Prayer Journal: Week 35

Prayer is simple, as simple as a child making known its wants to its parents. (Oswald Chambers)

This Week’s Scripture
​
·         Acts 7:55-60
·         Psalm 31:1-16
·         1 Peter 2:2-10
·         John 14:1-14

Adoration

Psalm 31:1-2
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!

Fairest Lord Jesus (verses 1&4)
Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son,
thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, and adoration, now and forevermore be thine.
(Joseph August Seiss)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:59-60a)

Heavenly Father, let my love for you make my soul steadfast and reliable toward you; let love for you bring wholeness and integrity to all parts of my life. Open me up to taste ever more of your goodness and your love, that my desire will always be for you and that I may give you the cheerful, constant, and wholehearted love praise, and service that is your due. Amen. (John Wesley)

As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving

Holy God, you have revealed yourself to your children and called upon us to taste and see that you are good. You revealed yourself most especially through your Son, our Lord, who is the living stone rejected by men, but chosen and precious in your sight. You are graciously building us, your adopted sons and daughters, into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, that we might offer you spiritual sacrifices, acceptable in your sight. Through Christ you have made us a holy nation and people of your own possession. We were once not a people but now we are your people. Once we were without mercy in the world but now we have received your mercy. O Lord, your loving generosity to us is more than we deserve and more than we can comprehend. Yet what we can grasp is enough. And for it we give you our unceasing praise and thanksgiving. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. (based on 1 Peter 2:2-10)

Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life.

Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself)

·         Spiritual Warfare
·         Growth in Christlikeness
·         Increasing faithfulness in the spiritual disciplines 
·         My health
·         For my ordinary appointments and activities to become divine appointments and activities. 
·         Other needs

Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)
·         My Family 
·         Mercy for those who are poor and hungry  
·         Justice for those who are oppressed and persecuted  
·         Peace for those in the midst of war, crime, and violence   
·         Other needs

​In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him. (C.S. Lewis)