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4 min to read
I need to grow in some key areas in 2025. Prayer holds the top spot, as it does for me most years. I just always feel weak around this spiritual discipline. Over recent months, I gained some ground by changing my approach. In the past, I make a list of all the things I needed to pray about. The list became longer and longer, and I just couldn’t seem to keep up with it all. I became discouraged and struggled to keep any kind of momentum.
In a kind of surrender, I admitted defeat by dropping back to a simple notecard with five prayer items written on it. Yep, only five things, but I update a new card every week. In a strange plot twist, admitting defeat actually proved victorious in a way. I’m still no prayer warrior, but I this simple approach gave me back some confidence and the motivation I needed to pray more consistently and more fervently for the most important needs of the moment (or the week, really).
Now I’m looking forward to 2025 with fresh eyes on a growing prayer life. As a part of my preparation for another good year, I asked AI for some help improving my simple Five Way Prayer Plan. I asked ChatGPT to suggest a bunch of different five-category outlines I could use to keep my approach fresh. The Lord knows I can’t seem to handle anything more complicated, but I wondered if AI could help me make light improvements to my plan. I want to share the results with you, in case you too need a simple approach to a better prayer life in 2025.
It’s really quite easy. Get yourself some notecards and use one of the following category blocks to inform what you put on your 5 Way Prayer card, week by week. I know this doesn’t amount to some stellar, end all be all, life-changing secret to prayer. Actually, it’s the opposite. I’m not trying to be stellar, I’m just trying to be decent.
LIFE SPHERES
1. Personal Spiritual Growth – Your own walk with Christ and sanctification.
2. Family – Specific needs for your wife, children, or extended family.
3. Church – Needs of your congregation, staff, or ministry efforts.
4. Community – Local or global concerns, outreach, or cultural issues.
5. Kingdom Expansion – Missionaries, church plants, and global evangelism.
BIBLICAL CATEGORIES
1. Adoration – Praise for God’s attributes and work.
2. Confession – A specific area where you seek repentance and renewal.
3. Thanksgiving – Gratitude for God’s provision and answered prayers.
4. Supplication for Others – Intercession for people in your life.
5. Supplication for Self – Your personal needs, calling, and perseverance.
RELATIONSHIPS
1. Marriage – Your wife and your role as her husband (or future spouse if applicable).
2. Children – Prayers for each child’s spiritual and physical well-being.
3. Congregation – The needs of specific members or the church body as a whole.
4. Unbelievers – Those you know personally or those in need of the gospel.
5. Global Church – Persecuted Christians, missionaries, or international churches.
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
1. Heart – Your internal attitudes, affections, and thoughts.
2. Home – Family life and the atmosphere you create as a leader.
3. Church – Discipleship, leadership, and ministry needs.
4. Work – Vocational or ministerial responsibilities and interactions.
5. World – Outreach, community engagement, and global missions.
MINISTRY AND CALLING
1. Teaching – Wisdom and clarity in preaching and counseling.
2. Leading – Vision and discernment in shepherding your church.
3. Discipling – Fruitfulness in mentoring others.
4. Witnessing – Opportunities and boldness to share the gospel.
5. Resting – Your own soul care, physical health, and balance.
LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES
1. Health – Physical, mental, or emotional health concerns.
2. Relationships – Marriage, parenting, friendships, or reconciliation.
3. Provision – Financial struggles, job needs, or material provisions.
4. Spiritual Growth – Maturity, sanctification, or overcoming sin.
5. Crisis – Acute challenges like grief, loss, or unexpected trials.
SEASONS OF LIFE
1. The Suffering – Someone experiencing illness, loss, or hardship.
2. The Searching – Someone seeking direction or clarity in life.
3. The Straying – Someone struggling spiritually or drifting from faith.
4. The Serving – Someone actively ministering or serving others.
5. The Celebrating – Someone experiencing joy, blessing, or success.
SPIRITUAL NEEDS
1. Salvation – A non-believer or someone unsure of their faith.
2. Repentance – Someone battling sin or needing reconciliation with God.
3. Strength – Someone needing perseverance in trials or ministry.
4. Wisdom – Someone making a big decision or seeking guidance.
5. Gratitude – Someone for whom you can thank God for specific blessings.
LIFE STAGES
1. Child/Teen – A young person navigating growth and challenges.
2. Young Adult – Someone facing decisions about career, marriage, or faith.
3. Parent – Someone raising children or seeking wisdom for family life.
4. Elderly – Someone in their later years, facing health or legacy concerns.
5. Leader – Someone in a position of spiritual, professional, or personal leadership.
DAILY REALITIES
1. Work – Someone dealing with job stress, unemployment, or workplace challenges.
2. Family – Someone with relational struggles or family dynamics.
3. Faith – Someone growing, struggling, or seeking spiritual renewal.
4. Suffering – Someone in physical, emotional, or circumstantial pain.
5. Hope – Someone needing encouragement, vision, or a sense of God’s purpose.
EMOTIONS
1. Joy – Someone experiencing happiness or celebration.
2. Grief – Someone feeling loss, sadness, or sorrow.
3. Fear – Someone facing anxiety, uncertainty, or danger.
4. Anger – Someone struggling with frustration or injustice.
5. Hope – Someone looking forward to future possibilities or answers.
LIFE SEASONS
1. Success – Someone celebrating an accomplishment or milestone.
2. Struggle – Someone navigating challenges or difficulties.
3. Transition – Someone in a season of change (e.g., new job, move).
4. Waiting – Someone in a period of patience or uncertainty.
5. Healing – Someone recovering physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
RELATIONSHIPS
1. Rejoicing – Someone celebrating love, unity, or a relational blessing.
2. Reconciliation – Someone working through conflict or estrangement.
3. Loneliness – Someone feeling isolated or disconnected.
4. Dependence – Someone needing help or support from others.
5. Leadership – Someone guiding or influencing others.
FELT NEEDS
1. Belonging – Someone seeking community or acceptance.
2. Meaning – Someone looking for purpose or direction.
3. Provision – Someone needing material or financial support.
4. Security – Someone searching for safety or stability.
5. Growth – Someone working on personal, professional, or spiritual development.
BIBLICAL THEMES
1. Rejoicing – Someone celebrating God’s blessings or faithfulness.
2. Suffering – Someone enduring trials or hardship.
3. Seeking – Someone searching for truth, wisdom, or guidance.
4. Restoration – Someone in need of healing or redemption.
5. Faithfulness – Someone remaining steadfast in their calling or walk with Christ.