Prayer is no fitful, shortlived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. It is a voice which goes into God’s ear, and it lives as long as God’s ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God’s heart is alive to holy things.
God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. The lips that uttered them may be closed in death, the heart that felt them may be have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God’s heart is set on them and prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive the world.
E. M. Bounds, from Purpose in Prayer
Begin with Adoration
This week we are going to reach back to part of a hymn first published in 1695 by Anglican Bishop Thomas Ken. These four lines are some of the most treasured and sung in the history of the Church. We know it as the Doxology.
We want to encourage you to read, and sing—yes, sing—the Doxology as your prayer of adoration! You may want to sing it a few times. If you would like, sing along by clicking the play button below. Praise God…for all His blessings.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.The Doxology, by Thomas Ken
Continue with Confession
This week, let’s allow sections of David’s Psalm 32 guide us in confession…
Psalm 32
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
As the Spirit brings any sin to mind, confess it as sin and turn from it (repent). Thank God that He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Now offer words of Thanksgiving
It’s November 1st! So today, let see if we can find one thing we are thankful for. Just kidding…
November means Thanksgiving! So, for the next 17 days of our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting, begin making a list of things you are thankful for—adding one or two things each day—as you look back over the past year since January. This will become a list you can use on Thanksgiving Day.
In addition to this “Thanksgiving list,” reflect on the past 24 hours—and the 24 hours ahead—and give thanks for specific things.
Conclude with Supplication & Intercession…
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
Let’s continue to begin our times of supplication and intercession by praying for those we know, who do not yet know Christ.
After praying for those who do not know Christ, pray for your own needs today, and the needs of others that you know.
