by Pastor Brian Petak
“Remember, no one has time to pray; we have to take time from other things that are valuable in order to understand how necessary prayer is. The things that act like thorns and stings in our personal lives will go away instantly when we pray; we won’t feel the smart any more, because we have God’s point of view about them. Prayer means that we get into union with God’s view of other people.”
~ Oswald Chambers, Prayer – A Holy Occupation , p. 97.
Meditation
Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:
In His head He suffered from the crown of piercing thorns; in His hands and feet, from the fastening of the nails; on His face from the blows and spittle; and from the lashes over His entire body. Moreover, He suffered in all His bodily senses: in touch, by being scourged and nailed; in taste, by being given vinegar and gall to drink; in smell, by being fastened to the gibbet in a place reeking with the stench of corpses, “which is called Calvary”; in hearing, by being tormented with the cries of blasphemers and scorners; in sight, by beholding the tears of His Mother and of the disciple whom He loved.
~ Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century Dominican Scholar and Writer of Summa Theologica – Fossanova, Italy
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
He was despised and rejected[b] by men,
a man of sorrows[c] and acquainted with[d] grief;[e]
and as one from whom men hide their faces[f]
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
Stricken, smitten and afflicted,
See him dying on the tree!
‘Tis the Christ by man rejected!
Yes, my soul, ’tis he! ’tis he!
‘Tis the long-expected prophet,
David’s son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
‘Tis a true and faithful word.
Tell me, ye who hear him groaning,
Was there ever grief like his?
Friends thru’ fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound him,
None would interpose to save;
But the awful stroke that pierced him
Was the stroke that justice gave.
Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great;
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed!
See who bears the awful load!
‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s anointed,
Son of man, and Son of God.
Here we have a firm foundation;
Here’s the refuge of the lost:
Christ, the Rock of our salvation:
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on him their hope have built.
~Thomas Kelly, 18th Century Irish Minister and Hymnwriter – Dublin, Ireland
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
We appeal, O Lord, to your mercies, knowing them to be much more greater than our sins; and you came not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance, to whom you say, “Come unto me all you that are overladen and diseased with the burden of sins, and I will ease you and refresh you.” Yes, Lord, you are that God who wills not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn and live. You are our Savior, who wishes all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of your truth. Therefore, O Lord, we humbly ask you not to withdraw your mercies from us because of our sins, but rather, O Lord, lay upon us your saving health, that you may show yourself toward us to be a Savior: for what greater praise can there be to a Physician, than to heal the sick; neither can there be any greater glory to you being a Savior, than to save sinners. Amen
~ Henry Smith, 18th Century English pastor – London, England
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
Lord, I am unable to stand under the cross by myself; be pleased to ease this load by fortifying my spirit, that I may be strongest when I am weakest, and may be able to do and suffer everything that you please, through Christ who strengthens me. Let me pass through the valley of tears, and the valley of the shadow of death with safety and peace, with a meek spirit, and a sense of the divine mercies, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
~Jeremy Taylor, 17th Century English Episcopal Minister – Cambridge, England
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray that God will meet you personally, specifically and meaningfully in an unexpected way today as you seek Him.
- Church: pray that Ascent Church will be seen as a beacon of light in the darkness and a place of healing for those who are hurting and lost.
- Community: pray for our community to recognize its need for a Savior.
- World: pray for churches, pastors and leaders in Africa and Asia – for encouragement, hope and ministry effectiveness.
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:
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
_________________________________________
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)