An organised prayer life?

We're currently having our annual month of prayer at church and this year I've produced a prayer guide. I thought it might be helpful, maybe even inspiring, to share it with you, so here's week 1.

Some of the items are clearly specific to our situation, but you could substitute similar things from your own circumstances. Just change the dates to suit your starting point.

I'll post weeks 2 to 4 next week.

Prayer Guide: Week 1

Monday 4th Feb.

Pray for the leaders of the church. For the core leaders who serve as deacons (insert names); for all those who lead our ministry teams. Ask God to be preparing those who will take up leadership roles this year.

Tuesday 5th Feb.

Give thanks for Light Lunch, for the growth in numbers staying for lunch and the opportunities this presents to share God’s love.

Wednesday 6th Feb. & Thursday 7th

Take time today and tomorrow to seek God about your own spiritual journey. Ask him to show you what area of your character he wants to develop next; what next in your ministry; what next in your family.

Take a spiritual health-check: How are you doing as you seek to follow Jesus wholeheartedly? Try to be specific about what you are going to do with respect to any change you feel you need to make.

Friday 8th Feb.

In November we set what we called an aspirational budget. We realised that this budget was beyond our current means to meet and therefore calls for a measure of faith. Pray about our finances, about how we can meet this budget. Ask for wisdom for those who are responsible for looking after our money and pray that we would all give according to what God has put in our hearts.

Saturday 9th Feb.

Pray for the mission of the church. Pray that we would reestablish a pattern of regular involvement in outreach through things like Servant Evangelism, Ordinary Attempts, Just Walk Across the Room. Pray for some specific opportunities for you to share something of God’s love with another person. Ask God if there is a particular person he wants you to invite to church or Alpha.

Sunday 10th Feb.

Thank God for the opportunities we have to meet together to worship him. Thank him for all those who serve us on Sundays. In particular pray for the worship group and for those who run the sound desk and projector. Pray for the people who preach and teach and share God’s word with us throughout the year.