Step 1: Start Where You Are and Build.

If you have never prayed for a missionary, the church in other countries, or leaders in foreign governments, just get started! But don't be overwhelmed at the beginning by adding 168 countries or 35 missionaries to your prayer list all at once. If you aren't praying for anyone in another land now, begin by praying for one person. When you've been praying consistently for this person, add others.

Step 2: Practice Sending Up Prayer "Arrows."

You may not be able to pray for every need in the world, but you can loft prayer "arrows" —short prayers offered on the run or in response to an immediate need. You could launch an "arrow" for a country that you hear about in the news, a missionary who pops into your mind while you are driving, or a national church fellowship that you learn is facing unusual challenges.

Step 3: Fuel Prayer with Information.

The generic "bless the missionaries" or "guide the Church around the world" prayers are far too expansive. We need information about specific people and places to pray effectively.

Ask to receive prayer letters from missionaries your church supports. Look for needs of both missionaries and nationals when you read newspaper and magazine articles about other countries. (National Geographic often describes a country or region's religious beliefs and practices.) Many mission organizations offer prayer tools that contain specific prayer requests. (See Step 6.)

Step 4: Pray as Part of Your Correspondence.

The New Testament epistles include some excellent prayers on behalf of churches or individuals. Paul prayed for these churches as he wrote. You can do the same as you write to missionaries and friends in other countries.

Step 5: Develop a Personal Plan.

When I am inspired to build the discipline of prayer in my own life, I am tempted to copy a person who has inspired me. If Martin Luther rose at 4 a.m. to pray, then I want to do the same. Imitation is a great learning tool, but we must develop our own patterns! for effective prayer. Some will pray well as they jog; others need complete silence. A few like the idea of all-night vigils once per month; others do better with a consistent fifteen minutes every day. Find a plan that works for your lifestyle, metabolism, and spiritual maturity.

Step 6: Choose Appropriate Tools.

Prayer should never become mechanical, but using tools can increase your effectiveness in prayer. You may want to try prayer cards or maps, or develop your own prayer notebook with requests for specific missionaries.

Some mission organizations offer daily prayer guides—the Frontier Fellowship Prayer Guide available from the U.S. Center for World Mission (1605 E. Elizabeth St., Pasadena, CA 91104) and Operation World (STL Books) are just two examples. Operation Mobilization publishes packs of prayer cards with information and specific requests for spiritually needy countries (write STL Books, P.O. Box 28, Waynesboro, GA 30830).

Step 7: Learn to Say No.

If we are to be effective intercessors, we must learn to live within our own limitations of time and ability to concentrate. As we pray globally, we will find ourselves besieged with requests to pray more. If we are to be faithful in the priorities that we sense from God, we will need to say no to some areas so that we can be faithful intercessors in a few. In general, faithfulness in prayer leads to fruitfulness in ministry; failure in prayer (committing ourselves to pray for too many people or needs) leads to frustration.