Praying Psalm 103

Psalm 103:1–22 (ESV)
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.
Through these 40 days, we have considered each of the elements of the Lord’s prayer, piece by piece. In this final devotional, we can combine all of them. Use the verses in Psalm 103 to pray through the topics in the Lord’s prayer.

Pray:
Pray through the verses following the six parts of the Lord’s prayer.

1. The Father’s Character (Praises)
2. The Father’s Kingdom (Surrender)
3. The Fathers Provision (Requests)
4. The Father’s Forgiveness (Repentance)
5. The Father’s Guidance (Temptation)
6. The Father’s Protection (Spiritual Warfare)

Missionary Spotlight


Becca Miller (Czech Republic)
Becca has been serving as a missionary in the city of Prague, Czech Republic for over a decade. The Czech Republic is one of the most atheistic countries in Europe, yet they are open to hearing the Gospel because they value their freedom (formerly under communist rule).

Becca uses her passion for and training in education to serve missionary families throughout Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. She is partnered with SHARE Education Services where she helps to support missionary kids in their education so their parents can focus on their calling and mission.

She also serves on staff as the children’s ministry coordinator at an International Church in Prague.

If you’d like to receive updates from Becca, you can request to join her private Facebook group for ministry updates

Prayer Points:

• SHARE is planning to hold their first in person conference since February 2020 in Hungary this month and another conference in Greece next month.
• Please pray for Becca and her team as they seek to serve the missionary families the best they can in constantly changing circumstances.

His Love Endures Forever

Psalm 136:1–26 (ESV)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136 is a psalm of remembrance and praise for the many ways God has loved his children. Notice how this psalm recounts the story of God’s people and how God has delivered them. It is meant to show us how God’s love is continuous and never-ending. It is also meant to invite us to add our own examples of how God has proven His steadfast love in our lives.
Think of your own story. You probably can recount moments when God intervened and made His grace available to you in very specific ways. If we will look at Psalm 136 as a prompt to remember God’s love in our own lives, it becomes a powerful testimony of God’s people that continues to bring Him glory.

Pray:
Write out as many examples of your own life (both ordinary and extraordinary) where the Lord has proven His love to you. Be as specific as you can. After each example, write, “...for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Lament

Psalm 86:1–17 (ESV) — 
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. 8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Today, we turn again to biblical lament. Lament is the biblical language used to communicate to God our pain and anguish regarding human suffering. Adam Young defines it as “pouring out your feelings to God before editing your words, before making your feelings consistent with some sort of theology.” Scripture gives us permission to express our fears, pain, sadness, frustrations, questions, doubts, and even our complaints to God.
   
Psalm 86 is an example of a psalm of lament. It includes a simple pattern that is found in most laments - turn, complain, ask, and trust. The first step in lament is the hardest, and that is turning to God in your pain (vs.1,6). Honestly, it’s easier to remain silent in our pain, but as Mark Vrogrop writes, “Giving God the silent treatment is the ultimate manifestation of unbelief.” God asks us to turn to him in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). The second step is to voice your complaint (v.14). The complaining that lament requires is an expression of deep brokenness. What’s broken in and around you? What’s lining up with God’s character or kingdom? The third step is to ask God to act in a way that fits His character and resolves your complaint (vs. 2,3,11,16,17). What is it that you need to remember and acknowledge about God in the midst of your complaint? The final step in lament is to affirm God’s worthiness to be trusted and commit to praising Him (vs. 8,12,13,15,17).

Consider:

• Write your own prayer of lament using the four steps above - turn, complain, ask, trust.

If you would like to learn more on lament, listen to the sermon Worship as Lament

Traditional fasts do not include Sundays because it is Resurrection Day. Join us together in worship of our King, online or in person.

Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection – “...but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13b).

Ephesians 6:17 (ESV) —  “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

Heb 4:12 (ESV)  — For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The final pieces of armor that Paul commends to the Ephesians are the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Without salvation, the rest of the armor is pointless. If you have not repented of your sins and turned to Jesus, you aren’t on the right side of the battle. The sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon. It is the way in which we are able to attack for the kingdom of God.

While Paul explains that the sword of the Spirit is the Bible, the writer of Hebrews goes into greater depth about the power behind the Bible. The Bible has the ability to cut to the core of a person. It can do what no logical argument or emotional appeal can do. It can cut through the hardest hearts and pierce the conscience of the staunchest atheist.

