Posts Tagged prayer of repentance

Days 8/ 9 of 40 Day Prayer Journey Seeking to Rise Spiritually

Greetings! I am excited about this 40 Day Prayer Journey. This is the 8th day of Lent on this 40 Day Prayer Journey. The Lenten Season (March 1 to April 9, 2017) is a time of repentance, self-examination, fasting and prayer in preparation for Resurrection Sunday (Easter). You may see the prior posts. Hopefully each of you will join me in this 40 Day Prayer Journey. Step into this forty (40) day prayer journey and adventure of seeking the Lord daily, examining our selves , repenting and praying toward the desires and promises of God to enable us to grow in our spiritual walk. Below are Days 8 and 9.

United prayer can bring powerful results. Pray with purpose, biblical promise and passion. Let’s all continue with one accord in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14a) during this Lenten season.

Love and pray fervently,
Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader of Pray, Act &Write

What follows is a suggested format for the journey. You may need to modify it to fit your schedule or medical restrictions. You are encouraged to use a journal or notebook to write your reflections, what the Lord is speaking to you, your prayers and/or prayer requests.

During the Forty Day Prayer Journey it is suggested that you:
1. Fast at least one day per week preferably Wednesday (see information on fasting included in this packet). Alternatively, you can fast a food or activity the entire Lenten season.

  1. Select a Prayer Partner or three(Triplet) to pray together at least once a week as you determine for your schedule.
    3. Daily pray the intercessory daily prayer focus and prayer points for that date. Read the Bible and the scriptures.
    4. Read the scriptures listed in the daily prayer focus. Answer the questions in your journal if there are any for that day and write down your reflections. Meditate on the Word each day.
    5. Make an entry in your journal each day or as led by the Holy Spirit. Make sure you the complete the “Something to Act On” exercise section where it appears from time to time in the daily prayer focus.
    .

40 Day Prayer Journey

DAY 8 – March 8 Love the Lord With All Your Heart

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Matthew 22: 34-40

Repent: Of not loving God with all your heart, soul and mind; of allowing other things to fill and occupy your life.

Pray:
• Ask God to search your heart and to reveal to you any sin for which you need to seek forgiveness.
• Intercede for your church and the churches in our community to be filled with fresh love for God and to demonstrate the love to others.
• Pray that the love of Christ will compel believers everywhere to share the gospel with others in love.
• Ask God to give you clarity about your purpose.
• Pray for a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer and to help you pray consistently.
• Pray for Youth – Psalm 144:12 – that they will commit themselves to Christ; for moral strength to choose wisely; for older mentors; for friendships with those who are following Jesus, for good relationships and open communication with parents.

Something to Act On: Write down all the ways you can that show the Lord that you love Him with all your heart.

DAY 9 – March 9 Seek the Lord With All Our Heart

Scriptures: Deut. 4:39-40; Heb. 11:6

Repent: Of not consistently seeking after the Lord to know Him, His ways, and His will. Repent of seeking after the ways and approval of man.

Pray:
• Ask God to search your heart and to reveal to you any sin for which you need to seek forgiveness.
• Intercede for family members, friends and neighbors that they may began to seek to know God and have a desire to walk and talk with Him.
• Pray for a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer and to help you pray consistently.
• Pray for Families Gen. 28:14 – For God centered relationships among family members; for families broken by divorce to be healed; that Christ’s forgiveness would occur among family members; that parents will teach their children in God’s ways of living and that families would pray together.
• Pray for the community and our city to turn from wicked ways and to seek the Lord
• Pray for those who are unemployed and those burdened by debt.

Something to Act On: Write down what you want to lay aside and to stop doing. Now write what spiritual things you want to rise toward thinking and walking in to please God and to be more like Jesus.

Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader ldfaygo@gmail.com

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Day 2 and 3 of the 40 Day Prayer of Lent

 

As mentioned yesterday on Day 1 of Lent, pursuing God during the Lenten Season in a 40 Day Prayer Journey by Grace for Life Transformation involves fasting and praying and a word we don’t like “repentance. It is His design for healing and restoration, so we cannot view it as optional during this journey.  See Day 1 Repentance and the Lenten Season to see what repentance means. https://ladyofprayer.com/repentance-os/  . I shared that repentance means to change your mind and to be determined not to do the sin again. It means to turn and walk the other way from sinful acts and thoughts. Even if it’s uncomfortable, even painful, if we are honest, continue to take the time to reflect and examine our lives and see how we measure up to His standard of repentance. You may even need to just meditate on and review the scriptures from yesterday posted in the above article.

“Now turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm…”Joel 2:12-14 NKJV

Did you write your prayer of repentance yesterday? Did you take time to be honest before the Lord about your life, your relationship with God through Jesus Christ and your prayer life? Did you confess your sin and ask him to forgive you?

Ask Him to teach you to pray. Ask God to give you strength and discipline to increase your prayer life, to deepen your relationship and friendship with God to enable you to rise in the spiritual things of God. Sit still before the Lord and listen. Let the Lord know you are listening and you are sincerely seeking His face. Psalm 42: 1-2.

Meditate on these scriptures for Day 2 and Day 3 of  the 40 Day Prayer Journey until Resurrection Sunday.

DAY 2- February 11th – Repenting For A Renewed Relationship With God
Scriptures: Job 42:1-6; Isaiah 58:1-6 2 Chronicles 7:12-16; Hebrews 11:6

Repent: Of __________________________________________.
Meditate, pray, and write down areas for which you should repent.

Reflect: On repentance, what you want to release in your life and on what steps you need to take to improve your prayer life and to deepen your relationship with God.

Pray:
• Pray that the message of repentance will penetrate your heart and the members of your church, your community and the world.
• Pray that leaders will walk in true humility and a deep reverence for the Lord.
• Pray for MEN – Pray that men will seek God and honor Him with an integrity that unites their lives in faithfulness, wisdom, and truth; that their vision of masculinity would be a Christ-like servant leadership in the family, church and world.
• Pray for God to strengthen your prayer life and deepen your relationship with Him.
• Pray for the President of the United States, President Obama and his family.
Pray what the Holy Spirit leads you to pray.

DAY 3 – March 3 – Seeking the Lord with a Clean Heart
Scriptures: Deut. 4:39-40; 2 Chron. 7:12-16 ;Heb. 11:6 ;Psalm 66: 18-19 ;Mark 11: 25-26

Repent: Of not consistently seeking after the Lord to know Him, His ways, and His will. Repent of seeking after the ways and approval of man.
Repent: Of failing to forgive another and holding malice in your heart. Or repent if you know that you have offended or hurt someone.

Reflect: Is there any area in your life about which you need to release bitterness, or have refused to forgive someone or sinful areas which you need to release.
Receive: Forgiveness and ask for a sincere and diligent heart to know the Lord, to see His face and to walk like Jesus.
Pray:
• Ask God to search your heart and to reveal to you any sin for which you need to seek forgiveness.
• For a deeper prayer relationship with Christ through prayer.
• Pray for your enemies and ask God to release you from any unforgiveness.
• Confess any sin that the Spirit brings to your attention.
• Forgive and pray for those who have offended you and hurt you
• Thank God for His mercy and grace through repentance.
• Ask God to give you a fresh understanding of His character and His holiness.
• Intercede for family members, friends and neighbors that they may began to seek to know God and have a desire to walk and talk with Him.
• Pray for the community and your city to turn from wicked ways and to seek the Lord.
• Pray for those who are unemployed and those burdened by debt.
.

By Linda, The Prayer Leader

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Repentance and the Lenten Season

Charles Spurgeon wrote:
Repentance is a discovery of the evil of sin, a mourning that we have committed it, a resolution to forsake it. It is, in fact, a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what once he hated, and hate what once he loved

The Lenten Season (March 1 to April 9) is a time of repentance, self-examination, fasting and prayer in preparation for Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Renewing your sense of who you really are before God is the core of the Lenten experience and repenting of your sins. Today seek God with a repentant heart (See Joel 2: 12-24) and honestly search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). As you pray through the 40 Days of Prayer Journey allow the Lord to examine your life thoroughly. Join us this month.

Resist the tendency to deny the need to repent and be cleansed of the Lord. Be transparent with the Lord. God offers so many wonderful results of repentance, including healing, restoring, freedom, joy and reconciliation. In Acts 3:19 the call to repentance brings hope and renewal: “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

Despite the benefits of repentance, we are resistant to the thought of repentance. Repentance isn’t a popular word. Our culture encourages us to do whatever we want when we want and does not encourage repenting. TV, music videos and movies very rarely show the consequences of our sins.

It is one thing to know that you have done something that is wrong. But it is another to be saddened and sorrowful about your actions and determine that you will turn away from that sin and never do the act again. To repent, “I” or “we” must come to terms with and acknowledge that we have sinned and then turn away from such sinful behavior and be reconciled back to our loving Lord. Therefore, repentance is a change of mind that involves both a turning from sin and turning to God. Christ began his ministry with a call to repentance. (Mathew. 4:17).

We must examine every attitude, every motive, every action and ever word of evil. Repentance means that you are deeply godly sorrowful and hurt about what you have done unto the Lord and that you are determined to do all that you can not to commit that sin again. “Repentance means we are sorry about our sin to the point of grief, and we have turned and walked away from it”. Stormie Omartian, “The Power of a Praying Woman” p. 40, Harvest House Publishers, (2002).

Before we can truly repent we must admit our sins and tell them to God. Confession means we recognize we have done wrong and admit it. We cannot hide from God no matter how we try. God knows what “I” have done and wants “me and you” to know and admit in detail what “I” have done. If we do not confess our sins one consequence is that our prayer life will suffer as God will not hear our prayers if we have iniquity in our hearts (Psalm 66:18).

God offers many wonderful results of repentance, including healing, restoring, freedom, joy and reconciliation. In Acts 3:19 the call to repentance invites you to “repent, then turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

Here is an example of a prayer of repentance to help you get started in initiating self-examination , prayer and a spirit of repentance.

