I’m learning more about the process of prayer this week in Live a Praying Life by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. Here are a few notes worth reviewing and sharing.
A “prayer-list prayer life” assumes there are two parts to prayer: my request and God’s answer. But this is a mindset that limits prayer to getting God to perform for you. Your prayer list becomes a to-do list for God.
Prayer lists are effective IF they are in the context of a praying life. Use your prayer list like this: Write down the concern or the need and date it. The date is the day you surrendered it to God for His purposes, His ways, and His timing. Instead of watching to see if God answers, watch to see HOW God answers. You will find that He answers progressively. Record things as you go along and watch with amazement as God pieces things together for an outcome that is more than you could think or imagine. (Live a Praying Life: Open Your Life to God’s Power and Provision, pages 71-72)
I am so encouraged by this. I sometimes wonder if I should be focused more on a prayer list. I love the idea of using it to document God’s power, His ways, His provision, His process of bringing His will down from Heaven to earth. Ephesians 3:20 is one of my favorite Bible verses. It gives me hope each time I remember that God’s power is able to do in me and through me and for me – MORE than I can ask or imagine. Today in this context, I have more hope in the process of prayer.
You and I can look at our prayer list and smile and say……… I give you this list. I surrender to you all my expectations of the hows and whens. I want to trust in the “more than I can ask or imagine”. Help me to see and know more of You Lord through this process of prayer for (_________).
Inspired & Sharing it! 
Haelie
November 13, 2011
Amen.
Barry B.
November 14, 2011
Years ago I started using my high school yearbooks as prayer lists and then college yearbooks. Most college students don’t take pictures for college yearbooks so my college also came out with a phone book and I prayed for everyone in it. I’ve also prayed for everyone pictured in four church pictorial directories and now I am praying through my second city phonebook.
One day I realized that I might be the only person in the world praying for the salvation of some of my former classmates. How tragic!! I don’t want any of them to perish. So I committed my life to praying for them.
Jennifer White
November 14, 2011
Barry – that is a wonderful mission. I am inspired by your eternal focus and commitment. Thank you for sharing !