Wednesday, October 6, 2010

A Prayer Book

I love to pray.  I want to pray.  But, I am ever so easily distracted when I try to pray.  Unless, I am writing my prayers in my journal, my mind quickly wanders to my to-do lists, the days anxieties, future plans.  Frustration ensues, I struggle to try again, my mind wanders again and the vicious cycle continues, leaving me feeling guilty and defeated. 


And I tell people that I'll pray for them constantly.  It is always heartfelt, but I must admit that it does roll off the Christian tongue too easily, at times.  Am I really remembering to pray for all these people I've promised?  

I desperately needed a way to help me focus and organize my prayer life...

It must be the special ed teacher in me, or perhaps the artist in me; probably both.  I love visuals. I love tangible things that I can hold and touch and see. In college, I scrap-booked quite a bit, and during this time, I came up with the idea of making a prayer book to house my lists of people and things to pray for. 


Through the years my book has grown and changed, at times well-used and at times left to collect dust on the shelf.  I've recently revamped my current prayer book and thought I'd share. This has become my favorite and most useful tool that I use to help me pray. 

First, I bought a 4x6 photo album. Next, I made a list of general categories of prayer. I created a 4x6 card for each of these categories and put this in the top slot and then in the bottom slot, I switch out index cards with the current prayers for each category.  I switch them out weekly or whenever else I need to update it. You can see my list of categories in the photos below, but I also have a couple of special cards, for example, I have a general priority guideline at the beginning of my book; "Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication".  


There are so many ways to customize this depending on your own prayer needs and lists. The great thing about the prayer book is that it's easy to change whenever you need to. 


Now, when I pray, I can go through my book, page by page, and stay focused, remembering to pray for those who I feel called to pray for. 

Inside my Prayer Book..

(My first page.  It reminds me of the priority of thankfulness and repentance, before I begin asking for my own needs and wants)

(Under this header, I list the week's praises and answers to prayer)


(Here I list all of my family members, but I take turns praying for them on different days, unless there are specific requests)

(This is a much rotated list, depending on who needs prayer)

(on the next pages after "Friends", I also slide in the postcards I receive from the girls)

(prayer requests from the people in our small group)

(I pray for my 7 students, daily)


(This is where I cut out the prayer list from the church bulletin)




Do you use anything special to aide you in your prayer life?

8 comments:

  1. Kerrie, I have tiny cards with the same kind of categories on them. They're just attached with a binder clip and I flip through them when I pray.
    Also, I know I've already said it, but I highly recommend A Praying Life by Paul Miller. Changed me and my prayer life. Did you read it yet? ;)
    Love!
    Kit

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  2. This is a great idea! I too am so very easily distracted and I only have a short amount of quiet time in the morning (although I try to pray throughout the day-it just isn't very quiet!). This is a great way to stay on track and focused. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing your prayer book. My creative wheels are turning!
    xoxo

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  4. Thanks ladies! Kit, I'm glad you reminded me about that book! I had it on my "to read" list, but I haven't gotten to it...I will soon!

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  5. Kerri,
    This is brilliant! I love it. I have kept a journal for years and years...I have rows of completed journals in the hall closet. I think I am going to try your method. It seems easy to carry in your purse, too.
    Thank you so much for sharing the idea and including pictures.
    grace to you!
    ~a

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  6. I love it.. such an ingenious idea! I am pretty sure I will be borrowing this, if you don't mind! Thank you so much! God bless you and your family!

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  7. great idea!!!! I may have to make one of these soon! I like the idea of doing in a photo book so that you can swap things as needed.

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  8. thank you, kind friend.

    i have a little prayer book just for children who have touched my life in some way. it's been collecting dust recently, though. you've inspired me to update it.

    i love you and your beautiful blog.

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