Five quick tips from Prayer Guide Lowell Snow:

1. Let God speak first. After you ask the congregation to bow for prayer, begin with an easily understood scripture or short passage. (pg.71 in Prayer Guide book)
2. Involve the congregation. Most folks will not be praying while you pray a monologue prayer so include a guided silent prayer time with your pastoral prayer. If you'll do this regularly, it will help your people learn to pray more effectively. (pg.63 in P.G. book)
3. Use a Biblical progression. As you guide the silent prayer, use a progression like Jesus used in the model prayer. Many find the ACTS acrostic helpful:
• A - adoration
• C - confession
• T - thanksgiving
• S - supplication
4. Plan your pastoral prayer. When I outline a sermon, the first page of my blank outline is for the prayer time. As I study, I jot down ideas for scripture, prayer suggestions, benedictions, etc. Preparing it along side the sermon allows the prayer time to become spiritual preparation for the sermon.
5. Pray for them. The congregation needs to hear their pastor pray for them each week. They don't have to hear their individual name, but they need to hear your heart call out to the Lord on their behalf. Don't pray around the world and neglect those gathered around you.

Want to know more? Check out these materials.

Prayer Guide - A Manual for Leading Prayer is considered by some to be the most practical book on leading prayer available today. Click here to be transferred to a page where you can read several chapters for free.

All God's People Want to Pray - Read chapter 21 from the Prayer Guide book. It tells how God revealed a very simple way to guide his people into life changing encounters with Him.

The Most Effective tool of a Prayer Guide - Read a short article by Prayer Guide Lowell Snow on the subject of guiding a silent prayer time.

Biblical Benedictions and Salutations - This is a list of verses for use in guiding prayer times.

Sample Prayer Times - Here are some prayer time outlines. The first five are from the Journey Into the Presence of God conference of prayer.

Click here to ask a question - Prayer Guide Lowell Snow will get back to you as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. Be sure to include your email address.