Always Pray & Don’t Lose Heart
Inside: the best book I’ve read this year
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Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1 (NET)
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Does God ever work on big projects in your life?
I think He does for me.
Most of my adult life, my walk with Jesus has consisted of long, multi-year projects where He was cleaning up sin and drawing me closer to Him.
Prayer is the most recent project.
The Navigators have the Wheel Illustration showing the main categories for how the obedient Christian lives: Christ the center, the Word, PRAYER, Fellowship, & Witnessing.
For a long (too long!) time my prayer life has been sporadic.
But I’ve had a big breakthrough this year, and it all began with Paul E. Miller’s book A Praying Life (obviously, I highly recommend).
My big consistent prayer breakthrough: prayer note-cards.
That’s the practical way Paul shares about how he handles his prayer list. He makes note-cards with prayer needs and Bible verses he’s praying for the person or organization.
It took me a little while to start using them (too long!) but now I’m in a nice rhythm.
My mornings start with time reading the Word. Then I review my Scripture memory verses. Then I pray through my cards.
Simple.
It sounds rote writing it out here, but it never feels rote.
Every day feels fresh.
The best part about these cards?
As God answers prayers, I’ll be able to grow a stack of His faithfulness. It can be a testimony for myself or to share with others.
Anyway, I thought I’d pass that along.
(seriously, get that book: https://seejesus.net/products/a-praying-life-book )
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.