This is the Truth Network. Encouraging prayer. God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him at any time about anything. On encouraging prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray.
And now, here's James.
Well, I am intrigued this week, as I often am by these titles. James. Today's title, Loving Your List. That seems like a prayer title to me. Yeah, it is, Robbie.
I'm excited about this because... You know I hate to say it, but sometimes you could think: well, how can I get excited about a prayer list? You know, it's just going over the names. And if you've ever prayed a prayer list for a while, if you're honest, you admit that sometimes, you know, you can get a little bored doing it. And There's a better way.
And that's what we're going to talk about today. I you I'm hooked. And I plus I've I've Used a list for years, not unlike you, and I find it fascinating how God directs me to do different things. I'm very curious, though, and where you're going with it.
Well, you know, I agree that it's important to do a prayer list, but of course. You don't want to do only a prayer list. That doesn't work. We've got to live in Jesus' presence prayerfully as we go through the day. But a prayer list helps you remember.
I'm a list guy anyway as I go through the day. And so there's nothing wrong, there's nothing rote. If you're a person who prays a list, keep it up by all means, and then take it and run with it a little more. That's really what we're going to be talking about.
So I've prayed a list for years. I'm one of these guys who has a planner and then I have a marker in my planner that has my list on it. And I, you know, I change it up as well. And one of the things that I like to do to change it up. is to To just have different ways to pray added into the list.
You know, for a while, for a few years, I just had the different elements of the Lord's Prayer. broken down into my list.
So of course, if you break it down phrase by phrase, and I think that's really the way Jesus intends it to be prayed, not just word for word, Then you start by praising God's name, by you know, praying for his kingdom to come. And If you do that phrase by phrase, it's a great thing. to have on your list. But what I'm going to talk about now is what we've talked about in some of our more recent episodes. Like recently, we talked about lingering.
And so here's a good example. At the top of my list right now, I simply have praise Papa. Yeah. What does that mean?
Well, I think I mentioned recently my granddaughter. When she saw me when I picked her up recently from daycare and she was just, oh, it's Papa. I love you, Papa. And I realized what that did to my heart and how I need to have the same kind of response to God.
So, underneath that, I I put the reminder like a child. And I think that's a good place to start, don't you? No, man. Let me tell you. It it it completely is.
And sometimes I I I do that with my dog. I mean, it's it sounds kinda crazy, but You know, I got to tell you that sometimes Ruby Can respond to me like that, and I'm like, God, am I, you know. Am I that excited to see you, to talk to you, to go for a walk with you, right? Which is, I think, one of the reasons pets are such a gift to us.
So, you know, I start like that to make sure that my heart is in the right place, that I'm humble before God, that I'm loving Him and praising Him, because that's where I need to be. And then of course I you know, I have the names and other needs. that are our are coming up on my list. But then halfway through it. I I I stopped.
And I have the words linger. Comma Listen. And You know, again, lingering in prayer just means being with Jesus, which we talk a lot about. it's just that place of not just talking, but You know, calming my heart before him, just hanging out with him. being more passive and then also listening.
And, you know, that's, I think, a great thing to put in the middle. Of a list so that it's not just all about what we want. Oh, I love that. And I you know, it's fascinating. How that mirrors so much, you know, my own situation in that.
You know, I had that stuff at the beginning of my time with God. that kind of brings my heart awake. and sensitive to where I feel like I'm trying to reach and get into communication with him, but I'm not really quite there yet. But I also have. You know, this isn't about you, Robbie, so let's talk about these other people.
Yeah. Right. And I got to be reminded of that. But then I get to, and then right after that, I get right to that same place. You're saying linger.
You know, I have You know, that's where I am like, okay. It's time for me to be quiet. And God, what's on your heart? You know, not even. Necessarily about my life at all, but just how are you feeling, God?
Well, and a great question to follow that up. To add to your prayer list is: what do you want your servants to do today? And I put that question in because, again, it's a listening question. But it's also a matter of saying You know, I'm not living for myself. I'm.
And I need help not to do that. I need that reminder.
So, what do you want your servant to do today? I think is another really solid thing to pray. And I'm right with you. Exactly. Yeah.
Even even when it comes to the to what do you want me to study. Right. Right. And then again, you know, following that with more Okay. listening and and being quiet.
before him and really being sensitive to our spirits because And that's how we hear him. It's it's usually not an an audible word or you know, writing in the sky, it's it's still small voice. that we need to quiet all of that interior noise. And just be still. and them know that he's God.
And then you can add other elements, whether it's special needs for others to pray for or needs in your own life. Needs at your church, of course, and praying for your pastor and others. This would be a good time to pray, don't you think? Take it away. Lord, thank you for this.
A guide and template, right? That we would all. push more into you through prayer and and to seek your face. As you've asked us to, Lord, I thank you for these insights, and I pray that you would get us excited about our list. The full love of it.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Amen. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray.
Yeah.
