Prayer is mentioned often in the Bible. Faithful men and women used prayer to convey to God their heartfelt thanks, petitions and concerns. In Philippians 4:6 the Apostle Paul instructs, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” and in I Thessalonians 5:17, we are told to “pray without ceasing.” Jesus taught his disciples how to pray in Matthew 6. Prayer enables us to communicate with God whenever and wherever we are. Expressing our gratitude and thanks, or our worries and cares may come easily for some, while others may struggle to convey the feelings of the heart. 

Creating a prayer journal can be a helpful tool. It can not only help us formulate and organize our thoughts, but it also serves as a written record of past prayer. As we see God’s hand at work in our lives it will  strengthen our resolve and bolster our faith. There are many resources available to help us develop a prayer journal. As an initiative, Rise up and Build would like to suggest a resource titled, Prayer Workbook: Thoughts on Prayer by Sister Julie Snobelen. She covers many topics in the 42 page workbook including: 

• what prayer is

• to whom we are praying

• how we approach God

• building faith and a relationship with God, and 

• how often we should pray

Other sections focus on thanksgiving, hope, God’s will, and our anxieties. 

Sister Julie’s prayer journal is a helpful resource for both teenagers and adults who wish to develop a more robust prayer life. Consider using this workbook in Sunday School or Bible class as a guide to a fuller and richer relationship with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.