Prayer Journaling: a guide to cultivate prayer

1.Introduction

1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

Hebrew 6:1

Definitions

To direct special attention to; to devote time and thought to; to foster; to cherish. (biblehub.com)

to raise or produce by tillage; to care for while growing; as, to cultivate corn or grass(definitions.net)

Understanding the concept

CULTIVATE—a word that symbolizes what a garden needs to flourish

Cultivation is the effort a farmer makes to ensure that he will produce as bountiful a crop as possible.

Cultivation begins with plowing the ground. fertilizing it, sowing seeds, and the next stage – watering, weeding and maintaining. These activities can be quite demanding and take great energy while engaging in it. I love to add these activities to my fitness plan, working out in my garden!

Purpose

Before we can go any further understanding the process of prayer cultivation, I just want to clarify that I am using a biblical view writing about it and how prayer journaling ushered me into this topic.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29

According to the above scripture, there are enormous amounts of grace and favor to receive from God and they are all preplanned, prepared, and established in His plans for our lives, but we need knowledge, strategy, and prayer to activate and download it in our present and future. God has everything already worked out!

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Proverbs 14:12

However,man found their own ways and are trying to work out their own salvation, leaning on their understanding and let themselves get torn away from God and His presence. And at the end when everything is suddenly falling apart, they ask:“DOES HE REALLY EXIST?”

With prayer journaling, divine schedules from God, and different prayer strategies we can re-arrange, transform and maintain a breakthrough prayer altar.

Main tasks of cultivation

Basic adherence to prayer

• Submit to God spirit ,soul, and body and do not lean on your own understanding.
• Obedience
• Trust Him no matter what
• Surrender and allow Him to go before you and make the crooked places straight.

Preparation is crucial

• Clothe yourself with God’s armor

• Write out a prayer strategy

• Strengthen your spirit with declarations

Dig deeper

• Write out your prayers

• Compile scripture-based prayers

• Write some prayers in sections: adoration, repentance, supplication, and gratitude.

• Include some creativity, read or do a doodle Bible study.

Summary

Cultivation requires hard work and effort, but the satisfaction and peace are beyond words. There is so much peace in standing back and admiring your design or achievement. Prayer became a designer item in my closet! It is not just my ministry, but also my business! Our prayer muscles must be trained to become strong to take on what the world aims at us.

8 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.“

1 Timothy 4

Personal growth, wisdom, and maturity can be discerned clearly when someone speaks to God in prayer or when speaking about him.