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Prayers for the Heart For the people of God by the people of God Written by The Story Prayer Team
And it shall be before they call I shall answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear Isaiah 65 24 In your hand you have a collection of prayers written from the hearts of members of The Story Houston My prayer is that this booklet will be a great resource as we go through this time of uncertainty and unrest a season that Richard Rohr refers to as liminal space we are betwixt and between our former way of being is challenged or changed and we are no longer certain or in control The very vulnerability and openness of liminal space allows room for something genuinely new to happen We are empty and receptive We find ourselves on the edge of a threshold standing between two worlds Most of us sense that things will never be the same again and yet we do not know how to fully embrace this unknown and changing future In the beginning was prayer And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him Where are you Genesis 3 8 9 The Lord God comes into the garden looking for Adam and Eve He comes to commune with His created people It is the Lord who calls out to them it is He who initiates this relationship of love and trust Perhaps this was their daily habit to spend time talking with one another The Lord is seeking this conversation this prayer with His people He is the initiator He still initiates today May we open our ears to hear when God is calling us and let Him to do a new work in our lives It is a new world but we are never alone God is with us always Blessings to you For people of faith prayer is the way in which we face uncertainty and turmoil So I invite you to begin a deeper prayer walk with our Lord alongside our church community Only God knows the future and only He can hold us in perfect peace Lesley Lilly 1 2 Prayer Team Leader
And it shall be before they call I shall answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear Isaiah 65 24 In your hand you have a collection of prayers written from the hearts of members of The Story Houston My prayer is that this booklet will be a great resource as we go through this time of uncertainty and unrest a season that Richard Rohr refers to as liminal space we are betwixt and between our former way of being is challenged or changed and we are no longer certain or in control The very vulnerability and openness of liminal space allows room for something genuinely new to happen We are empty and receptive We find ourselves on the edge of a threshold standing between two worlds Most of us sense that things will never be the same again and yet we do not know how to fully embrace this unknown and changing future In the beginning was prayer And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him Where are you Genesis 3 8 9 The Lord God comes into the garden looking for Adam and Eve He comes to commune with His created people It is the Lord who calls out to them it is He who initiates this relationship of love and trust Perhaps this was their daily habit to spend time talking with one another The Lord is seeking this conversation this prayer with His people He is the initiator He still initiates today May we open our ears to hear when God is calling us and let Him to do a new work in our lives It is a new world but we are never alone God is with us always Blessings to you For people of faith prayer is the way in which we face uncertainty and turmoil So I invite you to begin a deeper prayer walk with our Lord alongside our church community Only God knows the future and only He can hold us in perfect peace Lesley Lilly 1 2 Prayer Team Leader
TABLE O F CO NTE N T S Introduction 1 Prayer for Spiritual Armor 4 Wisdom and Discernment 5 Fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit 7 Protection 8 Family 9 Developing a Hunger for God 11 Health and Healing 12 Marriage 13 Obedience 15 Fear 16 Finances and Stewardship 17 Forgiveness 19 Finances 20 Repentance Psalm 51 21 When I Am Afraid 23 When I Am Anxious 24 Repentance 25 Pastors and Leaders 27 Marriage 28 3 Spiritual Armor BY LE S L E Y L I L LY Thank you Father God that I did not choose You but You chose me and appointed me that I should go and bear fruit and that my fruit should remain that whatever I ask of the Father in Your name He may give to me John 15 16 Thank you Lord that You died on the cross and shed Your blood for me so that through the power of Your blood I have the privilege to put on the full armor of God So I stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of Your might and I take up the full armor I put on the breastplate of righteousness the belt of truth around my waist and my feet are placed in the Gospel of peace Above all I take up the shield of faith which will quench all the fiery darts of evil And I will put on the helmet of salvation and take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God praying always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit May utterance be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel Ephesians 6 14 19 Amen 4
TABLE O F CO NTE N T S Introduction 1 Prayer for Spiritual Armor 4 Wisdom and Discernment 5 Fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit 7 Protection 8 Family 9 Developing a Hunger for God 11 Health and Healing 12 Marriage 13 Obedience 15 Fear 16 Finances and Stewardship 17 Forgiveness 19 Finances 20 Repentance Psalm 51 21 When I Am Afraid 23 When I Am Anxious 24 Repentance 25 Pastors and Leaders 27 Marriage 28 3 Spiritual Armor BY LE S L E Y L I L LY Thank you Father God that I did not choose You but You chose me and appointed me that I should go and bear fruit and that my fruit should remain that whatever I ask of the Father in Your name He may give to me John 15 16 Thank you Lord that You died on the cross and shed Your blood for me so that through the power of Your blood I have the privilege to put on the full armor of God So I stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of Your might and I take up the full armor I put on the breastplate of righteousness the belt of truth around my waist and my feet are placed in the Gospel of peace Above all I take up the shield of faith which will quench all the fiery darts of evil And I will put on the helmet of salvation and take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God praying always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit May utterance be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel Ephesians 6 14 19 Amen 4
Wisdom and Discernment BY KA LE KIN CHE N The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding Proverbs 9 10 Our Father Who is full of wisdom and grace whose love abounds more and more with knowledge and discernment God we pray and confess to You today We confess that no one is wise but You We confess that we so often think we can do everything on our own that we love to make our own paths and we don t let You guide our steps Forgive us God Forgive us that we have clung to the wisdom of the world and have turned our back on You Help us God Help us understand that Your words are living and active sharper than any two edged sword discerning the thoughts and intentions of our hearts We need you God We need your Spirit to guide us to search us to speak in and through us to give us courage to fear nothing but You Give us your wisdom Give us wisdom in how to use your wisdom Give us clarity in where we need clarity but more importantly let us see You more clearly today God help us walk in the ways of righteousness and along the paths of justice Instill in us a love and peace that surpasses all understanding Give us more of You today Father Give us ears to hear what You re saying and ready our feet to go where You re calling us and give us courage to go We are Yours and we love You In Jesus name we pray Amen Sharpen us God Sharpen us in Your ways in Your wisdom in Your light by Your truth Give us Your Spirit of knowledge and wisdom 5 6
