Sometimes, in my life, I have a hard time starting my prayers. I pray short prayers for people throughout the day as I think of them or if I read on FB that they are going through something, but when it comes to my quiet time with God I don't always know where to start.
These two things have helped me a lot. I am posting them in hopes that they will be helpful to somebody else as well.
1) When we were in Japan, I heard a sermon on the ACTS of prayer. It is modeled after the Lord's prayer:
A - Adoration - showing God the glory and honor He is due "Holy is your name"
C - Confession - confessing our sins, forgiving others as He forgives you, asking for help in the areas you feel tempted
T - Thanks - giving thanks for your daily bread and your many blessings
S - Supplication - asking your desires, seeking Him for the needs in your life
Since then, I have also heard people add intercession - where you lift up other's needs/requests.
2) At the beginning of the school year, I found this site with verses from God's Word for every letter of the alphabet. It is for kids but both Lilly and I have learned the verses and memorized them. We haven't made it to the end of the alphabet, but I find myself praying through them when I can't think of what to pray. They are awesome verses that help remind me of God's promises and how Holy He is. Examples:
A - Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.
B - Be kind to one another.
C - Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.
D - Do not be anxious about anything
E - Every good and perfect gift is from above.
F - For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith
Praying through God's Word, really helps me focus on talking to Him but also lets me "hear" Him as well.