As we are sharing the Gospel with others, we must be prepared with Scripture. You cannot share what you do not know. As we grow in the faith, we should also be expanding our arsenal of memorized scripture that we are always prepared to answer for the hope we have. (1 Peter 3:15)

Consider:

1. Is Bible memorization an active spiritual discipline in your life?
2. Fighter Verses is an excellent app that provides tools, quizzes, and reviews for memorizing verses.

Prayer Points:
Ask that you would be disciplined in memorizing more of the Bible so that you may be more effective in your evangelism.

Shield of Faith

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection – “...but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13b).

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV) —  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

As Paul continues the Christian warfare analogy, he moves to the shield of faith. The imagery he draws is that faith is like the Roman shields. The shields would lock together so that each soldier was strengthened and protected by his comrades. Just as Roman soldiers relied not just on their own shields, but also on the shields of those around them, so too our faith is interwoven with other believers.

When we think of faith, we often think of our individual faith in Jesus. That isn’t a wrong view of faith, but it is incomplete. Our faith is tied to our community. The communal nature of faith provides protection through accountability. As sin attempts to isolate us (James 1:14) our friends in the faith call us to repentance. Our faith community also brings an added deterrent to falling to Satan’s schemes. When we understand that our failings affect the Christians around us and our sin affects weakens the body, we are more likely to resist. As Satan attacks us with temptations and trials, we must lean on our faith in God’s promises and our community to have victory over sin.

As we evangelize, we need to be clear about what the call to faith and repentance includes. Salvation brings us to new life and a new family.

Consider:

1. Are you taking part of your community (church, small groups, bands) to strengthen your faith and resist the attacks of Satan?

Prayer Points:
Pray that you and your community would stand together against the attacks of Satan.

Gospel Shoes

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection – “...but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13b).

Ephesians 6:13–15 (ESV) — 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

The next piece of armor Paul tells us to put on is our footwear. Roman soldiers would typically be equipped with leather boots for long marches, which also helped to prevent them from slipping or falling. If your feet are not fitted with the proper footwear, you won't be able to stand for very long, let alone walk very far.  

As a Christian, the shoes that we are to wear are gospel shoes. The gospel is that "Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (1 Pet 3:18). And this gospel is a gospel of peace. It brings peace between us and God and one another.  And if we have that peace, then we have the best possible foothold from which to fight evil.  Satan's goal is to get you to forget the Gospel so that you can trust in something else. He does this by using people to preach gospels that are false, ways that promise to bring peace between you and God, but actually push you further away from Him.  

These gospel shoes also get us ready to announce good news to others.  Satan hates nothing more than for us to spread the gospel to those who are on his team. Satan hates the gospel and he hates those who spread the gospel. Yet it is the gospel of peace that gives us this urgency to announce that Christ has defeated Satan, and will soon crush him under His feet. 

In the time of the early church, when there was no internet, television, cell phones, or cars, you had to use your feet to get the gospel of Christ to the surrounding nations. These disciples traveled with a sense of urgency, risking their lives for the gospel, so that many would hear and respond to it. The gospel message boiled in their blood so much that they had to act on it.  Romans 10:14-15 says, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  Each of us has a serious responsibility to not only believe the Gospel, but to announce it to every man, woman, and child that God puts in our path, so that they too can have peace with God.

Consider:

1. Are you fluent in your ability to speak the Gospel?
2. Who in your circle of influence needs to hear the good news today?

Prayer Points:
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an urgency and love (not guilt) to announce good news to those living in darkness.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection – “...but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13b).

Ephesians 6:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…”

The next piece of armor Paul tells us to put on is the breastplate of righteousness.  The breastplate typically  covered a soldier’s chest and back, protecting their vital organs. What many Christians try to do is replace this piece of armor with one they've fabricated themselves – called self-righteousness. Through their own effort and strength, they pull themselves up by their own bootstraps to try to impress God with their good deeds. Satan will still be able to penetrate that line of defense, because self-righteousness cannot protect you. The only thing that can protect you is Christ's righteousness that's been given to you as a gift through faith.  Isaiah says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord...for he has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). To be clothed with His righteousness means, as a sinner, you have been justified by God's grace through simple faith in Christ crucified, where you now stand before God not condemned for your sins, but accepted, because Christ was condemned in your place.  

