Do you ever feel overwhelmed in prayer? God is so infinitely glorious that our praises do not do justice to his majesty. And the petitions we could bring to his throne of grace are almost countless — individual, family, church, local, national, and international requests. Given the sheer volume of our needs and the needs of others, it can be easy to give up trying to mention them all in our prayers. Too often, our petitions become self-focused and our praises become repetitive.

Just as it is difficult to read the whole Bible without a plan, so it is difficult to pray widely and deeply without a plan. If we do not have such a system, we may seldom pray for anyone on a regular basis.

The apostle Paul prayed for many churches and Christians all over the world, including some believers he had never met (Colossians 1:9; 2:1). He wrote to the Ephesians that he was “remembering” them in his prayers (Ephesians 1:16). He also commanded Christians to offer “supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18) and for “all people” (1 Timothy 2:1). Although Paul was a remarkably busy man whose life was full of trials and conflicts, he almost certainly had a system to organize his prayers. And we need one to follow his Spirit-inspired plans to pray widely for “all saints” and “all people.”

To be sure, there are times when a Christian’s heart is so lifted up in prayer that a method is more of a hindrance than a help. Usually, however, our prayers profit from having a method, for we do not want to grow monotonous, nor do we want to speak rashly before the Lord. It may not seem very spiritual to use a prayer list, but it is certainly practical and profitable. Let’s briefly consider, then, how to organize a plan for both our petitions and our praises that facilitates rather than constrains our prayers.

Organizing Petitions

Our petitions in prayer should be particular. Many of us are far too prone to resort to general or cliché petitions. In fact, they can become so general at times that we would hardly recognize God’s answer to them were such an answer forthcoming. So, by the strength of the Holy Spirit, we strive to pray as those who truly believe that God is a prayer-decreeing, prayer-giving, prayer-hearing, and prayer-answering God. Thus, we bring particular requests to him and wait expectantly for particular answers. And they will be answered — perhaps not immediately, but God’s delays are not his denials. He will answer in his time.

I would like to suggest four lists that can help us cultivate such intercessory prayer.

1. PERSONAL AND FAMILY NEEDS

Consider developing lists for your personal prayers as well as for family worship. You might divide your lists into various categories, such as petitions for every day, every week, and every month. Imagine your various relationships like three concentric circles or rings — those nearest to you, those close to you, and those further from you.

Your daily list could include those nearest to you — your spouse, children, and parents (for children living at home, this list would include brothers and sisters). Your weekly list could include those in the middle ring (such as your pastors and elders, extended family, missionaries that your church sponsors, and close friends), and you might pray for different requests on each day of the week. The monthly list could include those on the outer ring — at a greater relational distance from you (such as specific government officials, employees, or neighbors).

2. LOCAL CHURCH NEEDS

Use resources such as your church directory, dividing the names into manageable groups that you can pray for at one time. Be reasonable and do not overburden yourself, but discipline yourself to pray much for many people. If you are a pastor, you will know the needs of your congregation. Along with preaching the word, prayer is the most valuable work that a minister does (Acts 6:4). It is also one of the most important ministries of church members (James 5:16).

3. GLOBAL CHURCH NEEDS

Use prayer directories to pray through a list of missionaries that your church or denomination supports (Ephesians 6:18–19; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). Find ways to pray intelligently for missions. Read newsletters and updates from churches and missionaries, and consider praying for them immediately (so you don’t forget). Use books and websites such as Operation World and Voice of the Martyrs. Buy a map of the world or an area of special concern and mark it up as you pray for the work of the gospel among the nations.

4. SOCIETAL NEEDS

Pray for the needs of your community, your nation, and your local government officials (1 Timothy 2:2). Confess the sins of your community and nation to God and grieve over them before him (Daniel 9:1–19). Plead for God’s mercy and the spiritual good of sinners amid natural disasters. And pray above all that God would accomplish his will and build his kingdom through the vicissitudes of political and economic life. Cultivate a heart of pity for sinners across the full spectrum of needs, but particularly for their lost spiritual condition.

Organizing Praises

The heart of true prayer is communion with the triune God, so we must not think that prayer involves petition alone. True prayer also involves praise and adoration of God in love and joy, as well as heartfelt thanksgiving.

It can be helpful to develop a system for praises as well as petitions. Matthew Henry (1662–1714) developed one such method for praise. With several prayers drawn from Scripture under each point of the outline, Henry proposed the following fifteen points for praise (Complete Works, 2:4–12):

1. Address God as the infinitely great and glorious Being.
2. Reverently adore God as transcendently bright and blessed in all his attributes.
3. Give God the praise of his glory in heaven.
4. Give God glory as Creator, Protector, Benefactor, and Ruler.
5. Give honor to the three distinct persons of the Godhead.
6. Acknowledge your dependence upon God and your obligation to him as your Creator.
7. Declare God to be your covenant God who owns you.
8. Acknowledge the inestimable favor of being invited to draw near to God.
9. Express your unworthiness to draw near to God.
10. Profess your desire for God as your happiness.
11. Profess your hope and trust in God’s all-sufficiency.
12. Ask God to graciously accept you and your poor prayers.
13. Pray for the assistance of the Holy Spirit in your prayers.
14. Make the glory of God the highest goal of your prayers.
15. Profess your reliance upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

Adopting Henry’s method (or something similar) would give remarkable depth and variety to our prayers of praise, delivering them from bland repetition and thoughtless irreverence.

Finally, we should also regularly offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 116:17; Hebrews 13:15), thanking him for temporal blessings (such as life, the provision of daily needs, family, employment, and health) and especially for spiritual blessings (such as justification, adoption, the forgiveness of sins, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and providence). Be specific as you thank God for his daily mercies to you, your family, and your church in the outworking of his promises and providence.

How Lists Serve Love

A dear friend of mine from South Africa who is now with the Lord spent at least one hour in intercessory prayer every day early in the morning. My family and I were on his daily list. I cannot tell you how many times I have been encouraged in my life and ministry by remembering that this brother lifted up my little name to the Lord of hosts every day. What encouraged me the most is that he prayed for me and my family specifically.

When we pray specifically for others as the people of God, we imitate the priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, who makes intercession for each of his people individually (Exodus 28:12; Luke 22:32; Hebrews 7:25). When we praise God for specific mercies, we imitate the psalmist in his recollection of both individual and covenant mercies (Psalm 103:2; Psalm 136). May the Lord grant us such petitions and praises that constitute truly prayerful prayers!¹