Prayer of Repentance

Lord, I come humbly before You and ask you to cleanse my heart of my every sin. “Have mercy on me O, Lord according to your loving kindness and blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity and cleanse me of all of my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2) Lord create in me a clean heart. Please Lord renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10-11). Forgive me for thoughts I have had, words I have spoken and things that I have done that are not pleasing in your sight and do not glorify you. Father, forgive me I pray for my sins of_______(state them)________________________. I confess it is a sin and truly repent of these acts, words and thoughts. ( 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5 Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 51:6, 10). Lord search the inwards hidden places of my heart and reveal my sin to me that I may not sin. (Psalm 139: 23-24). I seek to repent of everything that You show me Lord. I confess my sins to you in the full realization that you are faithful and just to forgive me of all my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.( 1John 1:9) I know that my sins are against You and You only. Grant me a broken, willing spirit and a contrite heart so I can offer it to You (Psalm 51:1-4, Psalm. 51:12, Psalm 51:17).

Thank you Father in the name of Jesus

So that you can begin the process of self-examination through prayer, confession, and study of the Word that leads to repentance the following action steps are suggested:

Action Steps:
1. During the Lenten season I want to encourage you to join this or a 40 day Prayer Journey even if you are beginning at day 7 or whatever day. Just begin where you are. Determine to spend quality time with the Lover(God) of your soul every day. Decide to start out with half an hour and increase it slowly. Be diligent, consistent and be faithful. We can never grow or develop an intimate relationship with God unless we spend quality time with Him.
2. Confess any sin you may be guilty of against man and God. Ask God to search you and reveal any unconfessed sin to you daily.
3. Say or write a prayer of repentance out of your heart. Above is an example of a prayer of repentance. Your prayer need not be perfect, but sincere, sorrowful and heartfelt.
4. Have a journal. God has so much to speak into your life. It may not happen overnight if you haven’t been praying on a consistent basis. But remember He is right there. Don’t give up.
5. Leave a prayer request or comment.

Linda Fegins, “The Prayer Leader” has served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years( later Director over the Prayer Ministry) for the Lydia Circle Christian Business and Professional Women. As part of the Lydia Circle she has lead over several prayer boot camps, and has lead prayer services and workshops in the Bahamas and in South Africa. Linda served on the prayer team of a medical missions trips to Jamaica under the leadership of  Pastor Jackie McCullough. She is also a member of the National Church Prayer Leaders Network and serves as the Prayer Leader of the Intercessory Prayer Team of her church. Currently the Prayer Leader Linda also serve  as an intercessor/ teacher/trainor with Global Force Prayer Missions on the Live@5AM Prayer call and as a volunteer/intercessor with Girlfriends Pray Ministry

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Day 2 Prayer Journey :Repentance For A Renewed Relationship With God

repent conditionimages

repentance images

Yesterday ( See Day 1 Feb.10 and the opening letter blog post)I shared that repentance means to change your mind and to be determined not to do the sin again. It means to turn and walk the other way and that you are sorrowful about your sin to the point of grief. Ask God to open your eyes, ears and heart to feel real sadness and sorrow about your sin and to turn your heart and mind to repent. Thank Him for the gift of repentance.

“Now turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning.So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness;And He relents from doing harm…”Joel 2:12-14 NKJV

Did you write your prayer of repentance yesterday? Did you take time to be honest before the Lord about your life , your relationship with God through Jesus Christ and your prayer life? Did you confess your sin and ask him to forgive you?

Ask Him to teach you to pray. Ask God to give you strength and discipline to increase your prayer life, to deepen your relationship and friendship with God to enable you to rise in the spiritual things of God. Sit still before the Lord and listen. Let the Lord know you are listening and you are sincerely seeking His face. Psalm 42: 1-2 .

Throughout Scripture spiritual leaders called God’s people to times of fasting and prayer when the need for transformation was recognized. Fasting demonstrates the desperation and sincerity of our hearts in approaching the Lord our God.

Seek the Lord to instruct you as to how and what He wants you to fast for this season in your life. (see Isaiah 58:6-14). Some possible suggestions are:
1. Juice only
2. Fresh fruits and vegetables only (a Daniel fast)
3. Fast one day per week for the 40 days
4. Fast one meal per day
5. Fast a particular food or activity as a token of your devotion and commitment.
Do not fast if you have medical conditions without discussing this with your doctor.

Pray that this time will be radically used by the Lord to bring life transformation to US all( you are not alone)-personally and corporately-throughout your church and your city.

DAY 2- February 11th – Repenting For A Renewed Relationship With God
Scriptures: Job 42:1-6; Isaiah 58:1-6 2 Chroincles 7:12-16; Hebrews 11:6

Repent: Of __________________________________________.
Meditate, pray, and write down areas for which you should repent.

Reflect on repentance, what you want to release in your life and on what steps you need to take to improve your prayer life and to deepen your relationship with God.

