Prayer weeks provide an opportunity to pray for a place/issue etc over a longer period of time than just a meeting and really ask God to break in. By dedicating a week to prayer there is no doubt he will move in you and answer prayer!

Prayer weeks provide a time to pray through issues in more detail and with more time. They can be used for 24-7 prayer, which is when someone is always praying day and night for a set time period. Most groups do 24-7 prayer for a week, but it is possible to do longer or shorter periods if wished. God calls us to pray continuously and without ceasing and a 24-7 prayer week provides the opportunity and stimulus for this. The very nature of one person taking over from another ensures accountability and that prayer continues throughout the 24-7 period. It also helps build community in the group, as people feel a great sense of ownership and participation in their prayer room.

They can also be used to focus prayer on an issue into a week – maybe a strategic week, or just a week when you want to make prayer a priority.

It is good to set aside a week, and draw up a timetable, so people can sign up for slots. If you choose to do a 24-7 prayer week you will need people who are prepared to pray through the night (from personal experience these are often the best times, when you can draw really close to God). Prayer weeks don’t have to happen in a specific place or room, or even as 24-7. People can pray wherever they want and in anyway they want. They exist as a focus for prayer, rather than for continual prayer.

See 24-7’s web site for more help: www.24-7prayer.com