Thank you for joining the 40 Day Prayer Journey of Messiah Baptist Church, “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.
The daily prayer points in this guide begin with stated scriptures applicable to the focus of the day. You are invited to seek God’s face to enable you to grow in the actions and thoughts that please God. You want to confess, repent and turn from actions and thoughts that grieve the Lord.
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.
During the 40 Day journey each of us are opening ourselves to be joyful by what pleases God and grieved by our actions, walk and talk that displease Him.
Pray the specific daily prayer points as well as other prayer points that the Holy Spirit brings to your heart. It is suggested that you write in a journal your reflections and what the Lord is sto you.
DAY 28 – April 1 – “Growing to Please God by Demonstrating the Love of Christ”
Scriptures: John 3:1-21; 1 John 3:1-23
Pray:
• Pray that the church will be a living force of love in the earth today.
• Pray that the disciples of Christ will be known by our love for one another and the loving-kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance.
• Pray that members of the church and yourself show love through deeds that touch the lives of the unsaved, unchurched and unsure.
• Repent from demonstrating the letter of the law rather than the Spirit of liberty and love.
• Pray for persons who are unsaved. Call out their names.
• Pray for depressed persons. Pray that God’s healing presence will reach them; that the light of truth will dispel the lies and the oppressive power of Satan; for helpful counsel and God’s wisdom; for God’s healing of long standing wounds and the renewing of their minds in Christ.
• Pray that fathers will look to God as the ultimate spiritual head of their household, and serve their families by carrying responsibility for the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of their wives. Pray that God will instill a vision of wholesome, supportive, fatherhood to all fathers.
• Pray for single people. Pray that Christ will protect them; that friendships and church fellowships bring ample fullness of healthy relationship; for wisdom to choose sexual purity and holy lifestyles; for marriage.
• Pray for broken families. Pray for the healing of broken or embittered hearts. Pray for the children of such homes.
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DAY 29 – April 2- “Growing to Please God by Demonstrating Mercy,
Loving-kindness and Goodness”
Scriptures: Romans 2:1-16; Galatians 5:22-23
Pray:
• Repent of failing to show acts of kindness to those who mistreat or offend us or our love ones.
• Repent of withholding mercy and love out of judgment and vengeance.
• Pray that believers and yourself will grow in grace, mercy and love to make an impact in the lives of others and in the world.
• Pray that the fruit of the spirit will abound in you and in and through the church.
• Pray for the physically disabled. Pray that they will be surrounded with loving friends and family; for physical stamina and healing; for financial burdens of therapy and special care, and that they will love and honor God.
• Pray for prisoners and their families; pray that people in jail will hear the gospel and follow Christ; for fellowships of Christians in prison to multiply; pray that persons in prison will be protected from violence and the forces of spiritual evil.
• Pray for the spouses and children of prisoners. Pray that they will be sustained, protected, provided for and that their hearts are healed.
• Pray that former prisoners will find strength and wisdom to live restored lives and will not return to the actions or ways that led to their imprisonment.
• Pray for Health Care Workers- that God will equip health care workers of every kind to serve others with loving hearts; that God will bless them with perseverance and joy ;that the pressures of their professions will not crush their families and friendships; that many will follow Christ.
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DAY 30 – April 3 – “Growing to Please God by Demonstrating the Life of the Spirit”
Scriptures: Romans 8:12-14; Ephesians 5:15-21
Pray:
Repent of living according to the flesh and its desires rather than the Spirit of love and failing to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.
• Pray that you and church members will be led by the Spirit of God toward increasing maturity and to demonstrate love in action.
• Pray to grow in faith and to surrender to the Holy Spirit as a powerful demonstration of His love and power.
• Pray to walk in God’s grace as members of the body of Christ and to demonstrate His love, mercy, grace, and power to the world.
• Pray for homeless people. Pray for immediate relief, shelter, food and health care; that Christ will restore hope for the future. Pray for protection from the risks of life on the streets for the homeless and for employment, housing and restored family life.
• Pray for your co-workers especially the difficult ones. Pray that God will give you divine appointments to witness to those who do not know the Lord.
• Pray for your neighbors. Pray for God’s peace to be upon those who live on your street or in your housing complex. Ask God to give you an opportunity to witness to them about God’s love.
• Pray for Judges and Law Enforcement- Pray for righteous wisdom, patience and gentle authority; for physical and emotional protection strength and blessing for their families; that they will become agents of God’s hands to resist evil and preserve an environment in which heaven’s justice can increase.
DAY 31 – April 4 – Growing to Please God by Demonstrating a Servant Heart
Scriptures: Matthew 20:20-28; Philippians 2:5-18
Pray:
• Pray for the church and yourself to learn to serve as Christ did and demonstrate love.
• Pray that the believers serve our community in ways that will soften the hearts of unbelievers to the gospel of love , grace and truth.
• Pray that unbelievers would receive your service as a demonstration of Christ’s love for them, leading many to salvation.
• Ask God to bring a conviction of sin, spiritual brokenness and genuine repentance among the people.
• Pray to be clothed in humility in order to serve out of the love Christ has bestowed upon you.
• Pray that our service would be a holy demonstration of Christ’s love, not self-serving in any way.
• Pray for business people. Pray that they operate honestly and to frustrate any practice that creates injustice. Pray that you will grow in the knowledge of God’s Word for every aspect of your life.
DAY 32 – April 5 – “Growing to Please God by Demonstrating God’s Grace”
Scriptures: John 1:14-18; Acts 4:32-33, 11:19-24; 1Peter 4:7-11
Pray:• Pray that you would grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord.
• Pray to have faith to live graciously toward those in our communities who do not yet know Christ.
• Pray for fresh grace to live according to God’s commands and His call upon your life.
• Thank the Lord for His grace and for the gifts He has bestowed upon you.
• Pray that you and members of the church demonstrate graciousness in your attitude, speech and actions.
• Pray that our city will be transformed as we cry in humble and faith-filled intercession.
• Pray that families will be free from the destructive power of unforgiveness.
• Pray for every member of the body to understand their place and purpose in the body and to work together in proper relationship with each other under the leadership of the Pastor.
DAY 33 – April 6- “Growing to Please God by Listening to and Obeying His Voice”
Scriptures: Psalm 81: 8-16; John 10:22-30
Pray:
• Seek the Lord for you to come to a place of being quiet before the Lord, expecting to hear what He has to speak to you.
• Pray for the grace to walk in humble obedience to His voice.
• Pray for ears to hear from the Lord through the pastor, teacher or through whatever way He has chosen to speak to and through His children.
• Pray for your relationship with a family member. Pray that the Lord will bring healing, reconciliation and restoration where it is needed.
• Pray for any relationship you may have with people who do not know the Lord. Pray for words to say that will turn their hearts to Jesus. Specifically, pray for ______ who has turned his/her heart from God.
• Pray for new hearts for ministry in all of the leaders. See Ezekiel 18:31
• Pray for Business People—Ask God to bless those who base business practices in righteousness. Pray that God will prosper those who pursue their business as mission for God’s Kingdom. Pray for the gospel to spread in the marketplace, for righteous manager and executives; for creative godly consequences .