Sunday: Prayers of Worship

“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9b, NKJV).

God is everywhere, watching, superintending, overseeing, governing everything in the highest interest of man, and carrying forward His plans and executing His purposes in creation and redemption. He is not an absentee God. …The wonders of God’s power are to be kept alive, made real and present, and repeated only by prayer.[1]

What better way to prepare for the Lord’s Day services than to fill our heart and mind beforehand with prayers of worship! For, if there is no worship, there is no change in the life. What is worship?[2]

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God: quickening of our conscience by His holiness—being renewed through the life and power of our endless lives in Christ; nourishment of mind by His truth; purification of imagination by His beauty; openness of our hearts by His love; submission of our wills to His purpose. All of this gathered together in adoration is the greatest of all expressions of which we are capable.

One clear way our Father in heaven invites our worship is by revealing Himself through His divine names and titles in His Word. And, one of the greatest insights into adoring the Lord Jesus Christ is in Revelation—a twenty-two chapter gold mine of real treasures as the LORD unveils Christ’s deity through more than sixty-seven names and titles. For, “All things have been handed over to [Jesus] by [his] Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father … [who] so loved the world, that he gave his only Son … in order that the world might be saved through him” (Matthew 11:27a; John 3:16a, 17b, ESV). Therefore, we should worship our heavenly Father often by adoring our Lord Jesus Christ through  His divine names and titles in Revelation such as:

• He is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, ruler over the kings of the earth, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Almighty, the First and the Last, the Son of Man, the living One!
• He is the One who was and is and is to be, the Lord God Almighty—Jesus, the Lamb, the Lord of lords and King of kings!
• He is the Faithful and True, the Word of God, Almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star, the Lord Jesus—our Lord Jesus!

What a joy and privilege it is to worship our great God!

• “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.Before the mountains were brought forth,Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:1-2).
• “O Lord, how manifold are Your works!In wisdom You have made them all.The earth is full of Your possessions—May the glory of the Lord endure forever;May the Lord rejoice in His works” (Psalm 104:24, 31).
• “O Lord, our Lord,How excellent is Your name in all the earth! … I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You;
  I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” (Psalms 8:9, 9:1-2).
• “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night … For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep” (Psalm 92:1-2, 4-5).
• “Let all the earth fear the Lord;Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. … Behold, the eye of the Lordis on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You” (Psalm 33:8, 18, 21-22).
• “The Lord lives!Blessed be [our] Rock! Let the God of [our] salvation be exalted. … Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of [His] holiness” (Psalms 18:46, 29:2).
• “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;Let Your glory be above all the earth. … For unto us a Child [was] born, Unto us a Son [was] given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. … [May] Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Psalm 57:5; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 6:10).

Suggested Hymn:  “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending“  (—Charles Wesley)

Lo! He comes with clouds descending, Once for favoured sinners slain;
Thousand, thousand, saints attending, Swell the triumph of His train;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him,  Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him, Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of His passion Still His dazzling body bears;
Cause of endless exultation To His ransomed worshipers;
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee, High on Thy eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory, Claim the kingdom for Thine own;
O, come quickly! O, come quickly! O, come quickly!
Everlasting God, come down!

“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”

“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
(Revelation 4:8b, 11; 5:12).

Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer—

We worship You,  oh mighty King, for there is none like You! It is truly extravagant of You to have taken us from the pit, out of the miry clay, to wash and robe us with Your righteousness; to set our feet upon the Rock; to give us a new name, and a personal intimate relationship with You—and to promise to us all the rights of being a joint heir with You, oh Jesus! We are overwhelmed with unspeakable gratitude! At the conclusion of Your Revelation, we pray that we will understand how You are truly pouring out Your grace, mercy, and love in abundance—our inheritance in Christ. And we thank You in advance for that! Bless us as we study [Your Word] this week; fill our hearts with the wonders of who You are, Lord Jesus. Then help us to choose to live in such a way that we, too, will reflect Your wonders. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.

[1] E. M. Bounds’  A Treasury of Prayer (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1961), pp. 190–191, as cited in Dr. John S. Barnett’s Appendix B of his excellent book The Joy of a Word Filled Family (Mullerhaus Publishing, Tulsa, OK, © 2004; Foreword by John MacArthur).  Used by permission.

