August & September Prayer Journal

Over the next eight weeks we will be using the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 to guide our prayer times.

Each week will have five days of guided prayer based on the different parts of the Lord’s prayer.  Of course we want you to pray the other two days also, but on those days you will pray whatever is on your heart…whether related to the week’s theme or not. Try to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in how to pray. See what happens.

Week 1: Priority 

“Lord Teach us to pray”

In this first week we are setting the foundation for the next eight weeks.  We will be asking the Lord as the disciples did, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).  Each day we will be asking Him to teach us a different aspect of prayer.  We will be putting each of these into practice over the next eight weeks.

1 Corinthians 5:17  Pray without ceasing…

Aug. 10: Teach me to draw closer to you in prayer

·    Read the following verses:

Psalm 145:18  The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

·    Write down any thoughts you have from these verses:

·       Ask the Lord to teach you how to pray the way He wants you to.

·       Share with Him your desire to draw closer to Him and ask that He will help you do that over the next eight weeks.

Thoughts after praying:

August 11: Teach me to intercede for others in prayer

To intercede means to pray on behalf of someone else.  Read the following verses and write down your thoughts:

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Ephesians 6:18-20  …praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

• Ask God to help you be sensitive to the needs of others.

• If you know of a need someone has right now, pray for that need to be met.

• Ask someone today how you could pray for them (this may stretch some of you, but just go for it and see what happens).  Make sure to actually take time (it can be later in the day) to pray for them.

August 12: Teach me how to pray according to your will

1 John 5:14  This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

What do you think it means to pray “according to His will”? 

• Ask Him to help you better understand what that means.

• Ask Him to help you pray according to His will.

• Express your desire to know His will in your life.

Thoughts after prayer:

August 13: Teach me how to pray in the Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a key role in our prayers.  In fact we are instructed numerous times to “pray in the Spirit”  Read the following verses and write down your thoughts:

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Ephesians 6:18  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

• Ask God to help you better understand what it means to pray in the Spirit.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you pray and seek to draw closer to the Father.

• Ask Him to help you know the will of God and see the needs of others that you could pray for.

August 14: Teach me how to be silent & listen in prayer

This can sometimes be the toughest part of prayer…just being still.  It takes practice.

Read the following verses:

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

• Ask God to help you learn to be still before Him.

• Ask Him to help you learn his voice so you can listen better to Him.

• Spend the next 10-15 minutes just being still/quiet before the Lord listening for Him.

Write down your thoughts afterwards:

August 15: 

August 16

Week 2: Privilege

“Our Father which is in Heaven”

This opening phrase of the Lord’s prayer sets the foundation on which we pray.  When we look at it, we realize that when we pray as Christians, we enter into an incredible privilege.

“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Galatians 4:6-7

August 17: “our FATHER”

Can you believe He is your Father?

I John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

“Abba” is an Aramaic word that a child would use to refer to their father.  We might translate it something like “Daddy” or “Dad”.  It is an intimate word and the word Jesus used repeatedly when He prayed to God.

Write down some of the great things about having God as your Father: _________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Pray and thank God for these things and the privilege it is to be His child and have Him as Abba, Father.

Thoughts after prayer: _______________________

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August 18: “OUR Father” 

He is not just your Father, He is OUR Father.  We are a part of His family.

Romans 12:5  So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

What are some of the great benefits of being a part of the family of God?

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

• Thank God for these things

• Ask Him to show you how you can be a better member of His family

• Pray for the health of your church family

Thoughts after prayer:

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August 19: “our Father IN HEAVEN”

Our Father is in heaven and is unlike any other. He is greater than we can even fathom.

Psalm 113:4-6  The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!  Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 40:28  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

• Ask God to help you trust more in His greatness and power.

• Ask Him to forgive you for the times you take things into your own hands and act as if you were more capable than Him. 

• Recommit yourself to trusting your life in His mighty hands.

Thoughts: _________________________________

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August 20: Drawing closer to the Father

Read Psalm 139

• Ask God to help you gain His perspective on different areas and aspects of your life.

