Once again, I apologize for being so absent from sharing, writing out my prayers here and keeping us alert as to PRAYER sources here at the Lighthouse of Prayer, in this time of much need for PRAYER for each of us and our nation. [Note:I moved this back to April 14th from today, so our Prayer Requests would not get moved back.] Now what the following have done is what I should be doing here, but if it's already done out there in blog land, I just think I should point you to it ... so I am (even if I'm late). There is always time to PRAY and learn/study God's Word. Make this a priority in your day: prayer and reading God's Word.
I recently became aware that SHE READS TRUTH(a site I've shared here before) and the National Day of Prayer have been preparing us to PRAY and have various readings, teachings and small group guides/study plans on PRAYER.
SHE READS TRUTH is almost over (day 17 of 21 days) however, the entire PRAYER plan devotional of the full 21 days is always available at YouVersion and their site. It started with Day 1 on April 1, 2013. I just started this week with Day 1 in my email box. It's better when you can participate with the great community but you can always comment and read the previous ones. They offer so much personal insight. SHE READS TRUTH is a wonderful community of sisters sharing God's Word together. Today, on Day 18, Raechel sums up so far what we have studied up until today and the upcoming finish:
"Until now, we have learned and studied examples of prayers of praise, confession, petition, intercession, and Kingdom advancement. We could call these the What’s of prayer. But for these final three days, let’s look together at what God’s word says about the Who, Where, and When of praying."
I am not completely too late for this, just in the weeks of preparation, pray and fasting, etc. and the various prayer guides that were from 4 weeks ago. However, we still have time to sign up and maybe even do some of the small group guides.
One for Youth, is for 3 weeks (almost enough time). It's called:
"Freedom to Praise, Pray, & Proclaim"
Another one is "TEACH us to PRAY"
I really like that ACRONYM for P.R.A.Y. but it does not translate for me to use in Spanish for here in Mexico. Yet every nation needs to be PRAYING for their nation, their communities, and our world at large, God's Kingdom. Just as SHE READS TRUTH has been sharing:"practicing Kingdom praying", corporate prayer not just on our own personal prayers. Kingdom Praying starts on Day 15 with SHE READS TRUTH, Prayer in the Bible series (see below).
An ideal resource for preparing your church for the annual National Day of Prayer. This booklet includes a Children’s Study (Kidz 6-11), Youth Study (Youth 12-17), and an Adult Study (Adults 18 and Up) focusing on the acryonym P.R.A.Y.
- Praise – Thank God for what He has already accomplished through Jesus.
- Repent – Confess your sins and shortcomings. Repent personally and on behalf of our nation. The Lord is quick to forgive when we come to Him.
- Ask – Ask God to reveal truth, turn our hearts back toward Him, and bring healing.
- Yield– Yield to the Lord and recognize that He has heard our prayers and will answer according to His will. He is waiting to provide guidance and direction.
Also the NDOP, has another great one but it's for 4 weeks plus the intro (making it 5 weeks for a small group) ... but we can always make use of it.
A "Fresh Encounter" is a 28 Day Devotional written by Henry Blackaby (Author of "Experiencing God") and Claude King. Intro
pdf, Week 1 Spiritual Awakening, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4
"Designed to help you understand from Scripture and history how God works to revive His people and use them to change their world. Study it individually and in small groups or churchwide to understand and respond to God’s requirements for genuine revival. Suggestions for 4 small-group sessions are included.
God is on mission to redeem a lost world, but when His people depart from Him, that work is hindered. Fresh Encounter is designed for use in churches in the 4 weeks leading up to the National Day of Prayer (observed in May) and for other times of prayer emphasis."
There are still 2 weeks until the NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER on May 2nd, 2013. So we could start in week 3 but week 4 is Day 22 "The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength"and it seems that many of us could use some JOY right about now to lift us up and encourage us to PRESS ON: press on in our individual and corporate race as a nation into the arms of the God in whom we trust! Lean on Him!
Here are the LINKS to each Day of SHE READS TRUTH on PRAYER in the BIBLE. However, if you start at Day 1, at the bottom after the comments, you can click to the next day for each one.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4 Prayers of Confession + Repentance
Day 5 | Confession + Repentance in Scripture
Day 6 | Practicing Confession + Repentance
Day 7 | Weekly Truth
*[a time to breathe in God's Word and memorize it]
Day 8 | Prayers of Petition
Day 9 | Prayers of Petition in Scripture
Day 10 | Practicing Petition
Day 11 | Prayers of Intercession
Day 12 | Prayers of Intercession in Scripture
Day 13 | Practicing Intercession
Day 14 | Weekly Truth
Day 15 | Kingdom Praying
Day 16 | Kingdom Praying in Scripture
Day 19 } yet to come so not linked yet.
Day 20
Day 21