This is incredibly important, because what Satan loves to do is accuse and condemn us of certain sins that we’ve already repented of and which Christ has already forgiven.  Revelation 12:10 says, "he accuses people day and night before our God."  Satan accuses us by continually throwing confessed and forgiven sin back in our faces and will continue to condemn us for it. What the righteousness of Christ does is this, it says, "There is therefore now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).  The apostle John says, "I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).  Satan cannot penetrate the covering of Christ's righteousness.  When God declares you righteous in his sight because of what Jesus has done, Satan cannot change that declaration. If he's still accusing and condemning you, call it what it is and remember that God no longer condemns you or accuses you. You can stand firm when you rest in that truth.

Consider:
What accusations is Satan continually bringing back up in your life?

Prayer Points:

• Thank God for the righteousness you are clothed in and for cleansing you of all sin.
• Ask the Lord to protect your mind from accusations of the Enemy and to remember the truth of Christ’s righteousness in order to stand firm against these accusations.

The Belt of Truth

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection – “...but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13b).

Ephesians 6:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…”

In Ephesians 6, Paul gives us a picture of what the common Roman soldier would have worn in battle, but he relates it to the equipment that disciples have access to, to protect themselves and fight their Enemy. The difference is that the Christian’s armor is spiritual, not physical. Remember from v.12, he tells us that our battle is not against "flesh and blood…but against the spiritual forces of evil."  Elsewhere in 2 Corinthians 10, he says, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world" (v.3-4). Paul urges us to put on the whole armor of God and never take it off. An old Puritan minister from the 1600s put it this way, “We must walk, work, and sleep in them.”  There will come a day when we can take the armor off.  In heaven, we’ll exchange it for a white robe (Rev. 6:11; 7:9), but until then, we’re in a battle where we cannot afford to be unprotected.

Paul is training us to stand our ground against the devil. Our first line of defense is truth. Satan’s primary weapon is falsehood. Jesus referred to Satan as “the father of lies” (John 8:44), and when the truth is used against him, his lies are diffused. We learned this earlier when Jesus defeated the temptations of Satan using the word of God. Jesus was not only reciting truth to get Satan off his back, but to remind Himself of the truth. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Knowing, believing, and trusting the truth of God's Word is what keeps us from sinning. And whenever Satan twists God’s Word and lies to you, your defense is to speak the truth to yourself. 

Each of us knows the temptations we struggle against the most.  One practical way to prepare for Satan's attack (because you know it's coming), is to go to God's Word before the temptation happens again, find the passages that speak against that, write those down and rehearse them daily.  And when that temptation or that lie comes to you again, you're prepared.  You run to that list of Scriptures and you begin to read those over and over.  God has given you the power of His Spirit to resist Satan's lies and temptations, and the power that He's given you is His Word.  The easiest way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13) is to rehearse and walk in the truth.

Consider:

1. What lies does Satan speak most often tell you?
2. What truths combat each of those lies?

Prayer Points:
Pray each of the truths you identified and ask the Holy Spirit to store them deep in your heart.

Sacred Space

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection

Matthew 6:13b (ESV) “...but deliver us from evil.”

Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Jesus ends his model prayer asking that the disciples would be delivered from evil. Paul writes more about this in Eph. 6 when he tells us that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle. Just as our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, our deliverance from evil doesn’t come through our own strength. One of the tools that God gives us in this battle against spiritual forces is prayer. This is why Jesus teaches us to ask God to deliver us from evil. Another tool that God gives us is the whole armor of God. Paul writes that it is necessary to put on the whole armor if we are to stand firm.

As we are witnessing, we have to remember who our true enemy is. It isn’t Democrats or Republicans. It isn’t atheists or a secular society. Our true enemy is the devil and the cosmic powers. If we don’t know who the enemy is we won’t properly prepare ourselves. This week we are going to look more closely at the armor of God that Paul lists for us so that we are prepared to stand firm.


Consider:

1. Who do you believe the true enemy is?
2. Are you prepared for spiritual combat?
3. What are the ways in which lost people are tempted and drawn away from the Gospel?