• Write down any areas where His perspective is different than your perspective

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Read Psalm 139 again but make it your prayer to God…

August 21: Capturing the Father’s heart

Our Father has a heart for lost people who do not know Him.

1 Timothy 2:3-4  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost

• Ask God to put on your heart what is on His heart.

• Pray for one person you know who does not yet have a relationship with God.

• Write that person’s name down here and continue to pray for him/her.

Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

August 22:

August 23:

Week 3: Praise

“Hallowed be your name”

This week we will focus on praising God’s name.  We will do this from several different angles.  This is always a good place to start in our prayers because when we do, we acknowledge the most important truth in the universe: God rules over all.  Praise helps us keep God in His rightful place and reminds us that He is more important than anything or anyone else.  “Hallowed be your name” means that he is set apart and above all else.  Let’s set Him apart and above all else in our hearts this week.

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.  Psalm 146:1-2

August 24: Praise Him for his character

Here is a list of some names and attributes of God.  As you read them, circle the ones that mean the most to you right now and spend time praising God for those attributes.  See if you can add a few more attributes in the space provided.

Elohim (The Creator)

El Elyon (The Most High God)

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)

El Olam (The Everlasting God)

El Roi (The God Who Sees)

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Who Provides)

Jehovah Rapha (The Lord Who Heals You)

Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)

Jehovah Raah (The Lord Is My Shepherd)

Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)

Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)

God is omnipotent. God is all-powerful

God is good. God is the embodiment of perfect goodness.

God is love. God’s love is so great that He gave His only Son to bring us into fellowship with Him.

God is just. God is righteous and holy, fair and equitable in all things.

God is holy. God’s holiness is not simply our best image of perfection.

God is omniscient. This means God is all-knowing.

God is omnipresent. God is everywhere—in and around everything, close to everyone.

God is merciful. God’s merciful compassion is never ending and does not run dry.

God is wise. God knows and acts with perfect wisdom in all things.

God is faithful. Out of His faithfulness God honors His covenants and fulfills His promises.

God is full of grace. Grace is God’s good pleasure that moves Him to grant value where it is undeserved and to forgive debt that cannot be repaid.

God is our Comforter. Paul writes that the Lord is “the God of all comfort.”

God is Father. The Creator of the universe cares for each one of us as if we were the only child He had.

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Spend time praising Him for His character that makes Him such a great God.  Tell Him the specific traits that mean the most to you right now.  He loves to hear what specifically you love about Him.

August 25: Praise Him for what He has done in my life

Psalm 103:2 (NLT)  Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

When we think about all of the great things God has done for us, we have to begin with our salvation.  Think back to what your life was like before Christ. 

• Take time to thank him for saving you and giving you new life.

• What are some ways your life is better with Jesus in it?  Write some of them down; be specific:

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• Take some time to praise Him for these things.

August 26: Praise Him for what He has done in the lives of people around me

Psalm 126:3  The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.

Now looking beyond your own life, what are some good things that God has done in the lives of people around you; in the lives of your family, friends, co-workers, etc.  Write some of those things down:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Take time to praise Him for these things. 

August 27: Praise him for providing for me

Psalm 107:9  For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Write down some things that God has provided for you and then spend time praising Him for His provision.

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Thoughts after prayer:

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August 28: Praise Him for His Word (Bible)

Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

• What are some of your thoughts about David’s attitude toward the Word of God?

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Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.

Lamp unto my feet = God’s Word speaks to my immediate situation/where I am at now in life.

Light unto my path = it shows me the direction God wants me to take/kind of person and priorities I should pursue.

• Spend some time praising God for the Bible and all the ways it helps you in your life.

August 29:

August 30:

Week 4: Purpose

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done…”

This week we will be focusing on God’s purpose.  What is God’s wanting to accomplish in us, through us, and around us?  Another way for us to ask this is: God what is your will?  Really try hard to stay open to hearing what God may speak to you as you talk with him about these things this week.  Let’s truly seek for His will to be done.

Psalm 143:10  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

August 31: God’s will be done in my marriage/family

(If you are not married, you can apply this to other family relationships, or even with friends)

Phil. 2:3-8  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

• The Christlike attitude in this passage is a key ingredient to any healthy relationship.  In your marriage, this will make you a better husband or wife.

