Your Prayer Guide for the Week of Sunday, February 1, 2026

​Welcome to the Week

The fifth week of a new year often arrives quietly, without fanfare or the weight of fresh resolutions. Yet here, in this ordinary (and cold) stretch of February days, God invites you into the extraordinary work of prayer not, as Andrew Murray puts it, bounded by what you think is possible, but opened wide to the limitless reach of God’s power and grace. This week, resist the temptation to pray small prayers to a big God. Come with your doubts and your certainties, your needs and your thanksgivings, and discover again that the One who hears you is far greater than anything you can ask or imagine.

“Beware in your prayer, above everything, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what he can do.” (Andrew Murray)

This Week’s Scripture

• Jeremiah 29:1-7
• Psalm 66
• 2 Timothy 2:8-15
• Luke 17:11-19

Adoration

Psalm 66:1-4

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.”

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (verse 1)

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, to the throne by tribute bring; ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, ever more God’s praises sing. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King. (Henry F. Lyte)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:8-13)

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to your lovingkindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities, and cleanse us from our sins. For we acknowledge our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (W.E. Orchard. The United Methodist Book of Worship)

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

Mighty God of mercy, we thank you for the resurrection dawn bringing the glory of our risen Lord who makes every day new. Especially we thank you for the beauty of your creation, the new creation in Christ and all gifts of healing and forgiveness, the sustaining love of family and friends, and the fellowship of faith in your church. In Christ we pray, Amen. (from Daily Prayer)

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.

Prayer Prompts

Use the following prayer prompts to encourage you to pray beyond your usual prayer requests. These prompts are included here to help get your own creative juices flowing and not to be regarded as strict and legalistic requirements. Use them or do not use them according to your need. May the Lord bless you as you go deeper with him in the holy communion of prayer.

Petition – prayers for yourself

• Give me greater love for those who are hard to love.
• Help me to be compassionate and kind to those in need, even when it’s inconvenient.
• Pour upon me your courage and boldness to love those who do not know you and to share with them your Gospel, in word and deed.
• Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
• Other needs

Intercession – prayers for others

• My family
• My family and friends who do not have a saving relationship with Christ
• For those in my other spheres of influence who do not know Christ
• For evangelists around our city, country, and world who risk much in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who are lost
• Other needs

“Send me now, my God, to accomplish all you have assigned to me. Let me live and work without fear and timidity. Amen.” (Reuben Job)

A Word as You Go

The God who called you to pray this week is the same God who remains faithful even when we are faithless, who cannot deny himself, whose word is never bound. As you step back into the world with its demands and distractions, carry with you the courage to love the unlovely and the boldness to speak truth to those who need it most. You have been ransomed, healed, restored, and forgiven; now go and live like it. The One who sends you goes with you, and that changes everything.