40 Days of Prayer (early 2018)
"Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat -
for he grants sleep to those he loves."
- Proverbs 127:1-2 (NIV, not the 1984 version)
Daily Encouragements and Scriptures Starting 01.22.18 (most daily notes are from Chris, most scriptures from Taylor)
Day 2
Church, today is Day 2 of our 40 day commitment to seek God purposefully for His leading to take us on from here. A few weeks ago Kim referenced Proverbs 29:18 (KJV), “where there is no vision, the people perish”. Ah, but for the past few weeks, we sing “Be Thou my vision” and May it be so for us.Day 3
It’s day 3 of our 40 day commitment to pray for this Church body. I’ve copied the first two verses of “Be Thou my vision”.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:6-9
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
““Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. “Now arise, LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness. LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”” - 2 Chronicles 6:40-42
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
““Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. “Now arise, LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness. LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”” - 2 Chronicles 6:40-42
Day 5
If y’all will permit more song lyrics, here’s a poetic prayer for us on this day 5.
“His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
'Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished
As forward we travel from light into light.”
If y’all will permit more song lyrics, here’s a poetic prayer for us on this day 5.
“His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
'Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished
As forward we travel from light into light.”
Day 6
Day 6/40: Jesus says this in John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” - Nahum 1:7
Day 7
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
Colossians 1:9-12 NIV
Day 8
Our Sunday morning meeting was a huge blessing and encouragement. Please refer to Gathering Recap - 01.28.18 for notes.
Day 9
Here’s some day 9 song inspo. "So Will I (100 Billion X)" by United.
Day 10
""I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.""
John 10:11-15
Day 11
“For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,”
Psalm 95:3-7 NIV
Day 12
Hi everyone. Here’s a brief reminder to be asking Jesus where He wants us to go from here. It’s day 12 of 40!!
Day 11
“For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,”
Psalm 95:3-7 NIV
Day 12
Hi everyone. Here’s a brief reminder to be asking Jesus where He wants us to go from here. It’s day 12 of 40!!
““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:1-8 NIV
Day 13
This tied in to our discussion from last week. May we act in boldness on the convictions placed on our hearts and minds.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”
James 1:22-24 NIV
Day 14
For day 14: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Day 16
Day 16 - “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
Day 17
Day 17 - “Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”Psalm 4:6-8 NIV
Day 18
I offer this bit of “poetry” for day 18...ok, ok it’s song lyrics again. :). As someone who loves church aesthetics (and big ideas) but sometimes struggles to love the person right in front of me, this hit me right between the eyes.
“The sea wants to kiss the golden shore
The sunlight warms your skin
All the beauty that's been lost before
Wants to find us again
I can't fight you anymore
It's you I'm fighting for
The sea throws rocks together
But time leaves us polished stones
We can't fall any further
If we can't feel ordinary love
And we cannot reach any higher
If we can't deal with ordinary love...are we tough enough for ordinary love...”
"You, Lord, give perfect peace
to those who keep their purpose firm
and put their trust in you."
Isaiah 26:3
Day 19
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. John 1:16-18
Day 20
When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus
When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus
Day 22
Wanting you the way I do
I only want to be with you
And I would go
To the ends of the earth
'Cause darling
To me that's what you're worth
Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead
Wanting you the way I do
I only want to be with you
And I would go
To the ends of the earth
'Cause darling
To me that's what you're worth
Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead
Day 23
“All the ends of the earthwill remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.”
Psalm 22:27-28
Day 24
“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 6:18 NIV
Day 25
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Day 26
““...Listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.”
Job 33:31-32
Day 27
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
1 John 5:11 NIV
““...Listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.”
Job 33:31-32
Day 27
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
1 John 5:11 NIV
Day 29
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
Day 30
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
Day 30
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:4-5
Day 31
"Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ." -Billy Graham
Day 32
Day 31
"Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ." -Billy Graham
Day 32
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
Colossians 3:1-3 NIV
Day 33
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV
Day 34
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Galatians 5:13 NIV
Day 36
“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 8, 11 NIV
Day 37
I've been taught how to talk to you
Hold it together, make the bad look better
Say all the words that I'm supposed to
Bow my head, say, "amen"
Yeah, that'll do
Making every dead end look like heaven
Like being okay is the way to reach you
But you're not afraid of all the things I feel
So why am I afraid of being real?
You want my tears, every messy word
Every scar and every fear
You want all I have
With no holding back
When I'm hurt, at my worst
You meet me there
'Cause you see the beauty
In my broken prayers
In my broken prayers
You don't care if it ain't poetry
'Cause all of my edges
They're a little rough
But that's all I got to bring
'Cause you're not afraid of all the things I feel
Don't have to hide the scars that still aren't healed
You want my tears, every messy word
Every scar and every fear
You want all I have
With no holding back
When I'm hurt, at my worst
You meet me there
'Cause You see the beauty
In my broken prayers
Day 38
“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Day 39
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””
Psalm 91:1-2
Day 40
We made it! I’ll leave you all alone... for now.
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4 NIV
Day 33
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV
Day 34
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Galatians 5:13 NIV
Day 36
“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 8, 11 NIV
Day 37
I've been taught how to talk to you
Hold it together, make the bad look better
Say all the words that I'm supposed to
Bow my head, say, "amen"
Yeah, that'll do
Making every dead end look like heaven
Like being okay is the way to reach you
But you're not afraid of all the things I feel
So why am I afraid of being real?
You want my tears, every messy word
Every scar and every fear
You want all I have
With no holding back
When I'm hurt, at my worst
You meet me there
'Cause you see the beauty
In my broken prayers
In my broken prayers
You don't care if it ain't poetry
'Cause all of my edges
They're a little rough
But that's all I got to bring
'Cause you're not afraid of all the things I feel
Don't have to hide the scars that still aren't healed
You want my tears, every messy word
Every scar and every fear
You want all I have
With no holding back
When I'm hurt, at my worst
You meet me there
'Cause You see the beauty
In my broken prayers
Day 38
“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Day 39
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””
Psalm 91:1-2
Day 40
We made it! I’ll leave you all alone... for now.
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4 NIV