Prayer Challenge

Opening Prayer
God, thank you for your love for me. And thank you for your invitation to me to love you in return. I choose to love you. I choose to have a relationship with you. Please guide me through these next 30 days. Reveal your heart and your Word to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Devotion
Have you ever thought of what God would tell you right now if you could hear his voice? You can hear his voice anytime you want! Here is the key: the Bible is the Word of God.  Here is what he wants you to know…
"Tell them I want them to know me. I want them to know my Word because my Word has the power to change them from the inside out (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12). I want to heal (Psalm 107:20), free (John 8:36), redeem (Psalm 107:1-2, Titus 2:11-14), set loose (Luke 4:18-21), empower (Ephesians 3:16,20), embolden them (1 Thessalonians 2:2, Psalm 138:3), and captivate their hearts (Psalm 27:4). I am obsessed with them, with all my children, and my thoughts are always toward them (1 Peter 2:9, 5:7). I stand at the door of their hearts and knock (Revelation 3:20). Will they let me in? In me there is no evil (Psalm 92:15), no abuse or manipulation (James 1:13), no ill-intent (Psalm 45:7), no darkness (1 John 1:5). Only light. Only love (1 John 4:8). I am the very essence of true (1 John 3:1), abiding (John 15:5), no-strings-attached love (1 John 4:16,19). My heart is that they would draw near to me and I will draw near to them (James 4:8). My invitation is open. Will they accept it?"

Response
Re-read the words above. Is there a phrase that jumped out at you? Is there something in it that you don’t quite understand or believe yet? Look up the scripture verse next to that thought and write it down. Spend 5 minutes in prayer, asking God to reveal His truth to you in a new and refreshing way.

Opening Prayer
Father God, thank you that you love and accept me as your child. Thank you that you are a good Father, better than any earthly father could be. Please teach me more about what this means in my life. Heal any father wounds that I have so that I can see Your true nature more clearly. I invite you to be Father God to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotion
Like a good father with his child, so God is with us. When our children come to us, we don’t expect them to come with eloquent words and perfected logic. We cherish their attempts to communicate and gently correct them when they get something wrong. The Bible is full of language about God being our loving father. Jesus calls God “Father” over 165 times in the gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Apostle Paul does so over 40 times. Consider the Apostle John’s words in 1 John 3:1 “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
Rest assured that God is our loving Father who wants to hear your prayers. Whether you think they’re pretty or not, they’re so very precious to Him.

Response
Read these verses out loud to God, asking Him to give you greater revelation of his desired place in your life.
“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” - Psalm 103:13
“And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” - Isaiah 64:8
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” - Matthew 6:26
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” - Matthew 7:11
“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” - Luke 12:32

Opening Prayer - The disciples asked Jesus how to pray to this loving Father, and he responded with what we now call The Lord’s Prayer. Pray this out loud.  
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9–13

Devotion
Have you ever realized that when Jesus prayed this prayer the disciples did not yet have access to the Holy Spirit? They were used to praying to a God that was far away in heaven. We still recognize God in heaven, but guess what? God has sent us his Holy Spirit, who lives in us. We pray to the God who is Lord of heaven and simultaneously closer than our own skin. He is in this moment with us, sees everything we do, and knows every attitude of our hearts. We are kept company by his Holy Spirit, like a loving companion who stands with us through every good time and bad time.

Response
Read the Lord's Prayer out loud again. Then spend some time talking to God, recognizing how amazing it is that he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth, yet he lives inside us and speaks to us individually. Recognize that God is nearby, then thank him. How incredible he is!

One of the best things we can do is to repeat the words that Jesus gave us. Today as you pray try and make this prayer a part of everything you do. Use it in the morning to start your day off right. Say it during your lunch time to keep you focused on him during the day. Don't worry if you don't understand all of the parts completely we can get to that. Today just repeat the lords prayer at least 3 times.

Opening Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9–13

Devotion
Holy means set apart, sacred, or consecrated to God. God’s name is holy, wonderful, and great! When we speak the name of Jesus it changes things in the supernatural and the natural realms. We keep his name holy by honoring God. And we honor God by obeying his commandments. As followers of Jesus we use his name to love others, not condemn them. We speak truth about Him with others, in love, using His name to bring hope and healing into our world.

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” John 14:12-17

Response
Pray the Lord’s Prayer out loud. Then speak with God about the ways you keep his name holy in your life. Are you representing Jesus to others in positive or negative ways. Write them down. Ask God how you can pursue his holiness.
Pray: Lord, I confess that sometimes I don’t use your name well. I don’t always represent you well, specifically in these ways: _____________. Forgive me. I invite your Holy Spirit to change my mind and my heart so that I can represent you and honor your name better. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9–13

Devotion
The kingdom of God consists of everyone that has acknowledged Jesus Christ as Savior. You join the kingdom when you recognize God as the King of your life. When you become a believer in God you move from the kingdom of the world into the kingdom of God. This is a transition that many people miss. They allow Jesus to be their Savior but they don't allow him to be their King. They want their get-out-of-hell-free card, but don’t want to submit to the One who desires to change their life for the better. Do you see the difference? What does it mean to allow God to be your King? The king is the director of the kingdom, He is the provider of the kingdom, he is the Protector for his kingdom. This is hard for us because we have been taught that we have to provide, protect and lead our families. We feel it’s all up to us. But how would God have us lead, provide and protect?

Response
Read the Lord’s prayer out loud. Then take a few moments today and ask yourself, “Where am I hesitant to let God lead, provide and protect?” Write them down and talk to God about those areas.
Pray: God, I have a hard time trusting you to lead in _______________. Help me work through these areas. Even though it’s hard, I choose today to submit ___________ to you. I make you King over these things and ask for you to take care of them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9–13

Devotion
When Moses and the Israelites were in the wilderness God answered their complaints about food with supernatural provision - sending them quail and manna each evening and morning for 40 years! He commanded them to only take the food that was needed for that day and if they took more it would spoil. It left the Israelites in a place where they had to trust God daily for their provision. How comfortable would you be trusting God daily for your provision? Can you recognize times in your life where you needed to trust God daily for your physical needs? What about your spiritual needs?

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “[Manna?] What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was.
And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared.
Exodus 16:11-21

Response
Write down the things you are trusting God for daily in this season, be they physical, spiritual, relational, emotional. Then read the Lord’s Prayer out loud and spend some time talking with God about your needs, thanking God for His provision and timing.
Pray: Lord, I recognize that you are my provider. There is nothing I lack that you can’t provide. Thank you! Thank you for taking care of my physical, spiritual, relational, emotional and all other needs. Today I ask for you to help me with ______________________. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9–13

Devotion
Have you ever done something that you felt was unforgiveable? How incredible it is that Jesus has paid the price for every sin! Our salvation happens when we confess our sins and receive the gift of forgiveness. Jesus takes us as we are, warts and all. And he forgives us no matter what we’ve done. The gift is free to us. And then he calls us into something hard. He calls us to follow his example. It’s so important to God that we forgive others that Jesus said our Father will not forgive our sins unless we do it.  
"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13
[Jesus said,] “So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.” Matthew 5:23– 24
Unforgiveness blocks our connection with God, because he is a God who forgives. Imagine if you always told the truth, and you knew someone who lied about everything. How much time would you want to spend with them? How much connection could you really have with them? God is so much holier than we are, yet he's given us a way to be in relationship with him. Let's do the hard work of forgiving others so that our connection with God can come alive more and more!

Response
It is so important to deal with unforgiveness right away. Take a moment search your heart, ask God and reflect:
1. Have you fully accepted and received God’s forgiveness given to you for everything you’ve ever done and will do?
2. What is something you need to ask for God’s forgiveness for today?
3. Who is someone God is placing on your heart to forgive?
Pray: Thank you for the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice  for my sins. Forgive me for ______. Guide me to seek you in challenging moments, resisting blame and resentment. Knowing that my sins are forgiven by you, help me to extend forgiveness to others. Today I choose to forgive __________. Make me more like you. May the Holy Spirit within me echo Your compassionate heart, leading me away from cycles of hate and revenge and toward a life of mercy, compassion, and love in all my relationships. Strengthen my heart when forgiveness becomes weary. Remind me whose I am. Amen.

Opening Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9–13

Devotion
God is all about reconciling relationships. "[Jesus said,] 'So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.'" Matthew 5:23– 24 Jesus gives reconciliation higher priority than worship! At Awaken we talk about the importance of having "#4 conversations," talking through the misunderstandings and things which come between us. When we have something against someone, let's clear it up with grace and forgiveness! When someone has something against you, clear it up with an attitude of humility and honor.  "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18

Response
Who might you need to apologize to so that you can be free to worship? Is there someone in your life you feel animosity toward? Anger? Shame? Resentment? Ask God to give you his strategy of love and reconciliation, then make a plan to go do it.
Pray: God, Thank you that you forgive me so freely. Help me to both forgive others and to ask forgiveness from those I have hurt. I feel I need to apologize to ___________ for ___________. Please give me a strategy, the right time and way so that I can apologize well. Help me to reconcile with others so that I can live in peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9–13

Devotion - From Temptation to Abundance
James 1:13-15 says “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Temptation does not come from God but from our own desires. God does not tempt us; instead, He desires to lead us into a full and satisfying life. Oftentimes our desires for the things we see and hear about can lure us away, enticing us to chase after feelings of pleasure that will ultimately lead to a feeling of emptiness that we can’t fill. It’s an important reminder of how easily we can be drawn into cycles that steal our joy and peace. Recognizing this pattern is very important if we want to grow; we must become aware of the temptations and ways we allow our desires and wants to lead us away from the life Jesus offers us.

John 10:10 (ESV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

As we navigate the challenges of temptation, let’s hold fast to the promise of abundant life that Jesus offers , allowing His love to guide us away from what destroys us and brings us towards a life of true fulfillment.

Response
1. Identify Your Temptations: Reflect on the areas where you feel “lured” away from God. What desires pull you into behaviors that steal your joy? Write these down and pray for insight and strength.

2. Pray for Deliverance: Remember Jesus’ prayer for deliverance from the evil one. Pray for protection against the temptations that threaten to steal your joy. Ask for wisdom to discern God’s voice and look for an escape route.

3. Embrace Community: Sign up for a small group where you can share your struggles in a safe environment, where others can help hold you accountable for the things that you want to change in your life. Sometimes, bringing our temptations and struggles into the light can diminish the enemy’s power over us. Remember: “What’s kept in the dark stays in the dark and Satan has control over. But what is brought into the light God can heal.” Most of the time he uses other people to bring healing into our lives.

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundant life You offer through Jesus. Help me to recognize the temptations that lead me away from You and the joy You provide. Strengthen me to resist the lures and temptations of my desires, and lead me into a deeper understanding of the life You’ve called me to live out. Protect me from the schemes of the enemy, and fill my heart with Your peace and joy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
God, reveal to me any strongholds that may be creating a barrier between you and I. I choose to set my mind on you today, but I need your help. May your Holy Spirit speak to my spirit and bring me freedom. Amen.

Devotion
Have you ever sat down to pray and felt like you just couldn’t do it? Maybe your mind wandered or went blank. Or maybe you experienced negative emotions like anger or deep sadness. Some of us struggle to muster the desire to pray. If you’ve ever felt these things, you’re not alone.
The way to overcome these spiritual blocks is to take spiritual action. Remember that our enemy, the devil, is not very strong. But he does take advantage of every foothold he can muster. Some footholds are there because of our sins or the people and environments in which we place ourselves; others are from generations before us.
Thankfully, God has a plan to free us from bondage and clear the way for us to speak with Him. “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 For the next few days we’ll bust through some of these spiritual barriers to fulfilling prayer.

