Each week for this season our devotions will be centered around the practice of PRAYER. Like the disciples we too have the opportunity to ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” We encourage you to read all prayers and Psalms out loud – let the words of Scripture fill your prayers!
Prayer of Confession
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I admit that I have been wrong in thought, in motive and in action. It is only by your grace that I can be freed from my guilty conscience. Please forgive me. Help me to live purely today. Thank you. Amen.
Psalm 144
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength,
who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight,
2 My hope and my fortress, my stronghold and deliverer, my defender in whom I trust,
who subdues the peoples under me.
3 O Lord, what is man, that you have shown such respect to him,
or the son of man, that you so regard him?
4 Man is like a thing of nought;
his time passes away like a shadow.
5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth your lightning and scatter them;
shoot out your arrows and consume them.
7 Send down your hand from above;
deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strangers,
8 Whose mouth talks of vain things,
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song unto you, O God,
and sing praises unto you upon a ten-stringed lute.
10 You have given victory to kings,
and have delivered David your servant from the peril of the sword.
11 Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strangers,
whose mouth talks of vain things, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood;
12 That our sons may grow up as young plants,
and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple,
13 That our storehouses may be full and plenteous with all manner of grain,
that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields,
14 That our oxen may be strong to labor, that there be no decay,
no leading into captivity, and no outcry in our streets.
15 Happy are the people of whom this is so;
indeed, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God.
The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus, in teaching the disciples how to pray, prayed the follow prayer in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. We learn as well as we join with the prayers of Jesus!
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving Prompt
Name 3 things that have happened to you that have strengthened your character and who you are today (positive or negative events).
Intercession Prompt
Take a few minutes and pray for your needs and the needs of those around you.
Closing Prayer
Father, grant me fresh courage to be honest about my sadness, my grief and pain. Jesus, thank you for weeping with us as we weep. Holy Spirit, produce hope within us as we learn to trust you and not the work of our hands or the false promises of the world. Help us to become a people that sincerely trust you to secure the future.