Great supplicants have sought the secret place of the Most High, not that they might escape the world,
but that they might learn to conquer it. (Samuel Chadwick)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Exodus 12:1-14
·         Psalm 149
·         Romans 13:1-14
·         Matthew 18:15-20



Adoration

Psalm 149:4
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.

How Firm a Foundation (verse 1)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
(“K” in Ripon’s Selection of Hymns)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

 

Confession

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11-12)

O merciful Father, who in compassion for thy sinful children didst send thy Son Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world: Grant us grace to feel and to lament our share of the evil which made it needful for him to suffer and to die for our salvation. Help us by self-denial, prayer, and meditation to prepare our hearts for deeper penitence and a better life. And give us a true longing to be free from sin, through the deliverance wrought by Jesus Christ our only Redeemer. Amen. (The Book of Worship for Church and Home)

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

Almighty God of heaven and earth, I will sing a new song of praise and thanksgiving to you this day. You are my Maker and my King, and you alone are worthy to be praised. I will rejoice in you for you are good. You take pleasure in your people and you adorn the humble with salvation. I pray that my greatest desire would be the exultation of your glory. May your praise ever be upon my lips and may I always seek your honor above all pursuits. I thank you gracious God, my heavenly Father, for your tender love and mercy in my life. I will indeed sing a new song of praise and thanksgiving to you this day. In the name of my blessed Redeemer I pray. Amen. (based on Psalm 149)

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
 


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
 
 
 
O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise! (Charles Wesley)

He who labors as he prays, lifts his heart to God with his hands. (Bernard of Clairvaux)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Exodus 3:1-15
·         Psalm 105
·         Romans 12:9-21
·         Matthew 16:21-28

Adoration

Psalm 105:1
Oh give thanks to the LORD;
call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!

O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice (verse 1)
O happy day, that fixed my choice on thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice, and tell its raptures all abroad.
Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day.
(Philip Doddridge)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 


Confession

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:9-10)

Righteous Father, I have acted as if I hated thee, although thou art love itself; have contrived to tempt thee to the uttermost, to wear out thy patience; have lived evilly in word and action. Had I been a prince I would have long ago crushed such a rebel; Had I been a father I would long since have rejected my child. O, thou Father of my spirit, thou King of my life, cast me not into destruction, drive me not from thy presence, but wound my heart that it may be healed; break it that thine own hand may make it whole. In Christ I pray. Amen. (The Valley of Vision)

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

All-wise Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful for the direction you give me for my life. I am humbled and thankful that you have not left me to grope in darkness to search in vain for the right path, but your Spirit has provided a light for me so I may follow the same road as my Savior. I pray Father, in your power, give me strength to follow your will for my life. Enable me to let my love be genuine and to abhor what is evil. Help me love others with a brotherly affection and continually and consistently show them honor. May I never be slothful in my zeal, but fervent in spirit, always serving you. Let me faithfully rejoice in hope, show patience in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. And may I think of others before myself by contributing to their needs and showing hospitality to them. Then, gracious God, when people see my life, let it point to you so that you, and you alone, receive all the praise and glory. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen. (based on Romans 12:9-13)

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)

·         Help me to grow in wisdom and become who you created and redeemed me to be.
·         Renew my mind and enable me to cultivate a godly perspective and attitude regarding the various spheres and circumstances of my life.
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs
 


Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My family, immediate and extended
·         Those struggling with sin, illness, or difficulties in their workplace
·         Other needs
 
 
 
God wants to get us out of the love of virtue and in love with the God of virtue – stripped of all possessions but our knowledge of him. (Oswald Chambers)

How can you expect God to speak in that gentle and inward voice which melts the soul when you are making so much noise with your rapid reflections? (Francois Fenelon)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Exodus 1:8-2:10
·         Psalm 124   
·         Romans 12:1-8    
·         Matthew 16:13-20
 
Adoration

Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (verse 1)
Love divine all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
(Charles Wesley)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.
 


Confession

 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

Almighty God, who lookest upon the inward man, forbid us in thy presence the vain endeavor to hide from thee what we have thought and done and truly are. Give us candor to acknowledge freely to thee what must be forever hidden from the knowledge of others, and may no false shame keep us from confessing those sins which no proper shame kept us from committing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Author unknown)

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

Gracious God and Giver all good gifts, I praise you for the gifts of your Spirit that you have given to the Bride of Christ, the Church. You have given us those who prophecy, serve, teach, exhort, contribute, lead, and who do acts of mercy, just to name a few. Father you know how much we need these faithful servants and stewards. None of us alone can minister to the Church, in a comprehensive and meaningful way. We need others who devotedly utilize their gifts and calling. Such dependence is ultimately a picture of our need for you, for we are not sufficient in and of ourselves. I am grateful that you provide for our every need. Please continue to make me a vessel of service to others in your name and for your glory. Amen. (based on Romans 8:3-8)
​
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 (Petition – prayers for yourself)

·         Help me to mature in my faith and to increasingly please God by my thoughts, words, and deeds.
·         Particular struggles in various relationships
·         My activities for this day
·         Other needs

 
 
Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My Family
·         My local church 
·         My denomination
·         Para-church ministries, particularly Christian education and discipleship  
·         Evangelistic ministries 
·         Other needs

 

Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God. (William Carey)