Saturday, July 22, 2023

Pray Using Acronyms: JOY

There are many acronyms we can use to remind ourselves topics to pray for. This post will highlight one of them: the JOY method.


JOY gives us three categories to pray through:
J: Jesus
O: Others
Y: You

In our first section, we are focusing on requests close to Jesus' heart. 
Suggestions: 
-Pray for the lost (Luke 19:10)
-Pray for Christ-followers, including you and me, to obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
-Pray for people to repent (Matthew 4:17)
-Pray for those on the margins of society: the orphans, the widows, foreigners, the poor, people with disabilities (Matthew 25:31-46)
-Good news to be proclaimed to the poor, prisoners to be freed, the blind to see, and the oppressed to be set free (Luke 4:14-29)
-Pray for peace (John 16:33)
-Pray for those mentioned in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
-Pray for your enemies and persecutors (Matthew 5:43-48)

In our second section, we are focusing on requests of other people.
What have people asked you to pray for? 
What concerns do you have for your family and friends? 

In the third and final section, we are focusing on requests for yourself.
What vices is the Holy Spirit convicting you of?
What virtues is the Holy Spirit wanting to grow in you? 
What areas of your life do you need God's wisdom, guidance, and direction? 

Challenge: Take time this week to pray using the JOY method. 
Reflect on your experience. Which part was hard for you to do? Which part came the most naturally to you? 

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