How to spend an hour in prayer Are you able to pray for an extended 1me without running out of things to say or falling asleep? If this sounds familiar, one way to overcome these common obstacles is to learn to appreciate different types of prayer and devote 1me on a regular basis to fellowship with God. As you con1nue reading, you will find that this booklet is filled with unique ways to spend a consistent, thoughcul 1me in prayer. Honestly, an hour can seem like a very long 1me to spend in prayer for most people even a pastor or church leader. The ques1on for most is, How can I spend an hour in prayer, meaningfully, without repea1ng myself and without the prayer becoming boring and a burden? Dick Eastman suggests in his book 'The hour that changes the world' that we divide and hour into twelve periods of five minutes each (give or take a minute). In this booklet you will find three different formats for spending an hour in prayer. While there are many ways to pray, each of the following op1ons presents a guide for spending a hour in prayer. Each model divides the 1me into twelve sec1ons, allomng five minutes for each aspect of prayer. This is not a formula you have to s1ck to to please God. This is a tool to assist you as a growing and prayerful person. This "method" of prayer can be applied meaningfully by individuals and by prayer groups. One method for spending an hour in prayer would be to use one of the three op1ons listed during your morning or evening walk. Of course you don't have to keep to five minutes. It can be shorter or longer. Eventually each individual will develop his or her own method or style. All the elements do not have to be present or used during each prayer session. You will also no1ce that some of these sec1ons over- lap each other. Feel be free to do it in a different order or to incorporate various aspects with each other. In Mathew 26:40 Jesus asked his closest friends if they could keep watch (pray) for one- hour. In 1me, with the help of this booklet and some persistence on your part you will find that you will be able to spend and hour in prayer. You can do it!
Varia2on # 1 The first varia1on is a method presented by author Dick Eastman. Every point includes a synopsis of 12 different aspects of prayer. With this in mind, each sec1on will help you understand how every 5- minute sec1on of prayer can be prayed. Start with number 1 and work your way through number 12. If it ever takes less than an hour to complete the prayer 1me don t get down on yourself. 1. Praise - is an act of commitment to God. Through praise we acknowledge God for who He is, exalt Him with our words, our whole being and our amtude, in prayer. All prayer should start with praise. Psalm 115:1 says: "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your Name be the Glory, because of Your Love and Faithfulness". We praise Him for His Name, His Jus1ce, Love, Holiness, Omnipotence, Greatness, Faithfulness, His Word, His Crea1on, His Redemp1on, etc. Feel free to use a different theme (just listed above) each 1me. 2. Wai2ng on the Lord - is an act of silent love or adora1on of God. During this period of silence we tune in to (adjust ourselves to) God Himself, we direct our whole being to Him and commit ourselves to Him once again. We rejoice in and over His Presence. Psalm 46:10 says: "Be s1ll and know that I am God. We make sure at this point that we are in contact with God. This 1me of wai1ng on the Lord cannot be hurried; there is no place for impa1ence and haste here. During this 1me the goal is to think of nothing else but God The Father, His Son Jesus your Redeemer and The Holy Spirit. You need not express your thoughts in words. Concentrate on your rela1onship with God and your love for Him. 3. Confession This is a 1me of self- examina1on (introspec1on) and allowing the Holy Spirit to point out any unconfessed sin to you. I acknowledge my sin and sinfulness before the Lord during this period; I confess my sin and turn my back on it; I break with my sin and accept the Lords' forgiveness. Confession is the cleansing of the Chris1an. Sin builds a wall between us and God so that God will not hear us (Isaiah 59:1-2). Our sins are paid for and forgiven solely through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on the grounds of his death on the Cross. I don't ask God to change the circumstances during confession but that He will forgive and change me. Confess each form of failure, negligence and sin you think of.
4. Praying Scripture - To be able to pray in a balanced way, I have to spend 1me in the Bible. I must get to know God's promises and pray them to God. The Promises of God create faith. During this period I ask: "Lord what promises PRAY can I make my own; what commands must I obey, what warnings must I pay aien1on to?" The Word is our prayer WITH manual. We can remind the Lord of His promises in His Word day and night. As you read Scripture, ask the Lord how to PURPOSE apply it in your life and in your prayer 1me. Your prayers can become quota1ons from Scripture more and more. 5. Watching - a 1me of spiritual observa1on. It will lead to praying for the needs of others and some of your own needs. You tune into the Lord and ask The Holy spirit specifically to draw your aien1on to specific maiers so that you can pray for them. Be especially wary and alert for the onslaughts of the evil one during this 1me. Pray and ask The Holy Spirit to show you the plans, methods, strongholds and strategies of the evil one. Paul teaches us to watch and pray with thanksgiving. "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful" (Col 4:2) Satan will certainly try to keep you from praying and confuse you so that you can not concentrate. Be wary and resist him. Be sure to pray purposefully. What are the problems people experience while teaching the Gospel? Pray for that too. Are there things reported in the news, things that we hear on the radio or see on the television that we should pray for; things like economic problems, poli1cal unrest, wars, etc.?