[2] This initial introduction to worship plus the “Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer” at the end of each day’s theme are from Dr. Barnett’s Living Hope for the End of Days (Tulsa, OK, Discover the Book Ministries, © 2007; Foreword by John MacArthur). Used by permission. This extremely encouraging book of 365 daily devotions on Revelation is rated “5 stars” at Amazon.com and is available in Paperback, Unlimited Kindle, and other formats.

Monday: Prayers for Ministry

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, NKJV).

God requires to be represented by a fiery Church, or He is not in any proper sense, represented at all. … The great and eternal interests of heaven-born God-given religion are the only things about which His Church can afford to be on fire.[1]

Isaiah’s vision of our majestic, holy, and righteous God sitting on His throne, full of all His glory, instantly brought him to his knees with a sense of his total unworthiness. (Isaiah 6:1–8) His worship of the Most High God thus produced repentance, obedience, and finally ministry, as he cried out, “Here I am, Lord! Send me!” Though still very conscious of his sin, Isaiah was prepared to serve anywhere, anytime, anyhow, or anyway God directed because he was completely submitted to God’s will. Our own worship should likewise be focused on punctuating every moment with inward whisperings of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving for our Most High God. In response, may He grant us a “fiery Church” with Holy Spirit-prompted prayer ministries which inspire us all to:

• Come before God with reverence by remembering His holiness vs. our own sinful nature.
• Pray out of insufficiency since “… apart from [Jesus, we] can do nothing” (John 15:5).
• Pray pleading the Lord’s mercy because we don’t deserve
• Pray with confidence for “if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us [and] … we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14b, 15b).
• Pray in Jesus’ Name—our beloved Intercessor and Mediator!

Prayers for Ministries in General

Note:  Because the servants of God are on the front line of a spiritual battle for the souls of men, women, and children, they need our faithful prayer support! Also, don’t forget to pray regularly for your own ministry to others—and especially for your family.

Church Leadership (and All Authorities):

• [Heavenly Father, through the Holy Spirit may] “… supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
• Note: A “fiery church” prays compassionately for the lost—including the repentance and salvation of all rulers and authorities. Then, as religious freedoms are protected, holy living before God in everything can better represent the great and eternal interests of heaven-born God-given religion.

Pastors:

• [Lord God Almighty, may every pastor’s heart be devoted to praying much because] “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
• [And,] “… this is my prayer: that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,so that [they] may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV).
• “… Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, … grant … according to the riches of [Your] glory, … that Christ may dwell in [their] hearts through faith; that [they], being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that [they] may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).
• [Consequently, through fervent prayers, may every pastor be] “… determined not to know anything among [unbelievers] except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. …And [their] speech and … preaching … not [be] with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that [any resulting] faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:2, 4-5).

Missionaries:

• [O LORD, through the Holy Spirit’s power, may every missionary] “… be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, [and] fulfill [their] ministry [for Christ’s glory!]” (2 Timothy 4:5).
• [And, like Paul, may they] “… eagerly expect and hope that [they] will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in [their] body, whether by life or by death.For … to live is Christ and to die is gain”(Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).

Personal Ministry to Others:

• [Blessed Father, through] “… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [energize me to] … pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, [may I] be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:17b-18, NIV).
• “Moreover, … far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for [my unsaved family, friends, and neighbors]: but I will teach [them] the good and the right way. [As a result, may each of them be drawn to lovingly] … fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all [their] heart …” (1 Samuel 12:23-24a).

                   Suggested Hymn:      “Be Thou My Vision“   (—Ancient Irish hymn)

                                Whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (Phil. 3:7)

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art—
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son,
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.  Amen. 

Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Thank You,  dear Father, for our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ [who has so clearly expressed in His written Word] what those who will be good and faithful servants are doing during their earthly lives. How we long for Your approval! Do we have Your approval? If not, what can we do? How can we live? What can we invest our life’s breath in that will lead to Your saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”? That is what we long to be. We want to have Your spiritual ears today to hear what You have to say. We want to be doers of Your Word, . . . and not just hearers. To that end we commit ourselves and pray with expectancy for You to illumine our hearts and quicken our wills that we might have Your approval. In the lovely name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

[1] Ibid., E. M. Bounds, p. 133.

