Prayer Prompts - Week 2 of January

We Need Our Shepherd!

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.  We have left God’s path to follow our own.”  (Isa 53:6 NLT)

The lowdown on sheep – We’ve been misled a little about sheep!  While an internet search will show sheep falling in hole after hole, they are actually intelligent creatures.  So, what’s their problem?  It’s unbridled fear from all the risks around that cause them to make poor choices.  Aren’t we often the same?  Smart enough to realize the dangers out there but knowing we are powerless to do much.

Our Shepherd will lead – Thankfully, if allowed to lead - our Shepherd can not only save us from the holes of life, but also “guide(s) (us) along right paths, bringing honor to His name”.  (Ps 23:3 NLT)

Prayer Prompts for this Week

• Daily honesty -  He already knows, but admit your recent sins and ask Him to show your unseen sin.  Ask for help turning away from these sins.

  
  

• Use Isaiah 53 as a roadmap of praise – Almost every verse provides a reason to praise God.  So once or twice this week, read the chapter and bring your praises to the Lord.

  
  

• “Your rod and staff protect and comfort me” (Ps 23:4, NLT) 

  • The rod was used by ancient shepherds as a club-like stick against predators and as a disciplinary tool when needed.  Thank the Lord this week for His known and unknown protection in your life.  While hard to do, let’s also thank the Lord for His discipline – it comes from His love and let’s be honest, we often need it.

  • The staff was used as a guiding tool and as a rescue device for the sheep.  Thank the Lord this week for all the guidance He provides and the many rescues He does for us.

    
    

• Use this song to move you in prayer - Still Waters by Leanna Crawford (https://youtu.be/v1IaQvgPsfA?si=bkEszmolG5cIjb10 ).  Simple “Amen” and “Yes Lord” responses can be very meaningful. 

Prayer Prompts - Week 1 of January

Week 1 - January 2025

“I give You my dreams, I give You my desires. Take control of my life, Lord.”

Sarai Rivera

New Year’s Resolutions – While three in ten make resolutions, most of us at least think about

some needed change on January 1st. Rather than looking within for next steps in our

lives, this January let’s depend on our Shepherd for direction!

The Lord is my Shepherd (Yahweh Roi)

Our vision is short-sighted and our wisdom limited, praise the Lord we have a God who will be our shepherd. He leads, He guides!

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Ps 23:2-3)

Let’s thank Him this week for His ‘withness’. He is not distant, He is near. He’s in the mess with us, trying to lead and restore us. Let’s pray expectantly this week that He will guide our next steps.

Prayer Prompts you can use this week

• Our human nature is bent on straying, but we are thankful for our Shepherd and Overseer forever helping us – use what you see in 1 Peter 2:22-25 to thank Him this week.

• Psalms 23 is beloved, but still ripe for our prayer lives! Read it often this week – try The Message version.

  • One day, thank God for the blessings you see in those verses.

  • Another day, use it to pray those blessings on someone else.

  • And another, pray for those parts you might not be experiencing yourself right now.

• Read John 10:14-18 and praise the Good Shepherd.

• Use this song and its words to move you in prayer - (I give you my dreams -Sarai Rivera) https://youtu.be/3RlsJEEM0pU?si=OtRww8YT5Byn81Yy

Let’s Pray Together – January to March Challenge

A prayer rhythm – The Old Testament believers practiced a prayer rhythm – morning, midday, and evening prayers. In Acts, we see evidence the early church followed this rhythm. In the gospels, Jesus is seen practicing this (and of course unscheduled prayer as well).

Let’s work on building this rhythm in our lives …

Morning – Allow the themes/words of the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-13) to guide your prayer

Midday – Pray for those around you; ask God to make those hurting apparent to you

Evening - Thank God for the big and small blessings – physical and spiritual

(Adapted from Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton)