by Pastor Brian Petak
“Prayer is the essential activity of waiting for God acknowledging our helplessness and his power, calling upon him for help, seeking his counsel. So it is evident why prayer is so often commanded by God, since his purpose in the world is to be exalted for his mercy. Prayer is the antidote for the disease of self-confidence.”
~ John Piper, Desiring God, p. 146.
Meditation
Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:
Little did they dream, as they bound the fatal wood upon His shoulder, by whose power that tree was made to grow, and from whom the beings who bore Him to the death drew their existence. So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself, He created the tree upon which He was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood. Oh the depth of Jesus’ love to sinners.
Octavius Winslow, 19th Century Anglican Pastor, Brighton, England
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:24-25
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried and were rescued;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
But you, O Lord, do not be far off!
O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dog!
Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!
I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
~ Psalms 22:1-5, 19-22
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
O merciful Father, regard not what we have done against you, but what our blessed Savior has done for us. Regard not what we have made ourselves; but what he is made unto us of you, our God. O that Christ may be to every one of our souls, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption! That his precious blood may cleanse us from all our sins; and that your Holy Spirit may renew and sanctify our souls. May he crucify our flesh with its affections and lusts, and mortify all our members which are upon earth. O let not sin reign in our mortal bodies, that we should obey in the lusts thereof; but being made free from sin, let us be the servants of righteousness. Amen.
~ John Wesley, 18th Century British Anglican Pastor & Hymnwriter
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
Psalm 130:7-8
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
We beg you, Master, be our help and strength. Save those among us who are oppressed, have pity on the lowly, and lift up the fallen. Heal the sick, bring back the straying, and feed the hungry. Release those in prison, steady those who falter, and strengthen the fainthearted. Let all nations come to know you, the one God, with your Son Jesus Christ, and us your people and sheep of your pasture. Amen.
~ Clement of Rome, 1st Century Bishop of Rome, martyred in A.D. 99
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray for those in your family and circle of friends who are sick or suffering from physical ailments.
- Church: pray for those in The Ascent Church who are sick or suffering from physical ailments.
- Community: pray for those in our neighborhoods and community who are experiencing hopelessness, fear, anxiety or lack of peace – and are in need of the hope and peace that only Jesus can provide.
- World: pray for peace in those regions around the world that are experiencing conflict, and for the church in those regions to increase in effectiveness to minister to real human needs during these tumultuous times.
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:
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[a] 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)