Church family and friends,

I’ve got something I’m excited to share with y’all. I’m sure you’ll hear this in a sermon of mine at some point, but I wanted to pass it along now. I recently shared a model for a Powerful Prayer Life with our elders and staff and asked them to recommit to the priority of prayer in their personal spiritual life. I’m shared from experience, as this is something that the Lord has been using mightily in my own life. I’m kind of embarrassed to say, that while I’ve always valued and practiced prayer, it was not that long ago the Lord revealed I needed a deeper, more committed, prayer life. I found myself desperate for the Lord in a way I hadn’t been before, which led me deeper in prayer than I’d prayed before. It’s actually just praying more like Jesus prayed. (Matthew 6:6, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, Matthew 14:33)

And I gotta tell you, it’s pretty amazing. God is uniquely BIG in prayer. Prayer isn’t just one part of the Christian life, it’s like the air you breathe while living the Christian life. It’s not just a spiritual discipline. It’s the spiritual discipline that fuels all the other disciplines.

Recently our church had a great time of prayer together, lead by 2 of our Deacons, Brad Olson and Jason Villalobos. I’m so thankful for those guys leading and thankful for everyone who was able to show up and pray. Before we dismissed, I asked everyone there to commit to a daily prayer time on their own, and encouraged them that if we all do that, our next time together in prayer will be so much more meaningful!

The prayer model is not original to me and there are others similar to it. But this one emphasizes 5 aspects of prayer, designed to bring a “balanced practice” to our time with God in prayer. This it’s not something we want to try and rush through. It’s designed to get us up close and personal with God. I’m not trying to be legalistic about a particular time that we need to spend on it, but around 30 minutes might be a good time to shoot for.

The prayer model is as follows:

• Praise, thanksgiving, and worship — Tell God how awesome He is. Use a Psalm of praise in the Bible to get you started. Thank him for everything. If it’s brought a smile to you, let it bring a smile to His heart when you thank him. Praise Him! I find worship music to be helpful for this part. Maybe turn on a God-centered worship song, close your eyes, and sing or say the words to God from your heart. Praise is praying!

• Confession and repentance — This is one we often overlook. We need to pray and lay out every sin that we can think of that we’ve committed. Confess it ask for forgiveness for it, and repent from it. Keeping short accounts with God helps keep us in step with His Spirit.

• Petition and supplication — We tend to know this one. Pray for yourself. Pray about whatever is heavy on your heart. Be honest. Be specific. Ask for His help. Give Him your worries. Pray big prayers for your life because you serve a BIG God.

• Intercession — This is praying for others. Tell God about the hardships and hurts of the people you love. Ask Him to help them in all the ways that you can’t.

• Meditation (listening and reflection) — This is so important. This is where we mainly just sit, reflect and listen. I typically pick up my Bible and read a psalm corresponding with the day of the month or some other passage He brings to mind. I read it and then just say, Lord I’m listening. Many times he’ll bring to mind another sin to confess or some promise I’m forgetting. I like to write a few things down in my journal from this time.

Y’all set aside some time and give this outline a try! Commit to doing it every day! One more thing, that may help. I rewrote the outline in words I’m more likely to use:

• I am in awe of you because…

• I’ve fallen short and need your forgiveness for…

• I really need your help with…

• Some people that come to mind with needs are…

• I’m listening to whatever you have to say…

I genuinely hope this outline is something that blesses y’all as much as it has me! And as a pastor I can’t help, but think and dream of what the Lord might do with a little church like ours, that simply committed to praying and seeking the Lord to be a faithful part of what He is doing!

Y’all have a great rest of the week!

Blessings,

Pastor Roy

Day 40

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Isaiah 40:28

[28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

Lord Jesus, we get so caught up in the immediate, we lose sight of the eternal. You are an everlasting God. You’ve created all things. You’re never tired. And your wisdom is beyond what I can comprehend. Yet, you care about us. You give us your Word and you give us the gift of our words. Help me to use them to glorify you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Day 39

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Revelation 4:11

[11] “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

Father in Heaven, you are worthy of all the glory, all the honor, all the power, and all the PRAISE. Everything is yours. Including my words. Help me use them for YOU. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 38

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Psalm 52:9

[9] I will thank you forever,

because you have done it.

I will wait for your name, for it is good,

in the presence of the godly.

Lord, if I would just express even a fraction of the gratitude you deserve, so many of my words would be filled with praise. I WILL thank you forever. Let thankfulness a condition of my heart and let it change the words I say. In Jesus name, amen

Day 36

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Job 1:20-21

[20] Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. [21] And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Father in Heaven, even on the darkest of days you are worthy to be praised. You give and you take away. And everything you do is righteous and just. Let me bless you with the words I use, Lord. Let me steward them like they are not my own, because they aren’t. They’re yours. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 35

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Psalm 119:172

[172] My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

Lord, I WILL sing of your word! You are worthy of my song and all my words. Every one of your commandments are right. And I need your guidance and wisdom for everything I do, especially in how I use my words. Thank you for your word, Lord. Guide my words. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 34

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Psalm 29:1-2

[1] Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

[2] Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

Father in Heaven, our words are given to us to express your worth — to worship. Yours in the glory, yours is the strength, yours is the splendor of holiness. Let my life reflect you! Including an especially my words. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 33

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Psalm 32:7

[7] You are a hiding place for me;

you preserve me from trouble;

you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

SHOUTS of deliverance. What we shout with our mouth says so much about what we have stored in our hearts. Lord I pray that you be my hiding place, my place of refuge. That in my heart I treasure you and that my words reflect that. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.

Day 32

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Romans 14:11

[11] for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Father in Heaven, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. TODAY, let me confess that you are God. Let my life be a confession. And let my words be a confession. Let me use my words to prove you. All of my life including my words are yours. Help me be faithful as I abide in you. In Jesus name, Amen

Day 31

PRAYER – Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your site, O LORD, my rock, my redeemer.

Jeremiah 20:13

[13] Sing to the LORD;

praise the LORD!

For he has delivered the life of the needy

from the hand of evildoers.

Lord you are worth singing about! Please put a song in my heart that sings of your deliverance. Let my mouth line up with your faithfulness. Help me remember all that you have done live and speak faithful to you. In Jesus name, Amen