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:2

Response
Today as you pray, take some time to think about why you don't want to pray, recognizing that it may be the key to the breakthrough you need to have a fulfilling life of prayer.
Do you feel like you are too busy? Look for windows in your life where you throw time away.
Are you a stay at home parent without any alone time? Pray with your family.
Do you worry people will judge you? Pray boldly so that people will know you are a person of bold faith.

Opening Prayer
Lord, I recognize that I’m never too busy to spend time with you. Reveal to me more moments in my day when I can speak to you more. Introduce me to someone today that I can pray for. Amen.

Devotion
“If the enemy can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” Corrie ten Boom
Busy-ness is the enemy of a good prayer life. Not that we can’t get a lot done while also pursuing God. That’s not the point. What happens when we devote time to prayer is that the centeredness that comes from prayer results in a deeper connection with the living God, who then has the opportunity to settle our priorities, make us more efficient in our interactions with others, and lead us to a more fulfilling life. Consider the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. While I feel for Martha needing help to feed those gathered in her home, Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. Notice how Jesus didn’t tell Martha that her desire to serve was bad, just that time with Him is better. When we make communion with God a priority, it’s wild how other things in our lives begin to come together.

"As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, 'Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.'
But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:38-42

Response
As you pray today, remember that quiet time is as important as busy time. Even if we're busy with good things. Often in our busyness we don't see the moments of calm because we fill our moments of calm with thoughts of stress. Today as you pray, ask God to reveal to you the quiet and silent moments that you have filled with spiraling thoughts that you can turn into prayers.
Pray: God, thank you that you are never too busy to hear my prayers. I have committed to pray to you throughout this month. Help me to change my hurried thoughts into prayers. You are worth my time, my heart, my everything. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord, help me see the areas in my life today that need to be changed for the better. Help me to renew my mind so that I can be changed into your image. Speak to me today. In Jesus name, Amen.

Devotion
Have you ever cried out to God in tears, then come away feeling lighter and more joyful? Maybe you had words to go along with those tears or maybe not. Either way God was working in your heart. In 2 Corinthians 7:10 Paul explains that Godly sorrow leads us away from sin and results in salvation. Psalm 126:5-6 shows us that sowing seed in Godly sorrow results in joy! True repentance is accompanied by sorrow because we understand that our actions and attitudes grieve God’s heart. It comes from wanting to reconcile our relationship with Him. There’s only one way to do that, by confessing and repenting before God and accepting the sacrifice of His Son Jesus to atone (pay for) our sins. He is ready and waiting to forgive us!

"For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death." 2 Corinthians 7:10

"Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest." Psalm 126:5-6

Response
Take some time to pray this morning, ask God to reveal in your heart the places you have grieved him for which you have not yet repented.
Pray: God, I come to you with sadness in my heart for the ways I’ve grieved Your heart. Please forgive me for these things ______________. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay for my sins. I humbly accept your forgiveness and salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
God, thank you that I have had the privilege to serve. I know that I am honoring you with my time, but sometimes it seems as though there are not enough minutes in my day. Help me find a balance between serving you and being fulfilled within myself. Amen.

Devotion
God has chosen the local church to be his outlet for service. Have you taken the leap into serving yet? If so, how is it going? Are you loving it? Is it fun and exciting? Or has it grown stale, your heart not in it like it used to be?
The point of serving is not to fill our own cups, although it certainly can do that. Problems come when we serve God for the purpose of getting something out of it. Then when it gets hard, or it no longer makes us happy we quit. Or worse, we get disillusioned and make it miserable for everyone we’re serving with.
Serving cannot keep us spiritually filled in the same way as prayer. The Holy Spirit fills us in prayer in ways that “keeping busy for God” can’t do. Jesus serves as our example. He didn’t ride the emotional high of his ministry like we’re tempted to do. Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray. Over and over it says he did this at times when the disciples would have pushed him forward.

“After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer." Acts 2:42

Response
Ask God to fill you afresh with His Spirit today. And spend some time being with Him before you do for Him. Set a timer for 5 minutes as you begin this prayer and listen to God until the timer goes off.
Pray: God, I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve you. But for the moment I choose to simply be in your presence. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and renew my spirit. I choose at this moment to listen to You….    Amen.
I heard God speak this to me: __________________.