Tuesday: Prayers for Family Needs

“Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, NKJV).

Prayer goes by faith into the great fruit orchard of God’s exceeding great and precious promises, and with hand and heart picks the ripest and richest fruit. The promises, like electricity, may sparkle and dazzle, yet be impotent for good till these dynamic life-giving currents are chained by prayer, and are made the mighty forces which move and bless.[1]

We should regularly pray for family needs—whether its members are near or far. This may include physical needs, financial needs, spiritual needs, or specific personal needs. But when we approach God’s throne of grace, we need to do so in faith. For, “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

• [O LORD, thank You that] “Once I was young, and now I am old.Yet I have never seen the godly abandonedor their children begging for bread. [Therefore, we need] … not worry [about such things as] ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … For [our] heavenly Father knows that [we] need all these things. But [if we] seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, … all these things shall be added to [us]” (Psalm 37:25, NLT; Matthew 6:31-33; cf. Matthew 6:25-33).
• [For,] “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things … according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus[?]” (Romans 8:32; Philippians 4:19).
• [Consequently,] “…  if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And … whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. …  [And, if we] Delight [ourselves] also in the Lord, … He shall give [us] the desires  of [our] heart” (1 John 5:14-15a, 3:22; Psalm 37:4).
• [With that in mind, Abba,[2] Father, may we] “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let [our] requests be made known to [You, O] God; and [Your] peace …, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
• [As a result, whatever the circumstances, may the Spirit of truth lead our family to] “Trust
  … in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4, KJV).

      Suggested Hymn:  “Like a River Glorious“  (—Frances Ridley Havergal)

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest—
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest. 

Pray for Reality in Your Children’s Spiritual Lives[3]

By Saving Faith — “Open their eyes … turn them from darkness to light … from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins …” (Acts 26:18).

By Loving God’s Word — “I … have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

By Living Victoriously — “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free …”  (John 8:32, 36).

By Thinking of Heaven  — “… Seek those things which are above … Set your mind on things above” (Colossians 3:1-2).

By Hating Sin — “I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin” (Psalm 38:18).

By Staying Tender Toward God — “A broken and contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Father, our hope is in You. You are our refuge. Although You do not remove the difficulties of life, You just make it so much sweeter in those times when we flee to You [and trust You wholly]. For there in Your embrace we find hope and joy and peace and strength to go on—and to go back and [patiently] endure until You come or call. . . . It could even be that the days written in Your book for us end this week. We pray that we would therefore be those who live for You, Lord Jesus, a life  that is true and right. I pray that You,  Holy Spirit, will put Your finger into the hearts of each one of us and point out those untoppled idols, unforsaken sins, those unrestrained areas of flesh in our lives, and that we would say, “Lord, I don’t want to be found living, talking, acting, or doing that in my last moments when You come or call for me.”  I pray that we would make those choices while we’re thinking about getting ready to stand before You with all the redeemed, with all the angelic hosts, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.” We love You, Lord! Captivate our hearts we pray! In the name of Jesus. Amen.[4]

[1]  E. M. Bounds, pp. 178-179

[2] Abba. An informal, Aram. term for Father that conveys a sense of intimacy. Like the Eng. terms “Daddy” or “Papa,” it connotes tenderness, dependence, and a relationship free of fear or anxiety (Romans 8:15; cf. Mark 14:36 and Galatians 4:6). The MacArthur Study Bible, © 1997, Word Publishing, p. 1708.

[3] These prayers could be adapted for grandchildren or other family members.

[4] To ask in Jesus’ “name” doesn’t mean simply tacking such an expression onto the end of a prayer as a habit. Rather, as we come to the Father through Christ (John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23,24; Eph 5:20) with a reverential attitude, we do so with the Holy Spirit working within us, energizing us to pray. For, when we pray, we are praying “in the [Holy] Spirit” (Eph 6:18; Jude 20). Thus, it is a great privilege to come to our Father (Abba) as adopted children in the name of the Son and on the basis of his mediation for us (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6) for then our heavenly Father loves and actively cares for us in Jesus’ “name”—and His eternal glory!