Pray:
• Pray that the message of repentance will penetrate your heart and the members of your church, your community and the world.
• Pray that leaders will walk in true humility and a deep reverence for the Lord.
• Pray for MEN – Pray that men will seek God and honor Him with an integrity that unites their lives in faithfulness, wisdom, and truth; that their vision of masculinity would be a Christ-like servant leadership in the family, church and world.
• Pray for God to strengthen your prayer life and deepen your relationship with Him.
• Pray for the President of the United States, President Obama and his family.
Pray what the Holy Spirt leads you to pray.
.
family prayer prayer.jpg__700x460_q95
Linda Fegins , The Prayer Leader

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Prayer of Repentance by Linda Fegins

repentanceimages

The Lenten Season (February 18 to April 4) is a time of repentance, self-examination, fasting and prayer in preparation for Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Renewing your sense of who you really are before God is the core of the Lenten experience and repenting of your sins. Today seek God with a repentant heart (See Joel 2: 12-24) and honestly search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). As you pray through the 40 Days of Prayer Journey allow the Lord to examine your life thoroughly (daily post this month). See prior post on repentance.

Resist the tendency to deny the need to repent and be cleansed of the Lord. Be transparent with the Lord. God offers so many wonderful results of repentance, including healing, restoring, freedom, joy and reconciliation. In Acts 3:19 the call to repentance brings hope and renewal: “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

Repentance is a change of mind that involves both a turning from sin and turning to God. Christ began his ministry with a call to repentance. (Mathew. 4:17).

We must examine every attitude, every motive, every action and ever word of evil. Repentance means that you are deeply godly sorrowful and hurt about what you have done unto the Lord and that you are determined to do all that you can not to commit that sin again. “Repentance means we are sorry about our sin to the point of grief, and we have turned and walked away from it”. Stormie Omartian, “The Power of a Praying Woman” p. 40, Harvest House Publishers, (2002).Before we can truly repent we must admit our sins and tell them to God. Confession means we recognize we have done wrong and admit it. Our prayer life will suffer as God will not hear our prayers if we have iniquity in our hearts (Psalm 66:18).

God offers many wonderful results of repentance, including healing, restoring, freedom, joy and reconciliation. In Acts 3:19 the call to repentance invites you to “repent, then turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

Here is an example of a prayer of repentance to help you get started in initiating self-examination , prayer and a spirit of repentance.

turn-around

Prayer of Repentance

Lord, I come humbly before You and ask you to cleanse my heart of my every sin. “Have mercy on me O, Lord according to your loving kindness and blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity and cleanse me of all of my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2) Lord create in me a clean heart. Please Lord renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10-11). Forgive me for thoughts I have had, words I have spoken and things that I have done that are not pleasing in your sight and do not glorify you. Father, forgive me I pray for my sins of_______(state them)________________________. I confess it is a sin and truly repent of these acts, words and thoughts. ( 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5 Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 51:6, 10). Lord search the inwards hidden places of my heart and reveal my sin to me that I may not see. (Psalm 139: 23-24). I seek to repent of everything that You show me Lord. I confess my sins to you in the full realization that you are faithful and just to forgive me of all my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.( 1John 1:9) I know that my sins are against You and You only. Grant me a broken, willing spirit and a contrite heart so I can offer it to You (Psalm 51:1-4, Psalm. 51:12, Psalm 51:17).

Thank you Father. I desire to obey your commandments and statutes. I choose to stop my sinful ways and to turn to walk upright. Help me, Lord God to bring forth fruits that are worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Lord I want to live a righteous, pure and holy life through your power (Colossians 1:11). I am determined to walk in the Spirit and in your ways and walk away from my sins by the power of the Holy Ghost. Grant me a godly sorrow that is not just full of regret because of the consequences of sin but sorrow that leads to true repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Lord give me a tender heart that is sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the conviction of sin. Holy Spirit, thank You for convicting me of my sin. Forgive me for the ways I’ve ignored Your voice and quenched and grieved You. (John 16:8; Ephesians. 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Romans. 8:1-2). Lord I praise you, Father, for your goodness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). Lord thank you for restoring my soul so that the times of refreshing my come (Acts 3:19). Amen ( Taken from Stormie Omartain , Power of A Praying Woman)
c 2014, 2015
Linda Fegins, “The Prayer Leader” serves as prayer leader and teacher/trainer with the Global Missions Prayer Force and as a guest intercessor and volunteer for Girlfriends Pray, a global prayer ministry. She served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years( later Director over the Prayer Ministry) for the Lydia Circle Christian Business and Professional Women. As part of the Lydia Circle she has lead over a dozen prayer boot camps, and has lead prayer services and workshops in the Bahamas and in South Africa and was on the prayer team of a medical missions trips to Jamaica under the leadership of Rev.Jackie McCullough. She is also a member of the National Church Prayer Leaders Network and serves as the Prayer Leader of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry of her church.

