Bonnie’s Prayer Affair Prayers

CONFESSION

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GOING TO THE CROSS

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 4.51.02 PM…FATHER, what would happen if I willed myself to look into the face of JESUS on the cross? Could the SPIRIT reveal something in my heart that I’m unaware of and have been avoiding?

Can I let CHRIST’s self-forgetful love—His longsuffering and forbearance flow into my self-remembering heart? I see His wounded hands and feet—His face crowned with thorns (ref#97, p48)—“the bruised body, the dying cries” The Valley of Vision (ref#76, p41). I remember how He lived—what He did—what He didn’t do. This cross scene is not something in the past; the Cross still stands! His precious blood still flows for my sin (ref#97, p29)! Do I comprehend the magnitude of that?

“…let us go…in all our rags and poverty and defilement of our natural condition. Let us clasp that cross and look into His eyes. Let us bathe in that fountain filled with blood.  Then we will have our first love restored to us.  Once again we will experience the simplicity of our faith and the tenderness of our hearts” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, March 30th PM).

ADORATION

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SCRIPTURE AND THE SPIRIT

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 4.42.33 PM…FATHER, the words You have set in Your Bible are encased in human language but they are not limited to what the human mind can perceive (ref#79, p150). I recognize biblical writings as informative, intriguing, or entertaining but my mind can do nothing to connect me with the words—nothing to change the condition of my heart. Only by the SPIRIT does the words become personal.

“God’s language in his book is alive and full of power. Sharper than a two-edged sword, it cuts open the very thought life of people. It exposes and interprets what they think and feel” Will Metzger (ref#79, p150).

The SPIRIT’s witness to Scripture is not revealing new information but shedding light on what is already written. With the SPIRIT present to interpret the precious words for me my whole being is impressed upon. I am able to react to the words in the same way I sense taste and color (ref#56, p1677, “The Authentication of Scripture”). “As I saturate my life with the Word, I give the Spirit a vocabulary to personalize the Word to me” Paul E. Miller (ref#62, p246). Surely the inward work of the HOLY SPIRIT persuades and assures me that what I’m reading is written for me.

“We read the Scriptures in vain unless we come to them earnestly desiring a better knowledge of God’s will for us…” Arthur W. Pink (ref#152, p173).

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL TRIBULATION

[Below is a general prayer for Christians in tribulation.  We all can think of a Christian sister or brother experiencing so much affliction they may not be able to pray for themselves.  Here’s an opportunity to pray for them.  Fill their name in the blanks.]

THE DIVINE WEAPONS OF WARFARE – THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 4.15.46 PM“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you…” (Isa 42:6 ESV).

FATHER, motivate ____ to consciously put on the breastplate of righteousness. Empower (him/her) to review all the principles of righteousness, for it is the means You, LORD, keep (him/her).

(His/Her) righteousness comes ONLY through CHRIST’s blood shed on the cross; (his/her) righteousness comes ONLY through the regeneration of (his/her) heart where You, LORD, implant true holiness which is a life able to be regulated according to Your testimonies.

You have put Your life into ____’s soul. It is all Your doing, and in so doing engrain it into ____ that there is no one who can make (his/her) spiritual and eternal life insecure (ref#15, [Eph 6:14]).

THANKSGIVING

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THE SPIRIT REVEALS THE FATHER AND THE SON

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 4.02.04 PM“By working beyond all our weaknesses, the Holy Spirit attests how great is the heavenly Father’s love for us. The privileges of prayer demonstrate that God treats us as his children, with love as great as he lavishes on his own Son (1 John 3:1)” Bryan Chapell (ref#66, p82).

FATHER, JESUS exercises His autonomy through the HOLY SPIRIT by daily bringing me to a willing bondage under His easy yoke where I find His commands not difficult to follow (ref#79, p73).

JESUS is gladly one with You, FATHER, and He desires I would enter in to the fellowship (John 17:21). I thank You for the SPIRIT, who endears me to You. He takes every opportunity to glorify JESUS so that I am able to “blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, July 2nd). The SPIRIT is the only Lover of the Lord JESUS and He transfers that love to me (ref#7, July 2nd).

