One-on-One Prayer and Obstacles  –  Say “Yes” to God

“Pray for me!”  A one-on-one discipling relationship gives us someone to confide in, rejoice with, mourn with – and someone with whom we can “storm the gates of heaven” when we meet together or contact each other in between times.

As we grow, we become interested in what and who God cares about.  We learn to see our concerns in light of His perspective.  We learn to pray in confidence and with fruitful results.

• One tool that can help with prayer is the acronym ACTS.  Use it together or privately.

1. Adoration of God.  Come before His presence with praise for who He is.
2. Confession.  Admit my sin, call it what God does, and ask His forgiveness.
3. Thanksgiving.  Express gratitude for specific things about God and in your life.
4. Supplication.  Ask Him to provide for your needs and others’.

• Another useful tool is a prayer journal, kept together or privately.  Here we write our requests and God’s answers.  Looking back over a journal, we’re encouraged by our record of His faithfulness.  It’s exciting to see what He’ll do if we jump in and use this kind of one-on-one discipling concept.

Hurdles

In some stages of life it’s easy to meet with someone on a regular basis.  Other times it’s challenging.  Be careful about delaying something so beneficial because it’s hard to pull off.  God sees, enables, and rewards.

• Time and place.  You two select how often you will meet and for how long. Determine the number of months you will meet. Then evaluate whether or not you’ll continue. Mostly, I’ve met weekly for an hour in each other’s homes; I’ve also met on the phone, and with two separate ladies in cars.  One was after her work, the other was during my lunch break at the school where I worked.

Several men asked Bill Fawcett for individual time with him in the same calendar period.  The concern was that each man only had three months before being transferred by his company.  Each took advantage of three months of meetings with Bill.  Years later each man was still walking in the faith, some in ministry.  Use what you have – God is at work.

• Interruptions.  Put phones away.  Children are another thing.  I cherished Thursday afternoons with Ana Perry.  Between us we had two babies and one toddler which progressed to a five year old, two 4 year olds, two toddlers and a baby.  Did we have interruptions!  It was great.  Not only did I get to learn “spiritual” things from her, but I got to see how she parented her children (also spiritual).  So much practical application came out of those afternoons. Just persevere.  You’ll be getting and giving more than you realize.

What are the obstacles to one-on-one time with you and someone else?  How can you pray about that?