Practical Ways to Track and Remember Prayer Requests

As someone who values prayer but often struggles to stay organized, I’ve explored several methods to keep track of prayer requests. I'm involved in many groups where we share our requests and I really want to be better at tracking so that I can follow up with people about their needs. Praying is one of the best ways we can love others, so I want to do it well! But just like with everything else- I've got to have a system!

As I'm looking for the right tool for myself- I've put together tools and ideas that I've tried or I've come accross that look promising! I'm sharing what I've found in hopes of helping you honor your prayer commitments while staying focused and consistent. I think the important thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to track your prayer lists/requests. You've got to keep trying things until you find something that works and makes it easy for you! So... let's explore some options!

1. Prayer Boards

Creating a prayer board is a beautiful, visual, and tangible way to track prayer requests. Whether you use a corkboard, a magnetic board, or even a small section of your wall, it’s a simple yet meaningful way to stay intentional about your prayer life. Write prayer requests on sticky notes, index cards, or decorative tags, and organize them into categories like Family, Friends, Health, Gratitude, or any other area that feels meaningful to you.

What makes prayer boards so special is their flexibility—you can move requests around as prayers are answered or as needs shift. It’s also a daily reminder to lift up these prayers as you pass by the board. Check out this Pinterest board I’ve curated with ideas for Prayer Boards to get started! While you're there, don’t forget to follow me!

I've seen an idea where families create prayer boards to hang in a common area. I love the thought of involving children to contribute prayer requests from their friends/school/etc. I love the thought of teaching children from an early age to get in the routine of praying for others and sharing needs with a group (their family).

Another fun and meaningful trend lately is hosting a prayer board-making party. Invite friends, family, or your Bible study group to bring supplies like corkboards, push pins, sticky notes, and markers. Gather together for an evening of crafting, fellowship, and prayer as you create boards that reflect your heart and your faith. It’s a wonderful way to connect with others and encourage one another in prayer and could really be done for any age! It would be a fun project for children, tweens, teens, and even adults!

A prayer board is a method I have NOT tried. I am constantly on the go and don't feel like a stationary board at my house would help me accomplish my goals in prayer. I like the idea of moving the prayer requests around though! And I always love a good craft project! Maybe in the future! But let's look at another option!

2. Prayer Request Notebooks

For those who enjoy journaling, a notebook with dividers can help categorize prayer topics. Use sections for areas like personal needs, others’ requests, and answered prayers. Having a dedicated space to write helps maintain focus and provides a record of how God is working in your life. I know some ladies who keep it real simple with their prayer notebooks. They don't use dividers or anything. They just keep a long, running list of prayer requests and add to their list when a new one comes in.

I'm a big fan of pretty journals and notebooks, so while I'd love to buy another one... I don't think my Bible Bag can hold another book! And like I said before, it's not with me everywhere I go. I really want to be able to recall my list, add to my list, and pray wherever I am! So... naturally... you know where I'm going with this!

3. Tech-Savvy Options

We hear so much about how bad technology is, but in our busy lives, our phones can be a game-changer for staying on track with prayer! I love the idea of having my prayer list on my phone because think of all the time you spend mindlessly scrolling while waiting in line or while your kids are at practice! What if we spent some time looking over and praying over prayer requests instead?!

Here are some ideas for using your phone to track prayers!

• Echo Prayer: Lets you create lists, set reminders, and even share prayers with others. You can mark prayers as answered to see how God moves in your life​. I only have the free version of this, but I really like the simplicity of it! It's easy to add prayers to and when you hit "Pray", you can swipe through and focus on each. The paid version seems pretty neat! You can make groups and share prayers amongst your group. I may try the paid version in the future, but for right now- I really like the free one!

• Trello: If you’ve heard of Trello before, it probably wasn’t in the context of tracking prayers! Trello is often used in the education and business world for organizing projects, but it’s also a fantastic tool for keeping track of prayer requests. Think of it as a digital version of a bulletin board with sticky notes (Like a VIRTUAL prayer board!).

  
  

  Here’s how it works: Trello allows you to create boards, which are like blank canvases. On each board, you can set up lists (imagine headings written in bold marker) and add cards under each list (picture colorful sticky notes). For tracking prayers, you could create lists like Family, Bible Study, Personal, and even an Answered list.

  
  

  Each card could represent a specific prayer request, and you can easily move them between lists. For example, when a prayer is answered, simply drag that card to the Answered list as a reminder of God’s faithfulness. Trello’s flexibility makes it an excellent tool for staying organized while keeping your focus on prayer. While it DOES have an app, I find the desktop version to be a little more user friendly. Also- boards can be shared amongst people so it might be a good option if you're looking for something for a bible study group!

  
  

• YouVersion- Bible App: Offers a fantastic built-in prayer function that makes it easy to organize, track, and engage with your prayer life. You can add prayer requests directly into the app, and there’s even an option to mark them as answered—a powerful way to reflect on God’s faithfulness over time.

  
  

  One of the standout features is the ability to choose whether to keep prayers private or share them with others. Sharing requests with trusted friends, family, or a Bible study group can be a meaningful way to invite others to pray alongside you.

  
  

  Another helpful tool is the Pray Now button, which walks you through a devotional that includes your prayer list and ends with a guided prayer. This is especially great for those who feel unsure about how to pray, don’t know where to start, or sometimes feel they aren’t “good at it.” The app provides structure and encouragement, helping you grow in confidence as you talk to God.

  Whether you're a seasoned prayer warrior or new to prayer, the Bible App’s prayer function is an excellent resource to deepen your prayer life and stay consistent in lifting up requests. Another feature worth mentioning is that you can set prayer reminders! Your phone will go off at whatever day(s)/time(s) you tell it to so that you are reminded to pray!

  
  

• Phone Notes, Alarms, and Calendar: If you aren't keen on downloading and learning ANOTHER app, your phone is actually pretty powerful on it's on!

  
  

  • Alarms: Just like I mentioned above, the Bible app has the function to remind you to pray each day, you could set an alarm on your phone to go off each day to remind you. I like this idea because you can tailor it to your schedule. If you know that you aren't likely to have time in the morning on Tuesdays- you could set an alarm to pray on Tuesday evening instead! Easy peasy!

  • Calendar: I use my phone calendar to remember events like surgeries, job interviews, or anniversaries to remind myself to pray for others and follow up with them. In the case of a surgery, I always text the day before and then put it in my calendar to follow up a few days after the surgery to check in.

  • Phone Notes: Open a new note on your phone and title it "Prayer Requests". If you hold your finger down on the note, you can actually "pin" it and it will put it at the top of the list of notes in your Notes app.

These tools turn your smartphone into a spiritual assistant, making it easier to incorporate prayer into your daily routine! And just think how much better you will feel when you are in line, reflecting on prayer requests instead of scrolling social media!

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As I mentioned above, I love the idea of the boards and journals but I don't think those would work well for me. So I'm trying a combination of the digital ideas!

These methods are not about perfection but about finding a system that fits your lifestyle and brings peace to your prayer life. Whether you’re a pen-and-paper person or tech-savvy, the goal is to stay connected with God and others through prayer.

Do you have a favorite method for keeping track of prayer requests? Let me know in the comments!