More Prayer This Month Than Last Month: Origin Story, Part 3

Go here to read Part 2: What Else Could Happen?

After the invitation to prayer, I wondered what else I could do.

About ten years earlier, my mom had given me an idea to pray for a long list of people in a more interesting way. (See Prayer Refresh: Expansion to find out more about the specific method.)

I had tried it on and off, perhaps four times over the years. Each time, I’d last about a week, and then give up. I wouldn’t know what to say after, “Bless this one, and that one, and the other one.”

But this time I decided to pause and think about each of my people. Paul wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy” (Phil. 1:3-4).

When I wrote the names of the family and friends I loved, the ministries I cared about, I found it so satisfying to remember them before the throne of grace. I felt like Paul, remembering the ones I love.

I started praying every morning.

The first unique thing about this experiment compared to the previous years was that I had no time restrictions. My oldest son was working at a farm about twenty minutes away. I’d drop him off and pray through my list on the way home.

Lord, what am I noticing about these ones I’m praying for?

Periodically I’d sense the Lord say, “Reach out to this particular friend, and say this.” I’d try it, and have a joyful interaction.

This season also taught me to be okay with being imperfect.

Years ago I read that Shirley Dobson had prayed every day, from the time she was seven, for her future husband—with the subtext that this was the reason Dr. Dobson turned out as wonderful as he did.

And I’d think: Drat; I totally missed the boat. I’m thirty years too late. Might as well give up.

I wouldn’t be perfect, so why bother?

Or I’d start to pray, forget a day, and instead of thinking, Well, at least I prayed for some people this week, I’d either try to double up the prayers (longer and more frantic!) or beat myself up (why are you so bad at this?).

It’s not fun to live with a constant sense of guilt and failure, so I would quit.

But this time I changed my goal: more prayer this month than last month.

I tried to be thankful for what I was able to do, and not beat myself up for what I was not able to do.

More: To God be the glory; my life is his.

And if I noticed that the people I prayed for on Saturday and Sunday kept getting a bit less prayer, because I had a regular pattern during the workweek and a less regular pattern on the weekend—well, at least everyone was getting some prayer, and that’s better than none.

I could trust that the Lord was working it out.

I determined to do what I could.

Since I didn’t pray daily from the time I was seven, I got to start on whatever day I started.

If the best time to plant a tree was ten years ago, the second best time was now.

I could be at peace with that.

Jesus, thank you that you call us, and that even when our thinking is silly, you, in your infinite mercy, work with us. Thank you that you love it when we pray, no matter how imperfectly, because you love us as your children. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

On to Part 4: Could I Ask God for a Business Idea?