For the past 16 years, I have had a burden to see believers discipled in prayer. Most churches neglect this important area—perhaps because they assume prayer growth will just happen in the life of a believer. It typically does not. We need to be intentional about discipling others in prayer if we want to see believers grow.

One of the most significant truths I have learned is that good prayer discipleship needs to be simple (more simple than you would think) and basic. Most people are unsure of themselves when it comes to prayer—praying alone or with others. These people (many believers in your pews) need the following:

1. Prayer Guides. Most guides feature Scripture-based prayers that help people learn to pray God’s will and heart, and get them praying more biblically than simple fix-it prayers.

2. Motivational Reminders. Beyond convincing people of prayer’s importance, these provide encouragement to keep at it. Churches that regularly provide little nudges, visual aids, and other means to remind people to pray, find that more people stick with it—and grow as a result.

3. Nonthreatening Accountability. In this busy world, it is easy to let things slip. If you want to disciple people effectively in prayer, find ways to add simple accountability to your prayer discipleship. Encouraging people to meet with one or two other people for five minutes to pray following a church service each week can help provide this accountability.

4. Meaningful Topics. People will pray more if they are asked to pray for something important to them. That is why most people gravitate toward personal-needs praying. You can also provide powerful topics that relate to ministry items in your church or community. As these topics give them a good Kingdom agenda to focus prayer on, their prayers will become less needs-centered.

Most people need something in their hands that will teach them and help them pray more effectively. That is why books such as Pray the Word, Prayers That Avail Much, Patterns for Prayer, and The Common Book of Prayer are popular. They give people scriptural thoughts to direct their prayers.