• Pray that God will help you see how He would want you to put your spouses interests/well being before your own.

• Pray for the health of your marriage and that God’s will would be done in your marriage.

• Take some time today and pray WITH your spouse if they are willing to.  Pray for God’s blessings on your spouse, don’t use the prayer time to point out his/her deficits/issues. 

Thoughts: _________________________________

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September 1: God’s will be done in my job/career

Col. 3:23-24  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Psalm 90:17 Let the favor[a] of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

• Commit your career to the Lord and ask for His will to be done. 

• Ask Him to lead you to any future promotions, increases or changes.

• Pray for your boss, co-workers, and how God may want you to shine as a light at your workplace.

Thoughts after prayer:

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September 2: God’s will be done in my community/nation

2 Cor. 5:18-21  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Luke 19:41-42  And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

• Ask God to give you a heart of compassion for your community like Jesus had for Jerusalem.  Ask Him to help your heart break for those who are lost.

• Ask God to help you be a good ambassador for Him in your neighborhood and community.

• Ask that God’s will could be done in your city and in our nation.

• Pray for the leadership of your city and for the leaders of our nation.

Thoughts after prayer:________________________

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September 3: God’s will be done in our church

Read Eph 4:1-16

• Write down everything you see there that would help make a church healthy and strong.

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• Pray for those things in our church…and for God’s will to be done in our church.

• Write down the name of anyone in the church who you think needs to be encouraged.  ___________________________

• Pray for them. 

• Email/message the person who you prayed for and encourage them.

• Write down the name of someone in the church who has been a blessing/encouragement to you: _______________________________

• Pray for them and thank God for them.

• Email/message them and thank them. 

September 4: God’s will be done for our missionaries

Rom. 10:14-15 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[a] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Matt 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

• Pray for God’s will to be done in the lives and ministries of our missionaries (see list below)

• Pray that God will provide help and support for their ministries.

• Pray for saved lives and fruitfulness.

• Pray for health and safety for the missionary families. 

Paul and Joyce Shin (Burundi) joyce1004@gmail.com

Christopher Lapel (Hope For Cambodia)

clapel@gmail.com

Chris and Carol McKinney (Dynamic Church Planting

International)  cbmckinney@gmail.com

Peter and Tammy Russell (Wild Hope International in

Tanzania)  prussell91@earthlink.net

Mark and Joanna Rodgers (Kenya)

Margie Jones (Sequoia Ministries in Kenya)

         vineyards58@yahoo.com

Tumaini International (Kenya)

tumainiinternational.org

Ninos De Baja (Mexico) ninosdebajo.org

Hope International University (Fullerton, Ca)

California Christian Mission to the Philippines (CCMP)

SAT-7 (Middle East)  Sat7.org

September 5:

September 6:

Week 5: Provision

“Give us this day our daily bread”

This week we will be asking the Lord to provide and meet needs.  Some of it will be provision for our own needs, but also provision for others.  Let’s do our best to ask according to His will, but also ask in faith, knowing that He is Jehovah Jireh – our provider.

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above

September 7: Help me learn contentment

• Being content does not mean that we cannot be ambitious or try to excel or succeed.  It simply means we should not let the desire for more determine our priorities, values, or decisions.  Look at what the Bible says: 

I Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Hebrews 13:5-6  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

• How much and in what ways do you struggle with being content?  ____________________

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• Pray and ask the Lord to help you be more content.

• Spend some time thanking the Lord for what you do have and stop focusing on what you don’t have.

Thoughts: _________________________________

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September 8: His provision for you

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• Write down some things you would like to ask the Lord to provide for you: _______________

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• Bring these things to the Lord and ask Him…but as you do:

• Ask in faith, knowing He can provide

• Expect Him to answer

• Trust that whatever His answer is that it is the best answer.

• Come back to this page as you hear His answers and write them down (and thank Him:

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September 9: Provision for others around you

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

• There are a lot of needs around you…some you may be aware of and some you are not.

• Begin to pray for people you know and ask God to bring some of their needs to mind. This is where the Holy Spirit can help you.  Pray for those people as you feel led to, asking God to provide for any needs you believe the Spirit is bringing to your mind. This may take some time as you need to take time to be still and listen as well as ask.

• Pray also for needs around you that you know about…

• For someone with a health issue

• For someone having marital or family problems

• For someone with a financial need

• For someone struggling with a decision

• Etc…

Thought after prayer: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

September 10: Provision for our church

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

• Today we are going to pray for the needs of our church.  Here is a list of some general things to pray for, but try to pray as specific as possible.  This one may need to be done over two days.  Be sure to pray for these things for both locations (Diamond Bar and Echo Park).

• Pray for:

• The leadership: pastors, elders, directors and teachers.

• Life group leaders, youth coaches, and children’s workers.

• Growth: spiritual, numerical, and financial

• Effective outreach into the community

• More people to step up to volunteer (especially as greeters/guest central, youth department, and children’s department)

• More decisions for Christ and baptisms.

• Addition of many new Life Groups

• Families in need

• Readiness to embrace any changes that help us be more effective in carrying out our mission.

• Finances needed to make improvements to both facilities.

• Effectiveness in reaching the next generation

• New/additional leadership to be raised up to help lead new ministries and new Life Groups.

• Vision and direction as we head into 2019

Thoughts as you pray:

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September 11: Provide for our missionaries

Ps. 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

• Every missionary needs additional funds.  Some to help meet the daily needs for them and their families, and others so they could expand their ministries.  This can be one of the most challenging thing for the people who sacrifice so much to go serve the Lord on a foreign field.

• Another need many missionaries face is the need for additional workers and help in their ministries.

• Pick a couple of our missionaries from the list on Week 4 Day 5 and pray for them to have additional monthly support.

• Also pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers to work with them in their harvest field.

September 12:

September 13:

Week 6: Pardon

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

This week we will direct our attention to God’s forgiveness.  Not just how much we need it and should appreciate it, but also how we should extend it and share it.  There may be a few tough moments for you this week but work hard to keep your heart soft toward what God may lead you to.

Ephesians 1:7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

September 14: Forgive me

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

• To confess means to “speak like”.  This means that God wants us to speak about our sins the way He speaks about our sins,  So let’s spend some time being honest with God…no rationalizing, no minimizing, no excusing…let’s just call our sins what they are and confess them to the Lord.

• Write down some things that you need to confess to the Lord: ____________________

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• Spend some time praying, beginning each sentence with, “Lord please forgive me for…”

• Now remember as it says above in 1 John 1:9, when we confess our sins, He is faithful and He will forgive us.  Maybe you have some things you have trouble forgiving yourself for.  Bring that to the Lord and ask for His help.  He does not want you to live with guilt and shame.  He wants you to confess it, turn away from it, let Him forgive you for it, and then move on in living for Him…SET FREE!

September 15: Help me forgive others

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

• Forgiving others is often much easier said than done.  In most cases, it is not something we can, or even want to do on our own.  We need God’s supernatural help.  And He WILL help you.  Here’s how we know that, he says that we MUST forgive others.  He would not ask us to do something that He is not prepared to help us do.

• Begin now by writing down the name(s) of those you need to forgive: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Ask God to help you WANT to forgive, if for no other reason because you want to please Him.

• Next, ask God to give you the strength you need to forgive.

• Say the words out loud (just between you and God), even if you don’t mean it at first: “__________, I forgive you.”  Say it over and over and give God a chance to help you mean it.  Remember how much Jesus loves you and say it again.  Think about how much Jesus has forgiven you and say it again.  Think about the fact that Jesus died for that person because he loves them, and say it again.  Ask the Lord to help you mean it and say it again.

• When you are ready to really forgive, write it down here and, if they are still alive, contact them and let them know you forgive them, whether they are asking for it or not.

___________________, I forgive you!!!

September 16: Help a lost friend find forgiveness

1 John 5:11-12  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

• There are times we are probably not mindful enough about the destiny of our family and friends who are not following Jesus.

• They need the forgiveness that God offers.

• Let’s pray with the passion and urgency that this reality deserves.

• List the names of three people that you know who need to experience God’s forgiveness and be saved:

1. ________________________

2. ________________________

3. ________________________

• Pray for them by name and that their hearts would be open to the Lord.

• Ask for opportunities for you to share Jesus with them and invite them to church with you.

• Pray for other people in their lives to share with them also.

Thoughts after prayer: _______________________

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September 17: Pray for an opportunity to share about God’s forgiveness

1 Peter 3:15  But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect

• This is not intended to be a repeat of yesterday, but more about asking God to keep you ready and give you unexpected opportunities to share God’s forgiveness with people around you.

• Pray that the rest of this week you will be ready and keep your eyes open for a chance to share about God’s grace with someone else.

• If the idea of this scares you, pray for courage and boldness and a willingness to step out in faith.

Thoughts after prayer:

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September 18: Ask for help being a gracious person

Ephesians 4:32  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 18:21-35  Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.  Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

• Do you consider yourself a gracious person?  Why or why not? ______________________

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• Unlike day 2 where we dealt with the big hurtful things, today we want to talk to God about being a gracious person in the little things: being less critical, not holding little grudges, not being accusatory, not being easily offended, giving people the benefit of the doubt, etc.

• Pray and ask God to fill your heart with His grace so you can extend that to others. 

• This may be a prayer you need to repeat throughout the day as situations come up.

Thoughts after prayer_________________________

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September 19:

September 20:

Week 7: Protection

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”

Our prayer this week will be centered on God’s protection.  Our enemy tries all kinds of things to disrupt, deceive and destroy our lives.  But greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world.  God does not just call us to live a holy life, but He also gives us the help and protection we need to be able to do it.  Our goal this week is to learn to lean on Him more for that help and protection.

1 John 2:15-17  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life]—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

September 21: Protection from lust of the eyes

• Satan uses the lust of the eyes as one avenue of temptation. Part of the reason Eve listened to the serpent in the Garden was that she looked at the forbidden fruit and saw that it was “pleasing to the eye” (Genesis 3:6).

• Simply put, the lust of the eyes is the desire to possess what we see or to have those things which have visual appeal. This coveting of money, possessions, or other physical things is not from God, but from the world around us.

• Coveting can include a desire to have people, possessions, or status.

• Do you have an unhealthy desire for “more” that can lure you away from God?

• Write down the things the enemy might use to try to tempt you in this area (lust of the eyes): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Pray and ask for God’s protection over these things and this area of your life. 

• Even if you are not struggling with it right now, pray that you will be aware when satan is trying to get at you.

Thoughts after prayer: ______________________

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September 22: Protection from lust of the flesh

Eccl. 2:9-11 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.  Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

• The lust of the flesh is that temptation to feel physical pleasure from some sinful activity—to do something to make the flesh feel satisfied. It can involve any type of sinful activity that will bring pleasure to the body. Examples of the “lust of the flesh” include the following:

o   Sexual sins/pornography

o   Gossip

o   Physical violence

o   Drug use

o   Alcohol abuse

o   Gluttony (Over-eating)

• Are any of these things (or others) a struggle for you (it’s time to be honest):

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• Pray and ask God for protection from the things that tempt you to pursue pleasure in ungodly ways. 

• Hand it over to God and cry out to Him, asking Him to break the chains that grip you.

• Sometimes these kinds of things produce struggles that are tough to overcome.  In addition to praying and handing it over to God, you may need to seek some help.  Please don’t hesitate to seek it out.  You can talk to a Pastor, Elder, or other mature believer.  You may even need to get professional help.  You will get no judgement here, only encouragement.  We want you to be healthy, whole, and free to pursue God with your WHOLE heart.  You cannot do that if any of these things have a grip on you.  If talking to someone scares you, pray and ask God for the courage needed to open up to someone.

James 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

September 23: Protection from the pride of life

Proverbs 11:2  When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom

The pride of life stands in our way if we truly seek to be servants of God.  It is the root cause of strife in families, churches, and nations.

