In episode 139, “How to Pray with Intention”, we interview author Betsy Adams who gives us a step by step approach on how to pray on purpose on a regular basis. Her how-to guide and resources will get you praying more consistently and more meaningfully. We begin our book study mini series over Autumn Miles’ Gangster Prayer in episode 131. Learn how to relentlessly pursue God with passion and great expectation.
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Intentional Prayer
We’ve brought Betsy Adams, author of “Saved! Now What?”, back on the show, and we are thrilled to have her here today! We were looking for something very specific out of our third interview. We needed someone who has gone before us and found something that is practical, actionable, and actually works. We are so thankful she stepped up, got vulnerable, and shared her process on how to pray with intention.
Here’s the million dollar question, much like the “Who’s on your zombie apocalypse team?”: Who is on your prayer warrior team? Do you have a couple of people in your life who will drop whatever they’re doing and take the time to pray for you? Those are you people. Find them and keep them close. After hearing Betsy’s process, you can bet that she’s on our prayer warrior team!
As growing Christians, we get intentional with Bible studies, going to church, and being part of a community group, but do we have the same push for prayer life? If the answer is “not yet”, we’ve got some ideas for you! We talk about what it’s like to walk in an atmosphere of prayer, but then we take it to a deeper level by becoming intentional and more disciplined.
How to Make it Work
Here’s one of our favorite parts of the interview in episode 139, “How to Pray with Intention”. Betsy gives us the full break down on what she does and how she does it. The good news is that anyone can do it with a little elbow grease! Her strategy? Notecards and a journal. You heard right. Nothing fancy, no secret weapon, and it’s something that almost everyone has access to. Here’s the type of notecard she uses, and here is our journal recommendation.
The beautiful thing about the notecards is that it keeps you focused if your mind tends to wander. Betsy goes over her process on exactly what she puts on each of her note cards, so scroll up and click play to hear the full details. The basic components of a her prayer notecards have some combination of the following:
- the person’s name
- a verse to pray over that person
- specific prayer requests, hopes, dreams, goals
- dates to remember the details
As her family grows, or specific people ask her to pray (or she’s felt the Holy Spirit nudge her to do so), she adds cards. Betsy reads through/prays/talks with God about each of her cards, and does this almost every single day. Consistency has been a game changer according to her. As prayers are answered or new requests are given, she dates it on the notecard as a way to reflection how God is always working for our good.
Prayer Through Journaling
Along with the daily notecard routine, Betsy also incorporates journaling. She tells the story of why she decided to use both, and it makes perfect sense. She’s got a lot of people to pray for! She goes through the notecards daily, as mentioned, but she selects one specific person to pray for each week. Her spouse, children, children’s spouses, grandkids, and friends each take a turn on her weekly rotation.
The journaling give her a chance to dive deeper, more specific than what’s on the notecards for each particular person. Writing down extended prayers helps her open mental real estate, and helps her practice the calling of giving Jesus our burdens. We dive into how this stops the sin cycle of worry and turns them into prayers, so be sure to tune into episode 139, “How to Pray with Intention.” It’s definitely one of our favorite parts of the episode!
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Journaling in this way is intentional in reflection and grows confidence in faith. Wondering how Betsy gets verses for her prayer cards? Good thing we asked her! Pray that God gives you verses. Yes, again, it’s that simple. Reading your Bible on a consistent basis opens up the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to reveal verses that fit your people perfectly for the season they’re in. Read the verse over them, pray it, and think about how that verse applies specifically to that person. Expect god to move!
We hope you enjoyed episode 139, “How to Pray with Intention” and that you have practical, actionable steps you can take. Be sure to check out this entire Gangster Prayer mini series about relentlessly pursuing God with passion and great expectation. You can do this! We’re here to help. Click the affiliate image below to get your copy of Autumn Miles’ book.
Links From the Show
- Book Gangster Prayer by Autumn Miles
- Gangster Prayer Mini Series
- 21 Kicks Journals
- Parenting Pro Tips with Betsy EP 7
- Saved! Now What? Author interview with Betsy Adams EP 79
- Saved! Now What?: A 20 Day Devotional for young, new Christians
- The Bible Recap, by Tara-Leigh Cobble
- Daily Audio Bible
- Reckon So signs
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