Prayer Points:
Pray that God would deliver you from evil.
Pray that God would reveal if you been prepared for spiritual battle.

Traditional fasts do not include Sundays because it is Resurrection Day. Join us together in worship of our King, online or in person.

Pray Against Attention-Seeking

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.

Luke 4:9–13 (ESV) — 9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The third temptation Jesus faced was the temptation of attention-seeking. Satan brought Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple where thousands could witness Him display His power. Once again, as in the first temptation, the devil tries to get Jesus to question His identity — “If you are the Son of God…” Satan’s strategy is predictable. He will continue to go after your identity in Christ as a son or daughter of God, and He will most often do this during your weakest moments. You can expect the Enemy to come back to this temptation on a regular basis, making it even more important to be rooted in the Gospel and the truth of God’s Word.

The second part of this temptation was for Jesus to “throw yourself down from here.”  The devil always seems to bring us into situations and opportunities where we can be seen by others. The temptation is rooted in the desire to put on a show and let others be drawn to you. This was not the way Christ was to call others to follow Him. Jesus said later, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44). This is more than a theological truth, but a practical way for Jesus to live humbly and in obscurity. Leaping from the pinnacle of the Temple may attract crowds, but not disciples. That would require a different way. 

Anyone can gather a crowd. Anyone can gain a following by showcasing their unique talents and gifts. Jesus could have truly put on a show in that moment! Instead, His way of getting others to follow Him was by loving them into the Kingdom. Lifting yourself up to attract others is not loving, but selfish. What is required to genuinely love another for their sake? It must begin by stripping all attempts to raise ourselves to a “pinnacle” where we can be seen or benefited from those relationships.

When opportunities increase our visibility, the temptation also increases, but the answer is never to attract or get the approval of others by raising ourselves up higher. Jesus realized it’s actually the opposite – not throwing self down to be exalted, but lowering self by being raised on a cross. That’s what makes disciples, and that’s what Jesus calls us to follow – His way of humility, obscurity, and hiddenness – assured of our Father’s love and worship of Him alone!

Consider:

1. What “pinnacles” is the devil leading you to the edge of in order to attract attention?
2. How are you tempted to seek affirmation, attention, and approval from others, more than God?

Prayer Points:

• In this moment, repent of secretly using people as props to increase attention or influence.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to resist the urge to draw attention to yourself through stories, embellished examples of self, comments to get a reaction or laugh, or making yourself sound better than you really are.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be a supportive listener by refusing to talk about yourself unless asked.

Pray Against Ambition

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.

Luke 4:5–8 (ESV) — 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

The second temptation Jesus faced was the temptation of ambition. In our appetite for more (first temptation), we often take shortcuts to get what we want. Rather than being content with the plans God has for us, we overwork to gain power, success, and status. Our ambition often drives us to do things our own way instead of God’s way. 

Here, Satan sets before Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. As the Son of God, Jesus already had a right to these kingdoms, and one day at His second coming, they will indeed be His. Revelation 11:15 says, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” But what Satan tries deceiving Jesus with is a shortcut to obtaining them. He is offering Jesus power, authority, and success in exchange for worship. 

See, as long as sin dominates the world, Satan remains the prince and ruler of this world (John 14:30, 16:11; Eph 2:2). So the devil’s offer to Jesus is really an attempt at keeping his own power, and his tactic is to tempt Jesus to take power and authority for Himself in a way that the Father never planned or willed for Him to take. The Father’s plan for the Son was the cross, while Satan’s plan was a cross-free path to power and authority. All it would take was a shift in Jesus’ allegiance, but it was an empty dream He was being promised. It sounds nice, even tempting, to take the pain-free option. Even Jesus in Gethsemane asked His Father if there was another way, but He chose His Father’s will, knowing it was the cross. 

As we fight against this temptation like Jesus did, we are fighting against the lure of a different path, a cross-free and Christ-free solution to sin, which is no solution at all. Trusting in our good works will never get us anywhere with God. The remedy against this temptation is to worship God alone, and trust that He is still the only way, truth, and life. There is no kingdom, power, authority, or success that Satan can offer us that even comes close to comparing to the Kingdom of our God. We must daily acknowledge that God’s way is not just the only way, but the better way. 

