Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. -James 4:8

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Read Psalm 26 daily. Pray 26 minutes daily. Each for 26 days. Let’s go!

Welcome to 26 Strong. Congratulations on taking the challenge!

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Perhaps now in the quiet, you are thinking, “What have I gotten myself into? What does spending 26 minutes with God even look like? Lord, I need help!” You’re not alone in this. Jesus had twelve disciples who didn’t know how to pray. In Luke 11:1, they said,

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

And Jesus taught them, and he’ll teach you too. This guide is designed to help you through the 26 Strong challenge by helping you understand what prayer is and how you might spend 26 minutes with the Lord each day.

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What is Prayer?

Billy Graham said, “Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God.” That means that in a prayer time, sometimes you talk and sometimes you don’t because you are listening, sitting quietly or even meditating on a Bible passage.

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Things Jesus Said about Prayer...

• Prayer is as simple as asking, seeking, and knocking. (Matthew 7:7)
• The Father gives good gifts to his children and can be trusted when we ask him for things. (Matthew 7:8-11)
• If God hasn’t answered, keep asking. (Luke 18:1-8)
• We are to pray with great faith. (Matthew 21:21-22)
• Prayer can involve praising God, asking him to make his will clear, requesting that he meet our needs, seeking his forgiveness, or crying out for help so we are victorious over temptations. (Matthew 6:9-13)

As simple as prayer is, talking with God can move the heart of God, and change us and the world we live in. EM Bounds says, “God shapes the world through prayer.”

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Cultivating a Life of Prayer

“Therefore, you should pray like this…” -Matthew 6:9

Prayer is powerful, yet most Christians say it is a difficult practice to learn. According to Crossway research, only 2% of Christians say they are very satisfied with the state of their prayer life.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/evangelicals-bothered-pray/

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There are many reasons believers find prayer difficult. Here are a few common things people say:

• “I wonder if it’s pointless. Does God even listen?”
• “I feel poorly prepared. No one ever taught me how.”
• “I feel perplexed. I don’t even know what to say.”
• “I am preoccupied. I’ve got too many other things to do.”

Maybe you too identify with one or more of these. The reasons we don't pray are significant for sure, but the reasons to start praying are even more significant. Simply put, in the Bible, prayer is a tool God uses to display His power and might. God hears us and moves to answer the prayers of His people. You are wise and courageous to embark on this journey of making time for prayer.

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Jesus taught His disciples the importance of prayer in John 15 where he said…

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‍Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. -John 15:4-5

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For Christians, time with Jesus is the most important work that must always be done.

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3 Ways to Build a Practice of Prayer

1. Have a certain time

Jesus got up early in the morning to pray. Make an appointment with God to pray at some point in your day.

2. Have a certain place

Jesus had specific places he would seek out to pray. Find a place that is distraction free and make it a place you seek regularly for prayer.

3. Have a certain plan

Jesus had a plan to pray as he shared with his disciples “you should pray like this.” Make a plan for your prayer time. Choose before you pray what you are going to pray about.

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Different Ways to Pray

“Prayer is the acid test of devotion.” - Samuel Chadwick

A deep prayer life only comes from a daily time in God’s Word. Daily abiding in God’s Word always produces a deeper prayer life. When Scripture is breathed in, a bold prayer will be breathed out. The book of Psalms is the prayer book of the Bible. Psalms give us a vision of what a prayerful life can be. Psalms present us with three ways to pray.

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Three kinds of Prayer in Psalms.

1. Cry for Help

The Psalms teach us out to cry out to God for help. The Psalms are full of cries for help from God. God is a good Father who loves to care for His children. When you pray you admit your need for God’s help. The Psalms are full of good examples of asking God to move on you and others' behalf.

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I called to the Lord in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.  -Psalm 18:6

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2. Place your Hope‍

The Psalms teach us how to renew your hope in God. The Psalms remind you where to place your hope. God cares for and delivers His people. Prayer reveals where your hope is and reminds you to place it in the only One who can deliver. ‍

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Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.  -Psalm 42:5‍

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3. Hallelujah

The Psalms teach us how to praise God for who He is and what He’s done. The Psalms model praises to God. God is worthy of all praise and honor, and when you praise Him through prayer you align your life with His agenda. ‍

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Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has performed wonders; his right hand and holy arm have won him victory.  -Psalm 98:1

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6 Prayer Practices: How to Pray for 26 Minutes

“It takes time to abide.” - Dr. Walter Strickland

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1. REDEEM THE TIME

‍Schedule a time and use a timer. Do it in shorter increments, if needed.

• 1 time of prayer for 26 minutes.
• 2 times of prayer for 13 minutes each.
• 4 times of prayer for 6 ½ minutes each.
• 13 times of prayer for 2 minutes each.

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2. GO FOR A WALK‍

Walk and talk to the Lord. Pray for the people you see. Thank God for the creation he made.

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3. PRAY AS A FAMILY‍

Gather those you love around the table and read and pray together.

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4. WRITE YOUR PRAYER OUT‍

Grab a journal and pen and write a prayer to the Lord. You’ll be surprised how writing focuses your mind to pray.

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5. SING TO THE LORD

‍Spend some time praising the Lord with music. Sing acapella or start up a worship song.

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6. ASK GOD TO HELP YOUR FRIENDS

‍Make a list of your friends, pray for each as they come to mind, for their salvation or some other need.

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Pray for Your...

1. YOUR WALK

Psalm 26: 1-6  |  Growth in integrity and holiness

2. YOUR WORDS

Psalm 26:7  | Gratitude and proclamation of God's goodness

3. YOUR WORSHIP

Psalm 26:8  |  Increased love for the presence of God

4. YOUR WITNESS‍

Psalm 26:9-12  |  A faithful life that blesses God

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