Opening Prayer
Lord, sometimes I feel tired. Sometimes I feel like I am not making a difference. Will you fill me with your presence today so that I may be more useful for you in all that I do. Help me to know how Jesus and the disciples prayed so full of faith so that I might do the same thing.

Devotion
Have you ever prayed for something for so long that you felt your faith had run out? Maybe it's a chronic illness, an addicted family member, or a trauma that you haven't yet experienced healing from. The Bible is full of encouragement to pray continually about all things. Jesus told us to "...always pray and never give up. " Luke 18:1
How do we get this faith? Faith is a gift from God, (Philippians 1:29) which comes by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) God draws us to Himself (John 6:44), but then we cause our faith to grow by the time we spend listening to and applying His Word. We do this by attending church, reading the Bible daily, listening to worship music that is saturated with His Word, and studying the Bible in our small group.
Over time God’s Word becomes a part of us. When trials come we no longer pray timid, faithless prayers. “God, if you’re powerful enough, could you get me out of this mess?” Instead we pray, “God, thank you that you’re more powerful than this thing I’m going through. Please give me strength to get through it and let it be a testimony to others on the other side.” Hear the difference? Let us keep the faith we had in the beginning as we wait for our long-sought-after answers. Faith is more than an emotion, it is “reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1

Response
Today, pray as often as you think about that thing you're really hoping for breakthrough in.  
Pray: Lord, I confess that I sometimes have a drifting faith. Give me this faith that can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Thank you for drawing me to yourself continually. I choose to listen to your Word above all other voices. And I commit to You above all the things of this world.

Opening Prayer
God, what amazing things you have done for me! Thank you for my family, my home, my church, my friends. Thank you for the food on my table and the things that I have. You have given me far more than I could have ever thought to ask for. Thank you for being a giving God.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Devotion
Did you know that Jesus prayed at regular times each and every day? It was common practice of the Jews of the time to pray in the morning, afternoon and evening. And Jewish rabbis would pray less formally much more often, by blessing the Lord constantly. Did you catch that? Their prayers were to constantly bless the Lord. Consider these examples: When they woke up in the morning they said, “Blessed is he who opens the eyes of the blind!” When they got dressed they would say, “Blessed is he who clothes the naked!” If you’re wondering how you can experience more joy in your life, consider praying prayers of blessing and thanksgiving throughout your day.

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

Response
For the next 24 hours let's pray like Jesus did. Set 4 alarms on your phone to remind you at specific times to pray. Then instead of praying for yourself, pray in a way to bless the Lord. Remember all of the things that He has given to you. Remember all the great things you have seen. Remember all of the times God has come through for you and just say thank you. Start by praying aloud this excerpt from Psalm 103.
"Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!" Psalm 103:1-5

Opening Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for the challenges that I face everyday. I know that you are using them to refine and equip me. Teach me to be more attentive to the things you are calling on me to do. You are worthy of my discomfort to serve you better. Amen.

Devotion
Have you ever worked hard to get in shape for an athletic event or a wedding? The point was to work your body into the best shape possible before the big day. You were willing to forgo that donut in favor of nutritious, healthy food. You added an extra workout instead of binge watching Netflix. You set aside time to rest so your body would be ready for the next workout. You were committed and calculated and fought through the pain because you knew the end result would be worth it!
Our life is like a race, but we don’t compete against other people or against the size of that wedding dress. Our fight is against “evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 There’s no physical exercise that can get us ready for this fight - it’s all about spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting. We commit to regular practice in these things so that we can stand up to the devil when he comes knocking.
“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Let’s be like Paul and train our spirits in godliness so that we can endure temptation.

“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.” 1 Peter 4:7

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18

Response
Pray: Lord, I recognize my need to be disciplined in prayer. So for the remainder of these 30 days of prayer I commit to pray for ___ minutes per day. I ask that You will help keep me from distractions and from any unclean spirit that would try to stop me from praying. I look to You for my help and my growth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord, I know there will be a day that you ask more of me. Please let today be that day. I want to be used by you to do something, so ask it of me, and let me trust the season of preparation you have brought me through. Amen.

