Praying God’s Purposes for His Church
Monday, January 24. Because of Your grace and the indwelling presence of Your Spirit, we have each been given spiritual gifts. Help us to identify our unique gifts and show us how to use those gifts to glorify You and expand Your kingdom. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:6a).
Tuesday, January 25. We thank You for Your ongoing work of sanctification in us. As we focus our eyes on You, Your character, and Your goodness to us, we ask that You would grow thankfulness and contentment in us. “...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Wednesday, January 26. Our Father God, You have created us with the ability to speak and to sing. Thank You for gifted Christian song writers and singers. May our singing bring You honor and glory. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Col 3:16).
Thursday, January 27. Help us, Lord, to live lives of integrity and transparency. Help us to be honest with You about our sins, so that those sins lose power over us. Humble us to be honest about our faults with fellow believers, too. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Friday, January 28. Thank You for warning us of the devil’s schemes and providing spiritual armor to protect us from his attacks. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:10-18). “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:8-10).
Saturday, January 29. Thank You for the awesome gift of Your Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin so that we can confess those sins and experience freedom in Your complete forgiveness. Give us grace to forgive others as You have forgiven us. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:29-32).
Sunday, January 30. We thank You for the high school students involved in our Youth Group. Draw them to Yourself and assure them of Your personal love and care for them. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).