by Pastor Brian Petak
“If Jesus was convinced that his own life and ministry depended upon His prayer life with the Father, we as well must set our hearts to maintain uninterrupted time in prayer with our Lord, for this is the key not only to our ministry but to our very life as God intends it.”
~ Henry Blackaby, Experiencing Prayer with Jesus, p. 19.
Meditation
Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:
“He did not come upon earth merely to teach and preach, and work miracles. He came to make satisfaction for sin, by his own blood and suffering on the cross. Let us never forget this. The incarnation, and example, and words of Christ are all of deep importance. But the grand object which demands our notice in the history of his earthly ministry is his death on Calvary.”
J.C. Ryle, 19th Century Evangelical Anglican Pastor, Bishop of Liverpool, England
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
Isaiah 55:1-3
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
How lovely shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
the light in Judah shining.
O David’s son of Jacob’s race,
my Bridegroom and my King of grace,
for you my heart is pining.
Lowly, holy, great and glorious,
O victorious Prince of graces,
filling all the heav’nly places.
O highest joy by mortals won,
true Son of God and Mary’s son,
the highborn King of ages!
In your blest body let me be,
e’en as the branch is in the tree,
your life my life supplying.
Sighing, crying for the savor
of your favor, resting never
till I rest in you forever.
O mighty Father, in your Son
you loved me ere you had begun
this ancient world’s foundation.
Your Son has made a friend of me,
and when in spirit him I see,
I joy in tribulation.
What bliss is this! He is living,
to me giving life forever;
nothing me from him can sever.
Lift up the voice and strike the string,
let all glad sounds of music ring
in God’s high praises blended.
Christ will be with me all the way,
today, tomorrow, ev’ry day
till trav’ling days are ended.
Sing out ring out triumph glorious,
O victorious chosen nation;
praise the God of your salvation.
~ Philipp Nicolai, 16th Century German Pastor and Hymnwriter, Hamburg
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
O Lord, as long as I am apart from you, I am self-satisfied, because I have no standard by which to measure my low stature. But when I come near to you, there for the first time I see myself. In your light I behold my darkness. In your purity I behold my corruption. My very confession of sin is the fruit of holiness.
Oh! Divine Man, let me gaze on you more and more until, in the vision of your brightness, I loathe the sight of my impurity; until, in the blaze of that glory which human eye has not seen, I fall prostrate, blinded, broken, to rise a new man in you. Amen.
~ George Matheson, 19th Century Scottish Pastor, Author and Hymnwriter, Glasgow, Scotland
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.
Ephesians 1:3-10
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
O my God, my Lord, and Father, show unto my poor soul, that it may perceive that you are my rock, bulwark, shield, tower, treasure, defense, trust, help, refuge, protection, and goodness; that in this my great need and tribulation, I may through your godly grace have help and assistance against my adversaries, and be preserved forever. Lord, upon you do I trust; let me never be ashamed. Amen.
~ Martin Luther, 16th Century German Reformer, Pastor, Author, Wittenburg
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray for your spouse, if you are married, to experience the richness of the grace of Christ and a peace that transcends all knowledge today. If not married or widowed, pray that you will also experience the richness of the grace of Christ and a peace that transcends all knowledge today.
- Church: pray for The Ascent Church – that all who are participating in our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting will even now be preparing their hearts for corporate worship as a church family tomorrow.
- Community: pray for those Jesus might be prompting even today to consider visiting our church tomorrow – or any of the good, solid, Bible-teaching churches in our community.
- World: pray for the International Easter Celebration Ascent is hosting today in our worship center, 5:30-8pm. We are expecting over 300 people representing many different cultures and countries, and all who call Ascent “home” are also invited.
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:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
_________________________________________
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)