Devotion
Matthew 25
Jesus himself told us to always be ready for the big day of his return when he gave us the parables in Matthew 25. The first is about the 10 bridesmaids, 5 of which were wise and 5 were foolish. The wise ones brought enough oil for their lamps so as to be ready for the bridegroom’s return. But the foolish bridesmaids ran out of oil and had to go searching for it in the market and missed his return. The second story is about the servants to whom the master gave bags of silver. Two invested the silver and earned more for their master. But one hid the money and lost everything. The silver that he had was given to the ones who invested it.
Let us be like the wise bridesmaids and the faithful servants, may we be vigilant in our pursuit of God and in the ways we manage our Christian walk. Our spirits are looking forward to the day when Christ returns, so let us be found ready!

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1-3

Response
Today as you pray, remember we are preparing ourselves for the day Christ returns. Am I ready? Is my heart aligned with God's heart and are my ambitions connected to his will for my life? Is there oil in my lamp?
Pray: God, I look forward to the day of your return.  And I realize there is some growing and discipleship that needs to happen in me while I wait. I devote my whole life to you, God. Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord God, I thank you that our words carry power. I am sorry for the times I’ve used my words to break someone down, or break myself down. Show me how to use my words to bring life to myself and those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotion
“The tongue can bring death or life.” Proverbs 18:21a

Did you know that your words have the power to direct your life? The Apostle James says a lot about the power of our tongues. Here is just part of what he says:

“Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way…Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” James 3:2,9-12

It can be a tough thing to reign in our tongues, but submitting ourselves humbly before God in everything is the key to doing so successfully. We do this by practicing speaking truth from the Bible in our prayer and worship. By confessing our sin with our mouths, and thanking God for his forgiveness.

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Response
Consider what life-giving words you can speak:
To God: ______________
To yourself: ______________
To others: _________________
If you catch yourself today getting caught up in negativity or talking bad about someone, take care of it right away. Stop and pray this prayer, with words from Psalm 51:10-12: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Help me to speak life over myself and others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord God, please open up my mind and heart to receive your words through the Bible, and show me how to pray the words of the Bible as I apply them to my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotion
Sometimes our own words feel insufficient when we go to prayer. And while God desires we come to him like a little child, he also has given us a guidebook so we can grow from spiritual “milk” into full meals. It’s a both/and sorta thing. We come before him humbly as his children AND we grow in the knowledge and fullness of Christ.

“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians 4:13-15

Response
Open up your Bible to the Psalms and read one of them out loud to the Lord as a prayer. Try Psalm 24 or 118. Recognize the truth that you’re speaking aloud to God, and that by doing so you’re joining 2000 years of Christians who have done the same thing and found peace, comfort and joy in it.

Opening Prayer
Lord, let my prayers to you be authentic. Here is how I’m really feeling today ____________. Here is what I really want to tell you ____________. And this is what I’m trusting you in ___________.

Devotion
A man kneels by his bedside. He is calm, tastefully eloquent yet dry and mechanical as he prays to God for this and that. His ritual done, he gets up and moves on with his day.
Many of us think of prayer this way, as a ritual that good people do. Something to check off the list that makes us a “good” Christian. But prayer in the Bible is so vast, varied, and raw. Consider Psalm 31:13-16 and Psalm 9:1-2. It’s prayers like these, of hearts reaching out for God’s Spirit with authenticity, that touch the heart of God and change us on the inside.

“I have heard the many rumors about me,
    and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
    plotting to take my life.
But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me.” Psalm 31:13-16

Response
Consider these words of the prophet Ezekiel:
“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26
Pray: Lord, let prayer not be just a ritual for me. I want to have a heart to spend time in conversation with You. Trade out my heart of stone for a heart of flesh and speak to me as I listen for Your voice. Amen.

