners. We have so much to learn about exercising this spiritual muscle so that it’s strong and effective. We asked various Jesus Film Project® staffers* to weigh in with tips and methods they rely on to keep their prayer life fresh and on track.
*Due to privacy concerns, some staff member names have been changed.
Here are five tips to help breathe new life into your prayer time.
1. Keep a prayer journal
Sometimes we can doubt the effectiveness and power of prayer. And the fact that we often lose track of the things we’ve prayed about contributes to this struggle. Keeping track of our prayers helps remind us of the things we’ve prayed for in the past and offers a clearer view of how they’ve been answered.
Shauna, who serves on the Guest Relations team at Jesus Film Project®, put it this way, “I have a prayer journal. Whenever I hear a prayer request, I write it in there and pray about the need. I love writing prayer requests in the journal, and it is so amazing to go back and see all the prayers that God answered.”
2. Find what works best for your personality
The mental image typically associated with regular prayer is a person kneeling on the floor of their room or maybe sitting in a dimly lit family room in the wee hours of the morning. And while these postures and practices are definitely helpful for some, others will find themselves frustrated by trying to recreate what they think prayer should look like.
The truth is that we’re all different, and we can find ourselves at different seasons in our lives, too. For some of us, focused prayer is a lot easier when we’re physically active. Others simply can’t make early-morning prayer work for them. The key is to figure out what works best for you right now. If it changes over time, that’s okay. Ideally, you’re looking to create a consistent prayer habit and not trying to align yourself to an idea of what prayer is supposed to look like.
“I love going out for a walk, especially in a pretty place,” reflects Holly with our Digital Strategies team. “Nature is calming for me, and I can think and focus better when I’m on the move.”
3. Apply Scripture as a prompt
You might find yourself committed to regular prayer but need help knowing how to pray about a specific issue or what to ask for in prayer. This is an area where Bible study can really make a difference. Actively reading Scripture with prayer in mind is so helpful. And more often than not, your daily reading will help guide you in how you pray about specific issues or give you direction for future prayers.
“I love to pray through Scripture—sometimes it’s praising God, sometimes confessing sin, sometimes interceding for others, sometimes recognizing God’s sovereignty and setting aside worries,” shared Julie, who serves on our Global Media team.
4. Use physical touch when appropriate
When asked about prayer practices, Julie also told us, “When possible, I like to pray through physical touch. Putting my hand on someone’s shoulder or holding hands with those I’m praying with helps me concentrate and recognize God’s presence with us as we are praying.”
The impact of laying hands on someone in prayer can be immense. Physical touch can reassure, comfort, and foster a sense of togetherness and community. Lightly touching someone’s shoulder or holding their hand when praying for them can help you focus on them and facilitate compassionate, meaningful prayer.
It’s essential to recognize that some people may have legitimate concerns or anxieties about someone grabbing, holding or touching them in this way. So it is important to preface any contact with something like, “Is it okay if I put my hand on your shoulder while I pray?” If you sense that they’re uncomfortable, honor their personal space.
5. Pray now and later
Many of us would be surprised at the number of times we’ve offered to pray for someone and then neglected to follow through. And while there are certainly times and reasons why prayer may not be appropriate, those moments are generally rare. More often than not, we can pray the very moment a need presents itself and then follow up with more prayer later.
Jay from our Creative team shared, “I’m kind of an ‘on the go’ prayer guy. As God brings it to mind—pray it now.” This is solid advice. The best possible time for prayer is right at this moment.
Pray with Jesus Film Project
We’re enthusiastic about ensuring that everyone, everywhere has the opportunity to experience the life-changing story of Jesus. But we need people like you to participate with us in prayer. Visit the Jesus Film Project prayer page for ways to pray for and with us!
