Evenings with God (Light Background)

 
I struggle with prayer.  
 
It’s not something that comes naturally to me, and I really have to work hard at it.  And I knew that wasn’t how it was meant to be.  
 
So I went to Scripture for help and used it as a guide for how I wanted to pray.
 
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV)
 
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 CSB)
 
Together with a few more Scriptures and the Lord's Prayer, I put together templates to help us approach our time with Jesus with focus and intention.  No matter if that’s in the mornings or evenings.
 
First, we start by honoring God for who He is (Father, your name be honored as holy… – Luke 11:2 CSB).  We list His characteristics, His attributes, anything that we may have noticed the day before (or day of) about Him.  
 
Second, we offer thanksgiving for the blessings that God has given us (Give us each day our daily bread – Luke 11:3 CSB).   
 
Third, we offer our confessions of sin, repent to God, and offer forgiveness to others (Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us – Luke 11:4 CSB). 
 
Next, we lay out our supplications, prayers, and intercessions to God.  This is the part where we ask God for something either for us or on behalf of others.  I was intentional in putting this after the first three sections.  “Our hearts are more pure and ready to pray in faith when we have first adored God, confessed our sins, and thanked Him for what He’s done.” (Kendrick and Kendrick, p. 46) 
 
Next, if you are anything like me, the moment you go to pray is when you remember fifty eleven things that need to get done.  Well, they are on your mind for a reason.  Why not write them down and then pray over them? (Don’t worry about anything… – Philippians 4:6 CSB)  This is also a great space to cover our day in prayer (And do not bring us into temptation – Luke 11:4 CSB).   
 
Finally, we have a space to document our Bible reading or studying for the day.  That’s right.  We have you covered with praying right before you dive into God’s Word.  “…the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and preservers in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works – this person will be blessed in what he does.” – James 1:25 CSB (Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God – who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly – and it will be given to him. – James 1:5 CSB) 
 
Kendrick, Alex & Stephen. “What: Types of Prayer.” The Battle Plan for Prayer: From Basic Training to Targeted Strategies, by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick, B & H Publishing Group, 2015, p. 46.