If you are planning a special day of prayer today, here are a few ideas that might spark some creative ideas of your own.
This day is extra special for me as it wraps up a year, a month, and a day since I started focusing on simplifying my life and living intentionally on 11-11-11. In that theme, I intend to keep tomorrow as
simple as possible.
As much as I enjoy planning special prayer days and events for others, it is an extra special time when I am planning just for myself an the Lord. It seems more humble and intimate when no one sees the preparation or the final result.
But, because this annual time of prayer has been such a blessing to me, I am happy to tell you a little bit about it; so that you too can have a precious "date" with the Lord.
On this one day each year, I intentionally pull back from technology, people, and routine to unhurriedly seek the Lord, to reflect on the past year, and pray for guidance in the coming year.
When it is just me, I approach the day open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and each year is different. Here are a few of the things I have done in the past on my these days.
Every year, I begin the day down by the pond reading the Psalms, (usually Ps. 1 first, then a few randomly chosen Psalms, followed by singing the Psalms of Ascent as I walk up our hill). Sometime during the day I go for a walk on my "prayer trail" in the woods to refect and pray. Several years ago I made a book with prayer challenges that I usually take with me and often use a few of those prayer prompts.
Since this is towards the end of the year, I plan to lay out the next years calendar and mark my monthly prayer days and my Day or Prayer for 2013. Then I may pray for each memeber of my family as I mark our birthdays and our annual trips. I will review my prayer request calendar from 2012 (mentioned in the Prayer Challenge for Day 12), thanking the Lord for His answers and praying over the unanswered concerns. (I often us a highlighter to mark answered prayers.)
I will pray through my home asking the Lord's blessing on the people that use each room and activities that take place there. This is one of the most precious times of my prayer day, and this is why I love to be home rather than away for this personal retreat. I often begin at the front door, working my way from the public rooms to the more private spaces, ending in my own room in my prayer corner. I do not rush through this. I sit down on my children's beds, sit at their desks, stand in each doorway, praying for our family as the Lord leads me. If I feel "stuck" or unable to pray, I just sit down and wait and pray through it. I think of myself as a prayer-warrior, fighting for my children and the future generations of my family. It is worth persevering through any awkward silence.
I often will take a shower or soak in the tub, using that time for confession or meditation. This is often in the afternoon or evening; since I want to start the day as I mentioned above. This also breaks up the day. I find that I am ready to focus in prayer again after this break. Sometimes I have more of a "spa-day". As I give myself a facial, I pray to the "Lifter of my Countenance" asking for His joy to light up my face and be a blessing to others. I'll pour boiling water into a bowl, add vanialla or mint extract, and using a towel to make a "tent", I relax and breathe in the steam. I'll sometimes use a body scrub or lotion as I pray and dedicate my temple to the Lord. I may even do my nails asking the Lord to guide my feet and hands in the coming year to where He would have me serve. All the while, I keep my journal nearby to write down any verses or ideas the Lord brings to mind.
On this day each year, I go through my prayer notebook again, filing away old pages, up-dating others, and adding the missionary cards or current friends' pictures that I've recently collected. (Having a photo of the people I care about helps me to focus and motivates me to pray for them.) Then I spend the bulk of the afternoon praying for the people and ministries the Lord has put on my heart.
In the later afternoon, I usually transition into seeking the Lord's guidance for the specifics of the next year: what studies to do, what books to read, what to write about, where I should be involved in my church and community, what events to plan and for whom, etc. Most of this time is spent just being quiet, waiting for the Lord brings ideas to my mind or convicts me about areas where I am out of ballance. These notes are priceless to me over the next 12+ months! Some of my best ideas come from the last things I write when I'm just about to get up, but I pause and ask, "Lord, is there anything else You would say to me." (Try this, and don't be in a hurry!)
In the evenings, I find that I need a more structured guide that requires less creative energy on my part. Most often I use a combination of guides that I have written for prayer days I have hosted for groups. Each page of questions, quotes, and scriptures takes about 15 mintues which keeps me focused when I am beginning to get tired. (These are on themes of personal reflection, praying for others, praying for the world missions, worship, preparation for ministry, the fruit of the Spirit, rest/restoration, abiding in Christ, and the Temple/Tabernacle.)
As I find it difficult to pay attention, I either listen to a highly recommended sermon that I have saved for this evening or listen to a book of the Bible (audio recording) as I prepare for an early bedtime. I love to sneak outside for a bit just before bed, to end the day looking at the stars or feeling the wind blow, to thank the Lord for the blessings of the day.
Each time I have had a prayer day, the Lord has met me in a special way. Each year has been memorable. The change of seasons have added a variety of unique opportunities, from the early prayer days of summer (beginning 07-07-07) to the glorious colorful fall prayer days, and this year just before the start of winter. With this year being that last unique date of its kind, I'm praying that the Lord would inspire something new for the years ahead. I am mindful that I am not the only one planning for these special "dates"; the Lord also has plans for our day. He surprises me with special gifts every year, and I know He will do the same for you.