“The one and only characteristic of the Holy Ghost in a man is a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, and freedom from everything that is unlike Him” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, Feb 8th).

Praise You, FATHER, for commanding love from me. Praise You, SPIRIT, for enabling me to give that love to You, FATHER.

CONFESSION

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SPIRIT CHECK

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 3.30.29 PMSearch me, O GOD, try me. See if there is any wicked way in me (Ps 139:23-24). SPIRIT, point out my misdeeds in the sentences below that I might own up to them, for “[Christ is compassionate] in [keeping] his institutions…—marrying his church to himself…” (ref#35, p266).

Do I love CHRIST enough to stay chaste? When I do not feel His presence, do I look for someone else to fellowship with or simply busy myself with activities (ref#35, p263)?

Do I trust any of my own righteous endeavors to commend myself to CHRIST—like, do I feel a twinge of self-satisfaction after I confess all the sins I know of (ref#35, p264)?

When my soul is in the wilderness will I sit still and wait until CHRIST comes or do I let my good intentions and activities satisfy my soul (ref#35, p264)?

Do I place my joy and comfort in other things besides being filled with joy in the HOLY SPIRIT (ref#35, p265)?

Do I consider it my daily work to get my heart crucified to the things of this world (ref#35, p266)?

Do I invent ways and certain times to worship You and not wait for Your appointment—do I plan my day without CHRIST’s input (ref#35, p266-267)?

Do I embrace everything that only CHRIST has appointed? Do I go to Him for directions and beg Him to lead me in the way that I have not known (Isa 48:6)?

 

ADORATION

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THE SPIRIT’S ILLUMINATION

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 3.16.13 PM…ALL-GIVING FATHER, I extol You for supporting the SPIRIT as He provides illumination to me. Sin attacks my mind and will in such ways that I miss or resist the force of Your Word (ref#56, p1646, “Illumination and Conviction”).

Praise to You, SPIRIT; You reveal Scripture in an understanding way. By reading Scripture on my own I become familiar with its content but cannot apply it to my life. You, SPIRIT, set me on the wave of truth that flows into my heart (ref#56, p1646, “Illumination and Conviction”) where it can be applied to my life.

SPIRIT, I am also humbled by Your ability to bring me to repentance and satisfy me with the FATHER’s assurance of His grace and certainty of His everlasting favor (ref#56, p1646, “Illumination and Conviction”). I thank You for Your constant care of my needs; You surprise me by Your closeness the moment You illuminate sin that I am not aware of.   I will find You through the Word, prayer, meditation, and as I battle to live by the light You give (ref#56, p1646, “Illumination and Conviction”).

“I am bell and He is sure wind, and He moves and I am rung and I know it for what it is…” Ann Voskamp (ref#130, p60).

SUPPLICATION

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PROVISIONS

[We all know someone who is dealing with financial problems. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

A WAY IN THE DESERT

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 12.15.01 PM“When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them…” (Isa 41:17 ESV).

 

“I will open rivers on the bare heights,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water” (Isa 41:18 ESV).

“that they may see and know,

may consider and understand together,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it” (Isa 41:20 ESV)

 

“’Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth…” (Isa 43:18-19 ESV)

 

“…I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert…”

…to give drink to my chosen people,

the people whom I formed for myself…” (Isa 43:20-21 ESV).

FATHER, remember ____. You have provided the means to make (him/her) humble. The wounds which marred CHRIST brought many sons to glory. And also, the wounds that mar ____ are designed to bring many sons to glory. Help ____ not shrink back from the difficulties for You have stirred (him/her) up in righteousness, and You will make all (his/her) ways level; ____ shall build Your city and set Your exiles free, but not for a price or reward (Isa 45:13). Cause ____ to lean on You for help remembering (his/her) life is sacrificed for Your glory.

THANKSGIVING

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PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 12.06.03 PM…FATHER, when You bless me You bless me forever. It is You, LORD, who makes me continue forever before You (1 Chron 17:27).

“The preservation of the saints means that all who have been elected by the Father, atoned for by Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit will be saved…, and that not one of them will fall away totally or finally” R. C. Sproul (ref#71, p46).

