Prayer Guide 25 September 2022
Sunday
Before you begin pray: ‘Father I come now into Your presence, drawing near with my heart.’ Be still and wait for your heart to become quiet.
Father, how thankful I am for the promise of Your Word – that You are near to all who call on You in truth. As I come into Your presence, it is my desire that even in the deepest recesses of my heart, I am truthful before You, that I draw near to You with a sincere heart (Quiet your heart before the Lord. Put aside excuses, choose to be truthful before Him about the condition of your heart).
Even as I say this Lord, I know that I too easily overlook or turn away from core issues, unconfessed sin, ungodly attitudes and behaviour that is buried deep within my heart and affects everything about me. Forgive me for hiding or pretending that You don’t really know or see me. Change me from the inside out, I pray. Unstop my ears that I might hear Your voice. Give me a responsive, obedient heart, a heart that longs to draw near to You (Be still before the Lord, listen for His voice).
How good You are, O Lord, to those who seek You and put their hope in Your name. Today, Father, I choose to hope in You alone, and draw near to You once again. Only You can deliver me from those things that keep my heart distanced from You, and so I ask:
Call me to Your shelter, I pray, and teach me to abide there, that I might constantly rest in Your shadow. May nearness to You become my very life – like drawing my next breath, that I might truly live and have my very being in You alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Psalm 145:8; Psalm 51:6, 12; Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 4:16; Lamentations 3:25-26; Galatians 5:16; Matthew 13:22-23; Philippians 2:2-5; Psalm 91:1; Acts 17:28
Even as I say this Lord, I know that I too easily overlook or turn away from core issues, unconfessed sin, ungodly attitudes and behaviour that is buried deep within my heart and affects everything about me. Forgive me for hiding or pretending that You don’t really know or see me. Change me from the inside out, I pray. Unstop my ears that I might hear Your voice. Give me a responsive, obedient heart, a heart that longs to draw near to You (Be still before the Lord, listen for His voice).
How good You are, O Lord, to those who seek You and put their hope in Your name. Today, Father, I choose to hope in You alone, and draw near to You once again. Only You can deliver me from those things that keep my heart distanced from You, and so I ask:
Deliver me from my fleshly nature and the sin that still overwhelms my heart (Sit quietly before the Lord, repent of those things that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind).
Deliver me from the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth – from all that chokes-out Your Word in my heart (Name your concerns and cast them onto Jesus, commit your finances and possessions to Him).
Deliver me from selfish living and the love of comfort, from self-cantered praying and relationships. Make me increasingly aware of how Jesus would serve and respond to those around me (Pause and evaluate your relationships before the Lord. Are they God-honouring? Are you serving others or looking to be served?).
Call me to Your shelter, I pray, and teach me to abide there, that I might constantly rest in Your shadow. May nearness to You become my very life – like drawing my next breath, that I might truly live and have my very being in You alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Psalm 145:8; Psalm 51:6, 12; Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 4:16; Lamentations 3:25-26; Galatians 5:16; Matthew 13:22-23; Philippians 2:2-5; Psalm 91:1; Acts 17:28
Monday
Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness that shields us. May we, as Your people, always run to You to find refuge and covering (Psalm 91:4). Keep us from looking to the things of the world for comfort. May we always draw near to You (Pause and pray for those you know of by name from ECB, that they will have hearts that long for Jesus).
Father, You have said that friendship with the world is hatred towards You (James 4:4). Teach us by Your Spirit, I pray, the balance of living in the world, but not belonging to the world (John 15:19). Keep our hearts from the love of the things of this world (1 John 2:15)!
Father, You have said that friendship with the world is hatred towards You (James 4:4). Teach us by Your Spirit, I pray, the balance of living in the world, but not belonging to the world (John 15:19). Keep our hearts from the love of the things of this world (1 John 2:15)!
Tuesday
I pray, Father, that we would be found worthy of Your calling – that by Your power at work in us, You might fulfil every purpose that is Yours, and every act that is prompted by our faith. Do this, I pray, that Jesus might be glorified in and through us and others drawn to Him (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Father, I pray for those among our community of faith who are experiencing trials of many kinds. Strengthen them, I pray, to persevere and stand firm. As they wait on You, I ask that You give them signs of Your goodness to encourage them (Pray for those at ECB that you know of by name, who are going through difficult trials).
Keep us from complaining, Father, but instead may we become a people who learn the discipline of giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is Your will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Father, I pray for those among our community of faith who are experiencing trials of many kinds. Strengthen them, I pray, to persevere and stand firm. As they wait on You, I ask that You give them signs of Your goodness to encourage them (Pray for those at ECB that you know of by name, who are going through difficult trials).
