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 December 15th: Third Sunday in Advent: LORD Almighty, You indeed are the Mighty One, the One Who is powerful, and Who stretches out Your mighty arm on our behalf. You bring righteousness and justice to the earth. You have given us Your Law, which is holy, pure, and true. You have shown us what is good: to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with You. Help us to live in the light of Your Word in every way, through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
- Monday, December 16th: Prayerfully read or listen to Exodus 19. What is happening in this chapter? What HAD happened before this? What were the people to do? Note what “natural” events represent God’s presence to the people: if you were there, how would you feel and respond?
- Tuesday, December 17th: Prayerfully read or listen to Exodus 19:10-15. Look up the word “consecrate,” both in an English Dictionary, as well as the Hebrew definition if you are able. Are you “consecrated” to the Lord? Talk this over with the Lord in prayer, and wait for His answer.
- Wednesday, December 18th: 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 19th: Prayerfully read or listen to Exodus 20. How does the Lord begin the declaration of the Ten Commandments; what is the “why” of these Commandments, as stated in vv 1-2? If He was declaring them to you, what would He say (“I am the LORD your God, I __________________ you…”)? Read through each of the Commandments very carefully, and consider how the American Evangelical Church obeys or doesn’t obey them.
- Friday, December 20th: Prayerfully read or listen to Exodus 19-20 together, as one reading. This is a foundational event for the people of God, both Jews and Christians, right up to the present day. How do you respond to it?
- Saturday, December 21st: Pray through Psalm 19, especially v.7-14. Christians often (usually subconsciously) change the word “Law” for “Word,” and we think it refers to all of the Bible. But David was referring to the law: the Ten Commandments. Certainly, what David says is true of all of God’s Word, but it is important to note he is specifically referring to the Commandments. Do you have the same perspective that he had?
- Sunday December 22nd: Fourth Sunday in Advent: Oh Lord God, You have given us Jesus, the Branch Who springs forth from the stump of Jesse. He is the Signal to all peoples, and before Him the kings of the earth will pay homage. Lord, help us to bow before You each day, for You alone are worthy of it all. Amen.
- Monday, December 23rd: Prayerfully read or listen to Isaiah 11:1. From what you know of Israel’s history, how are Isaiah’s words in verse 1 encouraging to the God’s people at that time? Have you ever felt like the people of Israel might have felt then? See Jeremiah 29:11-13 for additional insight.
- Tuesday, December 24th -- Christmas Eve: Prayerfully read or listen to Isaiah 11:2-10. What response do these verses stir up in you? What insight do they give you about the person and character of Jesus? What do you learn about Him, and how is He different from the vast majority of people in our culture? If it is helpful, take some paper and in one column, write down the characteristics of Jesus listed in these verses, and in a second column, compare them to those in our society today. Give God thanks and praise that because Jesus came for us and you are in Him, you are a new creature and the old is gone, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17)!
- Wednesday, December 25th -- Christmas Day: Prayerfully read or listen to Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20.
- Thursday, December 26: Prayerfully read or listen to Isaiah 11:2-5, and Galatians 5:22-23. While these lists are different, since they are all of the Spirit, do you see them all as “fruit” of the Spirit? Why or why not?
- Friday, December 27th: Prayerfully read or listen to Isaiah 11:2-5. Of all the fruit/characteristics listed here, which one(s) do you personally feel is most needed in our day? Why? Which one(s) do you feel you personally need the most in the coming year? Pray about this with the Lord.
- Saturday, December 28th: Prayerfully read or listen to the entire chapter of 11. What promises do you read/hear from the Lord in this chapter? What do you anticipate is still to come? What can you take with you as you look forward into the coming year?
