Using this format, people were really able to tap into the power of prayer during a 48 hour prayer vigil in preparation for a visioning event at our church.  People especially appreciated the fact that they had a scripture to meditate on with every suggested activity.

How to do this prayer practice:

1.  Make up a time chart for sign ups. We made up sign up sheets for the prayer vigil.  People could choose to either pray at home or in the church sanctuary.

2.  Print up the guidelines.

We printed out the guidelines on a single sheet of paper and had them available in the church during the vigil. 

Here is a copy of our prayer vigil guideline format:

Enter into prayer by thanking God for the many wonderful ways our church shares God love.   Praise God for those individuals you know who have grown closer to Christ at our church.

Scripture: We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.   I Thessalonians 1:3

Focus on who God is and what He has done in your own life.  Meditate on the times and ways in your life when God has guided you.

Scripture: John 16:13  But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Ask for spiritual vision and spend time listening to God.

Scripture: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep step with the Spirit.  Gal 5:25

Pray that our church will be led by the Holy Spirit during the visioning event and that each participant will come with a listening heart to be attentive to what others have to say.  Pray that all will set aside their own desires and personal agendas and corporately work together to seek God’s direction.

Scripture: Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.   Philippians 2:2

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.  Phil. 2:13

Ask God to guide the participants to discover His top three goals/ areas of ministry focus for the next three to five years.   Pray for good attendance at the visioning event so we can hear from as many people as possible in order to create a collective vision.

Scripture: From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  Eph 4:16

Bedtime Prayer “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep”