When God’s People Pray
We are not helpless. We are hopeful. We are stronger together. We are greater than the hardships we face, and through prayer and acts of compassion and love, we will rise to this challenge and emerge stronger and with deeper connections to our community & our Savior than ever before. May God bless, heal & protect each of you, your family, our church, our city, our state, country & world.
Week 27- Grant Me a Willing Spirit
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Lord, grant me a willing spirit to do Your work. May the joy of Your salvation overwhelm me and bestow the desire to share that joy with all those around me. May Your joy permeate all my words and actions. Sustain us for the days to come, the work ahead through Your immensely undeserved salvation of our hearts.
------------------------------------------------------
Week 26 - The Least of These
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Lord, forgive us for not seeing You in the faces of those we pass daily. Forgive us for not feeding and clothing You. Turn our hearts towards You. Help us to stop, see and help the least of these around us. May You break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Give us courage, wisdom, and help our hands and feet to move into action for the least of those around us.
------------------------------------------------------
Week 25 - Pray for our Nation
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Lord, we know that you have appointed our governing authorities: our mayor, our governor, our president and all the rest. We pray for this coming election, that you would, miraculously, act for the good of your people. Our future is in your hands and no one else’s… give us that confidence for tomorrow.
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Just as we prayed months ago, so we pray again. Bring our leaders to their knees before you, Lord, in repentance, in humility, in submission… Bring all our potential leaders to fear the Lord.
------------------------------------------------------
Week 24 - Forgiveness
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Lord, let us hear, truly hear, what you have said. Remind me of your forgiveness, remind me of your grace. May I practice, show and give such forgiveness to everyone in my life. Help me, Lord, to forgive fully, deeply, radically, over and over again.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Week 23 - Let’s Start from the Beginning
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Lord, we want to know You. Teach us to see You and Your Holiness first and above all things. Teach us to study Your holy word, for us to crave Your wisdom and Your instruction for us. We want to know You more, we want to love You more.
--------------------------------------------------
Week 22 - Heart of Worship
Then the Lord said,
“Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,
God, I repent of any “worship learned by rote…” I want to honor you with everything I’ve got, that my heart would be Yours. That I would “stand in awe of the God of Israel.”
I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Lord, let me worship You in spirit and truth… let me discover more and ever more completely what that means. Don’t allow me to reserve or hold back any piece of my heart, mind, spirit, soul or strength.
--------------------------------------------------
Week 21 - To Know & Follow You
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Father, teach us to do Your will. May we trust the path You have laid before us, that when You lead, we will follow. Help us to hear Your voice above the crowd - that we know You so fully that we can boldly go forward.
-----------------------------------------------
Week 20 - Not Just Any Worship
"I wish that one of you would close the temple doors, so that you no longer would light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you," says the LORD who rules over all, "and I will no longer accept an offering from you.
Lord, am I guilty of complacency here? Believing you will accept any kind of worship I deign to give you? Remind me of your holiness, your sacredness. My first thought in entering your house should always be “what would please You most?” I repent of my easy worship. Humble me in your house, in your presence, before your throne, Lord! What worship shall I bring you? What service? What faithfulness? What obedience? What love?
Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Give me that Spirit of Isaiah, to know my unworthiness before your holy righteousness. Let it create humility in me, repentance, unending grace as I have been shown unending grace.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Here am I, Send me!
-----------------------------------------------
Week 19 - Dedication of Your Church
May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”
Lord, may this prayer from King Solomon at the dedication of Your temple be ours today. May Your house, Your church turn our hearts to you and be dedicated to knowing & loving you more. Remind us that our purpose is so that all people know you and bring you glory. May our church be a place that is a beacon of hope. Let us be fully committed to you, our Lord God.
---------------------------------
Week 18 - Bold Vision
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
God, give us Your vision, what You would have us do, who You would have us be. May we hold tight to Your Word, and let all our “good ideas” fall by the wayside. Give us Your Vision.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Give me the patience to wait upon the Lord, to anticipate Your Word… but not to move before You speak it. Let me Wait Upon the Lord. Let us, Your church, Wait upon Your vision.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Even as the people of Israel awaited return to the Land, so we await a return to being Your church. A people in Pursuit of You, even as you have never been far from us. Let us catch glimpse of the Promised Land, the more preferable future You have in store for us.
---------------------------------
Week 17 - Show Me Your Ways
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Lord, I want to chase after you and follow in your footsteps. Show me Truth… Your Truth… Your very self as the Way, the Truth and the LIfe. Don’t let my hope rest in anything else but “you all day long.”
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
There is so much that seeks to entangle me, my family, and your church. God, don’t let it distract us or hold us back! Give me and give us that kind of perseverance, to run in your footsteps, Jesus. You pioneered my faith, Lord, please perfect it in me! Show me the path of the race.
-----------------------
Week 16 - Prayer
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Lord, teach us to make prayer a priority. Let us start our days with You. Help us to follow Christ’s example in quiet early moments with You.
-----------------------
Week 15 - Baptism
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We pray for those young men and women getting baptized this coming Sabbath. We pray that this moment would stand in their memory as a forever declaration of their commitment to and belief in you as Lord and Savior. We pray that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in unforgettable power!
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Even as we celebrate the baptisms, may we recall our own salvation - our unity with Christ in His death and resurrection. May we walk in that newness of life.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Call us that one-ness, unity in You, oh Lord. This is the center of our faith, the center of our community, the origin and ongoing source of our love for one another. Remind us of our fundamental unity in You.
-----------------------
Week 14 - Send Us
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Lord, break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Turn our eyes to helping our world know You, Your heart, Your love. Break our cycle of comfort and turn it into the uncomfortable. Our world is broken and ready to know love without end. As scary as it is….Lord, send us.
-----------------------
Week 13 - Are You Ready to Tell Your Story?
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Lord, spur us into action. Help us be diligent in preparation. Embolden us to share the work You have done in us. May we be ready to give reason for the hope You have given us. Help us to faithfully share our testimonies with gentleness, patience and respect.
-----------------------
Week 12 - Fresh Breath and Fresh Fruit
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Lord, let your Holy Spirit fall anew, as on the day of Pentecost. Let us act and witness with that kind of power and passion. Give us rushing wind and fresh fire!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Holy Spirit, transform us. Let your church be fruitful. Let me be fruitful. Our friends and family are desperate for all these things… show them the fruit of your presence in me.
-------------------------
Week 11 - Our Words
Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
Lord, please keep my lips from sin. Keep me from quarreling with my friends, brothers, neighbors. Seek out my sin, expose it Lord. Show me how my words can build up or destroy. Restore in me Your word. Fill our hearts with Your Spirit. For we know our words are an overflow of our hearts.
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Lord, let my words be timely, truthful and healing to those around me. Let my words be as honey: good, sweet & healing.
-------------------------------------
Week 10 - Encouragement
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Lord, help us to build each other up & encourage the good. Help us to stand together in this time of division.
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Father God, it can be so easy to forget that we are called to not only encourage, but to also be of one mind with believers & to live in peace. We are called to have words that bring hope & peace…...not division. You are the giver of love & peace. May we carry Your words to others. Help us to be a people of love & peace. Make us a beacon of light for each other & the world.
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
Lord, help us to believe & strive for deeper faith in You every day. Our world has turned from You. Our world is mired in sin. We need Your manna, Your word daily. Help us to stay in Your word, that it may be quick on our tongues to bring love & peace to all around us.
-----------------------------
Week 9 - Give Us New Eyes
You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Lord, You see us all through the lens of our loving Father. We are all created in Your image. Give us Your eyes to see, Your words to heal, Your love coated in compassion - help us to see all mankind as You do. Help us carry humility, gentleness and patience as our nation & world seeks healing. Help us to move forward united.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Father, open the eyes of our hearts. Remind us of the hope You have called us to. What a glorious inheritance for each and every one of Your children have awaiting us. Thank you for the power that is available to each of us that believe in You. Our land can heal with that great power. We hope in it, as we hope in You.
----------------
Week 8 - Unite Us Through Peace
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Lord, help us to keep trying, to make every effort. May we rely on Your Spirit to unite us through the bond of peace. Our world is hurting, our divide seems wide to our eyes. However, You are the Father of all. All of us, Your children. Bring us together today, unite us peacefully. May we grow to love each other more, as we look to You.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Lord, teach us to bear peacefully with each other as we look to forgive each other. Teach us to forgive as only You can, as You forgave us. Let us be clothed in love. Love is the only thing that binds us together as a family. Unite us through love, in ultimate love & peace. We are thankful for the work ahead because we know how beautiful it can be when we truly LOVE one another.
