God-Directed Prayer
by Jim Elzerman

Two weeks after her husband retired from 43 years in the pastoral ministry, Betty Anibal was in a near-fatal automobile accident that left her in the hospital for four months and required a year's recovery. At the end of that time, God re-directed her life — particularly with regard to prayer. She shares, "following that the Lord re-directed my life and my lifestyle." The change was from "a Martha style of ministry — busy, busy, busy — to a Mary style of ministry — quieter, sitting at the feet of Jesus with more time for study and prayer." She began using prayer cards for the first time to organize her prayers and now has a regular routine of prayer built around those cards.

Every day of the week she prays for the members of her immediate family and her three pastors and their families by name.

• On Sundays she prays especially for the local church — teachers, officers, pastors and workers.
• On Monday she prays for extended family — brothers and sisters, cousins, etc. as well as miscellaneous concerns.
• Tuesday's prayer focus is for conference ministries including the superintendent and office staff, and the World Ministries Center, praying for personnel there by name — both executives and support staff. After listing many of those individuals, Betty shares, "I need a big block of time on Tuesdays." Remember, these individuals are prayed for by name.
• On Wednesday she turns to "our country, our president, our governor, our mayor, and the workers that give us service — like the firemen, mail carriers, policemen, garbage collectors, phone company and electric company."
• On Thursday she prays for Free Methodist World Missions and missionaries beginning with Dr. Art Brown, general director, and area representatives for all the fields. (A Missionary Prayer Directory listing all FM missionaries is available. Check with your local WMI about getting one.)
• On Friday she prays for miscellaneous friends — for salvation, healing, guidance and growth.
• On Saturday, Betty shares, "I pray for everything else that I couldn't get prayed for during the week" — like prison ministries, shut-ins, those that work with the handicapped, Special Ed, hospital chaplains and doctors.

On the bottom of each card is a scripture reference or two. Some of the references include:

• Jeremiah 33:3 — "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
• Philippians 1:6 — "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
• Psalm 103:2—3 — "Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."

Whether you use prayer cards for organizing your prayers or some other means, are you willing to let God direct your prayer life?