~Seeking the Will of God - Day 20~

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. Psalm 143:10 (NLT)

Seeking the will of God for your life is important.  You should long for, love, yearn for, and yield to know His will.  When you pray, you are seeking the will of God.  When you sense or hear His direction, follow with a heart to please Him and fulfill His purpose in your life.  Get out of the mindset of what you want and focus on what the will of the Father is for your life.

Today, pray for the will of God, His purpose and plan for your life.  Surrender your plans to Him and replace them with His plans.

Journal Time:

• Do you actively seek God for His will concerning your life?
• Do you have trouble surrendering your will and submitting to His will?
• Do you know His will for your life?

Pray:

Father, I want to know your will for my life.  I humbly surrender my will to You.  I want to know Your purpose for my life.  I get rid of my plans and submit to your agenda for my life.  Today, I pray concerning______________ (list the areas).  Give me direction concerning these areas. Amen.

~Intercession - Day 19~

(1) I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (2) Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (3) This is good and pleases God our Savior, (4) who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)

The act of intercession is prayer for others.  The greatest way to experience the power of prayer is through intercession.  When you pray for others you are blessed because you are giving of yourself.  It is important to pray for our leaders – public and spiritual, for the lost and for our country.

Today, go before the Father, not praying for yourself (only), but pray for others.  Make a list of those people and pray for them daily.

Journal Time:

• Who has God laid on your heart to pray for?
• Make a list of people to pray for and take them before the Lord daily.

Pray:

Father, I come before you today, praying for those in leadership.  I pray for the President, congress, our national leaders, state and local government leaders, and others in authority.  I pray for my spiritual leaders.  I come against discouragement, hurt and other attacks of the enemy.  I pray for every pastor, prophet, elder, missionary and Christian leaders around the world.  I pray for those that are lost, those that don’t know You.  I pray that they will have a divine encounter with You and their hearts will be turned to You.  I pray for the state of our country.  Revive Your church! Restore families and communities! I pray that our nation will return to its roots of honoring You.  In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

~Pray the Word of God - Day 18~

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7 (NLT)

When we pray, we speak to God. When we read and study His Word, He speaks to us. Unless we read and study His Word it’s impossible to know what God wants us to do. God reveals His will to us through His Word. Everything we need to know is in His Word. When we pray His Word, we are reminding Him of His promises to us. As we read and meditate on His Word, and His Word remains in our hearts we begin to see the manifestation of His Word in our lives. Whatever we ask Him for He will freely give it.

Today, set aside some time (everyday) to read and study God’s Word. Research His promise and His will. In your prayer time pray His promises.

 

Journal Time:

• Which scriptures did you read?
• What were His promises written in His Word?
• How can you incorporate those scriptures in your prayer?

 

Pray:
Father I thank You for Your word and every promise written. You said if I remain in You and in Your word, I can ask for anything and it will be granted to me. (John 15:7), Your Word is a lamp onto my feet and a light for my path. (PS 119:105), I will trust in You with all my heart and will not depend on my own understanding. I will seek Your will in all I do, and I will look to You for which path to take. (Pr. 3:5-6) I thank you for it now, Amen!

~Pray With Boldness - Day 17~

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

Being bold means knowing who you are and when you know who you are in Christ, your prayers become militant in nature.  It’s time out for safe, vague and repetitive prayers.  Your prayers become lazy when you don’t understand the purpose and value of prayer.  I read somewhere that it cost blood, sweat and tears to pray with boldness, to bruise your hands and knees, asking, seeking and knocking. Even though the cost is great, it’s worth being uncomfortable and beat up because when you pray, God moves on your behalf.

Today, approach the throne of grace with boldness.  Don’t pray safe prayers.  Pray with passion – shamelessly.  Pray bold prayers that get His attention.  Lay it all out before Him and watch Him move. 

Journal Time:

1. Do you find yourself praying safe prayers?
2. Do you understand the true value of prayer?
3. Do you understand the purpose of prayer?

Pray:

Father, I come before Your throne boldly, praying for (about)_______________________________.  I know that you are a God that answers prayer.  You are a God of miracles and all power is in Your hands.  I will not back down or become lazy with my prayers.  I know that you hear my every cry and see my tears.  You will not fail me or leave me.  Thank you, Father, for answering my prayers. Amen.

 

~Pray Persistently - Day 16~

(16) Always be joyful.  (17) Never stop praying. (18) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

You need to infuse your life with prayer.  Pray about everything, at all times.  Your life should be lived with a frequent, persistent attitude of prayerful dedication and belief in the Father. To pray without ceasing means to pray about everything and as often as you can throughout the day.  The more you pray, the more it becomes a part of your life – daily living.

Today, determine in your heart that you are going to make prayer a necessary part of your life.  Don’t worry about the length of your prayer or try to find the right words.  Just talk to Him as a friend.

Journal Time:

1. Are you persistent in prayer?
2. What can you do to be more persistent?
3. Will you make the commitment to pray every day, as often as you can?

Pray:

Father help me to be persistent in prayer.  I have determined in my heart that I will pray without ceasing.  I will pray as often as I can, believing you will hear my prayers. Amen.

~Pray With a True Heart - Day 15~

Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)

 You must continually check your heart, your motives, to be sure your desires for entering His presence are pure.  Prayer is a sincere and serious encounter with God.  Sincere prayer is about the spiritual attitude of your heart. When you pray because it’s a part of your routine, just to show that you can be spiritual or you’re so holy before God, your heart is not true.

Today, search your heart for its intents.  Make your prayer all about the Father.  Pray with a sincere heart.

Journal Time:

1. Search the intents of your heart and write out its motives.
2. Have there ever been a time where you didn’t make your prayer all about the Father?
3. Is your prayer time just routine?

Pray:

Father, I come before You with a true, sincere heart.  I humble myself before You. Search my heart as I seek Your face.  If there is anything that is not like You, remove it from my heart.  I want to seek Your face with a pure heart. Amen.

~Cast Your Cares - Day 14~

Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalm 55:22 (NLT)

God cares about every situation and everything that concerns us.  It doesn’t matter how big or small the issue.  If we give our issues to Him, He will take care of us.  When we are faced with an issue, we should turn it over to God – not as a last resort, but s our first choice.  Putting complete trust in God builds our faith to believe him for the impossible. 

Today, take your every concern to the Father.  Don’t try to fix them on your own.  Trust God to take care of you.

Journal Time:

1. Make a list of every concern (the issues heaviest on your heart).
2. How can you learn to take your hands off your problems and turn them over to God?
3. Keep the list before you when you pray. Mark down the date when each prayer is answered.

Pray:

Father, I take my hands off my problems and I turn them over to you.  Your Word says for me to cast my cares upon you for you care for me (1 Peter 5:7).  I give my burdens to you Lord and I know You’ll take care of me.  In Jesus’s Name, Amen!

~Prayer is Priority - Day 13~

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

Prayer should be a priority in our lives. We should begin each day in prayer.  Acknowledge the Father as being first in our life.  There should be nothing or anyone else we put first before God. Anything we love more, serve more or worship more then the Father are idols in our life that need to be removed. 

When we put God first and make prayer a priority, it opens up a portal of blessings and answers to prayer.  If we keep our focus on God, keep Him first and make prayer a priority, we will reap great rewards.

Today, make prayer a priority.  Give God the first fruit of your day.  Give Him the praise due His name and watch Him pour you out blessings you won’t have room to receive.

Journal Time: 

1. Do you have things in your life you put before God? (Name them)

2. How can you remove those idols from your life?

3. How can you make prayer a priority in your life?

Pray:

Father, I thank You and praise You for who You are – King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  I give You the first fruit of my day.  I put You first in my life and keep my eyes focused on You.  For You said in Your Word, if I seek Your kingdom and live righteous, all my needs will be met.  I believe and stand on Your Word and know that all my needs will be met.  Thank You, Father, for answered prayers, Amen.

 

~God My Strength - Day 12~

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. (I Corinthians 10:12 – NLT)

Therefore, let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall (into sin and condemnation). (I Corinthians 10:12 – AMP)

Have you ever met a Christian that felt like they have it all together?  Like they are immune to temptation? The Bible says, “if you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”  This let’s me know that even the strongest Christian can have moments where they are tempted or moments where the enemy is coming at them with both barrels blazing.  

When we are faced with attacks from the enemy, know that God is the source of our strength (Ps 46:1), We can go to him when we face hard times and temptations.  We don’t have to face things alone. 

Today, learn to turn to the Father when you need strength to stand strong.  Turn to the Father when you are tempted.  Know that your strength comes from God and He is always there.

Journal Time:

1. Have you had times where you’ve been tempted and needed strength to stand strong?

2. Do you turn to the Father when you need strength?

 

Pray:

Father, I know You are the source of my strength.  I know You are there for me whenever I need You.  When I am faced with attacks, trials and tribulations, I will not fail because You are my source of strength and refuge.  I thank you for Your strength. Amen.

 

~God My Refuge (Protection) - Day 11~

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. – Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

 

The enemy is cunning.  He will stop at nothing to keep us from fulfilling our God given purpose.  Let’s face it – Spiritual Warfare – prayer is work.  Whenever we engage in spiritual warfare or become more vigilant in our prayers to defeat him, we step onto a battlefield.  It’s important to understand that the Father is our protection – a refuge in times of trouble.  The Father is always there, ready to help.  We are not fighting this battle alone.

Today, remember that God is your refuge.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Be vigilant in prayer and stand firm on God’s Word.

Journal Time:

1. Have you ever felt that you were alone on a battlefield?
2. Do you find comfort in knowing God is with you?

Pray:

Father, I thank You for who You are – King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  I thank you for never leaving me, nor forsaking me.  Thank you for being my refuge in times of trouble. In Jesus’s name, Amen!