How to Easily Pray an Hour Following Twelve 5 Minute Areas
Can you hear the passion in Jesus' voice when he asked his disciples "Can you not watch (pray) with me one hour?" Matt 26:40 Let's face it. How often have we committed to a time of prayer only to be distracted or fall asleep?
Remember the quote, How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. One way to increase your quality and quantity (time) in prayer is to take an hour and break it down into twelve 5-minute "bite-size" topics or areas.
These 12 areas of prayer were developed for the Calvary Worship Center family but can be easily adapted to any person for any church. Use it as a template and adapt it to your own prayer needs and focus.
Praise and Worship
Use this time to sing and worship to your favorite songs and Scripture. Doing this first helps prepare your heart and align your spirit with His Spirit for effective prayer.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. 11 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. 12 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,1 Chronicles 16:8-12 (read 16:8-36)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Psalms 28:7
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalms 34:1-3
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Revelation 4:8-11
Confession and Repentance
Confession is beginning a renewed relationship with God. He doesn’t require that it be a formal, memorized, or robotic.
Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24
The Lord wants to see true, meaningful repentance from humbled hearts.
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
He wants us to be specific in our prayer for the confession of sin, not generic. Tell God what you did.
1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
He wants us to acknowledge that we have sinned, and He wants us to know that He readily forgives.
Psalm 32:5-7 NLT Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (6) Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. (7) For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
Confessing our sins to one another, offers us accountability, allowing us to pray effectively for each other.
James 5:16 NLT Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Personal Needs
This time is for you to pray for your own personal needs.
But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; The LORD hears when I call to Him. Psalms 4:3
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Healing in mind, emotions and body
Salvation of loved ones
Financial provision
Wisdom and Direction
Increased love for God
Peace and joy in the Lord
Favor in your occupation and those in authority over you
Strength and endurance in hard times
Your family and loved one’s needs
Marriage
4. Needs of Others (Intercession)
Use this time to pray for the needs of others. Make a list with names and their needs.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
5. Revival
If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
"Come, let us return to the LORD… Hosea 6:1
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, Acts 3:19-20
Take the time to look up some of these verses to inspire your prayers for revival.
6. Those in Authority
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. —1 Timothy 2:1-4
Pray for your boss, supervisors, etc.
Pray for your pastor and spiritual leaders.
Pray for government leaders and their families. (President, Governors, Mayor, City Council, School Board, etc…)
Pray for relationships leaders have with others.
Pray for God to send righteous voices in circles of influence.
Pray that leaders would be courageous in representing their constituents and uphold Godly values.
7. CWC Missionaries
Pray for Open Doors
That God will open doors of ministry, blessing partnerships and friendships.
That those who serve will be led by the Holy Spirit and recognize open‑door opportunities.
That God will lead his people past barriers to hearts ready to receive his Word.
Pray for Boldness
That the Holy Spirit will provide missionaries with words that communicate effectively in other cultures and languages.
That they will have boldness to overcome the fear of embarrassment or failure.
Against evil forces that would seek to hinder the spread of the gospel.
Pray that God’s Word will Spread
For strength and stamina as missionaries encounter evil spiritual forces (Eph 6:10–18).
That people will resist Satan’s plans to obstruct the spread of the gospel (James 4:7).
That God’s Word will indeed spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes.
Pray for Protection
That God will keep missionaries safe.
That God will change the hearts of those who are resistant to his Word.
Pray for Effective Ministry
That God will provide strength and perseverance when their ministry seems to be fruitless.
That seeds will be planted and that missionaries would be able to see the fruits of their labor.
That an abundant harvest will be produced as more people learn about the love of Christ.
Pray for Refreshment
That God will provide opportunities for missionaries in isolated areas to spend time with other believers.
That God will provide times of peace and relaxation to refresh his workers.
For restoration — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually — that can only be found in Jesus.
8. CWC Ministries/Needs
9. Listening/Waiting
Prayer is communication with God. A good conversation includes talking and listening. Use this time to be still, stop talking and listen with your spiritual ears. God can speak through our imagination and impressions as well as a still small voice. Pay close attention to your thoughts during this time. This is also the right time to write down what you’re hearing.
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
Psalms 130:5-6
"Cease striving (wait) and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalms 46:10
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; John 10:27
10. Thanksgiving
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2
Pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.
1 Chronicles 16:8
There are 3 levels of Thanksgiving:
Thank God for your physical, or natural blessings. Examples include:
Job and provision
A home and transportation
Food in the frig. Gas in the car. Clothes on our back. Bed to sleep in. etc…
Healthy body and mind
Your spouse, children, loved ones
Thank God for spiritual, or supernatural blessings. What do you possess or experience that only God from Heaven can give? Examples include:
Your salvation
Peace of God
Joy in the Lord
Love from the Father
Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
Thank God for who and what He is. Focus on His character and attributes. This level of thankfulness is all about God, regardless of your personal benefits. Examples include:
11. Israel
The Bible tells us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”. (Psalm 122:6) When we pray for the nation and people of Israel we are ultimately praying for God’s will to be accomplished in the whole world for one day He will return and establish His Kingdom and there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth. (Revelation 21 & 22)
JERUSALEM and ALL THE PEOPLE and LAND OF ISRAEL
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6)
For the people of Israel to come to know their Messiah, Yeshua (Psalm 40:7; Isaiah 53)
For her borders to be secure (Exodus 23:31a)
For Jerusalem to be protected from being divided (Joel 3:2)
ISRAEL’S GOVERNMENT AND LEADERS
For Israel’s leaders to be blessed and lead well, so Israel’s citizens can live in peace and many will come to salvation (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
That they may be just and give their country stability, and be free from corruption (Prov 29:4)
That they would ask God for wisdom and follow His lead (James 1:5)
BELIEVERS IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL
For the Believers in Israel to be strengthened with power in their inner being, so Messiah may dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they would know the love of Messiah (Eph 3:16-19)
That they would be filled with God’s will, wisdom and understanding; live a life worthy of Him; bear fruit in every good work; have great endurance and patience; and be grateful (Col 2:6-7)
For their protection, and that those around them would be drawn to Yeshua because of their love for Him and one another (John 17:11, 23)
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES OF ISRAEL
That people and nations will take this Scripture to heart and bless Israel, thus receiving a blessing and not a curse (Genesis 12:3)
That the nations would understand the depth of God’s wrath against those who don’t follow Him (Isaiah 60:12)
For God to keep a watchful eye over His People, and bind the schemes and resources of their enemies so they can do them no harm (Zechariah 12:1-5; Psalm 91)
12. Pray in the Spirit
Do you have a spiritual language given to you by the baptism in the Holy Spirit? If so, use this time to pray in the Spirit. Tongues and prophecy are very closely connected, so don’t be surprised when God begins to give you the interpretation to your prayers in the Spirit. The Bible calls that a prophetic utterance or interpretation of tongues. As you pray, listen and watch in the spirit to your imaginations and thoughts. What is God wanting to speak or show you? You just may have a revelation for the Body of Christ. Write it down and share it with your pastor.
Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
John 7:38-39 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
1 Corinthians 14:2-4 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. (3) But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. (4) The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
1 Corinthians 14:39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
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