Opening Prayer
God, thank you for the gift of prayer! And thank you want an authentic relationship with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotion
Matthew 6:5-6 Jesus tells us to pray in a private place, not loudly in public so that people will applaud our spirituality. This is an important attitude to carry, that our prayers are not to be an opportunity to bolster our pride and selfish ambition. Jesus isn’t saying never to pray in public, for He often prayed in front of others. What He is saying is that our attitude needs to be one of submission to God, rather than to impress others. This other way that the Pharisees prayed, this concern for what people think above what God thinks, is a form of idolatry that gets in the way of truly connecting with God.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6

Response
It has long been a tradition for Christians to create a “prayer closet,” a private space in one’s home dedicated to praying. Consider a place in your home that could be used for this, and use it to help your routine of prayer. Some ideas for good places: a quiet corner, the foot of a bed, an empty desk, or an actual closet.
Pray: Lord God, I call you ‘Lord’ today because I truly mean it. You are the One I give my reverence and praise to. I give you my life fully. Forgive me for the times when I’ve desired acceptance from people more than from You. Help me to live in such a way that at the end of my life You can say, “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord, show me how I can best live in harmony with other believers and pray for them well.

Devotion
In Matthew 18 Jesus speaks of how we are to correct one another in love. Then immediately after he says, “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Our unity as believers is powerful. Our willingness to confront sin lovingly, then gather to pray together for the same things is a powerful testimony - and it's this iron sharpening iron that invites the Spirit of God to dwell among us. And Jesus promises that our Father in heaven will do for us whatever we ask in this way.

“As iron sharpens iron,
    so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35

Response
Is there anyone in the church you feel like God is calling you to confront in love? Is there anything you can pray for together with another person? Find someone at church this morning to pray with, or pray together in your small group.
Pray: God, thank you for the Christians you’ve surrounded us with. Help us to live in unity within the body of Christ. We ask that you would keep our hearts soft toward our fellow believers, always loving, and confronting as needed with the goal of helping each other grow. Let no gossip, envy, or selfish ambition creep into our relationships. (James 3:13-18) May your Holy Spirit always dwell among us. Together we agree in prayer for ___________. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
God, today my heart is seeking _______.  Answer me, Lord, as I seek you for all that I need. Amen.

Devotion
Have you ever set aside a period of time to pray and fast for something? In today’s reading, the prophet Daniel had been praying and fasting for 21 days. His heart was heavy as he asked God to speak to him. Then an angel appeared to him…

“...he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.’” Daniel 10:12-13

The angel went on to explain to Daniel what was going to happen in the future, an answer to what Daniel had been asking God about.

We don’t understand all of what happens in the spiritual realm when we pray and fast - but it makes a difference! In this story we see that Daniel’s prayers to God invoked angels to move. Luke 4:1-2 tells of Jesus fasting for 40 days before he started his ministry. Some demons can only be cast out by prayer and fasting. (Mark 9:29) The apostles prayed and fasted before sending out missionaries (Acts 13:2-3).

Response
We encourage you to fast from something today. Maybe you’ll fast from lunch, social media, or TV. Take the time you would have spent eating or on screens and devote it to prayer and Bible study. See what God does!
Pray: Lord, thank you for answering our prayers. Speak to me today as I fast so that I can know you better. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord, thank you for making clear to us how we are to live through your Word. Thank you for my many blessings. Thank you for the ways I can share my blessings with others. Amen.

Devotion
When Jesus was asked,” What is the greatest commandment”? He didn’t hesitate to say:

“‘...you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

Have you spent much time thinking  about this commandment? The second is like the first. Love God, love your neighbor. How much do you know about your neighbor? Do you know what they love? Do you know the names of their children? When was the last time that you had a conversation with them? According to a Pew Research Center survey, around 57% of Americans say they know only some or none of their neighbors; only about a quarter (26%) report knowing most of their neighbors.

Response
Spend some time today praying for your neighbors. Consider how you can take action to show them love. Take an interest in who they are. Bake some cookies, rake a lawn, and put some scripture into action.
Pray: Jesus, help me to love my neighbors well - those who live around me and those I encounter throughout my day. Show me how I can show them your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord, today I want to lift up my friends and coworkers, so that they will have a desire to love you more. I pray for wisdom so I can discern what it is that they need prayer for and I ask for boldness to ask their permission to pray for them today. Amen.

