How's Your Prayer Life?
Are you praying on a regular basis? Are you meeting Him and sharing your heart? Whether you are or you aren't, we all need help when it comes to a consistent and meaningful prayer life.
Prayer is one of the most important things a Christian can do. It is a time we are communicating with God, and while there is deep theological meaning in prayer, it doesn’t have to be something that is complicated or difficult. It’s something anyone can do anywhere at any time.
Prayer Guide
- Sunday, November 30th, First Sunday in Advent: Lord God, many of us feel so conflicted at the start of this season. We see the decorations and hear the music. We remember being excited for this time of year, and we laugh as we see the children in our lives being happy. But our hearts are a bundle of contradictions, Lord. Thank You that we do not have to fake it with You. Thank You for stepping into our chaos, and being Hope in the mess. Help us to keep our eyes on You each day, Amen.
- Monday, December 1st: Prayerfully read or listen to Isaiah 9:2-7. According to these verses, what is the situation for the people when the promised Messiah comes to them? How does this give understanding to you that a person’s darkness is exactly the place where the Hope of Christ can take root? Pray about those circumstances in your work, your family, or our church where you or someone you know might especially be struggling with despair and/or darkness today.
- Tuesday, December 2nd: Prayerfully read or listen to Psalm 42. What are you waiting for this week? Is there someone – or many people - in your life who are far from the Lord, and you have been praying (months or years) for them to return? Are you waiting for healing? Waiting for a job? To move? For the Lord to say, “go this way…?” How can this psalm speak to your soul? Take time to pray your most personal prayers of waiting by using this psalm, and let the Holy Spirit minister to you. Let the Hope of Christ be a balm to your heart, mind and spirit today.
- Wednesday, December 3rd: Advent is the beginning of the Church Year. It is also a season of Fasting but not like Lent, where we fast out of sorrow for our sins. During Advent, we fast out of anticipation. Have you ever been so excited over someone’s arrival that you could barely eat or concentrate? That is the sense behind fasting during Advent. Consider fasting during Advent for the sake of increasing your focus on Jesus’ TWO arrivals: His birth, and His return in glory!
- Thursday, December 4th: Prayerfully read or listen to Romans 8:18-27. This passage is rarely used as an Advent Scripture. Note that, in vv. 18-23, Paul points out that the entire creation is, frankly, a mess! Would there need to be a reason to hope if all was well? What point does Paul make about hope in vv. 24-25? What help are we given, so we aren’t left to do this by ourselves (see vv. 26-27)? With all of this in mind, how does this make sense to you when you look at circumstances in your own life?
- Friday, December 5th: Prayerfully read or listen to Revelation 22:1-7. Advent is about both of Jesus’ comings to earth: His first coming as a baby, and His second coming as King. It is appropriate at this time of year to look at passages in Scripture where Jesus is on the Throne, ruling and reigning in majesty. How do such passages encourage you to persevere in your day-to-day life? Why can such pictures and prophecies give us hope when we find life difficult?
- Saturday, December 6th: There is a distinction between Advent and Christmas. Advent is a season of waiting and reflection. It is about anticipating the coming of Jesus – both as a baby and his future arrival as King. Make sure you take time – build time into your schedule – and pay attention to the things the Lord is showing you day by day.
- Sunday, December 7th, Second Sunday in Advent: Lord God, we profess that Jesus is our Prince of Peace, but we come before You and confess that our lives don’t always reflect this. We trust Your Word, yet the peace that passes understanding seems so elusive at times. Come, Lord Jesus, and help us Holy Spirit. We know in the depths of our hearts that apart from You, we can do nothing, so we cry out to You, our coming King. Amen.
- Monday, December 8th: Prayerfully read or listen to Matthew 1:18, in the NIV if possible. Take a moment and consider Mary and Joseph and how they might have been going about their lives, planning for their wedding and life together. The NIV inserts the word “but…” Such a big word! Have you had a situation where all was going well in your world and then… “but” happened? Was it a phone call? A knock on the door? An email? Something at work? How did this “but” situation throw your life into complete upheaval and suddenly your peace was gone? What did you do? How does your situation help you understand Mary and Joseph?
- Tuesday, December 9th: Prayerfully read or listen to Matthew 1:18-21. When Joseph heard Mary’s story, he (understandably) struggled to believe it. He came up with a solution that seemed to work best, “but” the Lord had a better idea. How did the Lord’s plan speak to Joseph’s concerns? How did the Lord’s plan not resolve all of Joseph’s and Mary’s problems? How can we sometimes have the expectation that, if the Lord would just speak to us about our problems, it would “solve everything?”
- Wednesday, December 10th: Advent is the beginning of the Church Year. It is also a season of Fasting but not like Lent, where we fast out of sorrow for our sins. During Advent, we fast out of anticipation. Have you ever been so excited over someone’s arrival that you could barely eat or concentrate? That is the sense behind fasting during Advent. Consider fasting during Advent for the sake of increasing your focus on Jesus’ TWO arrivals: His birth, and His return in glory!
- Thursday, December 11th: Prayerfully read or listen to Matthew 2:13-15. Later on, after the birth of Jesus, Joseph had another dream. Do you think this dream gave Joseph confidence or concern? How do you think Joseph and Mary felt as they left for Egypt? Do we tend to assume that God’s words to us will make us feel peaceful, assured and comforted? When should the Word of God console us, and when should it disturb us? When should it give us peace, and when should it stir up our hearts and spirits? How can you ensure you are reading the Word of God in a way that is appropriate to your situation?
- Friday, December 12th: Prayerfully read or listen to Philippians 4:4-8. Carefully note everything Paul encourages the Philippians to do so that “the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (v.7).” How do you see these characteristics in your life? Do you see them growing stronger in your life? When have you seen the peace of Christ in your life? What would you tell someone who is struggling with anxiety or depression about the peace of Christ?
- Saturday, December 13th: There is a distinction between Advent and Christmas. Advent is a season of waiting and reflection. It is about anticipating the coming of Jesus – both as a baby and his future arrival as King. Make sure you take time – build time into your schedule – and pay attention to the things the Lord is showing you day by day.