Consider:

1. What shortcuts is Satan tempting you to take that will end up compromising your sole allegiance to God?
2. What worldly ambitions do you need to lay down at the feet of King Jesus?
3. What does Sabbath rest look like in your own life and family right now?

Prayer Points:

• Ask the Lord to train you to rest. 
• Pray for contentment in what God desires for your life and in the ways He will provide for it. 

Pray Against Appetites

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.

Luke 4:1–4 (ESV) — 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ”

Satan has a playbook and it is predictable. His strategy is something that can be known, and knowing your Enemy is one of the most important things we can do as we seek to overcome temptation. The first temptation Jesus encounters is the temptation of appetite. Jesus may have been fasting for these 40 days, yet He was full of the Holy Spirit. He was depending on the Spirit-life that He embodied and was now anointed with for ministry. However, this did not prevent him from experiencing real hunger in a real wilderness. It is interesting to note that v.2 mentions that these 40 days had come to an end, so Jesus was ready to eat. It is possible, depending on where Jesus was located in the wilderness, that He still had to journey for a time before He could find food. So the devil seeks to offer Him a shortcut by attacking His appetite. But the way he does this is not merely through the pain of hunger, but the question of Jesus’ identity – “If you are the Son of God…” (v.3).

This is the same tactic that Satan used with Eve in Eden (Gen. 3:1) and Israel in the wilderness (Exod. 16-20). “If your heavenly Father really loves you then why is He holding out on you? Why are you here in this wilderness? Is your Father really going to provide for you?” Satan continually tries to get us to question the Father’s presence, character, and leadership, and interwoven into those questions is the question of our own identity in relation to the Father. It is Satan’s attempt to get us to stop looking to and depending upon God and replace Him with something lesser. That “lesser” thing doesn’t have to be only food either. It could be a lustful desire to have a sexual encounter or some material possession, and the Enemy will go after our identity in Christ to get us to doubt that God is enough! “Is God really a good Father who’s going to take care of that desire? Doesn’t God seem way too restricting? Go ahead and take matters into your own hands!” The lie and the bait is that God isn’t all-satisfying, so we seek to fulfill those desires in our own way apart from Him.

The way Jesus overcame this temptation was to remind Satan of the truth, that “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Deut. 8:3). Food was not what truly sustained the life of God’s people in the wilderness - faithful obedience to God was what kept them alive! 

For many of us, these 40 days of prayer and fasting is a reminder that one of the primary ways to overcome the temptation of appetite is to fast from whatever it is that you are hungering for more than God. It helps our trust and dependency to return to the Lord, and that God is the One who can truly satisfy our deepest longings and appetites.

Consider:

1. Use these Scriptures to meditate on how God the Father defines your worth “in Christ?” 
2. Identify what “lesser” things you are seeking to satisfy your appetites more than God?

Prayer Points:

• Pray the truths of your identity in Christ as a reminder that what you have in Him is enough to sustain you today.

God’s Guidance in Good Works

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.

Eph 2:8-10 (ESV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Throughout Ephesians 2, Paul is explaining how God has taken us from death to life. As Paul writes about how we were lost in our sins and the magnificence of God’s grace, he is building up to salvation in verse 8 and 9. But Paul doesn’t stop with salvation. He is leading to what we were saved for. God has saved us for us to do good works, and not just any good works. There are good works that God has prepared for us ahead of time. He directs our steps so that we walk into those good works.

These verses remind us that we aren’t just saved to get out of Hell. God has a distinct plan for each person that includes tailor-made good works to do. We don’t have to stress about figuring out what good things we need to do. God has it planned out already. Our job is to walk closely with God and to keep our spiritual eyes open as he guides us into the good work. When there are changes to your personal plans, don’t see those as hindrances to what you want to do, see them as God directing you toward his plans. Many times God will change our life patterns to bring the people into our lives that we need to speak truth to. Take those instances and be on the lookout for good works that you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do otherwise!

Consider:

1. What is your attitude when God changes your plans?
2. Are you on the lookout for God’s guidance in doing good works?
3. Have there been times in the past few weeks that God has guided you into opportunities to share the Gospel?

Prayer Points:

• Pray that you walk in the good works that God has prepared for you. 
• Pray that you would take disruptions to your plans and recognize that God is working.

Pray Against Fear

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.