Wednesday: Prayers for Forgiveness and/or Reconciliation

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, NKJV).

Men [and women] must walk in upright fashion in order to be able to pray well. … Praying takes its tone and vigor from the life of the man or the woman exercising it. When character and conduct are at a low ebb, praying can but barely live, much less thrive.[1]

Immediately following the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said that if we don’t forgive the trespasses of others, then our heavenly Father will not forgive us. (Matthew 6:14) Furthermore, God tells us that if we regard iniquity in our heart, He will not hear our prayers. (Psalm 66:18) While it’s true that sins should be confessed daily (1 John 1:9), we also need a regular quiet time of concentrated examination to insure that our walk is not slowly being tarnished by undetected “black spots.” Thus, keeping “clean accounts” with God and others is imperative if we are to live the Word-filled life.

• [O LORD, since] “He who covers his sins will not prosper,But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy[, please] … Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart” (Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 26:2).
• [Thank you, Merciful Father,  that You have] “… not dealt with [me] according to [my] sins,Nor punished [me] according to [my] iniquities. …  [For,]  As far as the east is from the west,So far [have You] removed [my] transgressions from [me]” (Psalm 103: 10, 12).
• “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5).
• [Therefore, may I never] “… grieve the Holy Spirit of God [by what I think, say, or do, but] …  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from [me], along with all malice.[Instead, may I]  Be kind, … tenderhearted, [and] forgiving … as God in Christ forgave [me]” (Ephesians 4:30-32, ESV).
• [With that in mind,] “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart [always] Be acceptable in Your sight,O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Suggested Hymn: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross“   (—Isaac Watts)

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my Lord;
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an off’ring far too small;
Love so amazing, so Divine, Demands my soul, my life, MY ALL. Amen.

Pray for Christ’s Love in Your Children’s Relationships[2]

By Cultivating Love for Others — “Beloved, let us love one another …” (1 John 4:7-8).

By Trusting God When Troubles Come — “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23a).

By Loving God’s Plan for Their Lives  — ” Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path …” (Psalm 27:11).

By Waiting for God’s Chosen Partner — “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14a).

Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Father, I pray that Your Spirit will touch our hearts with the reality that You own the universe and are sitting at the finish line. May we live this life acknowledging that You own “me and mine.” I pray that we would hold our unclenched hands toward You and say, “All I am, and all I have, I give to You.” Father, I pray that You, who inhabit our thoughts and hear our words before they are on our tongues, would have heard from Your people the most transforming word we could give You from our salvation onward—”We relinquish the care of all that we are and have so that we can be free to live and walk by faith as Your servants.” Lord, we want to be good stewards; help us to invest time in Your Word getting our marching orders. Help us to spend time talking to You to find out how You want us to manage our time, treasures, and talents. Help us to desire to do things that draw us to You, oh Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

[1] E. M. Bounds, p. 163

[2] These prayers could be adapted for grandchildren or other family members.

Thursday: Prayers for Victory

“And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13a, NKJV).

Prayer is a wonderful power placed by Almighty God in the hands of His saints, which may be used to accomplish great purposes and to achieve unusual results. [1]

In John 15:5, Jesus said that without Him, we can do nothing. It is only through abiding in Christ, and His Word, that we can have the power to be victorious in whatever we face. The key to unleashing prayers that God always answers is to have them flowing from a Word-filled life. If you daily put on the whole armor of God, He will give the power to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).

• [O LORD, please help me] “Watch and pray, lest [I] enter into temptation. [For] The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
• [If I somehow “enter into temptation,” through Your Spirit of truth remind that] “No temptation has overtaken [me] except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow [me] to be tempted beyond what [I am] able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that [I] may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
• [With that in mind, Father, may I learn to be] “… content in any and every situation … [because]  I can do all this through [Christ] who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV).
• [For that reason,] “… thanks be to [You, O] God who gives [me] the victory through [my] Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, [may I] be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that [my] labor is not in vain in the Lord … [because] Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (1 Corinthians 15:57–58; Psalm 119:105).

