Prayer Circles

Written by Shireen Eldridge

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What are Prayer Circles?

Prayer circles are simply and literally drawing circles around your prayers. This practice comes from the story of Honi the Circle Maker, who prayed persistently for rain for his village, as shared in Mark Batterson’s The Circle Maker. Honi’s faith, perseverance, and the miracle of rain remind us to keep praying and trust that God is at work.
This prayer practice helps grow our faith and trust in God while drawing our hearts closer to His heart for people and situations. It can also become a practice of intercessory prayer, praying on behalf of others. Any time we spend talking and connecting with God grows our love for Him, and when we pray for others, it grows our love for them too. Prayer is one of the ways God shapes us into more loving people.

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Scripture

Before beginning this practice, take a moment to read the scripture below.

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8

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How to Practice Prayer Circles?

1. Choose something specific to pray for (a person, situation, breakthrough, or dream), and write it in your journal or on a poster on a wall. Somewhere you will frequent and see often.
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2. Pray consistently and boldly about that thing and as you pray circle it each time.
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3. Pray daily or as often as possible until God answers—whether the answer is yes, no, or wait.
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4. When you see or sense God’s answer, write it next to your circle with the date.
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5. Save your prayer circles as stories of God’s faithfulness for the next season!
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At its heart, Prayer Circles are about:

• Big faith – believing God can do the impossible
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• Bold prayers – praying specifically, not vaguely
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• Persistent prayer – staying faithful over time

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Questions

Return to these questions after implementing the practice. Take your time thoughtfully answering each question. You may want to write down your answers, ponder them quietly, or even talk about them with someone else.

1. Where are you seeing God move because of your prayers?
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2. How is your connection to the heart of God changing as you pray persistently?
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3. Have you grown in your trust and love of God through this practice? How? What are you noticing in your inner and outer life.

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