Matt 10:24-31 (ESV) — “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Matthew 10 records Jesus’ commissioning of the disciples to go out in twos to spread the Gospel. As he is sending them out, he gives some words of instruction. He warns that as they proclaim the Good News, they will face persecution, just as he was opposed. Despite the opposition Jesus taught them not to fear man, but to fear God instead. While humans may threaten with pain and death, God has the power of life and death as well as eternity in his hands.

Some fears are irrational. Others however, like the fear of rejection when witnessing are founded in reality. People who reject God often reject the messenger as well. Real relationships are damaged and split over the Gospel. To pretend otherwise is naive. However, God calls us to fear and trust him more than our friends, coworkers, and family. Not only does he hold infinitely more power than any person in your life, he also cares deeply for you in a way no one else can. If God cares about even how many hairs we have on our head, how much more should we trust that he will guide and protect us when we act in faith?

Consider:

1. Who are you most afraid to witness to?
2. When you are tempted to fear, what does it reveal about your priorities and beliefs?

Prayer Points:

• Pray against the temptation to fear when sharing the Gospel. 
• Pray that you would be obedient even in the face of persecution.

Pray Against Temptation

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.

Luke 22:39-36 (ESV) “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Two of the most famous times of prayer in the Bible have one repeated theme. Both when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and when he entered into the garden just before his betrayal, he instructed them to pray that they would not enter into temptation. In fact, it is so important that Jesus gives the command as he went into the garden and again when he had finished praying in the garden. If this is one of the last commands that Jesus gives to his disciples before the crucifixion and one of key pieces to the Lord’s prayer, we should take note.

We know that God does not tempt people to do evil (James 1:13), so what does it mean to pray “lead us not into temptation”? There are two ways to pray against temptation. This first is to pray that we wouldn’t enter temptation, that God would protect us from being tempted. The second is that we should pray that we would be sustained through temptation. As temptation comes into our lives, we would live by the power of the Spirit and would hold tightly to our true hope. In the coming days, we will pray specifically for God’s guidance from and through temptation, particularly in the realm of outreach and evangelism.


Consider:

1. Do you pray against temptation?
2. What temptations do you face in evangelizing your lost coworkers and friends?
3. What are the ways in which lost people are tempted and drawn away from the Gospel?

Prayer Points:
Ask that God would deliver you from temptation as you witness.

Traditional fasts do not include Sundays because it is Resurrection Day. Join us together in worship of our King, online or in person.

Repent of Your Sinful Words

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Forgiveness
After Jesus addresses requests in prayer, he moves on to repentance. He continues the Lord’s Prayer saying: “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.…” (Matthew 6:12). As we focus on witnessing and evangelism, we are boldly calling others to repentance. If we are going to prophetically call for repentance, we must be sure that we also are repenting of our own sins. We must also repent of the sins that keep us from effectively witnessing to those in our circle of influence. Each topic in this section will call for repentance for a common sin. The questions and prayer points in the coming weeks aren’t meant as condemnations or accusations. Rather, they present an opportunity for self-reflection and humility as the Spirit reveals our sins.

Psalms 43:13: “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”

James 3:5-12 (ESV) “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”

The Bible has a lot to say about our words. As James instructs in his letter, our words can be used for good or for evil. We can worship God at one moment and curse his image-bearers the next with the same mouth. We can use our words to deceive, gossip, and slander. We also see that our words have great weight. The power of life and death is held in our words (Prov. 18:21). And, as James says, our words can be full of deadly poison.

We live in a time where words are cheap. Lying is normalized. Whole systems of social media revolve around attacking people with 280 characters. Gossip is commonplace and outrage drives much of our media. If we are going to be true witnesses of Christ, if we are going to proclaim him without hypocrisy, we must not use our words as the world does. If we claim to have the Truth within us, do our words reflect that? Jesus said that our words reveal what is in our hearts (Matt 12:34). We must be sure that the words we use when we witness are matched by the rest of our words.

Consider:

• In what ways do you sin with your words?
• Are you known to be truthful?
• Has your witness been compromised by your words?

