A couple of years ago, my adult children took me to a shooting range for Mother’s Day. I know it’s rather unconventional. While other moms were dining at fancy restaurants with linen napkins, I was knocking off paper enemies. Holding the cold metal in my hand, I aimed at the close-up target and missed—not only the bullseye but the target sheet as well! After several rounds—success. Might I even say, with a dose of humility, I shot quite well. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no sharpshooter, but my confidence shot up a smidgeon with a little practice and precision.

Our prayers turn to precision prayers when we pray specifically rather than generally. In other words, we target our prayers. While general prayers fall anemic, precise prayer packs power (say that three times fast)!

Let me give an example.

Could we all agree discouragement is a theme for these days? My times of discouragement come in spurts. Sometimes for a moment. Sometimes for days. Discouragement lurks for sure.

To fight this discouragement, we can join God’s word and prayer together—two of God’s spiritual weapons for our use.

Let’s look at the topic of discouragement and some simple actions we can take.

1. Search for the word discouraged in the concordance of your Bible or on the Bible Gateway app. Skim the verses and choose a few that speak to your situation.
2. Print the verses on index cards, and carry or post them where they will be seen.
3. Memorize the one you want to recall when a bout of discouragement strikes.
4. Personalize the verse by inserting your name as you pray. This is the point where you ignite your prayer with God’s word!

When I looked up discouragement on Bible Gateway, I found three verses in the NIV that resonated:

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. 1 Chronicles 28:20

I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.  Ephesians 3:13

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

If I took the third verse and personalized it, my prayer would sound something like this:

Lord, I thank you that you go before me and are with me. Help me to believe that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Increase my faith in you so I will not be afraid or discouraged during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Simple but powerful. Now it’s your turn to try it!