The Prayer Cycle is a simple tool for practicing prayer that you can use by yourself and share with any follower of Jesus. In just 12 simple steps – 5 minutes each – the Prayer Cycle guides you through 12 ways the Bible teaches us to pray. At the end, you’ll have prayed for an hour.

The Bible tells us — “Pray without ceasing.” Not many of us can say we do that. But after this hour of prayer – you’ll be a step closer.

In just 12 simple steps – 5 minutes each – this Prayer Cycle guides you through 12 ways the Bible teaches us to pray. At the end, you’ll have prayed for an hour.

PRAISE
Start your prayer hour by praising the Lord. Praise Him for things that are on your mind right now. Praise Him for one special thing He has done in your life in the past week. Praise Him for His goodness to your family.

WAIT
Spend time waiting on the Lord. Be silent and let Him pull together reflections for you.

CONFESS
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything in your life that might be displeasing to Him. Ask Him to point out attitudes that are wrong, as well as specific acts for which you have not yet made a prayer of confession. Now confess that to the Lord so that you might be cleansed.

READ THE WORD
Spend time reading in the Psalms, in the prophets, or passages on prayer located in the New Testament.

ASK
Make requests on behalf of yourself.

INTERCESSION
Make requests on behalf of others.

PRAY THE WORD
Pray specific passages. Scriptural prayers as well as a number of Psalms lend themselves well to this purpose.

THANK
Give thanks to the Lord for the things in your life, on behalf of your family, and on behalf of your church.

SING
Sing songs of praise or worship or another hymn or spiritual song.

MEDITATE
Ask the Lord to speak to you. Have a pen and paper ready to record impressions He gives you.

LISTEN
Spend time merging the things you have read, things you have prayed and things you have sung and see how the Lord brings them all together to speak to you.

PRAISE
Praise the Lord for the time you have had to spend with Him and the impressions He has given you. Praise Him for His glorious attributes.

From Dick Eastman’s book The Hour that Changes the World © 2002 by Dick Eastman, Chosen Books, Grand Rapids, MI, used by permission.