He has promised, if you seek Him; you will find Him. Just ask Him to meet you, and He will.
This day is extra special for me as it wraps up a year, a month, and a day since I started focusing on simplifying my life and living intentionally on 11-11-11. In that theme, I intend to keep tomorrow as
simple as possible.
As much as I enjoy planning special prayer days and events for others, it is an extra special time when I am planning just for myself an the Lord. It seems more humble and intimate when no one sees the preparation or the final result.But, because this annual time of prayer has been such a blessing to me, I am happy to tell you a little bit about it; so that you too can have a precious "date" with the Lord.
On this one day each year, I intentionally pull back from technology, people, and routine to unhurriedly seek the Lord, to reflect on the past year, and pray for guidance in the coming year.
When it is just me, I approach the day open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and each year is different. Here are a few of the things I have done in the past on my these days.
Every year, I begin the day down by the pond reading the Psalms, (usually Ps. 1 first, then a few randomly chosen Psalms, followed by singing the Psalms of Ascent as I walk up our hill). Sometime during the day I go for a walk on my "prayer trail" in the woods to refect and pray. Several years ago I made a book with prayer challenges that I usually take with me and often use a few of those prayer prompts.
Since this is towards the end of the year, I plan to lay out the next years calendar and mark my monthly prayer days and my Day or Prayer for 2013. Then I may pray for each memeber of my family as I mark our birthdays and our annual trips. I will review my prayer request calendar from 2012 (mentioned in the Prayer Challenge for Day 12), thanking the Lord for His answers and praying over the unanswered concerns. (I often us a highlighter to mark answered prayers.)
I will pray through my home asking the Lord's blessing on the people that use each room and activities that take place there. This is one of the most precious times of my prayer day, and this is why I love to be home rather than away for this personal retreat. I often begin at the front door, working my way from the public rooms to the more private spaces, ending in my own room in my prayer corner. I do not rush through this. I sit down on my children's beds, sit at their desks, stand in each doorway, praying for our family as the Lord leads me. If I feel "stuck" or unable to pray, I just sit down and wait and pray through it. I think of myself as a prayer-warrior, fighting for my children and the future generations of my family. It is worth persevering through any awkward silence.
I often will take a shower or soak in the tub, using that time for confession or meditation. This is often in the afternoon or evening; since I want to start the day as I mentioned above. This also breaks up the day. I find that I am ready to focus in prayer again after this break. Sometimes I have more of a "spa-day". As I give myself a facial, I pray to the "Lifter of my Countenance" asking for His joy to light up my face and be a blessing to others. I'll pour boiling water into a bowl, add vanialla or mint extract, and using a towel to make a "tent", I relax and breathe in the steam. I'll sometimes use a body scrub or lotion as I pray and dedicate my temple to the Lord. I may even do my nails asking the Lord to guide my feet and hands in the coming year to where He would have me serve. All the while, I keep my journal nearby to write down any verses or ideas the Lord brings to mind.
On this day each year, I go through my prayer notebook again, filing away old pages, up-dating others, and adding the missionary cards or current friends' pictures that I've recently collected. (Having a photo of the people I care about helps me to focus and motivates me to pray for them.) Then I spend the bulk of the afternoon praying for the people and ministries the Lord has put on my heart.
In the later afternoon, I usually transition into seeking the Lord's guidance for the specifics of the next year: what studies to do, what books to read, what to write about, where I should be involved in my church and community, what events to plan and for whom, etc. Most of this time is spent just being quiet, waiting for the Lord brings ideas to my mind or convicts me about areas where I am out of ballance. These notes are priceless to me over the next 12+ months! Some of my best ideas come from the last things I write when I'm just about to get up, but I pause and ask, "Lord, is there anything else You would say to me." (Try this, and don't be in a hurry!)
In the evenings, I find that I need a more structured guide that requires less creative energy on my part. Most often I use a combination of guides that I have written for prayer days I have hosted for groups. Each page of questions, quotes, and scriptures takes about 15 mintues which keeps me focused when I am beginning to get tired. (These are on themes of personal reflection, praying for others, praying for the world missions, worship, preparation for ministry, the fruit of the Spirit, rest/restoration, abiding in Christ, and the Temple/Tabernacle.)
As I find it difficult to pay attention, I either listen to a highly recommended sermon that I have saved for this evening or listen to a book of the Bible (audio recording) as I prepare for an early bedtime. I love to sneak outside for a bit just before bed, to end the day looking at the stars or feeling the wind blow, to thank the Lord for the blessings of the day.
Each time I have had a prayer day, the Lord has met me in a special way. Each year has been memorable. The change of seasons have added a variety of unique opportunities, from the early prayer days of summer (beginning 07-07-07) to the glorious colorful fall prayer days, and this year just before the start of winter. With this year being that last unique date of its kind, I'm praying that the Lord would inspire something new for the years ahead. I am mindful that I am not the only one planning for these special "dates"; the Lord also has plans for our day. He surprises me with special gifts every year, and I know He will do the same for you.
He has promised, if you seek Him; you will find Him. Just ask Him to meet you, and He will.