-------------------------------
Week 7 - Unite Our Country from Deep Seated Divisions
Jesus, let our hearts break for what breaks yours. Let our weapon be love, not hate. May we stand united and fight for life.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Dear Lord, let us not see color, gender, orientation or creed. Please open our eyes to just see that we are all one in Christ Jesus. We are all your children & part of a bigger family & purpose than the divide, the prejudices, the injustices, the death & destruction.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Father, teach us to love one another - true love, pure unadulterated love- as you have loved us.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Lord, just as you called the church in Corinth to not have divisions in leadership - what wonderful words for us today, for this moment. We cry out & beg for us to unite as a country in our minds, thoughts, and actions. We ask in the most powerful name, Jesus……..we are desperate for You to destroy our divisions. We ask for You to be ever near to us in this time. We ask for peace and comfort for families that are grieving. May we share that grief, may we carry that burden together, may we heal, and may we CHANGE.
-------------------------------
Week 6 - Lord, Give Us Wisdom
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
God, in so much uncertainty, give us wisdom. We need wisdom in keeping ourselves, our families, our church safe. Wisdom to neither overreact nor take unnecessary risks.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Show us how to walk in Your Will, not as unwise but as wise. May we, as your followers and as your witnesses make the best use of these evil days.
-------------------------------
Week 5 - Are You Tired, Weary, Discouraged?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Lord, we are tired, we are weary and burdened for what the future holds - when we can see & hug our loved ones. Please hold these burdens, help us to find true rest in You.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Your grace is all we truly need. We rely on Your strength to bring us through this season.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
For You oh God know all things & see all things, You have a plan for us. Help guide us to You & Your Word for truth and strength.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Lord, remind us to continue to reach out to one another, to encourage and build each other up. May we find strength in the full body of Christ.
---------------------
Week 4 - Turn our hearts to God
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.
The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
Lord, use this time to bring the nations before your throne! That many would recognize their need for you, the only security, the only sure and certain future!
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Lead us to repentance. Our cities, our states, our nation, our world.
Lead me to repentance. My family. My friends.
Redeem this time and this people for your glory, that we may enter into “times of refreshing” from You.
----------------------
Week 3 - Praying for Government Officials
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Lord, we know that you have appointed our governing authorities: our mayor, our governor, our president and all the rest. We pray Lord that you would give them wisdom in this crisis… that you would direct their paths… and open their eyes and ears to your Sovereign authority.
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
We pray that you would turn the hearts of our leaders to You, Lord. That they would discover, in this time, their ever-present need for you. That they would seek you and know you, knowing that You are never far from them. May they submit to your leadership!
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Lord, we pray for our leaders, peace upon them, peace for us, and peace to the divisive spirit in our nation. May you use this crisis to heal our nation: that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
And may our leaders, at all levels, be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth!
-----------------
Week 2 - Praying for Physical Health & Healing
He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Lord, we ask for your word to be sent forth like a rushing wind. Please heal every person from Covid-19, even those that are on the edge of death & the grave. We believe You are our Healer, and we ask now for Your healing.
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Lord, may Your light break forth like the dawn and Your healing appear quickly. We know Your righteousness and glory will hem us in from all sides. Thank you for the healing You have already begun and continue to do. May Your healing come swiftly and all praise be given unto You.
‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
Lord, may we bless, with our words, all those around us and the world. May we hope for good health for all people and their entire households. Keep us from all unsavory words and grumblings. Let us, Your church, be a blessing to all those around us.
Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
Lord, we praise You. We praise You for who You are and the mighty works of Your hand. Let us always remember You are worthy of our praises. We will continue to sing the praises of Your name.
-----------------
Week 1 - Praying for Frontline Healthcare Workers
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
God, unleash your gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance to our front-line medical workers, our doctors, our nurses… put Your super on their natural. Put Your extra on their ordinary. Oh Lord, hear our cry - pour out Your gifts among Your people in abundance.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
Lord, heal us as You did… heal our world of every disease, of our global COVID pandemic. Send Your presence among our people, in every town, city, state, and nation.
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
Lord, let our hearts be filled with the hope of all the works You will do. Let our mouths be filled with the laughter and songs of joy to the great things You will do among all nations. We hope in Your healing, complete healing.
Where do I start?
We hope you begin this journey with a humble heart. This is not a complete or exhaustive list of how you should fast. We pray that God uses these suggestions as a starting point for your adventure with Him and a deeper prayer life.
Types of Fasts
Complete Fast
In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.
Selective Fast
This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.
Partial Fast
This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.
Soul Fast
This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.
Timing of a Fast
We are encouraging you to fast on Tuesday of each week. This is a season of focused prayer as a church family. You may also choose to fast at other times during the week for your own spiritual development. It’s very typical to fast a single meal, a whole day, or three days or more. The timing of your fast is not as important as the strength of your focus on God as you fast.
Scripture References