                        Suggested Hymn:  “How Firm a Foundation”
(Based on  2 Timothy 2:19; Isaiah 43:1-2; Hebrews 13:5)

How firm a foundation, you saints of the LORD,
Has been laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said—
Unto you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

And “When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply.
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes.
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!”

How firm a foundation, you saints of the LORD,
Has been laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
The promise of God to His children below:
“Do not fear, I am with you wherever you go!”

Pray for Integrity in Your Children’s Personal Lives[2] 

By Maintaining a Clear Conscience — “… Love from a pure heart, [from] a good conscience, and [from] sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).

By Learning to Stand Alone — “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself …” (Daniel 1:8a).

By Seeking to Stay Pure in Mind and Body — “… abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul …”  (1 Peter 2:11).

By Evidencing a Servant’s Heart — “Whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:44-45).

By Not Becoming Bitter in Trials — “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you …” (Ephesians 4:30-32).

Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Oh Lord, thank You that we have the precious privilege of having the greatest Bible teacher of all time living within us—the Author. By Your grace and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the anointing of  Your Holy Spirit.  … Therefore, as we study and ponder and consider Your Word, gently illumine and quiet our hearts to the truth of the response that You wish from us. For, in this conflict of the ages, in the swirling celestial battlefield that is amassed around Your children, we are the focal point of the dragon who seeks to disarm us from being able to walk in the power of Your Spirit through Your Word. I pray that we would say yes to You, oh God. May we resist the devil so he will flee from us, and may we see many turn from darkness to light around us. May our words of witness be effectual as Your Spirit wings into the heart of each one we speak to. I pray that we will learn about the victory of Jesus and be confident that we are more than conquerors through Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.

[1] E. M. Bounds, p. 179.

[2] These prayers may also be applicable for grandchildren or other family members.

Friday: Prayers of Reflection

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom . . .” (Matthew 6:13b, NKJV).

Humility is an indispensable requisite of true prayer. It must be an attribute, a characteristic of prayer. Humility must be in the praying character as light is in the sun. As a ship is made for the sea, so prayer is made for humility, and so humility is made for prayer.[1]

The word “kingdom” in Matthew 6:9–13 refers to both the future (v. 10) and the present Kingdom of God (v. 13). In Luke 17:21, Christ tells us that presently the kingdom of God is within believer’s hearts. In other words, wherever the sovereign King of kings is, there is a kingdom, and He is to have complete rule over us. Friday’s prayer theme therefore places an emphasis upon examining whether or not we are giving Him first place in our lives. In other words, have you demonstrated vitality in your eternal life this past week so that you can lead your family to do the same?

• [O LORD, You] “… search the heart, [and] test the mind,Even to give every man according to his ways,According to the fruit of his doings. … [Therefore,] Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me, and know my anxieties;And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Jeremiah 17:10; Psalm 139:23-24).
• [Lord God Almighty, because pride competes with You for control and glory,] “A man’s pride will bring him low,But the humble in spirit will retain honor. [For that reason, help me] “… be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Proverbs 29:23, 16:19).
• [With that in mind, may the Holy Spirit energize my eternal life to be an example of how to] “… be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble’ ” (1 Peter 5:5b).

Suggested Hymn:  “Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated“  (—Frances R. Havergal)

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever, only, all for Thee. Ever, only, all for Thee.

Pray Your Children Will Live for Heaven[2]

 By Choosing a Life of Contentment — “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11-13).

By Choosing a Life of Consecration — “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

By Choosing a Life of Commitment — “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

By Giving Their Life Back to God —  “… But present yourselves to God as a living sacrifice …” (Romans 6:13b; 12:1-2).

Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Dear Heavenly Father, bless us with Your enlightening power by [opening] our eyes to behold wonderful truths from Your Word! May the humility of Christ, the insights of Your Spirit, and Your blessed plan be present in our lives. As we increase in knowledge, may we not become puffed up with pride, but rather humbly receive Your engrafted Word that we may grow in Christ-likeness. We pray that in Jesus’ name and love we will also go out to reach the world around us—the world that is dying without the hope of the Savior. Help us to be constantly ready to step heavenward, and to know less of this world as our home and be more expectant of heaven! We pray all this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

[1] E. M. Bounds, p. 148.

