253 How To Find Your Natural Prayer Style and Unleash Your Prayer Potential

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:

Do you ever feel uncomfortable praying in public? Do you ever envy the prayer-life or prayer style of others after you hear them pray? Do you ever feel guilty for not praying more like those you admire? What if I assured you that God is more interested in your heart and in having a relationship than he is the eloquence of your prayers? Join me with Janet McHenry to discover how your personality influences your prayer life and learn practical ways to pray so that you find your natural prayer style.

Quotables from the episode:

• I started prayerwalking in the fall of 1998, and as I began to see answers to my prayers for the people in my little town, I started a search through God’s Word to understand more about prayer. As I read from Genesis to Revelation each year, I marked up references to prayer with a circled P. Those two practices—prayerwalking and studying prayer—led me to begin writing about prayer.
• Perhaps how we pray most naturally has something to do with our personality.
• We can shed the guilt about what we’re doing or not doing about prayer by understanding what might be our natural prayer style.
• Problem-Solvers like multi-tasking, so you might consider prayerwalking or praying as you exercise—and putting sticky note reminders around your home to pray.
• What I call “Friends of God” might find singing along to worship music or praying with your family daily brings joy into your life.
• Organized Pray-ers (also called Lamenters) prefer organized systems, so they enjoy keeping lists or writing out their prayers or creating a special prayer closet for their quiet time with God.
• Peace Makers seek prayer as a respite from the world. They are an informal sort who might need prayer books or prayer apps to jump-start their prayer time with a cuppa coffee.
• The important thing to remember is that we commit to spending time with our Father God, who has initiated the conversation with us.
• Prayer is more about access than answers.

Scripture References:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
• Luke 11:9 “’Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.’”
• Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Recommended Resources:

• Praying Personalities: Finding Your Natural Prayer Style by Janet McHenry
• Praying Personality Quiz
• Prayer Helps: Scripture-Based Prayers When You Don’t Know How to Pray . . . when listeners sign up for my monthly mini-magazine, Looking Up! at JanetMcHenry.com
• PrayerWalk by Janet McHenry
• The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus by Janet McHenry
• Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals
• YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day
• YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be Another Good Day
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
• Free 7-Day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip
• Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award
• Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award
• Trusting God Through Cancer 1
• Trusting God Through Cancer 2
• Revive & Thrive Women's Conference
• Subdue Stress and Anxiety: Fifteen Experts Offer Comprehensive Tools in Ten Minutes a Day. Use my link plus discount code BENG99 to save $90 on course (course will be $99.)
• Free Download: How To Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win

Social Media Links for Guest and Host:

Connect with Janet McHenry:

Website / Quiz / Looking Up! Mini-Magazine / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / LinkedIn / Instagram

For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at:

Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube

Guest:

Janet McHenry and her rancher husband Craig live in the Sierra Valley, where they raised their four kids. She is a national speaker and the author of 27 books, including the bestselling PrayerWalk, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus, and her new release, Praying Personalities. Janet directs the prayer ministries at The Bridge Church in Reno and serves on the California leadership team for the National Day of Prayer. The leader of the hundreds-strong Bible Girls and a prayerwalker, Janet has helped others foster a hope-filled, purposeful lifestyle built on prayer and God's Word for more than two decades.

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson