Blogger friend, Linda Stoll, concluded a recent post with the following prayer:
“Holy Spirit, please do what You do best –
comfort, refresh, convict, prompt,
guide, protect, calm, and strengthen.
Delight us with an abundance
of Your refreshing presence.”
–Linda Stoll
https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/come-hungry-porch-221
Those verbs could provide helpful prayer-starters, I thought, and told Linda in the comments I’d be copying those verbs on a 3 x 5, to add the list to my prayer box:
She responded, “I love that you have a prayer box . . . Please write a post on this someday, ok, Nancy?”
Well, Linda (and all my other friends who visit here), today is the day!
Some of you will remember previous references to this practice:
https.//www.nancyaruegg.com/2024/10/7/a-quiet-time-notebook/
Below you’ll find the rationale behind keeping such a box and suggestions for preparing one.
Why a prayer box?
Some people keep a prayer list; I transitioned to a box of 3 x 5s more than twenty-five years ago. The reasons include:
- More room to write, as needs change or progressive answers unfold.
For example, an undiagnosed illness might be followed by eventual determination of the problem, then improvement, and finally healing. It’s encouraging to see God at work through the process, as well as in the final outcome.
- Cards can easily be organized. For example, if the child of parents I already pray for suddenly needs prayer himself, I can slip a new card for him behind the parents’ card and pray for the family together.
- Viewing one card at a time improves my focus. Staring at a long list can be overwhelming.
- Prayer cards contribute freshness to prayer time as I rotate through the cards, concentrating attention on just ten to twelve per day.
How to Start a Prayer Box
Find a box to accommodate the cards you choose to use. (You may wish to use decorated cards, for added beauty to your prayer experience. Many options are available online.)
You can use the box as is, cover the lid in wrapping paper, or decorate another way. Make it a pleasure to pull off the shelf.
For each card, you’ll want to include the name of the person(s) or ministry at the top, with the date you’re starting to pray for them.
Names concealed to protect privacy.
If there’s a specific need, write a short summary statement. Include the date if it’s different than the one recorded at the top of the card.
We can also pray for: the health of their spirit, their strength of faith, a life of integrity, daily awareness of God’s love in palpable ways, rest in his shalom, and a wide ripple effect from their life.
Let’s not forget Linda’s helpful verbs either.
When possible, include a scripture that relates to the request.
The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to Him and saying to Him, ‘Do as You have said.’
–Charles Spurgeon, from The Secret of Power in Prayer
Record evidence of progress; praise God for his involvement.
Include request-cards for yourself—especially those concerns that impact your relationship with God and with others.
You may wish to intersperse cards of inspiration as well.
Record the answers as they come. Enjoy the delight of citing evidence of God’s attentiveness, creative solutions, miracle-working power, and more.
Of course, sometimes the answer isn’t what I asked for. But I record those too, knowing that everything God does somehow serves divine purpose.
When God says “Yes,” he increases our joy. When God says, “Wait,” he increases our patience. And when God says “No,” he increases our trust in his higher ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Keep the cards of answered prayers in a separate place as proof of God’s involvement. Boost your confidence in God and the power of prayer as the stack grows (Isaiah 25:1).
And remember:
A praying saint performs far more havoc among the unseen forces of darkness than we have the slightest notion of.
—Oswald Chambers, Biblical Psychology, 1912.
Perhaps a faithfully-used prayer box will help create more havoc!
Image credits: Nancy Ruegg; www. commons. wikimedia.org (2); Nancy Ruegg (8).
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Awesome prayer tips, Nancy
Thank you Sue. I’m delighted you found them “awesome!”
There appear to be many benefits to this system. I’m going to give it some thought and PRAY about how God would have me to use this in my prayer life.
I would say, it’s not that one system is any better than another. No doubt there are prayer warriors out there who use no system at all. What matters is what works for each of us!
Yes, ma’am. I have prayed in many different ways at different times in my life. Funny thing is…God hears me no matter which way I am praying and even when I can’t pray and the Holy Spirit has to pray for me. God is so gracious!
Great tips, Nancy. At my age, my prayer list is getting so long that I often fall asleep before im finished.
Years ago heard a pastor make a similar comment, Kathy. And then he added, “What better place to fall asleep than in the presence of God?!” What better place indeed!
wow that pile of answered prayers is amazing. What a great practice and so glad you shared it here today.
Thank you, Jean. I’m amazed myself at the stack of cards representing answered prayers!
What a wonderful suggestion! I can see where prayer cards can enhance our prayer experience and strengthen our connection to others. Thanks, Nancy! 🙂
I’m so glad you found these suggestions worthwhile, Nancy. As I told Linda Higgins above, the method doesn’t matter so much; whatever helps each person to be prayerful is the point!
