Have you ever gotten stuck in a “prayer rut”? One of the reasons that I began to pray the Daily Office of the Book of Common Prayer in 2020 was that I got stuck in a prayer rut. I love its structure, its use of Scripture, and the healthy rhythm that it provides. But while the BCP and its collection of pre-written prayers have proven to be of inestimable value, I still take several minutes to pray in my own words about various needs and people in my life, and in that time, I still sometimes get stuck in a prayer rut.
A prayer rut is praying about the same things and for the same people day after day without change. There is nothing wrong with repetitive prayer, but I have often found myself wanting to pray more broadly, for more people, and with more situations in mind than just the few that I could recall without aid. With the desire for a more well-rounded time of intercession, I put together a list of prayer prompts for each day of the week. Each day covers a different topic that I use as a springboard to pray for the world, the universal Church, my local church, people I know, situations I am aware of, and my own family.
Since using this resource, I have begun praying for people and situations that I would not think about on my own. For example, I have been praying for all of the marriages in my community. This has deepened my prayer life and fueled a deeper desire for intercession (prayer for others) that I did not have previously.
I sourced the prayer prompts from the “Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families” section found in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB) from Concordia Publishing House. At first, I kept the prayer prompts on my phone, but I quickly realized this was a recipe for distraction. I later printed out the prompts on a piece of cardstock paper and inserted it into the back of my Book of Common Prayer for easy access. If you are easily distracted like I am, I recommend printing these prompts to keep on hand during your prayer time. I pray that these prompts bless your prayer life in the same way that they have blessed mine!
The Prompts
Sunday: For the joy of the resurrection among us; for the fruit of faith nourished by the Word and the Sacraments.
Monday: For faith to live in the promises of Holy Baptism; for our calling and daily work; for the unemployed; for the salvation and well-being of our neighbors; for schools, colleges, and seminaries; for good government and for peace.
Tuesday: For deliverance against temptation and evil; for the addicted and despairing, the tortured and oppressed; for those struggling with sin.
Wednesday: For marriage and family, that husbands and wives, parents and children live in ordered harmony according to the Word of God; for parents who must raise children alone; for our communities and neighborhoods.
Thursday: For the Church and her pastors; for teachers, deacons, and other church workers; for missionaries and for all who serve the Church; for fruitful and salutary use of the blessed Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.
Friday: For the preaching of the holy cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the spread of His knowledge throughout the whole world; for the persecuted and oppressed; for the sick and dying.
Saturday: For faithfulness to the end; for the renewal of those who are withering in the faith or have fallen away; for receptive hearts and minds to God’s Word on the Lord’s Day; for pastors and people as they prepare to administer and receive Christ’s holy gifts.
