# 1 CHOOSE PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Since this guide is designed to help you pray for the people God has already put around you , it is important that you begin this journey by identifying a few people for whom you plan to pray each day. You can pray for your next-door neighbors, your coworkers, friends from school, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, or someone in your own family. You get to choose. But before you go any further, take a moment to write down the names of the people for whom you will commit to pray each day over the course of the next month.
# 2 CHOOSE YOUR PEOPLE TO PRAY WITH Once you have determined whom you will pray for, take a minute to identify who you will pray with during this season of prayer. Learning to pray not only for others but also with others will revolutionize your life with Jesus. We are made for community, and, like nearly everything else in life, prayer is better when experienced with other followers of Jesus. Make it a priority to pray together throughout the month, whether in person or through a virtual platform like phone calls, text messaging, or video chats. Get creative, but stay connected to others!
# 3 ESTABLISH A DAILY ROUTINE It amazes me how God can use a series of seemingly small but intentional choices to bring about monumental change in our lives. Don’t underestimate the power of establishing a daily prayer routine as you begin this journey of praying for and with other people. What follows is a list of simple ideas to help you establish a daily prayer routine: Find a Quiet Spot It doesn’t matter if it is a comfortable chair in your home, a park bench along the trail you enjoy walking, or your favorite table at a local coffee shop.
Simply find a spot each day where you can give God your undivided attention. Clear Your Mind Jot down any overwhelming thoughts or nagging items that might keep you from enjoying God in prayer on your mental to-do list. Some of these items will be things you might need to discuss with God in prayer, while others will be distractions that you can address later in your day. Take it a step further by turning off your phone to free yourself from unwanted distraction. Finally, set aside two minutes to simply sit in silence with God. Before you ask him for anything, enjoy the gift of his presence. Read, Reflect, and Pray Each daily meditation contains a short devotional
thought, a passage of Scripture to read, a few questions for reflection, and daily prayer points to guide you as you pray for yourself and those around you. Like a spiritual appetizer, this guide is here simply to help get your conversations with God started each day, but my hope is that this will be a springboard into deeper places with God each day. Take Action Finally, I believe God will give you ample opportunities each day to actively participate in the ways of Jesus as you pray for those God has placed around you. Jesus says we are blessed when we put his words into practice, so proactively look for opportunities and take a step of faith as God prompts you each day.
Dave Clayton. Jesus Next Door (Kindle Locations 225-235).