Wow, what an incredible practice, Nancy! And I love your verbs and the stack of answered prayers. God is good!
Those helpful verbs came from blogger, Linda Stoll–I want to give credit where credit is due! / And if that stack of answered prayers didn’t live in a box in my office, I might not believe it myself! Although, please know, not all were answered as I would have liked. Some of those cards represent “no” answers and some, I just sensed it was time to stop praying. One example: I learned of a toddler with a brain tumor. My heart ached for the family even though we’d never met. This side of heaven it’s likely I’ll never know the outcome of their situation, but I did pray for them for quite some time.
This is a great idea! I liked it when you mentioned it on Linda’s Sustack, but glad to see the details. I’ve kept a prayer journal with some of the similar things, but really like this idea too. Might have to try to do one! ~ Rosie
Prayer journals have their advantages too, Rosie!
This is such a marvelous way to realize how God is working in our lives and the lives of others as we record our prayer experiences, Nancy. I’m going to have to try this. Thanks to you and to Linda for the inspiration. Blessings!
I’m so glad you found these ideas worthwhile, Martha–praise God!
I love the idea of having a Prayer Box. Thank you for sharing about this. I’m on several Prayer teams and this is very helpful. Have a blessed day! 🙂
I’m so glad you found these suggestions helpful, Melissa–praise God! P.S. I am having a blessed day–enjoyed coffee this morning with a dear friend!
Love this idea, Nancy. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, Manu. So glad you love the idea of a prayer box!
That STACK of cards!!
And I have to agree that there is nothing quite as satisfying as a 3×5 card file.
As I told Wynne above, if that stack of answered prayer-cards didn’t live in a box in my office, I might not believe it myself! / You and I must be alike, Michele, in preferring organization for the tasks we pursue!
A Prayer Box!!! What a great idea; and a wonderful way to organize requests, ongoing developments, and answers, using dates for each new entry. Thank you for sharing Linda’s quote as well. I depend on the Holy Spirit more and more every day for all of the reasons she listed. The comfort I get from the Holy Spirit is constant. I am so grateful to the Lord for gifting us with Him.
Thank you, Cheri. Where would we be without the Holy Spirit?! He is a mind-boggling gift! To think he is constantly ministering to us, engineering circumstances around us, even working through us to help others–He’s an incredible reality of our lives in Christ that God has provided!
Thank you Nancy for this great idea. I keep a long list, I really like the idea of a prayer box!
Blessings dear one,
Pam
I’m so glad you found this idea worthwhile, Pam!
My dad was all about getting things done, and inspired my habit of maintaining a never-ending to-do list on my phone. Your prayer box reminds me of my task list – just as productive but with the focus towards God instead of towards self or others. I love your “Yes”, “Wait”, “No” answers to prayers, and the call to trust in the reasons behind those answers. It speaks to God’s higher plan, one we must learn to trust versus seek to understand.
I’m a list-maker in other areas of my life too, Dave. One of the advantages of a prayer list or cards is the enhanced satisfaction of recording the answers as they come, and seeing in writing the evidence of God’s attentiveness, faithfulness, mercy, goodness, wisdom, generosity, protection and more. I think the practice does increase our trust–even when we long for understanding.
This is wonderful Nancy! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Katie! I’m so glad you found this post meaningful to you.
It has inspired me to begin my own prayer box—usually I just use a notebook and write down prayer requests–but I think you system is wonderful–and would help make sure that prayer requests get prayed for often, and kept track of–in regards to updates and answers. Very helpful!! Thank you Nancy!!
Now it’s my turn to say, “Wonderful, Katie!” I pray you find the practice as meaningful as I have.
To pay attention to what God is doing–is one of the most encouraging things one can do! 🙂 Thank you again for the thoughtful and specific ideas on how to do this! 🙂
That astute, first statement is quotable, Katie!
Thank you Nancy! 🙂
Nancy, thank you for blessing us with the thoughtfulness of using a prayer box. I like how you also include meaningful Christian voices along with general prayers with a much wider audience.
Thank you, Richard. Your comment made me realize that some cards have been in the deck a long time, like that Andrew Murray quote; others I replace as needs change or other quotes minister especially to my heart. Even list-users could have a cover-page of meaningful prayer quotes!
A gentle and faith-filled reflection that offers a prayerful reminder of comfort, renewal, and the quiet strength found in spiritual trust. 🙏✨
Thank you, Safia. Praise God you found this post meaningful!
Awesome prayer 🙏
Thank you, Anowar. Praise God for his inspiration!
You’re most welcome, madam 😊