To pray well is the better half of study. (Martin Luther)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Genesis 18:1-15
·         Psalm 116:1-19
·         Romans 5:1-8
·         Matthew 9:35 – 10:8

Adoration

Psalm 116:5-7
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed (verse 1)
Alas! And did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day.

(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)

Can ye doubt, if God is love, if to all his mercies move? Will ye not his word receive? Will ye not his oath believe? See, the suffering God appears! Jesus weeps! Believe his tears! Mingled with his blood they cry, why will you resolve to die? Amen. (Charles 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

O Great Redeemer, I give you praise and thanks for your compassion. As the Lord Jesus traveled throughout all the cities and villages, teaching and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, he also healed every disease and affliction. He saw lost, hurting, and helpless people as sheep without a shepherd. And to this day, O Lord, you continue to remind us that the harvest is plentiful, yet laborers are few. Help me, merciful God, to be one who prays earnestly to you for those who are lost. Cause me also to pray that you would send out laborers into your harvest. And just as Jesus called out and sent the twelve, move me to become one who has compassion over those who do not know you. Here I am O Lord, send me to them with that same gospel of the Kingdom. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen. (based on Matthew 9:35 – 10:8)

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
 
 
 
God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship. (A.W. Tozer)

To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. (Richard Foster)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Genesis 1:1-2:4
·         Psalm 8
·         2 Corinthians 13:11-13
·         Matthew 28:16-20

Adoration

Psalm 8:1
O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.

Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast (verse 1)
Come, sinners, to the gospel feast;
let every soul be Jesus’ guest.
Ye need not one be left behind,
for God hath bid all human kind.
(Charles Wesley)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 
 

Confession

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

O blessed Lord, who has commanded us to love one another, grant us grace that having received thine underserved bounty, we may love everyone in thee and for thee. We implore thy clemency for all; but especially for the friends whom thy love has given to us. Love thou them, O thou fountain of love, and make them to love thee with all their heart, that they may will, and speak, and do those things only which are pleasing to thee. Amen. (St. Anselm)

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

Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving all authority in heaven and earth to my Lord, Jesus Christ. I praise you that, even two thousand years ago, he had me in mind when he commanded his followers to go into all the world to make disciples. Century and century after century your faithful followers have passed down the faith once delivered to the saints, so that two millennia later, I can give you glory for redeeming me in and through the saving work of your Son. Gracious God, please help me observe all you have commanded and spur me on to love others by declaring to them that same good news of your love, expressed through the person and work of Christ the Lord. Finally, blessed Redeemer, I thank you that you have not left me alone in this world, but have promised to always be with me, even to the end of the age. That is indeed a precious promise and I am grateful for it. In Christ’s name I pray.  Amen. (based on Matthew 28:16-20)

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
 
 
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I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need. (Charles Spurgeon)

To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world. (Karl Barth)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Acts 2:1-21
·         Psalm 104:24-35
·         1 Corinthians 12:1-13
·         John 7:37-39

Adoration

Psalm 104:31-32
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
    may the Lord rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke!

Crown Him with Many Crowns (verse 1)
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
(Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 
 

Confession

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)
Lord, so often we have taken on the stresses and strains of life completely on our own and ignored your gift of prayer and the Holy Spirit. Too often we have even reached our breaking point yet we refuse to seek your will for our lives and your help. Forgive us, Lord, and help us have the strength to submit our wills to yours. 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

Most holy and gracious God, I give you thanks for the gift of your Holy Spirit. It is only by his power giving life to my heart and mind that I am able to say, “Jesus is Lord.” Not only is he the One who has given me new life in Christ, but he has given me gifts by which I am able to serve you and others. Your Spirit equips and empowers me to serve you and others for the common good. Forgive me for those times I have squandered the gifts you have given me, and by your Spirit, enliven me once again to use them for your glory and the good of others. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen. (based on 1 Corinthians 12:1-13)

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 knowledge, depth of insight, and understanding of God’s Word.
·         Remind me daily of who I am in Christ. Let me be defined by who God says I am, not the world around me.
·         Guide me into greater understanding and faithfulness of God’s call in my life.
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs
 
 
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Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)
·         My family
·         My pastor(s), church staff, and missionaries
·         Those wrestling with anger, anxiety, or the overwhelming desire to please people at all costs
·         Other needs
 
 
 
God does not fill with his Holy Spirit those who believe in the fullness of the Spirit, or those who desire him, but those who obey him. (F.B. Meyer)