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When we hosted the Prayer Pledge Drive in February, I was blown away but how much 1 minute of focused prayer felt like at first! If you remember we gathered teams of 5-6 people and everyone picked a pastor to pray over for 1 minute a day for each of the 28 days in February! It was spectacular and helped create some great habits. Here are a few tips we all agreed really helped us all stay focused. 

1. Pick the Same time everyday to sit down and pray:

Everyone is different. Give your best minutes of your day to your prayers, not your worst. For me early morning and late night are out, but around 8:30 I could stop with my children and we could take a time of focused prayer. It actually started a time of prayer and worship in our home that continued long after the month ended. 

Whether you pray first thing, or find some time in the afternoon to sit quietly and plead on behalf of God's people, the point is that you pray. Schedule the time. Write it on your calendar. Pour your heart out and check your box everyday so you can get into the habit of daily, focused prayer. 

2. Outline your topics/people: 

This can be as extensive as sitting down and writing a topic of focus each day on your calendar or it can be as simple as taking 30 seconds to jot a few things you don't want to forget on your paper before you go before the Lord. You can use a journal or just a peace of paper you will not keep forever. 

Some days I write a list of people and items and go down the list one by one. Other days I brain dump a collage of colors and thoughts for people as I pray for their lives and activities. 

Outlining your topics is a great way to keep on track, but remember to be open to the Holy Spirit moving and bringing things and people to your mind. 

3. Write or type out your prayers: 

Though this is similar in keeping your focus as with outlining, it can be more personal and intense. Instead of speaking your prayers aloud or thinking them in your brain, you just write out your prayers to the Lord. It becomes a sweet, love letter, of sorts about all those in your life who you intercede for. It does take more time and thought, but it really deepens your prayer life in a very rich way. 

Don't settle for a boring or non-existent prayer life! Pray daily and purposely! 

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This post was written by Nickole Perry, co-founder and Director of Operations at Cedar Creek Ministries and host of the Church Royalty Podcast. 

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