Living Relentless in Prayer
Our mission is to put on display the true hope of Jesus. One of our key values that will help us accomplish our mission is living relentless in prayer. To live out of this value we want to institute Thursdays as important corporate day of Prayer and Fasting for True Hope Collister. On these days we unite our voices around a central theme connected to our vision and pray together in an effort to discern God’s will for our church.
This week we focus our prayer on Living Relentless in Prayer.
Today’s Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9; Matthew 6:5-18
Focus: Prayer
Fasting: Consider fasting a meal and utilizing that time to pray specifically through this guide.
Read: Philippians 4:4-9
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (NLT)
Reflect: Prayer connects us to our joy in the Lord, helps us consider our actions, enables us to be vulnerable with God, and process our thinking all of which yield peace, a peace that passes understanding. Where are you struggling with peace in your life today? What is causing that anxiety in your life? Where do you need God to join you?
Pray: Putting into practice the discipline of prayer, share with God what is overwhelming you and why? Thank Him for his presence and ask him to guard your heart and mind. Ask him what you may need to put into practice through obedience.
Read: Matthew 6:5-18
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. 16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (NLT)
Pray: Follow the attached Lord’s Prayer guided experience.
Pray over True Hope Collister: Pray for favor with the city, our neighbors and contractors as we consider building children and youth facility.