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Repent to Obtain A Renewed Relationship With God

49 days index

The Lenten Season (February 18 to April 4) is a time to repent, of self-examination, fasting and prayer in preparation for Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Renewing your sense of who you really are before God is the core of the Lenten experience and repenting of your sins. Today seek God with a repentant heart (See Joel 2: 12-24) and honestly search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). As you pray through the 40 Days of Prayer Journey allow the Lord to examine your life thoroughly (daily post this month).

Resist the tendency to deny the need to repent and be cleansed of the Lord. Be transparent with the Lord. God offers so many wonderful results of repentance, including healing, restoring, freedom, joy and reconciliation. In Acts 3:19 the call to repentance brings hope and renewal: “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

repentance

It is important to note that a repentant heart is not limited to a special season or time of the year. If we want to have effective prayer lives which bring forth life transformation and healing of the land, repentance must become a part of our lifestyle.

It is one thing to know that you have done something that is wrong. But it is another to be saddened and sorrowful about your actions and determine that you will turn away from that sin and never do the act again. To repent “I” or “we” must come to terms with and acknowledge that we have sinned and then turn away from such sinful behavior and be reconciled back to our loving Lord. Therefore, repentance is a change of mind that involves both a turning from sin and turning to God. Christ began his ministry with a call to repentance. (Mathew. 4:17).

We must examine every attitude, every motive, every action and ever word of evil. Repentance means that you are deeply godly sorrowful and hurt about what you have done unto the Lord and that you are determined to do all that you can not to commit that sin again. “Repentance means we are sorry about our sin to the point of grief, and we have turned and walked away from it”. Stormie Omartian, “The Power of a Praying Woman” p. 40, Harvest House Publishers, (2002).

Before we can truly repent we must admit our sins and tell them to God. Confession means we recognize we have done wrong and admit it. We cannot hide from God no matter how we try. God knows what “I” have done and wants “me and you” to know and admit in detail what “I” have done. Dick Eastman, in “The Hour That Changes the World”, says, “Confession is a heartfelt recognition of what we are. It is important to God because it indicates that we take seriously our mistakes and failures. Of course, God does not ask us to confess our sins because He needs to know we have sinned, but because He knows that we need to know we have sinned”. Dick Eastman, “The Hour That Changes the World”,p.42 , Baker Book House, (1999). If we do not confess our sins one consequence is that our prayer life will suffer as God will not hear our prayers if we have iniquity in our hearts (Psalm 66:18).

God offers many wonderful results of repentance, including healing, restoring, freedom, joy and reconciliation. In Acts 3:19 the call to repentance invites you to “repent, then turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

Here is an example of a prayer of repentance to help you get started in initiating self-examination , prayer and a spirit of repentance.

turn-around

Prayer of Repentance

Lord, I come humbly before You and ask you to cleanse my heart of my every sin. “Have mercy on me O, Lord according to your loving kindness and blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity and cleanse me of all of my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2) Lord create in me a clean heart. Please Lord renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10-11). Forgive me for thoughts I have had, words I have spoken and things that I have done that are not pleasing in your sight and do not glorify you. Father, forgive me I pray for my sins of_______(state them)________________________. I confess it is a sin and truly repent of these acts, words and thoughts. ( 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5 Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 51:6, 10). Lord search the inwards hidden places of my heart and reveal my sin to me that I may not see. (Psalm 139: 23-24). I seek to repent of everything that You show me Lord. I confess my sins to you in the full realization that you are faithful and just to forgive me of all my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.( 1John 1:9) I know that my sins are against You and You only. Grant me a broken, willing spirit and a contrite heart so I can offer it to You (Psalm 51:1-4, Psalm. 51:12, Psalm 51:17).

Thank you Father. I desire to obey your commandments and statutes. I choose to stop my sinful ways and to turn to walk upright. Help me, Lord God to bring forth fruits that are worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Lord I want to live a righteous, pure and holy life through your power (Colossians 1:11). I am determined to walk in the Spirit and in your ways and walk away from my sins by the power of the Holy Ghost. Grant me a godly sorrow that is not just full of regret because of the consequences of sin but sorrow that leads to true repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Lord give me a tender heart that is sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the conviction of sin. Holy Spirit, thank You for convicting me of my sin. Forgive me for the ways I’ve ignored Your voice and quenched and grieved You. (John 16:8; Ephesians. 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Romans. 8:1-2). Lord I praise you, Father, for your goodness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). Lord thank you for restoring my soul so that the times of refreshing my come (Acts 3:19). Amen

So that you can begin the process of self-examination through prayer, confession, and study of the Word that leads to repentance the following action steps are suggested:

Action Steps:
1. During the Lenten season I want to encourage you to join this or a 40 day Prayer Journey even if you are beginning at day 7 or whatever day. Just begin where you are. Determine to spend quality time with the Lover(God) of your soul every day. Decide to start out with half an hour and increase it slowly. Be diligent, consistent and be faithful. We can never grow or develop an intimate relationship with God unless we spend quality time with Him.
2. Confess any sin you may be guilty of against man and God. Ask God to search you and reveal any unconfessed sin to you daily.
3. Say or write a prayer of repentance out of your heart. Above is an example of a prayer of repentance. Your prayer need not be perfect, but sincere, sorrowful and heartfelt.
4. Have a journal. God has so much to speak into your life. It may not happen overnight if you haven’t been praying on a consistent basis. But remember He is right there. Don’t give up.
5. Leave a prayer request or comment.

Linda Fegins, “The Prayer Leader” serves as prayer leader and teacher/trainer with the Global Missions Prayer Force and as a guest intercessor and volunteer for Girlfriends Pray a global prayer ministry. She has served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years( later Director over the Prayer Ministry) for the Lydia Circle Christian Business and Professional Women. As part of the Lydia Circle she has lead over 8 prayer boot camps, and has lead prayer services and workshops in the Bahamas and in South Africa and was on the prayer team of a medical missions trips to Jamaica under the leadership of Rev.Jackie McCullough. She is also a member of the National Church Prayer Leaders Network and serves as the Prayer Leader of the Intercessory Prayer Team of her church.

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Day 8 – Day 12 of the 40 Day Prayer Journey: Growing to Please God for a Renewed Relationship With God

49 days index

Thank you for joining the 40 Day Prayer Journey, “Growing by the Power Within to Please God: Repenting For A Renewed Relationship With God”. Philippians 2:13.

This is a daily prayer journey. Today’s prayer focus is a continuation of the 40 Day Prayer Journey which began on March 5 Ash Wednesday. See prior post for prior days. Below you will find Days 8 thru 12.

During the Forty Day Prayer Journey daily read the suggested scriptures. Meditate on the Word asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you and reveal in your heart how He wants you to respond personally and on behalf of your church or city. This is an opportunity for personal repentance. Ask the Lord to search your heart for thoughts and actions that are sinful. (Psalm 139:23-24) Allow the Lord to examine your life thoroughly. Resist the tendency to see sin in other people without being transparent with the Lord in your own life.

You must be brave enough to say “Lord, show me what is in my heart, soul, mind and spirit and life that shouldn’t be there. Convict me where I am missing the mark. Tear down my arrogance, pride, fear and insecurities and help me to see the truth about myself, life and my circumstances. Expose me to myself, Lord and help me to take it. Enable me to correct my ways and turn away from sin to walk in a lifestyle of repentance.” Prayer by Stormie Omartian.

Pray the specific daily prayer points and what the Holy Spirit brings to your heart. It is suggested that you write in a journal your reflections and what the Lord is saying to you.

DAY 8 – March 12 Growing to Please God by Loving the Lord With All Your Heart

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Matthew 22: 34-40

Repent: Of not loving God with all your heart, soul and mind; of allowing other things to fill and occupy your life.

Pray:

• Ask God to search your heart and to reveal to you any sin for which you need to seek forgiveness.
• Intercede for Messiah and the churches in our community to be filled with fresh love for God and to demonstrate the love to others.
• Pray that the love of Christ will compel believers everywhere to share the gospel with others in love.
• Ask God to give you clarity about your purpose.
• Pray for a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer and to help you pray consistently.
• Pray for Youth – Psalm 144:12 – that they will commit themselves to Christ; for moral strength to choose wisely; for older mentors; for friendships with those who are following Jesus, for good relationships and open communication with parents.
• Pray for your Pastor
-Quality and quantity time spent with the Lord in spite of ministry distractions.
-His ability to receive clear revelation from the Lord.
-Strength to carry out his pastoral calling.
-His wife, home and family.
-His pastoral calling, that he does it with joy and not with grief.

turn-around

DAY 9 – March 13 Growing to Please God by Seeking the Lord With All Our Heart

Scriptures: Deut. 4:39-40; 2 Chron. 7:12-16; Heb. 11:6

Repent: Of not consistently seeking after the Lord to know Him, His ways, and His will. Repent of seeking after the ways and approval of man.

Pray:

• Ask God to search your heart and to reveal to you any sin for which you need to seek forgiveness.
• Intercede for family members, friends and neighbors that they may began to seek to know God and have a desire to walk and talk with Him.
• Pray for a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer and to help you pray consistently.
• Pray for Families Gen. 28:14 – For God centered relationships among family members; for families broken by divorce to be healed; that Christ’s forgiveness would occur among family members; that parents will teach their children in God’s ways of living and that families would pray together.
• Pray for the community and our city to turn from wicked ways and to seek the Lord
• Pray for those who are unemployed and those burdened by debt.
• Pray for the gospel to be proclaimed to the unevangelized people in your city and in the world.

DAY 10 – March 14 Growing to Please God by Maintaining a Clean Heart

Scripture: Psalm 66:18-19; Mark 11:25-26; James 5:16

Repent: Of failing to forgive another and holding malice in your heart. Or repent if you know that you have offended or hurt someone.

Reflect: Is there any area in your life about which you need to release bitterness, or have refused to forgive someone or sinful areas which you need to release.

Pray:

• Pray for your enemies and ask God to release you from any unforgiveness.
• Confess any sin that the Spirit brings to your attention.
• Ask God to search your heart and life and to reveal to you any sin you may need to deal with.
• Ask God for spiritual blessings, for ministry opportunities and empowerment for service.
• Pray that the gospel may reach, touch and renew the hearts and minds of people without hope in our world today.
• Forgive and pray for those who have offended you and hurt you.
• Pray that our church and the churches of the city be filled with a love for the Word of God and to receive the Word with joy.
• Ethnic Communities: Psalm 22:27 – that God would bring racial harmony; that long standing offenses may be healed by the forgiveness which begins in Jesus; that Christians show honor and act in Christ’s reconciling power; that many churches would demonstrate the redemptive purpose of God in the beauty of the distinctive languages and cultures.
• Pray for President Obama and his family.

DAY 11 – March 15 Growing to Please God By Waiting on the Lord

Scriptures: Psalm 62; Isaiah 40:31; 2Thess. 1:2-10

Repent: Of anxiety and impatience; of activity born of the flesh to make something happen and not born of the Spirit unto faith; of looking to anyone or anything else for what only God can supply; and of trusting human strength.

Pray:

• Pray for forgiveness and a fresh leading by the Holy Spirit to patiently wait on the Lord.
• Pray for the church and yourself to be still and know that the Lord is God and that He will be exalted among the nations.
• Pray for yourself or _____ to trust fully in the Lord knowing that He knows the times and the seasons and is able to accomplish that which concerns you today.
• Ask God to bring deep conviction of sin, spiritual brokenness, a holy fear of God and genuine repentance among His people. (2 Corinthians 7:10).
• Pray for unity and cooperation among the ministries and leaders.
• Pray for Michigan leaders and Governor Snyder.
• Sick People: For God’s healing touch to be upon the sick of the community; that they will be comforted; that they will grow in character as God walks them through the ordeal; that God will provide for their financial needs; for their care givers.

DAY 12 – March 16 Growing to Please God by Following after the Lord

Scriptures: Psalm 63 ; Luke 9:23-26 ; Joshua 14:8-9

Repent: Of pursing worldly, fleshly affections; of following the ways of man and the world rather than the Lord; of inconsistency in pursuing the Lord and His ways.

Pray:

• Pray for the church to become committed to become wholly devoted to the Word and to God’s purpose and will for the Kingdom.
• Pray for the church and you to become committed to following after the Lord.
• Pray that you and the church will replace a complacent attitude and concern for the distractions of the world with a restoration of first love passion for Jesus.
• Pray for the gospel to be declared in every part of Detroit and/or your city.
• Pray that the Father would gather and grow a generation of full-hearted worshippers in your church and city.
• Pray for the Lord to add to the church daily those who are being saved. Acts 2:4.
• Pray for ministry leaders to be committed to corporate prayer.
• Pray for those who are unemployed.-Pray that God will meet the needs of those without work in a way that they can thank God for his provision; that they will sound find meaningful employment and glorify God for it;
• Pray for those who are burdened by debt.

Linda Fegins 2014
Linda Fegins 2014-“The Prayer Leader” has served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years( later Director over the Prayer Ministry) for the Lydia Circle Christian Business and Professional Women. She serves as an intercessor and teacher/trainer with Global Intercessors Prayer Force. As part of the Lydia Circle she has lead over 8 prayer boot camps, all night prayer services, and has lead prayer services and workshops in the Bahamas and in South Africa. She served on the prayer team of a medical missions trip to Jamaica under the leadership of Rev. Jackie McCullough. She serves as the Prayer Leader of the Intercessory Prayer Team of her church. Linda serves as an intercessor and volunteer for Girlfriends Pray, a global prayer ministry. Contact her at ldfaygo@aol.com.

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“A Time of Repentance” by Linda Fegins

The Lenten Season (February 22 to April 7) is a time of repentance, self-examination, fasting and prayer in preparation for Resurrection Sunday (Easter). “Renewing our sense of who we really are before God is the core of the Lenten experience”. (Pastor Orville K.Littlejohn, my Pastor, “Our Focus for Ash Wednesday”). So today seek God with a repentant heart (See Joel 2: 12-24) and let us honestly search our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24). Here is an example of a prayer of repentance to help you get started in initating self-examination , prayer and a spirit of repentance. Then we will examine what is repentance and why it is important to our prayer lives and our relationship with God.

A Prayer of Repentance
Lord, I come humbly before You and ask you to cleanse my heart of my every sin. “Have mercy on me O, Lord according to your loving kindness and blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity and cleanse me of all of my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2) Lord create in me a clean heart. Please Lord renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10-11). Forgive me for thoughts I have had, words I have spoken and things that I have done that are not pleasing in your sight and do not glorify you. Father, forgive me I pray for my sins of_______(state them)________________________. I confess it is a sin and truly repent of these acts, words and thoughts. ( 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5 Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 51:6, 10). Lord search the inwards hidden places of my heart and reveal my sin to me that I may not see. (Psalm 139: 23-24). I seek to repent of everything that You show me Lord. I confess my sins to you in the full realization that you are faithful and just to forgive me of all my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.( 1John 1:9) I know that my sins are against You and You only. Grant me a broken, willing spirit and a contrite heart so I can offer it to You (Psalm 51:1-4, Psalm. 51:12, Psalm 51:17).

