Prayer does not enable us to do a greater work for God. Prayer is a greater work for God.
(Thomas Chalmers)

This Week’s Scripture

·         1 Samuel 16:1-13
·         Psalm 23
·         Ephesians 5:8-14
·         John 9:1-41

Adoration

Psalm 23:1-3a
     The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (verse 1)
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.
(Edward Perronet)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 


Confession

Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. (Ephesians 5:8b-13)

Merciful Lord, deliver me from idolatrous love of created things or beings. Keep me from loving anything of this world except in service to my love for you, and only as far as love for you will allow. Above all, my God, deliver me from an idolatrous love of self. I know that you made me to do your will, not mine, and to love myself, as all other created things, only as it serves love for you. 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

My Lord and Shepherd, thank you for providing for all my needs, and even lavishing upon me green pastures and still waters. You have restored my soul and you continue to lead me down the right path for the sake of your glory. For that, dear God, I thank you. I am humbled that even in the valley of the shadow of death, I do not have to fear, for I am under your protection and loving care. In fact, more than that, you offer your good gifts to me even in the midst of trials and tribulations. My cup surely overflows. Thank you, O God, for the abundant life you have given me in this world and for the promise of an eternity in your unveiled presence. In the name of the Shepherd and Lover of my soul I pray. Amen. (based on Psalm 23)

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
 
 
 
O God, may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord.”
(The United Methodist Book of Worship)

Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life (Richard Foster)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Exodus 17:1-7
·         Psalm 95
·         Romans 5:1-11
·         John 4:5-42

Adoration

Psalm 95:1-2
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

I Sing the Almighty Power of God (verse 1)
I sing the almighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
that spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
the moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
(Isaac Watts)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 
 
 
Confession

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Lord, so often we have experienced the hard times in life and complained rather than sought what you would have us to learn through them. Too often we have been quick to protest and give up hope instead of leaning on our faith and turning to your leadership. Forgive us, Lord, and give us the courage to proclaim your Lordship and trust you always. In Christ we pray. Amen. (James R. Wilson)

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

God of grace and steadfast love, not because of anything I did to deserve it, but because of who you are, you have declared that I am righteous because of the imputed righteousness of your Son. I thank you for the peace I now have with you through my Lord Jesus Christ. By faith I now have access to you and am able to stand, by grace, and rejoice in the hope of your glory. I can now even rejoice in my sufferings, which lead to endurance, character and more hope. And I praise you that this hope will never be put to shame because your love has been poured into my heart, through your Spirit, whom you have so lovingly and generously given to me. Thank you Father. Amen. (based on Romans 5:1-5)

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)

·         My personal mission field
Ø  Help me to identify those people who make up my personal mission field.
Ø  Enable me to begin sharing the gospel with those who do not yet know you.
Ø  Empower me to disciple those who are young in their faith.
Ø  Allow me to encourage those who are struggling in their faith.
Ø  Please give me perseverance in all areas of ministry.
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs
 
 

Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My family
·         For missionaries throughout the world
·         For those seeking to faithfully minister to loved ones at home
·         For those who share the gospel in the inner city
·         For those who bear witness to Christ in places of power
·         Other needs
 
 
 
O God, help us to remember that there is no time when you will fail us, and no moment, when we do not need you. Amen. (William Barclay)

Prayer can do anything that God can do. (E.M. Bounds)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Genesis 12:1-4
·         Psalm 121
·         Romans 4:1-17
·         John 3:1-17

Adoration

Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

This Is My Father’s World (verse 1)
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought.
(Maltbie D. Babcock)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 
 
 
Confession

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” (Romans 4:7-8)

God of mercy, we confess how seldom we have the belief and confession of Jesus Christ both on our lips and in our hearts. For when we feel the Word within, we often fail to speak it; and when we speak it, we sometimes are just paying lip service, without the faith to back it up. Forgive us, O God, and plant the Word so firmly within us, that we shall be able neither to ignore it nor to keep it to ourselves. In the name of Jesus the Word we pray. Amen. (Paul Laughlin)

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

Father of our salvation, we give you praise for the great love that caused you to look at this dark, dying, and lost world with compassion and mercy. We thank you that you did not even withhold the One you love and treasure above all else, your Son, Jesus Christ. Instead, you gave him as a ransom for many, that we who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life. We are grateful that his mission was not to condemn the world, which would have been perfectly just and right, but to save the world through him. In his most holy and gracious name we pray. Amen. (based on John 3:16-17)

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)

·         Lord, help me to faithfully participate in the life of my congregation and for the sake of my community…
Ø  By my prayers
Ø  By my presence
Ø  By my gifts
Ø  By my service
Ø  By my witness
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs
 
 
 
Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My family
·         For those who serve in government, at the national, state, and local levels
·         For those who serve in law-enforcement
·         For those who serve in fire and rescue
·         For those who serve in our nation’s military
·         Other needs
 
 
 
“Rend your hearts and not your garments,” says the Lord. Return to the Lord your God! (The Book of Worship for Church and Home)

Pray as you can, for prayer doesn’t consist of thinking a great deal, but of loving a great deal.
(Saint Teresa of Avila)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
·         Psalm 32
·         Romans 5:12-19
·         Matthew 4:1-11

Adoration

Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (verse 1)
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee.
thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
(Thomas Chisholm)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 



Confession

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit (Psalm 32:1-2)

O Lord, Deliver me from everything that keeps me from loving you fully and completely. Deliver me from the desires, ambitions, and emotions that draw me away from serving you and pleasing you in all parts of my life. Deliver me from being half-hearted in my devotion to you, in my prayers and reading of your Word, and in my service to you. Keep my desire for you and for serving you ever growing, ever burning. 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

Beautiful Savior, we praise you for the free gift of salvation offered to us at great cost to you. We love and adore you for our redemption, grounded in the grace of the Person and Work of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of our sinfulness, Christ’s free gift brought our justification. We praise you for the active righteousness of our Savior, your Son. We thank you that he won our salvation, not only through his death and resurrection, but also through his life of perfect obedience. Thus, by faith, his righteousness becomes our own. That’s more that we can even comprehend, and vastly more than we deserve, but we glorify you for your goodness and grace. In his holy name we pray. Amen. (based on Romans 5:15-19)

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)

·         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 out 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
 
 
 
 
Supplication (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
 
 


Help me today, my Lord, to discover your good, perfect, and acceptable will and to focus all of my desire and energy upon doing it. (Reuben Job)