Devotion
How can I pray for you? It’s one of the boldest things that everyone should ask as a Christian, and I want to challenge you today to take that risk. I have never had a great spiritual moment without a feeling of fear, but let me tell you of the rewards that come when you overcome the fear of asking someone the question. Why is it important? Firstly, it shows the person that you care about them. Secondly, they know that you have a faith that is bigger than Sunday morning. The third thing is, when they say yes you will get a thrill of excitement knowing that you have shared your faith. Lastly, it gives God something to work with. God can take that mustard seed of faith and turn it into a moment of life changing miraculous power. Simply because you asked if you can pray for someone. Are you ready to try it?

“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.” 1 Timothy 2:1


Response
Today, find a coworker, friend or family member that you don't normally talk with about spiritual things and ask them, “How can I pray for you?” Or maybe another way to start this conversation is, “Seems like we are both having rough mornings, I wanna try something.” Then pray out loud with them. You are going to have an amazing day full of God's miracles!
Pray: God, I pray for my friend _________, that you will help them with _________, and that they will have an amazing day. I pray In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
Father, We have so much to be thankful for. I thank you Lord that you appoint all positions of authority and I thank you God that you have put people in place to make hard decisions so that we don't have to. God, I pray that you will bless the people in positions of power, whether I agree with them or not. Bless the ones I don't like and the ones I do, that they will all love and follow you, Lord. Amen.

Devotion
There are few things in the world that divide us more than our political affiliations. Everywhere we find movies, television stations, and radio shows designed to infuriate us with people that we do not agree with politically. What does God say? Romans 13 tells us that God appoints all positions of authority and that we should respect them. I want to make sure that you understand we don't have to agree with them but we should respect them.
There is no better way than to pray for them. Today it takes a few minutes to pray for the leader of our country, Those in office and those running for office. Pray for the ones that you like and the ones you don't. Then I would encourage you to reach out to someone you love that is endorsing a candidate opposite of yours and let them know that you prayed for the candidate that they support.

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished…So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.” Romans 13:1-2,5

“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. 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. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4


Response
Today I want to encourage you to listen to the news differently. Don't listen to get upset; listen for reasons to pray. Sure we will get upset at times but instead of focusing on the anger, focus on the action. The only action that can make a difference is prayer. Pray that politicians would turn their hearts towards God. Pray that God would put a faith-filled believer in their path. Pray that they will be blessed.
Pray: God, thank you that you are the ultimate authority on this earth. Thank you for being so good! I pray for our government and world leaders. Touch them with your Spirit, show them your love, and teach them your way of doing things. Show me how I can love those, also, with whom I disagree. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Opening Prayer
Lord, thank you for choosing and appointing our local officials. I know that they have a hard job to do and I thank you for giving them the privilege of leading our communities. I ask that you will strengthen me today to pray for them. That they might make good, God-honoring decisions and lead our communities into safety and longevity.

Devotion
Our local officials have a lot of pressure on their plates. Whether or not we like the way that they are governing, we are called to pray for them. Overseeing our public safety, transportation, public health, schools and housing is just the start to all of the decisions our elected officials have to make on a daily basis. Take a moment today and pray for each of these offices. Governor, Lt governor, Secretary of State, Mayor, and City Council. It is easy to sit back and complain and it is difficult to take a moment and pray that they would make God-honoring decisions and that they would allow themselves to be prompted by the Holy Spirit.

“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

“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. 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. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4


Response
Today, remember to pray that God wants to speak to the officials that are making decisions and changes in our own community. Take a moment today and look up your representatives, pray for them. Then send them an email thanking them for serving your community.
Pray: Lord, I lift up these people to you: _____________. I pray you would guide them as they lead our community. Give them soft hearts toward you. Help them to make good decisions that make a positive impact. Guide them through any decisions they must make that may be unpopular and protect them and their families. In Jesus’ name, Amen.