Prayer Points

1. Repent of your sinful words.
2. Pray God would replace your words that bring death with words that bring life.

Repent of Your Lack of Love

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Forgiveness
After Jesus addresses requests in prayer, he moves on to repentance. He continues the Lord’s Prayer saying: “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.…” (Matthew 6:12). As we focus on witnessing and evangelism, we are boldly calling others to repentance. If we are going to prophetically call for repentance, we must be sure that we also are repenting of our own sins. We must also repent of the sins that keep us from effectively witnessing to those in our circle of influence. Each topic in this section will call for repentance for a common sin. The questions and prayer points in the coming weeks aren’t meant as condemnations or accusations. Rather, they present an opportunity for self-reflection and humility as the Spirit reveals our sins.

Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV) “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (ESV) “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

In the letter to Ephesus, God warns that though they did many good things, they had lost the most essential thing. While they were busy denying false teaching and busy doing good work, they had lost their love for God. Similarly, Paul famously wrote that if we have every gift imaginable, but do not love, our actions are not just limited or neutral, but bad and hurtful. There is no gain from striving without love.

It can be easy to get so busy doing things that we neglect to love others. We involve ourselves with jobs and ministries and many other good things but we don’t always take the time to involve ourselves in others’ lives. Taking the time to care for others is an excellent way to open doors for the Gospel. We ought to be known by our love to our neighbors, coworkers, family, and friends. Loving others, particularly those who are difficult to love, is a clear sign of our faith and is demanded by God. Sharing the truth of the Gospel is an act of love. If we love our neighbors, family, and coworkers, it means that we must share the gift of Jesus with them. Refusing to witness is a refusal to love.

Consider: 
Who do you struggle to love?
Do you know your neighbors in a real way? Do you go out of your way to show them love?
Do your actions show that you love your community?

Prayer Points
Repent of your lack of love for God and the people that he created.
Pray that he would give you His heart of love for those around you.

Missionary Spotlight


Conor & Natalie McAleavey
Conor and Natalie McAleavey serve in Northern Ireland as GEM missionaries where they are living out their long term calling and vision to see Northern Ireland saturated with the healing and transforming power of the Gospel. Conor grew up Catholic in Northern Ireland, and witnessed firsthand the bitter and violent divide between Catholics and Protestants. Later in life he was saved and embraced the Protestant evangelical faith, along with his wife Natalie. They both attended Crosspoint Church and were sent out as missionaries in 2020. 

As new parents, they are overjoyed at the opportunity to nurture their daughter Mia! They have recently joined a local church that aligns with their missional heartbeat to reach Northern Ireland, which they are helping to bridge the gospel to Catholics in that region. They are also heavily involved with a refugee community in their area, and are making the most of every opportunity to live intentionally and to build discipling relationships. 

If you’d like to receive updates from Conor and Natalie, you can request to join their private Facebook group for ministry updates https://www.facebook.com/groups/341111047214439

Prayer Points:

• That the light of Christ would penetrate the darkness in Northern Ireland, and specifically, their village. There are a lot of new age practices and demonic influences that have saturated the culture. The burden for the lost often feels overwhelming.
• For growth in the discipling relationships they’ve established to bear fruit.
• For Conor and Natalie to be the healthiest version of themselves in order to be most effective for the Kingdom.

Repent of Your Greed

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Forgiveness
After Jesus addresses requests in prayer, he moves on to repentance. He continues the Lord’s Prayer saying: “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.…” (Matthew 6:12). As we focus on witnessing and evangelism, we are boldly calling others to repentance. If we are going to prophetically call for repentance, we must be sure that we also are repenting of our own sins. We must also repent of the sins that keep us from effectively witnessing to those in our circle of influence. Each topic in this section will call for repentance for a common sin. The questions and prayer points in the coming weeks aren’t meant as condemnations or accusations. Rather, they present an opportunity for self-reflection and humility as the Spirit reveals our sins.

1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 (ESV) “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

At the end of his letter to Timothy, Paul gives him some commands concerning the rich people in his congregation. He reminds Timothy that riches do not last. They are here today and gone tomorrow. Pursuing money has no eternal significance and can lead to great pain. Paul also says that money does not bring security. It is God who provides all things, not one’s bank account. Instead of living for money, Paul instructs Timothy and his congregation to live and spend for the coming age.

Very few people think that they are rich. We think that rich people are “those” people, the ones with the nicer car and the bigger house. But compared to the course of human history, most Americans are extremely wealthy. The Bible never says that being rich is a sin, but God is very clear about how we are to think about and use money. Money is to be used for the coming kingdom. We are to take this temporary wealth and turn it into eternal riches.