6. Intercession - to intercede for others, to pray for others. In intercession we concentrate on the needs and distress of others - we stand in the gap for someone else. Intercession is God's method to get His children involved in His plan for the World. We become involved in World evangeliza1on during intercession. When you intercede you stand at God's side and you work with Him for the salva1on or the benefit of some else. By faithful intercession you can do as much as those who are physically in the field. Work out a systema1c plan for intercession, start with your own household and family, then your friends and church, then your town, your country and lastly the whole World. Every Chris1an should have a burden for lost souls and a World in need. Remember the church also needs intercession. Intercession is not only on behalf of unbelievers. Spiritual warfare is an element of prayer that deserves a specific place in our prayer 1me. Pray and ask the Lord to show you through the working of The Holy Spirit where the powers of evil are working. Binding evil forces in Jesus' Name, break their strongholds and resist them. Resist the devil; don't give him a hold in your life. Jesus conquered the evil one on the Cross. We as believers must proclaim his victory in each area of life. Spiritual warfare can also be part of your prayer 1me during Watching and Pe11on. 7. Pe22on - for your personal needs. The believer can and should come to his Father and pray for his own personal needs. And he can pray expectantly, even for the smallest things. During this period we pray for our "daily bread" and we also pray for spiritual strengthening and equiping for our lives and work as believers. I look to the Lord in total dependence to meet my needs. We must never ask out of selfishness. No, our requests must bring Praise to Our Father. An1cipate what your needs are going to be during the day in this period and pray for them. John Rice said: "Prayer is asking and receiving." Tell the Lord why you ask these things from Him, thus ensuring that your inten1ons are pure. Come with openness as our Father wants to meet our needs gladly.
8. Thanksgiving - is to acknowledge your apprecia1on to the Lord for what He has done for you and others. During this period I thank God for who He is, His gils, His answers to my prayers, His care and provision. Thank the Lord for spiritual, material, physical and any other blessings. Be specific in your thanksgiving and beware of generaliza1ons. Tell the Lord why you are grateful. Think about the day or days gone by and thank the Lord for everything, you have received from Him. 9. Song - Song does not have to be used during Sunday worship only. A person of prayer can sing their own (new) song to the Lord or make use of exis1ng songs as circumstances determine. Song and Spiritual warfare (our baile with the evil one) are inextricably linked to each other. During this period one praises, worships, exalts and esteems the Heavenly Father in song. Your singing can take the form of praise songs, songs that tes1fy to God's power and grace, Thanksgiving and songs about God's Name. To sing to the Glory of the Lord is definitely a command from God (Ps 100). Sing enthusias1cally and hear1ly, because you are exal1ng God. The amtude of your heart and the fact that you are carrying out His instruc1ons are of greater value to the Lord than whether you can sing beau1fully or can sing in tune. 10. Medita2on - means to reflect upon or examine a maier more closely (deeply) to evaluate it spiritually. During this period I think about the Being and the nature of the God, his crea1on and great deeds. You can use a por1on of Scripture to reflect upon, a Psalm for instance, but also other por1ons. Chris1an medita1on is the opposite of Eastern medita1on. To the Chris1an, medita1on is an ac1ve process of evalua1on, searching and pondering, where one uses his full intellect and is led by Scripture and the Holy Spirit in his medita1on. Medita1on is to ponder in a disciplined way. Beware that Satan does not plant his thoughts into your mind. Also beware of nega1ve thoughts during this 1me. Consider everything that is true, pure, noble, right, beau1ful and praise worthy. When you meditate on a certain por1on of Scripture you must ask yourself among other things what this por1on means to you.
11. Listening - is a period during which you ask the Lord to reveal new things to you, things that He wants you to no1ce and pay aien1on to. You deliberately ask God to reveal His Will and strategies/plans to you. In wai1ng PRAY and listening on The Lord the emphasis is on hearing God. During medita1on we want to learn more from God. LIKE During the period of listening we want to hear what God wants to say to us. During this period I ask: "Lord, what do JESUS you expect from me; What is Your Will for me?" You can also ask the Lord specific ques1ons, perhaps some difficult ques1ons that you do not have the answers to. Be sensi1ve to the Holy Spirit. Write down all the thoughts that come from the Lord in your opinion, and put them to the test in the Scripture. Use them as direc1ves for the execu1on of God's command. Be careful not to say immediately that: "The Lord said this and that to me." Always test if the Lord is s1ll with you in the maier and be prepared to make a change of course, if necessary. 12. Worship - to exalt God and say of Him: " I know who I am praying to and I Trust Him with my prayers. This is a period of joy before the Lord. Let your AMEN be strong at the end and confirm that you believe God has heard you and will answer you. Amen means - it is true and sure, so shall it be.
