How to Make a Prayer List (& a Free Prayer List Template)
Years ago, I walked into a friend’s home and noticed a single sheet of paper that forever changed my prayer life. Hanging in her bedroom was a prayer list containing the names of dozens of people for whom she prayed weekly. If you’re wondering how to make a prayer list, today I’m sharing the simple list-making strategy my friend shared with me.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free prayer list template to personalize and use for yourself.
How to Make a Prayer List
After seeing my friend’s list, I was convicted that I was not very deliberate in the way I prayed for the people in my life. I began the practice of making prayer lists and praying for others directly and intentionally.
I’ve been praying this way for more than 20 years. Creating updated prayer lists helps me be intentional about praying for and encouraging the people I care about.
My prayer list is simply a piece of paper with the names of people for whom I want to pray.
How to Make a Prayer List
Here are step-by-step instructions for creating a prayer list from scratch. You can also download my free prayer list template below, print it out, and personalize it.
The goal of the prayer list is to create seven different lists of names of people for whom you can pray (one list for each day of the week).
We will also create a “Daily” heading and a “Draw Near” heading. I’ll explain these headings below.
1. Format the prayer list using the days of the week as headings.
Using different colors of markers, I write the names of the days of the week across the top of a piece of paper (the longer side of the paper). Under these headings, I will write the names of different people in my life.
2. Add a “Daily” heading to the list.
I also create a “Daily” heading at the top of the page and list the people for whom I will daily pray, including my husband, children, and those closest to me.
3. Add a “Draw Near” heading to the list.
The Draw Near heading is a visual reminder of the disciplines you want to use as you seek God for yourself. It reminds you that God wants you to seek him on behalf of others, and he also wants you to seek his face.
Under my Draw Near heading, my list reminds me of three prayer postures. It is a list of three simple words: Rest, Confess, Thank.
Every morning, before I pray for the people on my list, I take a moment to rest with God. I imagine him smiling over me and soak in his love.
Next, I ask him to search my heart and show me any sins from the previous 24 hours. I confess anything that comes to mind to him and ask him to help me turn away from sin and turn toward him in repentance.
Before I begin praying for the names on my list, I thank him for several gifts: anything that comes to mind.
4. Prayerfully add a list of names under each heading.
Under each day of the week, I create a color-coded group of names.
Each day receives a group of people from a different area of my life.
Here are some examples of groups of people: my family members, my husband’s family members, neighbors, coworkers, ministry partners, church leadership, my kids’ friends and their families, the kids I coach, kids’ teachers and administration, friends from past seasons, current friends, community and national leaders.
Again, add these names prayerfully. Don’t add names out of obligation. Ask God to guide you.
I aim to write between five and ten names under each heading. You could scale down and make this even smaller, adding only one or two names if you feel led.
5. Post the prayer list where you will see it.
I hang my list where I will see it daily. For me, this is the wall beside the elliptical where I work out most mornings. I spend five to ten minutes praying over the names on the list, based on the day of the week, every morning.
Let’s now talk about how to use the list.
How to Use the Prayer List
After making my first prayer list, for a few years, praying over the names on the list was a cumbersome task. I labored long over each name and wracked my brain over how I should pray.
As time passed, the Lord led me to simply imagine lifting each person on the list before his heavenly throne.
He led me to “place the person in his presence” and wait to see if he impressed anything on my heart. Sometimes, nothing came to me, and I simply lifted the person into the presence of God for a fraction of a minute.
At other times, a thought floated through my mind about sending a message to the friend and offering an encouraging word or asking how I might pray.
Commune With God in Times of Intercessory Prayer
This is how I pray over the names on my list daily now. I lift each of the day’s names into the presence of God and wait to see if I sense a nudge to reach out or pray a more specific prayer.
There are times when I sense a nudge to text a Bible verse or write an email. Sometimes, the friend responds that my message came at a surprisingly appropriate time. At other times, nothing surprising happens and I simply enjoy an opportunity to bless someone else.
The Lord has placed certain people within your sphere of influence for a reason and a purpose. Taking time to pray for these people holds the potential to break up the hard ground of resistant hearts and prepare these people to encounter Jesus in deeper ways.
Also, remember to use the Draw Near heading to seek God for yourself. I draw near to God by resting with him, confessing sins, and thanking him for his blessings.
Here are some more activities that could help you draw near to God: Worship in song; name his attributes; be still in his presence; speak the Word; pray the Word; write the Word.
If these tips on how to make a prayer list blessed you, I invite you to explore our devotionals and library of free devotional eBooks below. Again, you’ll find your template prayer list at the end of today’s post. Be blessed as you draw near to God!
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Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Download Your Prayer List Template Here
If you’re reading to start praying, download your free template here! This template does not have a “Draw Near” list, as I added this important step later. I encourage you to use the top margin to remind yourself to draw near to God for yourself.