Not all, or even most, people are called to go overseas as missionaries. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take part in the work through our giving. Most missionaries are serving overseas with financial support. We can partner with them through our generosity and our willingness to share what God has provided for us. 

Consider:  

• Do you know any missionaries? 
• If so, have you considered supporting them financially?
• Are you pursuing heavenly riches?

Prayer Points

1. Repent of any love of money in your own heart.
2. Repent if you have been more concerned about money on this earth than the riches in heaven.

Corporate Repentance

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Forgiveness
After Jesus addresses requests in prayer, he moves on to repentance. He continues the Lord’s Prayer saying: “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.…” (Matthew 6:12). As we focus on witnessing and evangelism, we are boldly calling others to repentance. If we are going to prophetically call for repentance, we must be sure that we also are repenting of our own sins. We must also repent of the sins that keep us from effectively witnessing to those in our circle of influence. Each topic in this section will call for repentance for a common sin. The questions and prayer points in the coming weeks aren’t meant as condemnations or accusations. Rather, they present an opportunity for self-reflection and humility as the Spirit reveals our sins.

Daniel 9:3-15 (ESV) “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belongs mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. ”

When we think of repentance, many times we think of individual repentance. David sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah and so he repented of his sins. Jesus does call us to repentance of our sins. But there is another kind of repentance that appears in the Bible. In this prayer from Daniel, we see an example of corporate repentance. Corporate repentance is repentance of a group of people or on behalf of those people. In every story we have of Daniel, he is always doing the right thing. He always obeys. He always walks by faith. He always believes in God. Yet when he prays, he doesn’t pray for forgiveness of “those people’s sins.” He repents from “our” sins, crying out saying “we” have sinned.

It is important for us to note here that the United States is not in the position of Israel. Our nation does not have a covenant with God the way Israel does so cannot just copy Daniel’s prayer word-for-word for the US. However, Daniel does model for us what it looks like to cry out on behalf of one's own nation or even one’s own culture. We can repent of our country’s self-centeredness, of our community’s pride and anger and division. We can cry out over the discarding of human life; from babies killed through abortion, to neglected elderly in nursing homes, to the rejection of the poor and the immigrant. We, like Daniel, should mourn and repent on behalf of our nation’s sins.

Consider:

• What are the sins of our nation?
• What are the sins of our communities?

Prayer Points

1. Mourn and repent for the sins of the nation.
2. Mourn and repent for the sins of your community.

Prayers of Repentance

Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Forgiveness
After Jesus addresses requests in prayer, he moves on to repentance. He continues the Lord’s Prayer saying: “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.…” (Matthew 6:12). As we focus on witnessing and evangelism, we are boldly calling others to repentance. If we are going to prophetically call for repentance, we must be sure that we also are repenting of our own sins. We must also repent of the sins that keep us from effectively witnessing to those in our circle of influence. Each topic in this section will call for repentance for a common sin. The questions and prayer points in the coming weeks aren’t meant as condemnations or accusations. Rather, they present an opportunity for self-reflection and humility as the Spirit reveals our sins.

1 John 1:8-10 (ESV) “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Throughout the book of 1 John, many different signs of true faith are listed. One of the ways that you know that you are a true believer is if you are actively admitting and repenting your sin. These verses are often used in the context of witnessing and salvation. However, repentance should be an active part of believers’ life and prayer after salvation. This is why Jesus includes repentance as a part of his model prayer for the disciples.

Repentance is more than asking for forgiveness. It also includes turning away from sin and turning to God. If we say we have repented but live in habitual sin, we have not repented. Because repentance is a vital aspect of our prayer life, and in following with the Lord’s prayer, the next several topics will center on prayers of repentance. Each topic in this section will call for repentance for a common sin. Take the time to honestly consider each topic. As an extra step, ask a close-friend, spouse, or fellow band member what sin they see in your life.

As we focus on witnessing and evangelism, we are boldly calling others to repentance. If we are going to prophetically call for repentance, we must be sure that we also are repenting of our own sins.  

Consider:

• Have you ever repented of your sins?
• Is repentance a regular part of your prayer life?
• When was the last time you admitted you were wrong and apologized?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that the Spirit would reveal the sins in your life and lead you to repentance.