Varia2on # 2 1. Praise Begin by thinking about His nature, praising God, and deligh1ng in Him and His work. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name (Psalm 100:4). 2. Read Scripture Read or quote a psalm of praise to the Lord. Pray through a psalm. Ask God to give you understanding as you read His Word. Let the Scriptures fill your mind and impact your heart. All Scripture is given by inspira?on of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc?on, for instruc?on in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (II Timothy 3:16 17). 3. Meditate on God s Word Take 1me to meditate on the Scripture you have just read or on other passages that comes to mind. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.... I will meditate in your precepts (teachings), and give careful thought to your ways (Psalm 119:11, 15). 4. Confess Evaluate specific amtudes, thoughts, words, and ac1ons that God brings to mind as you come before His throne of grace. Confess your sins to God and humbly ask for His forgiveness and cleansing. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). 5. Intercede Make requests of the Lord on behalf of others. Pray for revival in the hearts of believers. Pray diligently for the needs that come to mind. I urge, then, first of all, that pe??ons, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people (I Timothy 2:1).
6. Listen Wait before God in worshipful silence. Quiet your heart and be s1ll before God. Ask God to speak to you through His Word. Listen. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.... The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty (Psalm 29:2, 4). 7. Record your prayers and insights Keep a prayer journal. Write out prayers of worship, intercession, and pe11on. Write down the insights and direc1on God gives to you during your prayer 1me. 8. Pe22on for daily needs Bring your personal requests to God. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situa?on, by prayer and pe??on, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6 7). 9. Pray for the family Pray for your family. Pray for families in general. Ask the Lord to strengthen marriages and uphold family rela1onships. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers & sisters to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1). 10. Pray for the Church Pray for the unity and purity of believers, for those in our church, for our church leadership, and for the universal Body of Christ (other Bible believing churches). Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ..... Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (I Corinthians 12:12, 27). May God himself, the God of peace, sanc?fy you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (I Thessalonians 5:23 24).
11. Pray for government leaders Pray that God will give our leaders wisdom and understanding. Pray for local, na1onal, and interna1onal concerns. Let everyone be subject to the governing authori?es, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authori?es that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1). 12. Give thanks Think about the good gils God has given you and express your gra1tude for His care and provision. Praise God for all that He has done and for all that He will do. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thessalonians 5:18). Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who sa?sfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle s. (Psalm 103:1 5). Varia2on #3 In varia1on three, you are encouraged to create your own one- hour paiern for prayer. You can use any of the ideas above and blend them with your own or create your very own paiern. This op1on opens the door for you to thoughcully plan out your personal one- hour prayer 1me. If you have never spent an hour in prayer it is probably best to start with the first two op1ons un1l you get some prac1ce under your belt and then move on to this third op1on. Feedback Aler you have spent your hour in prayer we would love to hear from you. Please email us at info@theneighborhoodchurch.org and let us know how it went. Did you learn something you can pass onto our team that would be helpful for other people of prayer? Please let us know.
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a liile farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn t you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into tempta1on. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mathew 24:36-41 How to Spend an Hour in Prayer was adapted from the following resources "The Hour that Changes the World" by Dick Eastman C 1978 by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI hip://iblp.org/ques1ons/how- can- i- spend- hour- prayer hip://www.jwipn.com/pdf/cywtp_chapter09.pdf To contact the prayer team email prayer@theneighborhoodchurch.org www.theneighborhoodchurch.org Phone 503-638- 8765
PRAY FOR OUR PASTOR Pray that Pastor Paul would PRAY Have a shepherd s heart - John 21:15-18 Build up the congrega1on - 2 Corinthians 13:10 Be filled with faithfulness in preaching the Word - 2 Ti. 4:1-6 Have a great love for the congrega1on - Philippians 1:8. Promote worship in spirit and truth - John 4:24 Be an example of gentleness - 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Be filled with wisdom - 1 Kings 3:6 Promote unity - Ephesians 4:3 S1mulate a love for the Word in the congrega1on - Psalm 19:7 Have clear priori1es/1me management - Acts 6:1; Luke 10:38-4 Personal integrity - Psalm 15 Be diligent - 1 Timothy 4:15 Serve as an example - 1 Timothy 4:16 Be of sound teaching - 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Tim:15 Have a persevering spirit - Jeremiah 12:5 Have a willingness to stand alone - 1 Kings 18 Have and communicate the vision clearly - Numbers 14:1-9 Be courageous and act in love in church discipline - Gala1ans 6:1-2 See each member of the Body as essen1al - I Corinthians 12 Be faithful to pray for the congrega1on - I Samuel 12:23 Praise and bless the congrega1on - Colossians 1:3-4; Philippians 1:3-6 Not be quarrelsome - 2 Timothy 2:24 Equip the saints - Ephesians 4:11 Lead his family well I Tim 3:12 Pray for Pastor Paul daily so that Christ may be revealed. Pastor Paul Owen Lead Pastor