King David conspired to murder an innocent man, yet You caused him to continue desiring You to the end of his life. You even called him “a man after Your own heart” (Acts 13:22). It is not my control of my sin or my submitting to Your commands that will keep me to the end, but Your hand alone.

What You start, You will finish. You began a good work in me and will continue to complete it until the day of CHRIST JESUS (Phil 1:6). I may sin severely and fall into a great length and depth of backsliding but You will keep me from falling completely away. My disobedience will keep me from joy, but it will not keep me from continuing on eternally with You.

FATHER, You alone preserve me. I cannot rely on myself to keep myself. I am “too weak; too changeable; too ready to be led astray; too much disposed to yield to temptation” Barnes’ Notes (ref#16, [Phil 1:6]).

But, lest I willingly slip into apathy because of Your goodness, prick me about You holding me responsible for every careless word from my mouth (Matt 12:36). I must be responsible before You for You are not mocked (Gal 6:7).

CONFESSION

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CONSCIENCE

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 11.57.15 AM“A good conscience is that which is well informed in regard to what is right, and where its dictates are honestly followed” Barnes’ Notes (ref#16, [1 Tim 1:19]).

FATHER, You have placed inside me a barometer that reveals to me if I am following You or going astray. Conscience testifies to all the ways I am rebellious to CHRIST (ref#101, p110). It renders me uneasy when I fall short of Your glory. My conscience together with my intuition will protest immediately any inclination that is displeasing to the HOLY SPIRIT (ref#101, p106).

How I thank You, FATHER, for a conscience. Without it I would replace Your will for laudable deeds to my liking. I would argue with You that what I propose to be is “better, broader in scope, more profitable and greater in influence” Watchman Nee (ref#101, p111-112).

Sober me with the fact that my actions can increase the sensitivity of the conscience or decrease it. If I disregard it by turning toward reason or rationalization conscience’s voice will be softer (ref#101, p114). In fact, if I don’t purge everything conscience tells me is contrary to You, I will lose my fellowship with You instantly (ref#101, p118).

Since conscience is Your deputy in my soul, help me to be as careful not to offend it as I am not to offend a friend. FATHER, it is my duty to willingly work to have a conscience that doesn’t misinform me, nor flatter me, nor deal deceitfully with me (ref#18, [Acts 24:10-21]).

“If I am in the habit of steadily facing myself with God, my conscience will always introduce God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do….I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I walk without offense” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, May 13th).

ADORATION

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CHRIST – RULER OF KINGS

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 11.45.30 AM…FATHER, You decreed CHRIST to be the firstborn from the dead (Rev. 1:5)—so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place (Col 1:18).

“Having died a martyr to his testimony, and given his life an offering for sin, he was restored to life again, as all the Scriptures witness and became ‘the first fruits of the resurrection,’…”The Apocalypse: Exposition of the Book of Revelation (ref#70, [Rev 1:4-8]). He is Your first-born, higher than the kings of the earth (Ps 89:27).

CHRIST rules the kings of the earth (Rev 1:5). From “him they have their authority; by him their power is limited and their wrath restrained; by him their counsels are over-ruled, and to him they are accountable” Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (ref#18, [Rev 1:3-8]). Every king, from the foundation of the earth, in their absolute authority over millions of subjects, are all kings over which CHRIST is the King of kings (ref#16, [Rev 1:5]).

Being faithful, His love is ever present. Having justified and sanctified me, He makes me too, a king FATHER, for Your glory (Rev 1:6).

With the SPIRIT of CHRIST’s enabling power, as a king, I rule my own spirit, possess the ability to conquer Satan, and am privileged to work with You in prayer, as well as cooperate with You in judging the world. CHRIST, You give me access to You, enabling me to enter into the holiest place and to offer spiritual sacrifices (ref#18, [Rev 1:6]).

To CHRIST be glory and dominion forever and ever (Rev 1:6). I shall show all praise and honor to my Redeemer. He reigns as King of kings continually. I desire that He exercise strength and power and authority over me through all eternity (ref#16, [Rev 1:6]).