| Sweet Hour of Prayer |
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SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
Sweet hour of prayer, Sweet hour of prayer, That calls me from a world of care. And bids me at my Father's throne ; Make all my wants and wishes known.
We often sing the song but do we rarely practice it. Below find a simple yet pratical way to spend an hour in prayer with God. May it be a blessing for you
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS:
Feel free to structure your prayer any way that you wish. The following are simply suggestions which may be of some help: Have church prayer list on hand and use it as well.
PRAISE GOD: (about 10 minutes)
For his creative powers;
For his attributes: He is holy, just, loving, faithful, unchanging character, the fact that God is all knowing, all-powerful, all present.
For His redeeming love;
For the gift of his Son, His humbling himself in obedience even to the point of death on a cross.
Read some sections of the Bible as part of your praise, such as Psalm 19, Psalm 47, Psalm 66, Psalm 100, Psalm 103, Psalm 104, Luke 1:46-55;
Sing or listen to a praise song or hymn.
CONFESS SINS: (about 10 minutes)
Confession is agreeing with the God you have just praised that sin is sinful.
Confess your own sins -- be specific!
Reading Psalm 51 would be a good beginning.
Include in your confession:
Sins of commission: greed, jealousy, pride, self-righteousness, lust, sexual sins, bitterness, anger, gossip, murmuring, disobeying authority, stealing (from the government, from the office, from the church, from businesses), hatred, callousness, lack of self-control, hurtful words, idolatry (putting anything before God), misuse of alcohol, others;
Sins against: Your spouse, your parents, your grandparents, your brothers, your sisters, your children, your grandchildren, your fellow believers, your fellow workers, your girlfriend /boyfriend, your teachers, your friends, your neighbors, others;
Sins of omission:
Not caring enough: to pray, to give of your time to God and His church, to giving of your money in tithe and offerings, to giving of yourself, to visit the sick and shutin , to reach out with the Gospel to others;
Not depending on God: to help you through temptation,
Not depending on God in leading you in your decision-making,
Not depending on God to develop your spiritual gifts;
Sins of groups to which you belong: Your church, Your country, Your Family
Psalms 32, Daniel 9:4-19, and Nehemiah 1:5-11 may be appropriate for reading or paraphrasing as part of your prayer at this point.
INTERLUDE:
You may want to take five minutes of silence at this point, reflecting on what you have said. You have praised God for who He is, and have confessed your own unworthiness. Meditate on the wonder and mystery of 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Psalms 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 46:10 (NIV) "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
GIVE THANKS TO GOD: (about 10 minutes)
For God's mercy, grace and forgiveness.
For His great sacrifice for our sins;
For what He has done for you in this last year;
For what He will do for you in the coming year;
For the natural beauty of our world;
For your church;
For its growth in the last year (thank God for individuals by name);
For individuals within the church who have taught you, loved you, reached out to you, discipled you, or rebuked you;
For the elders, deacons, preacher and their wives
For the Sunday School; and Teachers
For the various ministries of the church;
For those who work with the youth
For your family;
For your health;
For the trials you have faced this last year, and will face next year;
For those in authority over you: your parents, your husband, your employer, government officials;
For the abundance of material blessings you have received; For other items.
INTERCESSION: (about 20 minutes)
For Others: Use Church Prayer List Here.
THE LOST
For your church:
BACKSLIDDEN/APOSTATES
That God's Word would be taught effectively and powerfully;
That many individuals would receive Christ this year through the ministries of our members;
That each individual member (name some!) would desire to serve the Lord God with all his heart, allowing God to develop his spiritual gift(s);
That we will exhibit Christ's love for each other in our thoughts, words, and deeds;
That whatever differences we have would be reconciled by God, and we would be become one through His redeeming power.
For Your Preacher :
That he would preach the Word, reproving, rebuking, and encouraging us with great patience and careful instruction.
That he would live a life worthy of his calling, being an example to the flock.
For all Leaders in the church:
That they would be diligent in responding to the needs of their families, giving of themselves; that they would "keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience"; (1 Timothy 3:9)
For all those who suffer physical and emotional problems in our church (name them)
For Christian missions and missionaries we support here at Kirkpatrick:
Adventures in Missions
Good News for Africa
Round Lake Christian Assembly
Haitian Christian Outreach'
Bible Institute for Christian Missions
Art Bush Ministries
American Rehabilitation Ministry
Raphia House
T.E.A.M. Expansion (Doug Lucas)
Voice Of Hope Pregnancy Center
Marion Road Church of Christ
Food Pantry
* Note see "Link" for website of all these missions.
2008/2009 - Faith Promise Program
Promised Amount - $12,152.60
In the U.S.
Our President and Vice President and his administration.
Congress
Supreme Court
All Law Enforcement and Fire Personal
Our Military (at home and abroad)
Around the world;
For the hungry, poor, and oppressed in this country.
In the Indian sub-continent, where so many people are walking in darkness, where millions of people will be suffering from hunger next year if the present drought continues, and where the workers are so few;
In communist countries, in other parts of the world.
For your family, neighbors, others.
For God's Kingdom
For Persecuted Christians around the world.
Pray that God's kingdom will come, that His will may be done in earth as in heaven. Consider the implications of this phrase that so often rolls off our lips, and elaborate on it.
For Yourself :
You desires and needs, concerns.
Thank God for the Holy Spirit; for His guidenance in your life.
Ask to be filled wirh the Holy Spirit; for the Fruit of the Spirit in your life - Galatians 5:22 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
CLOSING (about 5 minutes)
You may want to sing another song of praise, or spend another few minutes in silence.
You may use the following to close a Prayer of the Apostle Paul for the Ephesian Church:
Eph 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Eph 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
Eph 3:18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Eph 3:19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Eph 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
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