40 Days of Prayer: Week 2
I want us to take the 6 weeks (7/24-8/28) leading up to the Fall semester to pray as a church. This is Week Two. As well, every Tuesday morning, I will lead a time of prayer at the church office (910 Collier St, Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76102), from 7-8am. I would love for you to join me.
We Need to Know the Love of Christ for Us
This week in our 40 Days of Prayer together we will confess our need to know Christ’s love. The Apostle Paul prays this for us in Ephesians 3:14–19:"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."On my sabbatical this summer I wanted to study the Gospel of John specifically looking at how Jesus loves. I tried to imagine myself in the encounters people had with Jesus. How would he look at me in my sin? How would he look at me in my shame? How does Jesus love me? As you pray, will you consider similar questions? Ask Jesus to show you his love. Meditate on the Cross which is the highest display of his love. For us to be a church “rooted and grounded” in love for each other and the city around us, we have to know—really know—Jesus’ love for us.
Example Prayers:
Example Prayers based on PRDX365 reading (Psalms 62-68):Tuesday you can “pour out your heart before him” (Ps. 62:8) and you can praise God for his “steadfast love” (v12). On Wednesday we can pray and meditate on his love being “better than life” (Ps. 63:3). And so on. Use the Psalms—God’s prayer book for us—to seek a deeper understanding of God’s love.
Prayer Tips:
As you read your bible or just consider God’s promises and your need, depending on where you are in your heart you can:• Praise - Thank God for what he has provided. Praise him for his faithfulness.• Ask - Ask God to provide. Cling to his promises and faithfulness and ask your Father boldly.• Lament - Cry out to God. Wonder why he is delaying. Confess your doubt. He hears you and loves you.• Intercede - Ask God if there is someone in the church he wants you to encourage specifically. Wait. Listen.
More Info on 40 Days of Prayer:
Seasons of intentional prayer, where we posture ourselves before Jesus in expectant dependency, are important for any church—I believe this is a necessity for our church family at this time. Prayer is the practice of being in His presence and receiving His blessings—doing nothing, in complete dependence on Jesus.Each week we will pray about one of three overarching themes: Affections for Jesus, Love for Others, and Wisdom for our Church. As we work toward planting churches, maturing as a church, and growing in our dependence on the Holy Spirit, we need to start the Fall off with intentional time of prayer. Here’s what we will pray for specifically each week:Affections for Jesus• Week 1 - We Confess our Dependence on Jesus• Week 2 - We Need to Know the Love of Christ for UsLove for Others• Week 3 - Call us to Love Others Through Hospitality• Week 4 - Call us to Proclaim you Through Bold EvangelismWisdom for our Church• Week 5 - Our Hope is in the Spirit to Give us Wisdom• Week 6 - Our Trust is in you for FavorOur 40 Days of Prayer will coincide with PRDX365, our daily bible reading plan—so if you haven’t jumped in or have fallen out of rhythm with your reading, jump back on! Each week we’ll post a blog with the theme we will be praying about, along with some examples of what those prayers could look like. As you do your daily PRDX365 reading, and throughout the day, together as a church we can “present our requests to God.”As well, every Tuesday morning, I will lead a time of prayer at the church office (910 Collier St, Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76102), from 7-8am. I would love for you to join me.