Keep us from complaining, Father, but instead may we become a people who learn the discipline of giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is Your will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Wednesday
Prayer and Fasting Focus
Father, as we as a community of faith enter into House of Prayer, I pray for my ECB brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, that we would be strengthened. Teach us to persevere in prayer, to always pray and never give up. Pray through us this day, Holy Spirit (Luke 18:1) (Pause and pray as the Spirit leads you)!
Prepare us to hear and receive what the Holy Spirit would say to each of us as we hear Your Word on Sunday. Strengthen us to obey. Bless our pastors with Your peace and presence this day and give them wisdom and discernment as they shepherd us (Pause and continue to pray for our pastors, pray that they will be strengthened and encouraged by the Spirit).
Father, I ask that You give to us as Your people, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we might know You better! Open the eyes of our hearts Father (Ephesians 1:17-18)!
Prepare us to hear and receive what the Holy Spirit would say to each of us as we hear Your Word on Sunday. Strengthen us to obey. Bless our pastors with Your peace and presence this day and give them wisdom and discernment as they shepherd us (Pause and continue to pray for our pastors, pray that they will be strengthened and encouraged by the Spirit).
Father, I ask that You give to us as Your people, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we might know You better! Open the eyes of our hearts Father (Ephesians 1:17-18)!
Thursday
Father, I ask in Jesus’ name, that faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love, be evident in our lives in increasing measure, in order that we might be kept from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:5-8). Move us on into the deeper things of the Spirit!
Father, I ask that You give to us as Your people, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we might know You better! Open the eyes of our hearts Father (Ephesians 1:17-18) (Pray this for those in your Life Group)!
May each of us Lord, use the gifts that you have given us to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).
Surround us with Your favour, Lord, and establish the work of our hands for the sake of Your Kingdom (Psalm 5:12; 90:17) (Pause and pray for those you know of by name from ECB. Ask God to give them ‘kingdom impact’ in their sphere of influence).
Father, I ask that You give to us as Your people, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we might know You better! Open the eyes of our hearts Father (Ephesians 1:17-18) (Pray this for those in your Life Group)!
May each of us Lord, use the gifts that you have given us to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).
Surround us with Your favour, Lord, and establish the work of our hands for the sake of Your Kingdom (Psalm 5:12; 90:17) (Pause and pray for those you know of by name from ECB. Ask God to give them ‘kingdom impact’ in their sphere of influence).
Friday
Lord Jesus, You are the Word made flesh (John 1:14), the living Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). May we live our lives in submission to You. As Your people, may Your Word be our only true standard for living. Give to each of us a fresh hunger for Your Word!
Father, give us hearts that are fully committed to You (2 Chronicles 16:9). Destroy all double-mindedness, doubt and unbelief that is present among us (James 1:6-7). May faith, hope and trust in You well-up within our hearts.
Father, I pray that those who are leading LIFE Groups will be empowered and anointed by Your Holy Spirit. Fill them with great joy and establish the work of their hands (Psalm 90:17) (Pray for your LIFE Group leader by name)!
Father, give us hearts that are fully committed to You (2 Chronicles 16:9). Destroy all double-mindedness, doubt and unbelief that is present among us (James 1:6-7). May faith, hope and trust in You well-up within our hearts.
Father, I pray that those who are leading LIFE Groups will be empowered and anointed by Your Holy Spirit. Fill them with great joy and establish the work of their hands (Psalm 90:17) (Pray for your LIFE Group leader by name)!
Saturday
our out Your Spirit on us as we gather and change us into a people that is conformed to the image of Jesus!
May we not come near to You tomorrow with our mouths, and keep our hearts from You (Isaiah 29:13). May the words that we pronounce and sing to You, be true expressions of love and adoration from our hearts. May You receive the glory that is due Your great name (Psalm 29:2)!
Father, I ask that those who come to ECB seeking answers about who You are and what it means to follow Jesus, will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation. May each of us extend the welcome of Jesus to those around us and may Jesus be so seen among us, that many will come to faith in Him. May there be salvation in Your house this week!
May we not come near to You tomorrow with our mouths, and keep our hearts from You (Isaiah 29:13). May the words that we pronounce and sing to You, be true expressions of love and adoration from our hearts. May You receive the glory that is due Your great name (Psalm 29:2)!
Father, I ask that those who come to ECB seeking answers about who You are and what it means to follow Jesus, will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation. May each of us extend the welcome of Jesus to those around us and may Jesus be so seen among us, that many will come to faith in Him. May there be salvation in Your house this week!