In his book, The hour that changes the world, Dick Eastman suggests that one divide an hour into 12 periods of 5 minutes each. After 5 minutes you change to another form of prayer.
The following is Dick Eastman’s groupings
- Praise and Worship
- Waiting on the Lord
- Confession
- Pray the Word
- Watching
- Intercession
- Petitions
- Thanksgiving
- Song
- Meditation
- Listening
- Praise
The following is a summary of each of the 12 different aspects of prayer
1. Praise and Worship is an expression of admiration and devotion to God. Psa 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Worship God for who He is: the One who created you – for His unfailing Word – for your salvation – that you are included in His purpose…
- It is to exalt and honour God.
- It is to acknowledge God for who He is, to exalt God with your words, your whole being and with your attitude in prayer.
- Worship Him for His Name. His righteousness, love, holiness, omnipotence, greatness, faithfulness, omnipresence, His Word, His Creation, His work of redemption, etc. You may want to choose a different theme for each period of praise and worship. Expand on this theme as much as possible, meditate on it and ponder on the practical implications for your life and the lives of other people.
2. Waiting on the Lord is an act of surrender to, and of love and admiration for God, (often wordless worship). Ps.46:11 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
- This is a time of silence before God.
- Where I spiritually close the door to any influence from the world.
- Where I enter into His presence by an act of faith.
- It is a time to worship and praise God for who He is.
- During this period of silence we tune in to God Himself and direct our whole being to Him and commit ourselves to Him anew. We rejoice in and over His presence.
- This is a time of deep personal and intimate communication between God and ourselves; it is me as the limited and finite being coming into the presence of God as the unlimited and infinite Being.
- We make sure at this point that we are in contact with God. This time of waiting on the Lord cannot be hurried; there is no place for impatience and haste during this time.
- During this time you think of nothing but God the Father, His Son Jesus your Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit.
- You need not express your thoughts in words. Concentrate on your relationship with the Lord and your love for Him.