[2] These prayers may also be applicable for grandchildren or other family members.

Saturday: Prayers of Praise and Preparation for Sunday

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13c, NKJV).

Prayer puts God’s work in His hands, and keeps it there. It looks to Him constantly and depends on Him implicitly to further His own cause. Prayer is but faith resting in, acting with, and leaning on and obeying God. This is why God loves it so well, why He puts all power into its hands, and why He so highly esteems men [and women] of prayer.  … And, giving thanks is the very life of prayer. It is its fragrance and music, its poetry and its crown. Prayer is bringing the desired down so it breaks out into praise and thanksgiving.[1]

To prepare for the Lord’s Day services, make sure you’ve asked God to search your mind and heart to reveal if there is anything displeasing in you (Psalm 26:2). Then, to experience the Lord’s presence more fully, ask Him to fill your mind and heart with praise, for God says that He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

• [O, Abba, Father, it is such a precious privilege to worship and] “Praise the Lord!For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful” (Psalm 147:1).
• [Therefore, may I determinedly] “Rejoice in the Lord … For praise from the upright is beautiful. For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:1, 4-5).
• [For that reason,] “I will bless the Lord at all times;His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:1-3).
• “Oh, [may every child of God continually] give thanks to the Lord!Call upon His name;Make known His deeds among the peoples!Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;Talk of all His wondrous works!Glory in His holy name;Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!Seek the Lord and His strength;Seek His face evermore!Remember His marvelous works which He has done,His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth” (Psalm 105:1-5).
• [With that constantly on my mind,] “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.I will be glad and rejoice in you;I will sing the praises of your name [forever], O Most High[!]” (Psalm 9:1–2, NIV).
• [For,] “You, God, are my God,earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you,my whole being longs for you, … Because your love is better than life,my lips will glorify you.I will praise you as long as I live,and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;with singing lips my mouth will praise you” (Psalm 63:1a-b, 3–5, NIV).
• “For by grace [I] have been saved through faith, and that not of [myself]; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  … [And] I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate [me] from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus [my] Lord. … Thanks be to [You, oh] God for [Your] indescribable gift—[Jesus Christ!]” (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 8:38–39; 2 Corinthians 9:15).

Suggested Hymn:   “Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting”  (—Jean S. Pigott)

Jesus! I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For, by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Oh, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea:
Oh, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Refrain:
Jesus! I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Refrain: (Repeated 2x)

Jesus! I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

Jesus! I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

Today’s Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Oh Lord God, our Father, Creator, and builder of that glorious home You are preparing for us, we love You! Thank You that You are going to make all things new so that we need not despair about our bodies getting old or our world decaying. Nothing is enduring here because our pilgrimage is heading us to the Celestial City, to a building not made with hands, to a place that has foundations that shall never be moved. We praise You, Lord Jesus,  for purchasing our place of abode forever with Your own blood! We pray that by Your grace we will enjoy discovering more of the wonders of heaven—the mansions of Jesus  to which we are headed, and where we long to be. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. As we wait, may we not be shamed before You when You come. Thank You for what great things You will do in our lives today [and throughout eternity] as we bow before You. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.  

 Special Note: Because reverent meditations on the nature of God can bring an even deeper sense of intimacy into your prayer life, may the Holy Spirit lead you to download a free copy of “What Is God Like?”—a compilation of excerpts from A. W. Tozer’s beloved classic, The Knowledge of the Holy, related Scriptures, additional comments on the nature of God, and seven worshipful hymns.  If you are among those for whom Tozer wrote—”plain persons whose hearts stir them up to seek after God Himself”—you will be mightily blessed through “What Is God Like?” which is available at  https://oakpca.org/what-is-god-like/

[1] E. M. Bounds, pp. 159 and 151.

Download a PDF copy of Lord’s Prayer Journal Written by Doreen Claggett