I’ve compiled for your convenience the application sections from the chapters that discuss the personal altar, core altar, community altar, miracle altar, and salvation altar. Now that you’ve heard the Word, I encourage you to also be a doer of the Word by applying these truths into your life (see James 1:22–25). The rains, floods, and winds come upon us all, but those who hear the words of Jesus and do them stand when storms of life come (see Matthew 7:24). The Holy Spirit will lead as you seek to build these altars into your life.
“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word” (Psalm 119:147).
Decide when you will pray. Until prayer makes it into our daily planners, prayer is only a good intention. We all tend to pray when pressure or desperate situations move us to pray, but that isn’t a daily altar. Fix an appointment with God and keep it. I suggest making prayer your first priority of the morning. Morning prayer reminds us of our need for Him and invites His blessing upon the rest of our day. So, find a time, put it on the calendar, and show up.
Decide where you will pray. Look for a place away from others where you won’t be easily distracted. Find a place to which you can daily return. Even if you struggle to find an ideal place, don’t allow your surroundings to keep you from praying.
Start with the Bible. The Bible itself reminds us that “in the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). When a person reads the Bible four or more days a week, it has a greater spiritual impact than any other discipline. The powerful effects of Bible engagement on spiritual growth have been reliably demonstrated across many studies. When you pray, there’s no better place to start than with the Word of God.
Keep a journal. When I go to prayer, I often begin by reading from the Bible. I journal what I hear God saying to me through His Word. That experience moves me to pray through worship and with new requests. The Word of God is active and alive and is a powerful guide to prayer (see 2 Timothy 3:16).
Learn to pray the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is a wonderful prayer prompt. Begin by reading the prayer or reciting it from memory. Then slow down and use each phrase as a prompt to pray. Learn to pray for His Kingdom to come. Learn to pray for daily provisions of bread. Learn to pray for His forgiveness and His way of escape from temptation. You can’t go wrong with Jesus’ prayer as your guide.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Identify those around you who are already praying. We all need others to support us in prayer, but prayer partnership takes intentionality. You are going to have to build the kind of relationships with people who will stand with you in prayer. Begin by looking at the people around you who are already praying. Who do you know that believes in prayer and already has his or her own prayer altar? Identify the people of prayer God has already placed in your life.
Ask them to join you in prayer. Sometimes, all we need to do is ask. Once you have recognized individuals who are passionate about prayer, ask them if they would be willing to pray with you. Ask them if they would be willing to join you as a partner in prayer. Be intentional about asking them to bear this responsibility with you. The act of asking helps establish accountability and intentionality. Keep a list of people who have agreed to partner with you in prayer.
Share your prayer needs. Develop a regular rhythm of communicating your prayer needs to those who have committed to praying with you. Use whatever means is convenient for your group, including in person, over the phone, by email, and via group texting by phone or app. Prayer partnership is only as effective as your willingness to share needs and call one another to prayer. Don’t wait until an emergency or crisis. Regularly find things you can pray about.
Find a regular time to pray together. Though you can pray for one another in your personal times of prayer, there is nothing like praying together in person. Video conferencing is another way to meet if gathering in person does not work. Schedule a time once a week or once a month to pray together. Pray for specific needs, but also take time to allow the Spirit to speak to you and lead you in prayer. You can also schedule special prayer times when you need discernment or are facing a unique challenge.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am with them” (Matthew 18:20).
Participate in or begin a regular prayer service. If your church already has a prayer service, make sure you are faithful to attend. If your church does not meet regularly for prayer, perhaps you could start a prayer gathering. You can start with your prayer partners, and then invite the congregation to join you. Your church needs a regular place and time to come together to pray.
Search the Bible for things to pray about. One thing that can keep you from praying is not knowing what to pray for. I recommend you keep a list of prayers that you find in the Bible. The Bible is full of the prayers of God’s people. Pay attention to what they were praying for. What does the Bible specifically encourage us to pray about? You can use this list of prayers as prompts for leading your prayer service.
Practice praying out loud. Many people feel intimidated to pray. But like many new things, by practice we become more comfortable. Hearing a church pray out loud builds our faith. It encourages us to lift our own voices to God. As we fill the room with the sounds of prayer, our faith grows. The sound of God’s people praying is a mark of a healthy church.
Be open to the Spirit. One of the Spirit’s many gifts is leading our prayers. God will guide us and instruct us on how to pray. The Spirit will lead us to prayers we might not have recognized on our own. Come prepared with a list of prayer prompts, but always be sensitive to where the Spirit is leading.
“Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’” (Luke 18:27).
Lay hands on the sick. When it comes to healing, there are few biblical directives clearer than the command to lay hands on those who are sick, anoint them with oil, and offer a prayer for their healing by faith. Do not neglect this work. Perhaps we do not see more miracles simply because we do not do what God has instructed us to do. Find a place to regularly practice the laying on of hands in prayer.
Make room in your life and in your services for the miraculous. Most of us need calendars and schedules that keep us on track. Be just as intentional about making space for the Spirit to move. We need to learn to wait and give space for the miraculous. We do this by being intentional. Carve out time in your life to wait upon the Lord. Make space in your services for God to move and demonstrate His power. Never let your plans get in the way of what God wants to do.
Build your faith on the promises of Scripture. Our expectation of the miraculous is not based on wishing. God has promised to do signs and wonders. He has promised to pour out His Spirit. Make a list of the promises God has made. Find them in the Bible and write them down. Call upon the promises of God when you pray. Allow His promises to build your faith and expectations.
Share testimonials of how God is at work. Testimonials have long been a part of the church’s life, and that practice needs to be recovered. When God does something, don’t be afraid to talk about it. Invite church members to share their testimonies of the miraculous work of God in their lives. These stories will build the faith of your church and move you to pray for even greater miracles.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Learn how to naturally present the Gospel. I recommend you either develop a few simple Gospel presentations of your own or use mine. Knowing how you can easily transition a service or conversation into a Gospel presentation is key to taking advantage of every opportunity. Having these simple Gospel presentations memorized will build your confidence and empower you to share the Gospel more often.
Be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. Just as we learn to wait on the Lord and expect miracles, the Spirit will often prompt us to present the Gospel. He knows the condition of each person’s heart, and He knows the right moment to call them to repentance. Pray that the Spirit will direct you to these divine moments. Learn to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, and always be willing to interrupt your plans to state the Gospel and create an altar of salvation.
Take time to invite people to receive Christ. I believe that every service should provide an opportunity for the lost to repent and receive salvation. That means we must be intentional. It doesn’t mean that invitation must come at the end of a sermon. Often it does, but I have called people to salvation during the praise and worship part of our service as well as during announcements. What matters is that you regularly create places to do it. Don’t neglect this most critical work.
Invite those who receive Christ to begin praying. It is a full circle. Our prayers create the spiritual atmosphere in which God draws a new believer to Himself. That new believer begins his or her walk with God by prayer. Often new believers possess remarkable faith. A part of discipleship should be teaching them how to pray and inviting them into the prayer life of the church. Prayer is one of the beginning and sustaining acts of following Christ.