Thank you Father. I desire to obey your commandments and statutes. I choose to stop my sinful ways and to turn to walk upright. Help me, Lord God to bring forth fruits that are worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Lord I want to live a righteous, pure and holy life through your power (Colossians 1:11). I am determined to walk in the Spirit and in your ways and walk away from my sins by the power of the Holy Ghost. Grant me a godly sorrow that is not just full of regret because of the consequences of sin but sorrow that leads to true repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Lord give me a tender heart that is sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the conviction of sin. Holy Spirit, thank You for convicting me of my sin. Forgive me for the ways I’ve ignored Your voice and quenched and grieved You. (John 16:8; Ephesians. 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Romans. 8:1-2). Lord I praise you, Father, for your goodness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). Lord thank you for restoring my soul so that the times of refreshing my come (Acts 3:19). Amen.

It is important to note that a repentant heart is not limited to a special season or time of the year. If we want to have effective prayer lives which bring forth life transformation and healing of the land, repentance must become a part of our lifestyle. Despite the benefits of repentance, we are resistant to the thought of repentance. Repentance isn’t a popular word. Our culture encourages us to do whatever we want when we want. TV, music videos and movies very rarely show the consequences of our sins.

It is one thing to know that you have done something that is wrong . But it is another to be saddened and sorrowful about your actions and determine that you will turn away from that sin and never do the act again. To repent “I” or “we” must come to terms with and acknowledge that we have sinned and then turn away from such sinful behavior and be reconciled back to our loving Lord. Therefore, repentance is a change of mind that involves both a turning from sin and turning to God. Christ began his ministry with a call to repentance. (Mathew. 4:17). We must examine every attitude, every motive, every action and ever word of evil. Repentance means that you are deeply godly sorrowful and hurt about what you have done unto the Lord and that you are determined to do all that you can not to commit that sin again. “Repentance means we are sorry about our sin to the point of grief, and we have turned and walked away from it”. Stormie Omartian, “The Power of a Praying Woman” p. 40, Harvest House Publishers,(2002).

Charles Spurgeon writes:
Repentance is a discovery of the evil of sin, a mourning that we have committed it, a resolution to forsake it. It is, in fact, a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what once he hated, and hate what once he loved.
J. I. Packer writes:
Repentance means turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as you know of yourself to as much as you know of your God, and as our knowledge grows at these three points so our practice of repentance has to be enlarged.

Before we can truly repent we must admit our sins and tell them to God. Confession means we recognize we have done wrong and admit it. We cannot hide from God no matter how we try. God knows what “I” have done and wants “me and you” to know and admit in detail what “I” have done. Dick Eastman, in “The Hour That Changes the World”, says, “Confession is a heartfelt recognition of what we are. It is important to God because it indicates that we take seriously our mistakes and failures. Of course, God does not ask us to confess our sins because He needs to know we have sinned, but because He knows that we need to know we have sinned”. Dick Eastman, “The Hour That Changes the World”,p.42 , Baker Book House, (1999). If we do not confess our sins one consequence is that our prayer life will suffer as God will not hear our prayers if we have iniquity in our hearts (Psalm 66:18).

God offers many wonderful results of repentance, including healing, restoring, freedom, joy and reconciliation. In Acts 3:19 the call to repentance invites you to “repent, then turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

Action Steps:
1. During the Lenten season I want to encourage you to join this or a 40 day Prayer Journey even if you are beginning at day 7 or whatever day. Just begin where you are. Determine to spend quality time with the Lover(God) of your soul every day. Decide to start out with half an hour and increase it slowly. Be diligent and be faithful. We can never grow or develop an intimate relationship with God unless we spend quality time with Him.
2. Confess any sin you may be guilty of against man and God. Ask God to search you and reveal any unconfessed sin.
3. Say or write a prayer of repentance out of your heart. Above is an example of a prayer of repentance. Your prayer need not be perfect, but sincere, sorrowful and heartfelt.
4. Have a journal. God has so much to speak into your life. It may not happen overnight if you haven’t been praying on a consistent basis. But remember He is right there. Don’t give up.
5. Leave a prayer request.
6. Listen to a corporate Prayer of Repentance and other prayers by Evangelist Rita Green and Missionary Minetta Hare on blogtalk radio “The New Voice”.”A Time to Pray” Click on http://tobtr.com/s/2822019 .

Linda Fegins, “The Prayer Leader” has served as Prayer Coordinator for over 13 years( later Director over the Prayer Minstry) for the Lydia Circle Christian Buisness and Professional Women. As part of the Lydia Circle she has lead over 8 prayer boot camps, and has lead prayer services and workshops in the Bahamas and in South Africa and was on the prayer team of two medical missions trips to Jamaica. She is also a member of the National Church Prayer Leaders Network and serves as the Prayer Leader of the Intercessory Prayer Team Ministry at her church.

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