Covering the Bases in Prayer

Though I'm not a huge baseball fan, I recently enjoyed catching some of the action in the World Series which was dramatically won by the St. Louis Cardinals.

The most memorable moment came in Game Six when the Cards fought back to beat the Texas Rangers in extra innings. World Series MVP David Freese was down to his last strike when he launched a home run that won the game. As he rounded the bases, and then finally scampered home to a hero's welcome, an interesting idea came to my mind.

It's important to hit all the bases in the home run derby of personal intercession.

In today's column I'd like to share how I've learned to cover the bases in prayer.

First of all, a confession to which I'm sure you can relate: It's easy to be narrow or self-centered in our prayer lives. Since prayer is talking to God, it's natural to talk to Him about or own needs or the needs of others to whom we're closely related.

I've been to many prayer meetings where the pastor asks people for prayer requests, and most of them mention a personal or family need. "Aunt Susie is having heart surgery" or "My uncle lost his job and needs our prayers" or "I've been very anxious recently and need your prayer support."

These requests are heart-felt and good. We need to pray for those items and people that are closest to us.

But I also learned years ago that if I limit my prayer life to the circle of needs "that I see" then I will probably not pray (at least very often) for very important things where God desires.

Out of sight, out of mind.

I don't want that narrow view to be the measure of my prayer life.

So a number of years ago I did a biblical search on what God wants me to pray for. The list was very helpful in broadening and strengthening my prayer life. Not long after that, Youth With A Mission developed a very helpful devotional tool that I now use to cover the bases in prayer.

It's called the YWAM Personal Prayer Diary (Daily Planner). You can order one by clicking here. It would also make a great Christmas gift to family and friends. Besides giving great teachings and information on missions (including an article this year by yours truly on The Fourth Wave), this valuable devotional tool is designed to help you organize your life and prayers on a daily and weekly basis.

In the 2011 Prayer Diary, my most coveted page is number five which is called a "Weekly Prayer Plan." It gives you a seven-day planner in which to organize your prayer life. YWAM gives you some suggestions, but leaves most of it open for you to fill in the blanks.

Before the Prayer Diary came out, I did the same thing on a sheet of paper. After my special "tour" of the Bible, and what it focused on in prayer, I began to pray intentionally and passionately for the following subjects:

The Church

Most people pray for their own home church--at least when they're there. But in my survey of the Bible, I noticed that most of the prayers for the Church were not for the one I attend, but for the Church of the region and especially the Church Universal. In Ephesians 6:18 Paul tells us to pray for "all the saints." Wow!  There are over two billion professing Christians in the world today. I began to pray for ALL of them.

I chose Sunday as my regular day to pray for all believers. Sometimes I focus on Catholics, or the Orthodox, and often for Evangelicals. I let God lead me different Sundays. But this prayer command helps me keep my vision high. God wants me to love and be concerned about every follower of His on earth. I'm going to spend eternity with them.

The Family

The YWAM Prayer Diary encourages prayer for the family on Mondays--and I do the same. I pray for my family but also many other families I know and families in general around the world. In Job 42:10 Job prayed specifically for those in his household. Families are in trouble are over the world. It's important to intercede for God's blessing in their lives.

Co-workers and Associates

Paul has many examples in his letters (such as Colossians 4:4-12) to pray for those with whom we work. I use Tuesdays to pray for all the YWAMers in the world and others that I work with day in and day out. Sometimes I will focus on a region of the world, or different YWAM bases, or even leaders and associates by name--but the focus is on ministry associates. Who does God want you to pray for that are partners in ministry? 

Make a good plan and let the Lord lead you.

World Evangelism

One of the clearest prayer commands in the New Testament is found in 1 Timothy 2:1: "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people." Notice that Paul says first of all. God wants us to never forget what life is all about--seeing everyone in the world have a chance to meet Jesus as their Savior.

God has only one special interest group: THE WORLD.

On Wednesdays, I try and think and pray big. I pray for every single person on earth--all seven billion of them. I think about the 60,000 human beings that will die today, and need to know Christ. On different Wednesdays I'll focus on different countries or parts of the earth. I pray for God to send out laborers into his harvest in all 238 countries and 14,000 people groups (Matthew 9:38).

I pray for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). And when I pray right, I act right. I keep my eyes on the reason for Jesus coming to the world--to offer salvation to everyone who believes.

On my world evangelism prayer day I also pray for the nations of India and China. Their populations make up over one third of the world. I believe they are especially upon the heart of God.

Leaders and Authorities

I learned something else from 1 Timothy 2:2--that God really cares about the leadership of nations because they have a great effect on the peoples' lives. Paul says that we should pray: "for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

Notice again the phrase "all those in authority." This means presidents, kings, governors, representatives, police and many others.

Praying for the leaders of the world has helped me understand the importance of law, order, and the peace and security that good government brings. I've learned the names of many heads of state as I've prayed for many sovereign nations. God is a God of order. He is the source of all authority. I need to pray those who exercise that authority on earth--for the sake of the people He loves.

Cities and Nations

On Fridays I pray for America--and often for my own state and town. Jeremiah 29:7 gives great encouragement: "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

I know a number of people who fast and pray for America on Fridays. I usually pray for my nation as I take a morning prayer walk around the neighborhood. Part of good citizenship is praying for your state and nation. It helps keep your attitude in check--and allows God to move in the land of your residence.

Are you praying regularly for your city and nation? God wants it to prosper--and it can--through your prayers.

Spheres of Society

 The YWAM Prayer Diary helps you pray for one of the seven spheres of society on each day of the week. On Saturdays I often pray for the realms of entertainment and the sports world. They have great influence in our culture. I also use a "Media Leader Prayer Calendar" put out by Mastermedia where I pray by name for key people in the entertainment realm. Today I prayed by name for Martin Sorrell, the CEO of the world's largest ad agency, and musician Bruce Springsteen. I want to see revival in Hollywood and beyond.

Using the YWAM Prayer Diary, or a tool like it, really helps me cover the bases of all my prayer responsibilities. It lifts me out of my narrow world, and keeps me focused on all the objects of God's great heart.

I encourage you to order a YWAM Prayer Diary and make it an important part of your life in prayer.  Order them for family and friends--all that you want to bless by helping them with their prayer lives.

No part of your life is more vital. Robert Murray McCheyne once said that. "What a person is on their knees before God, that's what they are--nothing more."

In other words, your life is no greater than your prayers.

Let's go deeper with God in the coming year. Let's grow our commitment to intercession. God answers the heart cries of his people.

Let's cover all of the bases in the place of prayer.