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 9th: LORD God, You are gracious and merciful. You are slow to anger and abounding in love towards all You have made. You show Your goodness towards all living creatures, and Your mercies are over all Your works. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures forever. Great is Your Name! (from Ps. 145:8-9, 13, NASB)
- Monday, November10th: Prayerfully read or listen to Psalm 145, in at least a couple of translations. How does absorbing this psalm in different versions help you? Does a particular word or phrase stand out to you? What attributes of the Lord are particularly highlighted? What is required of the person speaking/singing/writing the psalm, and how can you come into agreement with these things?
- Tuesday, November 11th: Prayerfully read or listen to Psalm 145:1-7. Note v. 1 and 5 speak of God as a King (v.1) and refers to His majesty (v. 5). As Americans, we are adamant that we do not have a monarch, yet as believers, we absolutely live in a monarchy! What does it mean to call God, “King?” What does it mean to refer to “the splendor of His majesty?” How does He rule as King in your life?
- Wednesday, November 12th: Prayerfully read or listen to Psalm 145:2. This verse specifically says that “Every day I will praise You.” This is a very specific statement. Is this something you live up to? Why or why not? What are ways you can do this? What might keep you from doing this? With the new year coming soon (either with the beginning of Advent or January 1), is this something you might consider as a resolution for yourself?
- Thursday, November 13th: Prayerfully read or listen to Psalm 145:3-5a. This passage says that the Lord is most worthy of praise, and then goes on to say that “one generation commends Your works to another…they speak of Your glorious splendor…” How do you commend God’s works to the next generation? How do you help to ensure that children and young people know that He is most worthy of praise? Besides telling children in your own family, do you tell other children too? How do you do this?
- Friday, November 14th: Prayerfully read or listen to Psalm 145:5b speaks of “meditating on God’s wonderful works.” How do you practice meditating on the Lord’s works? Scriptural meditation is a Christ-centered, Christ-honoring way of drawing closer to the Lord, and is a form of prayer. Has this become a part of your prayer practice? How often do you practice meditating on the Lord’s works, on His Word, on listening in silence? Consider beginning with 3-5 minutes of silent meditation today!
- Saturday, November 15th: Review each of these Scriptures, topics, and questions that you have worked through this week. How does all of this resonate with you? Pray through these things as the Spirit leads you.
- Sunday, November 16th: Lord God, You are worthy of all praise, glory, and adoration! You are a good God, and a loving King. You can only do good towards Your people. Even when we cannot understand what is happening, or why evil increases, You are always good. Help us to keep our eyes on You, and to stand firm in our trust of You, no matter the chaos that swirls around us. For Your glory, others’ gain, and our good we pray these things, Amen.
- Monday, November17th: Prayerfully read or listen to Proverbs 3:5-6 with the following verses: Psalm 37:3-5, 62:8; Isaiah 26:3-4; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Matthew 6:25-34; John 14:1; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7. How do these various passages support what the verses in Proverbs state? If you can, create a spreadsheet (either in a journal, your computer, or handwritten on a page of paper) and note what each passage says about trusting in God. Refer to it throughout the week.
- Tuesday, November 18th: Prayerfully read or listen to Proverbs 3:5a. The Hebrew word for “trust” means “to trust, be confident, or sure; it expresses the feeling of safety and security that is felt when one can rely on someone…” Would you describe your feeling of “trusting God” in this way? Do you “feel safe and secure” with Him? Are you confident and sure of Him “with all your heart?” For example – do you trust Him with your salvation, and do you trust Him (are you sure of, confident with, fully safe and secure) with the lives of your children and/or loved ones? If there are any “sticking points” where you can sense that your trust in God is not where you want it to be, take time today and pray with Him about it.
- Wednesday, November 19th: Prayerfully read or listen to Proverbs 3:5b. What do you think it means to “lean not on your own understanding?” Have you had a time in your life when the Lord very specifically told you to do something, but it was not necessarily the “right” or “normal” thing to do according to the culture or what your friends or family would tell you to do? What are some things we are called to do as Believers that the culture of our day tells us to do differently? Are you following Scripture or are you following the culture?
- Thursday, November 20th: Prayerfully read or listen to Proverbs 3:6a. There is a 3-letter word in the first phrase. What is it? What does it mean? How encompassing to your life is it? In the Hebrew, this word means “altogether, any, enough, every, whatsoever, the whole, as many as…” Frankly, this word doesn’t leave anything out. There are no loopholes here. Every single portion of your life is to acknowledge (ESV, NASB, NKJV) the Lord/be submitted to Him (NIV). Take time and pray about and journal through this. What aspects of your life are fully submitted to Him, and in what areas of do you still need to bring under His Lordship? Let the light of His Holy Spirit and His presence be with you during this time of prayer!
- Friday, November 21st: Prayerfully read or listen to Proverbs 3:6b. What is the strong promise given in this part of the verse? When have you seen the Lord prove Himself to you like this? Are you in a season of waiting to see your paths made straight? What can you take away from this week’s lessons, readings, and times of prayer?
- Saturday, November 22nd: Review each of these Scriptures, topics, and questions that you have worked through this week. How does all of this resonate with you? Pray through these things as the Spirit leads you!
