Posts Tagged repentance

Day 5 Prayer Journey -Following After the Lord

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DAY 5 – February 17- Following After the Lord 40 Day Prayer Journey to Life Transformation

Throughout Scripture spiritual leaders called people to times of fasting and prayer when the need for transformation was recognized. I pray during this season you are taking the time to fast, pray, repent and reflect.

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

Repent: Of clinging to anything or anyone other than Christ; 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.

Receive: A passion for the heart of the Lord to replace the distractions of the world; attitude and love to follow the Lord; restoration of first-love passion for Jesus.

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.
• Worship the Lord as the One who invites us into intimate consultation with Himself.
• Confess to the Lord the ways you have neglected to inquire of Him, yet claim to speak for Him.
• Ask the Lord to teach you how to spend intimate time in His presence, growing in your ability to hear Him.
• Pray that the excuse of lack of time will no longer be a factor in keeping leaders from inquiring of the Lord
• Pray that ministry leaders and people in your city will desire to inquire of the Lord together for your city.
• 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 that the Father would gather and grow a generation of full-hearted worshippers in our 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 for Families: Pray for solid, God-centered relationships among family members; for families broken up by divorce to be healed.
Linda Fegins ,the Prayer Leader Feb. 17,2013

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40 Day Prayer Journey by Grace for Life Transformation Day 3

I sought the Lord and He heard me24451_10151175680437283_1306356890_n

As mentioned yesterday on Day 2 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. Repentance is important to God. It is God’s design for healing and restoration, so we cannot view it as optional during this journey. ” See Reflection and Repentance During Lent. https://ladyofprayer.com/?p=1063.

So even if it’s uncomfortable, even painful if we are honest, continue to take the time to reflect on and pray about what you started yesterday. Let’s 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.

DAY 3 – February 15 – 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 with in communion.

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.
• Pray for unity in the Spirit in our church family and for reconciliation where people are at odds.
• Pray that the gospel may reach, touch and renew the hearts and minds of people without hope in our world today.
• 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 our city to turn from wicked ways and to seek the Lord.
• Pray for those who are unemployed and those burdened by debt.
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By Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader 2013 ldfaygo@gmail.com .

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Reflection and Repentance During the Lenten Season

repentance

The Lenten Season (February 13 to March 30) 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 initiating 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. Tomorrow we will discuss fasting and prayer components that are involved in the Lenten Season. But for now let’s get our hearts and minds right.

<strong>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).

Meditate on the scriptures listed below and pray the focus points and what the Holy Ghost places on your heart.

Prayer Focus for February 14, 2013
– February 14- Repentance and Loving God

Scriptures: Deut. 6:1-9 Matt. 22:34-40 Psalm 139:23 Psalm 51 Psalm 66:18-19

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

Meditate, pray, and write down other areas for which you should repent.

Reflect on what way you want to improve your prayer life and to deepen your friendship with God.

Pray:
• For Christ to bring people near enough to God to experience the Father’s loving delight in His Son for people to love and follow Jesus.
• Pray for forgiveness for what you have done to others and how you have failed to obey God and to forgive others who have wounded you.
• For household salvation for friends and family.
• It is Christ’s eager desire that you know God by drawing near to Him. Open your life to God. Accept His invitation. He’s summoning you to seek His face.
• 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.
• Ask God to fill you with joy in his presence.
• Intercede for the church in our community to be filled with fresh love for God and to demonstrate His love to those around us-both in the church and among those who do not yet know Christ.

by Linda Fegins, The Prayer Leader

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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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Prayers for the Cities of this Nation

My heart is heavy for our cities, not just mine ,which is the City of Detroit . Right now I say Lord we need forgiveness , deliverance and healing from the violence, unrighteousness and idolatry. We pray that a spirit of Nehemiah will arise to rebuild the cities with love, peace, righteousness, and preserverance to glorify God. We pray that a spirit of repentance will cover the city.

Name your city and we can pray together.

I challenge each of you to prayerwalk your block or a school and business in your neighborbood. Pray for household salvation, restoration, peace and reconciliation. Call the names of the schools and buisnesses. Let’s report on our united efforts , although we may be in different cities around the nation and world. Let’s testify as to how prayer has changed your city, neighborhood or school.

Some Prayer Points.
1. Use 2 Chronicles 7:14
2. Pray for God’s spirit of prayer and supplication to be poured out in the city.
3. Pray for those in authority in your city.
4.Ask God to bless those who base business practice in righteousness. 5. Pray that God would frustrate plans that escalate injustice, violence, unrighteouness and shake the dominion of mammon and greed.
6. Pray for a spirit of repentance t obe released for sin and unrighteouness and that a release of God’s grace in the city. Matt.12:29,Col 2:15
7. Pray for revival in your city.

Pray Fervently, Linda Fegins May 2010 update August 12,2011
Former(over 14 yrs) Prayer Coordinator/ Director,Lydia Circle of Christian Professional and Business Women
Writer of an article in the Anthology -“Tali Cumi: Daughters Arise”
Writer of an article in the Anthology -“It’s Worth the Struggle- Inspiration for Contemporary Writers”
Christian Dramatist, “Sojourner Truth”, “Eve” etc.
Sunday School and Christian Education Teacher
Linda’s Report Blog https://instanter.wordpress.com/
Prayer Blog https://ladyofprayer.com

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