11. Pray Like It Matters
Article 11 | You Were Made for So Much More Than This
You may have retired from your job. Have you taken up your place in prayer?
A working parent may struggle to find ten uninterrupted minutes. You may have an hour you can give.
What could happen if you offered that hour to God?
Someone is preparing to share Jesus with a neighbor. A new believer is facing pressure from family. A disciple-maker is discouraged. A household is opening its doors to hear the gospel.
You can pray for them by name. You can stand with them week after week.
When Paul wrote from prison, he asked believers to pray:
“Praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.”
Colossians 4:3 WEB
Paul asked for an open door to share Jesus. We can pray that same prayer for those serving today.
Think about becoming a prayer partner with one of them.
Ask a leader you know, or someone who coaches leaders, to connect you with a person you can consistently support in prayer. Ask what they are facing, whom they are reaching, and what they need God to do.
Then stay connected. Follow up. Celebrate answers. Keep praying when progress is slow.
Imagine the encouragement of hearing, “I prayed for you this morning. How did that conversation go?”
You can also use the Prayer Wheel, a tool taught in Zúme, to help you spend an hour with God.
It divides the hour into twelve five-minute sections:
- Praise: Honor God for who He is.
- Wait: Quiet your heart before Him.
- Confess: Acknowledge sin and receive His forgiveness.
- Read the Word: Let Scripture shape your prayers.
- Ask: Bring your own needs to God.
- Intercede: Pray for others.
- Pray the Word: Turn Scripture into prayer.
- Thank: Remember His goodness.
- Sing: Worship Him in song.
- Meditate: Reflect on what you have read.
- Listen: Give God your attention.
- Praise: End by honoring Him again.
You don’t have to begin with a full hour. Begin with time you will faithfully give, and let it grow.
As you pray, name the people who are sharing Jesus. Pray for receptive households, courageous believers, faithful leaders, and churches that will multiply.
And keep asking: “Lord, what do You want me to do in response?”
Prayer may lead you to encourage someone, make a call, give, or begin discipling a person yourself.
Your assignment this week: Choose one disciple-maker to pray for daily. Set a regular time, ask for specific requests, and try the Prayer Wheel.
Your remaining years can include thousands of hours spent bringing people and nations before God.
We were made for more.
Want to go further?
Learn the Prayer Wheel and other simple disciple-making tools through my free Zúme teaching series.
Your gift would be tax deductible and overseen by Northside Christian Church, our sending church. There are many we coach that could use encouragement in small ways to accomplish great things.
Terry Ruff
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