90 Minute Extended Time of Prayer

Come with a heart prepared for worship. Perhaps fast a meal. Keep short accounts with God. Come unencumbered, without your to-do list or thoughts of what you have scheduled next. Don’t bring a mobile device or other distractions. Do bring a Bible, notebook, writing device and perhaps some water to drink. Feast on how satisfied our Family-of-Three is with you. And arrive a few minutes early so you are not rushed.

1. Begin on time with ten minutes of worship by “popcorn” praise to God. Pray short bursts of prayer praise and thanksgiving, focused on who God is and what He has done. Or a CD with worship.

2. Then read a Psalm around the group. Note quick “uplifts” to share as popcorn responses with the group. This is fast paced, about ten minutes total just to prime the pump, although you may want to begin your private time with more time in this  Psalm.

3. Break up into space where you will not be interrupted in your private prayers, thirty minutes. Don’t go so far that you don’t get back in time. Don’t pair up. This is for you and God alone together.

a. Private prayer of praise: Tell Him how very much you adore Him.

b. Listen: Take some time interspersed throughout (more if you do alone) so God can speak to you. Expect your Father to speak and journal it.

c. Confess: Hopefully you have come without unresolved issues between you and God. Confess how very much you need God and give yourself to Him. At times, He reveals what we are unaware of. Make it right.

d. Ask: For purpose, clarity, priorities; for family, friends, your needs…or whatever else is on your heart.

4. Call the group back to debrief together, about twenty minutes. How did you hear God’s voice in your private time of prayer? Our confidence rests more in His ability to speak than in our expertise to hear. What did this focused time of prayer mean for you? Could an extended time of prayer be something you may want to add to your normal rhythm of life? If so when and how often?

5. Finish with the remainder of the time (twenty minutes) interceding together for each other and for the spiritual life of the church and city. Keep your prayers focused on personal requests. Feel free to pray more than once. Pray conversationally, meaning we pray for a person or topic for a while, like we converse with one another, before moving on to a different topic and person.

6. Whomever is leading, watch the time so that we dismiss on time after 90 minutes, honoring others’ time. Some may want to voluntarily hang out longer, which is fine.

This is Reflection #48 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com