by Pastor Brian Petak
“Prayer is the power by which that comes to pass which otherwise would not take place.”
~ Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, p. 17.
Meditation
Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:
But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward, punishment and death, was impending over us; and when the time had come which God had before appointed for manifesting His own kindness and power, how the one love of God, through exceeding regard for men, did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our iniquity against us, but showed great long-suffering, and bore with us, He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation!
Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, 2nd Century Early Post-Apostolic Letter (author unknown: “Mathetes = “disciple”)
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
O Jesus, we adore thee,
upon the cross, our King!
We bow our hearts before thee,
thy gracious name we sing.
That name hath brought salvation,
that name in life our stay,
our peace, our consolation,
when life shall fade away.
Yet doth the world disdain thee,
still passing by the cross;
Lord, may our hearts retain thee;
all else we count but loss.
Ah, Lord, our sins arraigned thee,
and nailed thee to the tree:
our pride, our Lord, disdained thee;
yet deign our hope to be.
O glorious King, we bless thee,
no longer pass thee by;
O Jesus, we confess thee,
the Son enthroned on high.
Lord, grant to us remission;
life through thy death restore;
yea, grant us the fruition
of life forevermore.
Arthur T. Russell, 19th Century English Anglican Pastor and Hymnwriter (contributor to “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” – London, England
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
Lord, God, help us to consider the way, the new and living way, in which a fallen creature can approach you with acceptance. May we behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. May we contemplate the dignity of his person, the perfection of his sacrifice, and the efficacy of his intercession, who is the Great High Priest over the house of God. And may we feel the distance between you and us done away, and rejoice that now, in Christ Jesus, we, who at one time were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Amen.
~ William Jay, 18th Century English pastor serving for over 60 years at Argyle Chapel – Bath, England.
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:23
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
O Sweet and gracious Lord, grant by your grace that we may never be so envious of the prosperous state of the ungodly that we fall from the right course of the godly; instead, grant that we may be more and more assured of your goodness and providence, in such a way that our whole aim may be to be forever united with you, through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Scottish Collects (1595)
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray today for those in your family and circle of friends who are walking with the Lord, and thank the Father for the ways that each is pursuing Him and following after Him.
- Church: pray today for the Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry and Catalyst (ministry for young adults.)
- Community: pray for those in our community who are searching for hope, healing and freedom which can only be found in Jesus.
- World: pray for the unreached people groups of the world who have not yet heard the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and have no scripture translated into their language.
Connect the Heart
Consider the following questions to better connect your head and your heart:
- What did God show you about Himself through today’s devotional?
- What did God show you about yourself through today’s devotional?
- What is something you need to surrender to God today as you pursue greater intimacy with Him?
Benediction
As you close your time of meditation and devotion, receive by faith this blessing from God:
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
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Content for our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting devotionals is adapted from several sources, books on prayer, meditations and liturgies, drawing heavily from O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Jonathan Gibson (copyright 2024 by Crossway)