PRELUDE TO PRAYER

Prayer Facts:

“…in everything by prayer whose essence is that of worship and devotion and by supplication which is a cry for your personal needs, with thanksgiving let your requests for the things asked for be made know in the presence of God,” Kenneth S. West (ref#37, p467, [Philippians 4:6]).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You are the Fashioner and Maker of all things (Jer 10:16), I will wait for You.

Because You make all the nations of men and determine their allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (Acts 17:26), I will wait for You.

Because there is no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against You (Prov 21:30), I will wait for You.

Read Through the Bible in a Year: Oct 7th – 13th

Oct 7     Ezek 42-44; John 1

Oct 8     Ezek 45-46; John 2

Oct 9     Ezek 47-48; Ps 64

Oct 10   Dan 5-6; John 3

Oct 11    Dan 7-8; John 4

Oct 12   Dan 9-10; John 5

Oct 13   Dan 11-12; John 6

SUPPLICATION

NON CHRISTIAN Pursuers

[We all have friends and family that sit in our churches but only act like they are Christians. It is up to us to pray for their salvation. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

THE BOASTINGS OF THE FALLEN NATURE

…FATHER, ____ has heard of You by attending church; (he/she) has read (his/her) Bible, maybe even committed verses to memory, nonetheless Your Word does not produce fruit in (him/her) (Mark 4:19). Even Your truth residing in (his/her) mind is unable to affect (him/her).

It seems ____ is in the business, FATHER, of becoming holy and more holy in (his/her) own strength. Seems (he/she) is working with such intenseness that (he/she) passes over the good news about CHRIST. I think that (his/her) work is so gratifying that (he/she) imagines (he/she) is doing well and getting better and better. But…

 “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth” (Prov 30:12 ESV). “This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done no wrong’” (Prov 30:20 ESV).

“The majority of people have their morality well within their own grasp, they do not sense the need of the Gospel” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, Dec 17th). FATHER, it seems ____ is pursuing You because (he/she) admires righteousness therefore (he/she) is trying hard to act righteously (ref#33, p110). (He/She) may not know that (his/her) natural flesh can perform good as well as produce sin (ref#33, p110). (He/She) may be confusing (his/her) natural fleshly work with Your HOLY SPIRIT’s work. And, the case is that (he/she) is then unable to be a Christian because it is impossible to receive anything unless it is given to (him/her) from heaven (James 1:17).

It is quite natural to fall into the pattern of searching the Scriptures for commands to keep (John 5:39). By keeping only the commands of (his/her) choosing (he/she) does not need a Savior; (he/she) is saving (himself/herself). FATHER, lead ____ to the understanding that whatever “does not issue from waiting upon God, from depending upon the HOLY SPIRIT, is unquestionably of the flesh”  Watchman Nee (ref #33, p 114).

It seems that ____ is set in (his/her) own ways of righteousness, but I know, FATHER, that You can and will work in due season to call Your sons and daughters according to Your purpose (ref#13, Vol 1, p31 [Mark 2:14]). Please, FATHER, I want You to call ____.

THANKSGIVING

Chord Progression: (C  Ddim  Fdim  C)  (Fdim  Bdim Ddim  C)

STEADFAST AND LOYAL

Your steadfast love extends to the heavens (Ps 36:5).

You are staunch and loyal (ref#110, p1310)—

cohesive and persistent (ref#110, p1378)—

unwavering and tenacious (ref#110, p1465, 1378).

 

You, LORD, will not leave me or destroy me (Deut 4:31).

Because You are firm in Your purposes,

being resolute and determined (ref#110, p1142),

You are impervious to any enemy (ref#110, p677).

 

You will not forget Your covenant (Deut 4:31).

You are always unfailing—

You are inexhaustible (ref#110, p1457);

You are forever faithful (ref#110, p487).

 

Your faithfulness extends to the clouds (Ps 36:5).

You are responsible,

reliable and exact—

constant and trustworthy (ref#110, p487).

CONFESSION

OVERWHELMING CIRCUMSTANCES ARE OKAY

…FATHER, You have set me on a course of looking for people to minister to—and I HAVE FOUND THEM! My initial reaction is very much like the sluggard in Proverbs. He says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets” (Prov 22:13)! How can I minister successfully to all that clamor for my attention? “There are too many; I will exhaust myself.”

LORD, when You command, I must do it immediately. Questioning is not a prerogative. Oswald Chambers says, “When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, June 8th). FATHER, has not Your inspiration come in the past, and has it not come with such miraculous power in such a way that I am able to “arise from the dead and do the impossible thing” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, Feb 16th)?

“Jesus is asking us to take one end of the yoke—‘My yoke is easy, get alongside Me and we will pull together’” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, April 14th).

Compel me, FATHER, to not be a sluggard. Continually remind me I am not responsible for Christian service (because You, Yourself do the work), but I am only responsible “to keep in living, constant, touch” with You (ref#7, April 23rd).

CHRIST says, “Follow me, run along behind Me! That is all” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (ref#10, p 58). Advise me to “see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for” me (ref#10, p88).

Remind me that “bewilderment is the true comprehension. Not to know where you are going is the true knowledge” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (ref#10, p93).

Oh soul, do not run ahead or lag behind paralyzed in fear. FATHER, I desire to wait for You then run with You—for Your closeness is the place of rest. Strengthen my trust in You—weaken my trust in myself. Empower me to put all my hope in You for You are all steadfast love (Ps 33:22).

ADORATION

Chord Progression:  (C  G7  C7  F6) (F#dim  C  G7  G)

RESTORE ME AGAIN

 Restore me again, O GOD of my salvation,

and put away Your indignation toward me (Ps 85:4)!

Will you not revive me again, that I may rejoice in You?

Show me Your steadfast love, O LORD (Ps 85:6,7).

 

Surely Your salvation is near

that glory may dwell with me.

Let steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

Let righteousness and peace kiss each other (Ps 85:9,10).

 

Let faithfulness spring up from the ground,

and righteousness look down from the sky.

Let righteousness go before me

and make my footsteps a way (Ps 85:11,13).

 

Satisfy me in the morning

with Your steadfast love,

that I may rejoice and be glad

all my days (Ps 90:14).

 

Satisfy me, O LORD,

with Your steadfast love,

I’ll rejoice and be glad

all my days (Ps 90:14).

 

Let Your work be shown to Your servants,

and Your glorious power to their children.

Let the favor of You, LORD,

be upon me (Ps 90:16,17).

 

Restore me again,

O GOD of my salvation (Ps 85:4).

Restore me again.

Restore me.