When everything is on the line and people, important people to you, need your prayers . . .

are you?

Jesus said it much better than either you or I could:

“Can you at least pray for one hour?”

I’m sure you remember the critical occasion very well.

'Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.' (Matthew 26:33-43)

For many of us, we are willing to keep watch and pray for the people who are important to us. But sometimes we “forget” to pray, or we do not pray “on purpose.” The goal of My Daily Prayer List For 30 Names: Praying For A Change is to help you begin a spiritual discipline of prayer that will not only benefit the ones you are praying for every day but by praying through your list, you will be refreshed too.

'The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.' (Proverbs 11:25)

The concept is simple, but it does require a decisive decision to take action. A word of caution: If you commit to pray and try and do this in your own strength, you will quickly fail. But if you ask the Lord to help you, He certainly will. And before you know it, you will be making progress towards spending an hour in prayer as you take each person, all 30 of them, to the Throne of Grace. To begin, pray for each person for just one minute. That will help you gain some momentum and show you can pray for at least thirty minutes. Then when you sense the Lord’s leading, pray for each person on your list for two minutes and you will realize what you have been doing for an hour:

Praying

So, let's get started. Who are the thirty people you need to add to your prayer list? They will be eternally grateful.