10 Ways to Strengthen Your Prayer Life on this National Day of Prayer

​Wouldn't it be wonderful if our entire nation joined together in prayer for America, just like the Israelites convened at the sound of the trumpet to pray? Now, more than ever, our government needs prayer. Our families need us to pray. And we need God to heal our land. Thankfully, thousands of Americans are planning to pray together this week, and you can be a part of this historic event.

Thursday, May 5, 2016, is the National Day of Prayer, a day set aside for prayer by Presidential order since 1988. Here's a list of 10 things you can do to strengthen your prayer life on this national day of prayer:​

1. Pray one unified prayer with thousands of Americans at Noon on Thursday.

Dr. Tony Evans, honorary NPC chairman, has drafted a prayer for our nation that will be prayed all across America at 12pm on May 5th, 2016. Join me and thousands of believers in praying this short but powerful corporate prayer (you can pray along with me during a live Facebook broadcast at noon,here:)

Dear heavenly Father,
We come to You today as a humble people desperate for Your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation.  First, we thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.

This is why our hearts are so broken over how You continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and our institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that Your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of Your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society.

It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by Your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians but rather to publicly declare and live out Your truth in a spirit of love so that You feel welcome in our country once again.

Thank You for Your promise to hear our prayers when we call to You with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to You today, Father. On behalf of Your church, we affirm afresh the priority You are to us, that You would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring You glory through the advancement of Your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives, and in the lives of our churches and our government leaders. We confidently invite heaven’s intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise You in advance for Your answer.

In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

Click here to download the audio file of Dr. Tony Evans' National Prayer >>

2. Take a moment to re-evaluate your prayer time. 

Our schedules change seasonally. Are you really praying as much as you'd like? If the answer is no, use this day to make a fresh commitment to a new time and place you will pray daily. I like to pray in the morning, before my day starts. But for others, an evening prayer time may be easier. Do what works.

3. Organize your prayer "closet." 

Take 15 minutes today and organize the space where you pray or have your quiet times. Do you have a comfortable place to sit? Gather what you need - Bible, pen, notebook, maybe a worship music CD, and clear away any clutter that distracts you from praying and seeking God. A place you love to visit will encourage you to pray more!

4. Find a way to pray with others.

Corporate prayer is even more powerful than individual prayer, yet we sometimes skip this important piece of Christian life. Download my 2016 Guide, "40 Ways to Pray" here, and choose one of the many options for connecting with others - even via conference calls - to add power to your praying. Or check out the free Pray.Network community online, where you can join groups of people praying for specific needs that interest you, too.

5. Fast from electronics for 1 hour.

Pray for our nation during the time you would normally be on your phone or tablet. This is especially useful if you feel technology hinders you from praying. For this one hour (or one day!), a simple fast from technology's invasive demands can help you focus on what's really important. Read this article for more ideas.

6. Use social media as a prayer venue

Kevan Senapatiratne, a fellow co-laborer in prayer, suggests praying for people as you scroll through their posts on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Instead of just reading what's shared, why not pray for the people sharing?(Click here for a good article about this). You can also join the His Inscriptions Facebook group to post prayer requests and pray for others. 

7. Gather some friends to watch the War Room Movie

Plan a movie day with friends, using the bestselling War Room as a catalyst for prayer. (You can order it in our store). It is truly inspirational! 

8. Gather your kids together and have a family quiet time.

No age is too young to teach the value of entering God's Presence. If you are the spiritual head of your home, gather your kids together tonight before bed and pray for each one of them - or ask them to thank God for how they see His goodness in their lives. This is a soothing way to cuddle together end the day, especially for younger children. A popular resource is the Jesus Calling devotional series for kids;find it here. 

9. If you are a grandparent, join a Million Praying Grands!

Lillian Penner, a praying grandmother herself, has created the "Million Praying Grandparents" movement. Click here to read an article about it and to join the movement!

10. Decide to attend at least one prayer meeting at your church in the next year. Then follow through.

Most churches hold at least a once-a-year prayer meeting, if not more. Often, these meetings are poorly attended. Be the one who commits to showing up, even if you don't pray out loud. You might find that it isn't as boring or scary as you think! Your presence will encourage those who took the time to organize the meeting, and will bring joy to God's heart. 

The Bible doesn't call us to just one day of prayer each year. We are exhorted to pray always, unceasingly, for all people, especially our leaders. Doing so ensures peace for our nation and keeps us in tune with God's heart for our communities. No matter how unexperienced you may feel as a prayer warrior, you can trust that since God calls you to pray, He will also equip you and honor your commitment. Use the momentum this National Day of Prayer creates to stir up your faith! You'll never regret spending time in prayer.  

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​Deborah Perkins is the founder of His Inscriptions, a ministry focused on life-giving communication with God. Through her website, inspired teaching and a weekly blog, Deborah offers discipleship to those who want to grow their relationship with God. A ministry leader for over 25 years, Deborah is an experienced prophetic counselor, marriage mentor, and prayer warrior. She's also fond of her hubby, 3 sons, and dark chocolate - in that order!