by Pastor Brian Petak
“I have learned, and am learning, that there’s no real victory or joy in the Christian life unless there’s also a sense of total dependence upon God. And that sense of dependence is what makes prayer spring to life.”
~ David Jeremiah, The Prayer Matrix, p. 63.
Meditation
Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:
“He went through the very experience of the things which we have suffered; now he is not ignorant of our sufferings; not only does he know them as God, but as man also he has known them, but the trial wherewith he was tried; he suffered much, he knows how to sympathize. And yet God is incapable of suffering; but he describes here what belongs to the Incarnation, as if he had said, “Even the very flesh of Christ suffered many terrible things.” He knows what tribulation is; he knows what temptation is, not less than we who have suffered, for he himself also has suffered.”
John Chrysostom, 4th Century Early Church Father, Ascetic and Monk, Archbishop of Constantinople
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.” Selah
5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
Psalm 66:1-5
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, O weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
And he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quench’d, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto me, your morn shall rise,
And all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of life I’ll walk,
Till trav’ling days are done.
~ Horatius Bonar, 19th Century Scottish Pastor, Theologian & Hymnwriter
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
O Lord my God, Light of the blind, and Strength of the weak; yea also Light of those that see, and Strength of the strong; hearken unto my soul, and hear it crying out of the depths. Woe is me!
Lord, help us to turn and seek you; for not as we have forsaken our Creator have you forsaken your creation. Let us turn and seek you, for we know you are here in our heart, when we confess to you, when we cast ourselves upon you, and weep in your bosom, after all our rugged ways, and you gently wipe away our tears, and we weep the more for joy; because you, Lord – not man of flesh and blood – but you, Lord, who made us, remake and comfort us. Amen.
~ Augustine, 4th Century Bishop of Hippo
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:15-17
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
My Father, gird me still with your presence, both by day and by night. By day, teach me to remember my weakness, and by night tell me where lies my strength. By day point me down to Gethsemane, and by night lead me up to the mount of transfigured glory. By day show me the burden, and by night reveal to me the crown, so shall my days and nights be girded about with you. Amen
~ George Matheson, 19th Scottish Pastor, Glasgow, Scotland
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray for those needs in your personal life that bring you to a place of dependence on God.
- Church: pray for The Ascent Church as we gather today for corporate worship – those in person and those online – that each of us will hear the message from God’s word that He desires, and that we all will be edified as we gather together and respond to all He’s revealed Himself to be.
- Community: pray for all those in our community who are gathering for corporate worship at other churches.
- World: pray for our global partners around the world: Nedson Shoko with ZIMNET in Zimbabwe, Rosemary Khamati with PEACE International in Uganda, Steffen Weil with the City to City network of churches in Germany and Hawi Belete with ROTOM in Ethiopia.
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 so exceeding abundantly beyond 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
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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)