PRAY DAY

Welcome

Welcome to our fourth Day of Prayer for 2024.

Before you read on, you are welcome to choose one of these instrumental playlists (Apple: Ambient / Piano or Spotify Ambient / Piano) to put on in the background while you read this page to help you focus on worshipping God through prayer. If you would like to listen to an audio walkthrough version of this prayer, you can do so here.

You are about to walk through 12 segments of prayer.
1. Adoration
2. Waiting
3. Confession
4. Scripture

5. Watching
6. Intercession 
7. Petition

8. Thanksgiving
9. Song 
10. Meditation

11. Listening
12. Worship 

Each segment should only take 5 minutes each and has a specific focus.

Don't feel bad if you have to slow down, speed up or take a break, however, you will get the most out of the time if it is done in one go.

This time is for you to commune with God, so take a deep breath, relax and follow the prompts. Let this scripture be an encouragement to you as you begin.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 6 - 7

1. Adoration

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Psalm 115:1
Adoration is an expression of deep love and honour toward God through prayer. During this segment, pray like this...

Adore his name.
His righteousness.
His love.
His holiness.
His omnipotence.
His greatness.
His faithfulness.
His omnipresence.

Pray and adore his word.
His creation.
His redemption.

Praise him for everything that he is, adore him.

2. Waiting

Be still, and know that I am God.
      I will be exalted among the nations,
      I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:11
Waiting on the Lord is an act of surrender to God. It's often wordless worship. During this segment of prayer, surrender your thoughts and your work to him.

Name the things that you are surrendering specifically.

Pray that the leaders will also surrender to God's will and follow his direction well and with wisdom. Pray that the MCG's and ministries will flourish under His care.

3. Confession

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Confession is the act of identifying and admitting sinfulness to God and remembering the sacrifice of Christ which paid our debt.

If you're able, kneel as a physical representation of submission. And then during this segment, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal unconfessed sins.

Confess your sins by name.
Turn from them.
Then accept God's forgiveness through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Ask God to change your heart, rather than change your circumstances.

Ask God to help DC as a church body to be led to repentance where we need to be.

4. Scripture

Make me understand the way of your precepts,
      and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
            My soul melts away for sorrow;
      strengthen me according to your word!
Psalm 119:27-28
Praying the Scriptures is to learn to feed yourself spiritually on his Word and to pray according to his revelation.

During this segment, read these Scriptures.

Ask God what promises, commands and warnings you are neglecting. Ask the Lord to strengthen you with his word.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-29

"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:29-31

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39

...Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26

As far as the east is from the west,
      so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:12

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:2-3

5. Watching

Make me understand the way of your precepts,
      and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
            My soul melts away for sorrow;
      strengthen me according to your word!

Colossians 4:2
Watching is a time of spiritual observation. To be on the lookout. To be spiritually aware of matters to pray for around you.

During this segment, pray and ask for insight and discernment to know what to focus upon and what your priority should be. Be aware of issues and injustices around you and be on alert to any prompting from the Lord.

Should you need some guidance, here is a brief list you could choose one or two items from to work through:
  • Discernment of Needs – Pray for spiritual discernment to recognise the needs within your family, MCG, wider-DC community, and not-yet-believers at home, uni or work.
  • Injustices – Ask God to open your eyes to the injustices in Springfield and in Australia, and for wisdom in how to respond.
  • Personal Reflection – Seek the Lord’s guidance on areas in your life that need spiritual alignment or renewal.
  • Opportunities to Serve – Pray to be alert to opportunities where you can serve others and share the gospel.
  • God’s Leading – Ask for clarity in what the Holy Spirit may be prompting you to focus on, whether in prayer or action.
  • Church Direction – Pray for the church’s leadership to have wisdom and to be aware of God’s vision and direction, especially in discipleship and outreach efforts.
  • Cultural Issues – Be mindful of cultural shifts and societal pressures, asking for wisdom to engage these issues biblically and lovingly.
  • Global Awareness – Be watchful for international issues and persecuted Christians around the world. Ask for God’s intervention and justice.

6. Intercession

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, 
and thanksgivings be made for all people...
1 Timothy 2:1
Intercession is the action of intervening on behalf of another. To pray and focus on the needs and distress of others.

If you are able, stand up as a representation of standing on behalf of others. Then use this time to pray for a friend, a team mate, a family member, that God's will would be done in their life as it is in heaven. Pray that their physical and spiritual needs would be met and ask for God's provision, mercy and grace in their lives.

For DC, pray for Greg & Fiona in their new role at FIEC, asking God to give them strength, wisdom, and grace as they navigate this new chapter of their ministry.

Also, pray for Matt Gardiner and Tom Cera as they study theology and commit their time vocationally to ministry.

7. Petitions

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6
Petitions are requests made to God in prayer. During this segment, come to God in faith as a son or daughter in total dependence, asking him to provide and intervene.

Bring your desires and needs before your loving Father, knowing that he is listening.

For DC, lift up those who are suffering from physical pain, asking for healing and strength. Pray for God’s comfort and His presence to be with them in their suffering.

Ask God to bring more not-yet-believers to faith through DC.

Also bring before the Lord the large amount of children that are a part of the DC family. Pray that discipleship in the homes would be effective and that they would accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

8. Thanksgiving

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thanksgiving is acknowledging our appreciation to the Lord for who he is and what he is doing in our lives, no matter the circumstances. 1 Thes 5:18 During this segment, think about yesterday and thank God for his care and provision for you and for others.

Thank the Lord for the blessings he has given, and the hardships he has allowed.

Praise God for His sovereignty, acknowledging His goodness in all things, and thanking Him for the next chapter that he has brought the church into.

Thank God for more baptisms coming up at DC and ask him for more.

Thank God for your MCG leaders, staff, and volunteers who continually serve and sacrifice for the church. Thank God for their hearts to put the kingdom first.

9. Song

Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
      sing to the LORD, all the earth!
            Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
      tell of his salvation from day to day.
            Declare his glory among the nations,
      his marvelous works among all the peoples!
            For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
      he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 96:1-4
Singing praise to God can be a beautiful, musical expression of prayer.

You might like to pause your background music as you read or sing the lyrics to this song. As you do, make it your prayer.

SONG: HOW MARVELLOUS

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned, unclean

How marvellous, how wonderful
And my song will ever be
How marvellous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me


He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them his very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
He suffered and died for me

Oh, how marvellous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvellous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me


When with ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
It will be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me

How marvellous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvellous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me


(At the end of this song, you may want resume the background music as you continue praying)

10. Meditation

Blessed is the man
      who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
                  nor stands in the way of sinners,
      nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
            but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
      and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2
Meditation means to reflect upon, or examine a matter more closely and to evaluate it spiritually.

During this segment of prayer, think specifically about all aspects of your life. Do they line up with the counsel of the world, or with the law of the Lord?

Ask God to reveal the things that might be hidden in your life that are in the counsel of the wicked and ask him to replace it with a delight for him.

For DC, ask that God would reveal more of Christ and deepen the congregation’s understanding of Scripture through the upcoming Genesis series.

11. Listening

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:2
Listening is a period of silence where you discern what the Lord may be telling you.

During this segment of prayer, ask God to speak to you, then still your mind and heart. Do not be hasty to think about anything, but rather, focus on hearing from him.

12. Worship

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
            Serve the LORD with gladness!
      Come into his presence with singing!
Psalm 100:1-2
Worship is the full life response to who God is and what he has done.

During this last portion of prayer, read or sing these lyrics and use this time to tell God you know who he is, what he has done and that you trust him with your prayers.

SONG: COME THOU FOUNT

Come Thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here by Thy great help I've come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

Oh, that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace

Come my Lord, no longer tarry
Take my ransomed soul away
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless days

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart
Oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

End of Prayer