Intercessors, Listen Up and Take Notes - Church Prayer Leaders Network

I often went away from group prayer times without giving much additional thought to the prayers I heard there. In fact, many times I would forget completely what we prayed. It was kind of like listening to a sermon in church but the next day not having the foggiest notion what the pastor had said!

Then one day, as I listened to others’ prayers of intercession, an emerging pattern dawned on me. One prayer flowed into another. God’s heart for the situation seemed to pour out, phrase by phrase, person by person—occasionally punctuated by murmurs of agreement, readings of related Scriptures, and declarations of warfare prayer when someone identified and resisted a scheme of the enemy.

I realized that God was really speaking through people’s prayers. I grabbed a pen and started taking notes. When the prayer time was over, I had in front of me a list with two columns: “God’s heart” and “the enemy’s schemes.” I had jotted down things we prayed for, such as unity, faith, increased provision, and a greater ability to see God’s hand at work. I had noted things we prayed warfare prayers against—such as disunity, confusion, fear, and offenses. I had also listed Scriptures that came to our minds as we prayed.

I felt like I had marching orders! By simply trying to capture on paper what the Holy Spirit had revealed during the prayer time, I realized I had recorded God’s direction for continuing to pray in agreement.

Big Benefits

I’ve found that jotting down what I sense the Holy Spirit saying as I pray, helps me listen to God’s voice. His Word firmly states the need to pay close attention when He speaks. “Listen and hear my voice,” He urges, “pay attention and hear what I say” (Isa. 28:23).

To Ezekiel, He said, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here” (Ezek. 40:4). The writer of Hebrews echoes the exhortation: “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (2:1, emphases added in all passages).

During prayer, taking a few seconds to scribble a key word or idea helps me stay focused. Taking notes enables me to see patterns and relationships in a given situation that often reveal God’s mind and heart—as well as the enemy’s schemes.

Afterward, having the notes motivates me to persevere when I might otherwise forget to keep praying. I’m surprised how often the Holy Spirit prompts me to do follow-up intercession by bringing to mind things I wrote down.

Worth Noting

When I take notes during group prayer time (or when I’m praying alone), I record these components:

Revelation of God’s heart for the situation. For example, if multiple people express prayers for healing, unity, or another theme, I write it down. The Holy Spirit may be emphasizing that request.
Specific schemes and strategies of the enemy. A pattern may also emerge in what people are praying against. I jot down any specific assignment of the enemy I sense the Holy Spirit may want me/us to resist with spiritual warfare prayer.
Scriptures and other impressions. Often the Holy Spirit brings to mind Scripture passages or mental pictures that clarify and provide a framework for what people are praying. I record these for future reference and for follow-up intercession.

During a sermon, I often take notes to capture the main points my pastor is making so I can remember later what the Holy Spirit was teaching me through the message. If I truly believe God speaks to His people through prayer (and I emphatically do), then I need to give His voice the same respect and follow-through that I give my pastor. Note-taking in prayer is a great method for doing this.

I encourage you to give it a try. Listen up—and take notes!

ARLYN LAWRENCE is a speaker, editor, and co-author of Prayer-Saturated Kids with Cheryl Sacks. She previously served as an editor and columnist for Pray! magazine. This article is from her blog intercessionignited.com.