The pride of life is that sinful temptation for excess greatness or power that we all feel the temptation to attain. Pride itself is one of the sins that God hates most. It is the sin that made Lucifer (the beautiful angel) turn into Satan (the adversary). Some examples of this sin include the following:

• Desiring to get credit or glory for things that others (or God) did

• Desiring for others to worship us or hold us in excess esteem, “to make a name for ourselves”

• Desiring to feel more valued or more important than others around us

• Desiring to have positions of power over others in a way that puffs up our own ego for the sake of bragging rights (Jesus said that those who desire to be great should be the greatest servant)

Pray and ask the Lord to point out to you any areas of pride in your heart.  Then surrender that to Him and ask Him to remove it and bring you a humble spirit.

Thoughts: _________________________________

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September 24: Protection for my family

Psalm 91:9-11 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge; no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

• What are your thoughts after reading that scripture?  ____________________________

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• Pray for protection for your family, noting each person by name. 

• Pray specifically for what you think each person needs protection against. 

• Optional exercise: Pray in each room of your home and ask for God’s protection and blessing over what/who each room represents.  Pray for God to be honored by every interaction and activity that happens in each room. 

Thoughts after prayer:

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September 25: Protection for our pastors/leaders

Col. 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

Jer. 3:15  And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

• Begin to pray for our church leaders and ask the Lord to help lead you how to pray for protection for them.

• Write down any names that come to mind as you pray:

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• Pray for each one by name asking God to guide, lead and protect them and their families. 

• Pray for protection for them from the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

Thoughts after prayer: _______________________

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September 26:

September 27:

Week 8: Perspective

“For yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever”

This is our last week and I hope you have been blessed as we have drawn CLOSER to God through this prayer experience.  This week we will be praying through the last part of the prayer, which is found only in the footnotes in most translations.  We will use this statement as a way to pray for some commitments and permanent changes in our lives.  We do not want our daily time of prayer to stop at the end of this eighth week.  We especially do not want to stop DRAWING CLOSER to Jesus.

James 4:8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

September 28: Let the Kingdom be the priority in my life

Matt. 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Colossians 3:2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

• If you were to be completely honest with yourself, what are some of your priorities do you think the Lord would want you to change to put Him and His Kingdom first in your life?   _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Pray and ask God to give you the desire, the conviction, and the courage to make those changes.

• Re-commit your heart and life to Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

• Write down any specific changes you need to make to adjust your priorities: ____________

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September 28: Let God’s power be the strength of my life

2 Timothy 1:7  For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Isaiah 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Ephesians 6:10   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

• We don’t have to live life and do things on our own strength.  God has given us His strength to live the life He has called us to.

• Write down any areas of your life that you need to rely on God’s strength right now:

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• Pray and ask the Lord to strengthen you today.

• Ask Him to help you learn how to rely more on His strength.

Thoughts after prayer: _______________________

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September 29: Let giving God glory be the purpose of my life

1 Peter 2:9   But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light

Acts 20:24   But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

• We glorify God when we honor Him by reflecting His character and His attributes.

• What are some ways that you can give God glory today in the midst of your usual routine?

• Ask God to give you opportunities today to glorify Him at work, at home, or wherever you find yourself today.

• Come back later and write down some ways that this happened today:

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September 30: Let “forever” be the perspective of my life

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

• Ask God to help you see yourself, your life, your situation from His eternal perspective.

• Ask Him to help you keep your eyes on eternal things even as we live life among and around so many temporary things.

• Spend the next few minutes just imagining heaven.  What do think it will be like?  How will it feel to see Jesus face to face?  What are you looking forward to the most?

Thoughts: _________________________________

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October 1: Let “Amen” bring a new commitment to my life

• The word “Amen” is a Hebrew word that was brought into the Greek of the New Testament.

• It means “So be it”, “let it be so”, or “let what was said be binding on us”. 

• So when we say “Amen”, it is like we are putting our signature on what was prayed in agreement and as a commitment. 

• I want to suggest on this last day of our eight week experience that we personally say AMEN as a way of saying, “That was good and I am going to commit to continuing to pray and draw close to God daily.”

• If you are prepared to do so, pray and make that commitment to God. 

October 2:

·       Pray the whole prayer today and be mindful of what you have experienced with each phrase:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Matthew 6:9-13

October 3:

October 4: