Day 4, Thursday: Come to Me

by Pastor Brian Petak

“The purest form of love is given with no expectation of return. Measured by this standard, earnest prayer for others is a magnificent act of love.”

~ David Hubbard, The Problem With Prayer Is…, p. 14.

Meditation

Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:

“As believers, we see the Bridegroom as beautiful… He was beautiful as a babe, born of a virgin, when without losing his divinity, he assumed manhood… He was beautiful as a child at his parents’ feet, beautiful as he grew, beautiful to those who observed and experienced his miracles; beautiful under persecution; beautiful in laying down his life; beautiful in rising again; beautiful in heaven.”

Augustine, 5th Century Bishop, Author and Theologian

Call to Worship

Hear God call you to worship through his word:

²⁸ “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

~ Jesus

Matthew 11:28-30

Adoration

Pray this praise to God:

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready waits to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow’r:
He is able, He is able,
He is willing, doubt no more.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all:
Not the righteous, not the righteous,
Sinners Jesus came to call.

Agonizing in the garden,
Your Redeemer prostrate lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him!
Hear Him cry, before He dies,
“It is finished!” “It is finished!”
Sinner, will not this suffice?

Lo! the incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood;
Venture on Him, venture wholly;
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus, none but Jesus,
Can do helpless sinners good.

~ Joseph Hart, 18th Century Hynmwriter

Confession of Sin

Confess your sins to God:

I, a poor, sinful person, confess myself before you, my Lord God and Maker, that sadly I have sinned much, with my senses, thoughts, words, and deeds, as you, eternal God, know very well. I regret them and beg your grace. Amen.

~ Heinrich Bullinger, 16th Century Reformer, Pastor and Leader of the Zurich Reformation

Assurance of Pardon

Receive these words of comfort from God:

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Romans 8:31-34

Prayer of Intercession

As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as you have stretched forth your helping hand to us by your only begotten Son, not only binding yourself to us by an oath, but even sealing your eternal covenant by the blood of the same, your Son – grant that we in turn may keep our faith toward you so that we persevered in the undefiled worship of your name, till we attain unto the reward of our faith in your heavenly kingdom, through the same, Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ John Calvin, 16th Century Pastor, Author and Reformer

Further Petition

Pray for:

• Personal: pray for those in your circle of friendships to draw closer to God through His Word, His Spirit and His people.
• Church: pray for The Ascent Church – for all of those participating in our Practicing the Way discipleship pathway, to continue faithfully in the journey of becoming more like Jesus.
• Community: pray for all of those moving into our area who need to experience the hope, healing and freedom that Jesus alone offers everyone.
• World: pray for all of those involved in armed conflicts around the globe – for their families and loved ones, and for the church in each region to be emboldened with the hope of the gospel.

Connect the Heart

Consider the following questions to better connect your head and your heart:

1. What did God show you about Himself through today’s devotional?
2. What did God show you about yourself through today’s devotional?
3. 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:

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude 24-25

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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)}