Wisdom and Discernment BY KA LE KIN CHE N The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding Proverbs 9 10 Our Father Who is full of wisdom and grace whose love abounds more and more with knowledge and discernment God we pray and confess to You today We confess that no one is wise but You We confess that we so often think we can do everything on our own that we love to make our own paths and we don t let You guide our steps Forgive us God Forgive us that we have clung to the wisdom of the world and have turned our back on You Help us God Help us understand that Your words are living and active sharper than any two edged sword discerning the thoughts and intentions of our hearts We need you God We need your Spirit to guide us to search us to speak in and through us to give us courage to fear nothing but You Give us your wisdom Give us wisdom in how to use your wisdom Give us clarity in where we need clarity but more importantly let us see You more clearly today God help us walk in the ways of righteousness and along the paths of justice Instill in us a love and peace that surpasses all understanding Give us more of You today Father Give us ears to hear what You re saying and ready our feet to go where You re calling us and give us courage to go We are Yours and we love You In Jesus name we pray Amen Sharpen us God Sharpen us in Your ways in Your wisdom in Your light by Your truth Give us Your Spirit of knowledge and wisdom 5 6
Fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit BY MELISSA E RWIN But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses to the end of the earth Acts 1 8 Holy Spirit I can t fight my battles without you and I yearn for more of you Anoint me in a fresh way Convict me of my sin so that I may decrease and you may continually increase Make The Word come alive to me so that I may read the Bible with renewed vision Be my comforter and cover me with a peace that surpasses all understanding Embolden me to live for Christ and to share the Gospel with others Empower me to love selflessly to show God s mercy and grace Help me to daily rely on your strength and your strength alone May all I do and all I say bear witness to and glorify God Prayer for Protection BY MAT T M E L OY God please protect me This world tries to pull me away from You through division pain stress and anger Lord I know You are stronger May I dwell in Your presence giving me perspective of what truly matters in this world Lord only You offer true protection May I trust and believe in Your promises oh God That You will deliver me that You will set me securely on high because I have loved You and know Your name Lord may I go out into this world knowing You are my refuge and my fortress May I love others from a place of eternal security knowing nothing in this world can separate me from the love of Jesus Christ Lord God only You can protect me may I trust and live that today Amen Amen Psalm 91 Romans 8 38 39 7 8
Fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit BY MELISSA E RWIN But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses to the end of the earth Acts 1 8 Holy Spirit I can t fight my battles without you and I yearn for more of you Anoint me in a fresh way Convict me of my sin so that I may decrease and you may continually increase Make The Word come alive to me so that I may read the Bible with renewed vision Be my comforter and cover me with a peace that surpasses all understanding Embolden me to live for Christ and to share the Gospel with others Empower me to love selflessly to show God s mercy and grace Help me to daily rely on your strength and your strength alone May all I do and all I say bear witness to and glorify God Prayer for Protection BY MAT T M E L OY God please protect me This world tries to pull me away from You through division pain stress and anger Lord I know You are stronger May I dwell in Your presence giving me perspective of what truly matters in this world Lord only You offer true protection May I trust and believe in Your promises oh God That You will deliver me that You will set me securely on high because I have loved You and know Your name Lord may I go out into this world knowing You are my refuge and my fortress May I love others from a place of eternal security knowing nothing in this world can separate me from the love of Jesus Christ Lord God only You can protect me may I trust and live that today Amen Amen Psalm 91 Romans 8 38 39 7 8
Family BY DE LIA JO HN SO N Lord I give thanks for my husband wife and for each of my children by name and the blessing they are to my life Help me to be a good steward of this most precious treasure and to love them with fullness and grace Help us Lord to train up our children according to Your Word so that when they are older they will not depart from Your ways Prov 22 6 Bless them with the gift of discernment that they may know Your voice at an early age and that they may reject the voice of their enemy Give our children the grace to receive Your sayings as we teach them so that they will have longevity Proverbs 4 10 May they come to see themselves and as You see them Father Remind them who they are and whose they are when the enemy slings arrows of ridicule and rejection their way May they extinguish these fiery darts with their shields of faith and stand firm in their true identity in Christ Jesus Give them malleable hearts and teachable spirits Till their hearts and make them good soil O Lord Grow them into mighty oaks of righteousness for Your glory I will have no greater joy than hearing that my children are walking in the truth 3 John 4 Dear Father I pray that You bring this to pass for each member of my family We take shelter in Your refuge from all sickness terror and destruction It will not come near our home Psalm 91 May we walk in peace because we walk with You Jesus Lord I stand firm with You against my enemies against every scheme that has been set against me and my family I raise up a canopy of prayer over my family I cancel and disarm all plans of the enemy to harm my family in any way and in Jesus almighty name I submit to you Lord I resist the devil and I command him to leave in Your name Jesus James 4 7 Cultivate in us hearts of mercy Open our eyes to see the hurting ones in our path Allow us to love them with Your eyes Set a fire within us to advance Your kingdom here on earth Use us Lord as Your hands and feet May we be Your chain breakers and disciple makers but most of all may we carry Your love and hope Expand our vessels so we may hold ever more of You May we always shine bright for Your glory and maintain humble hearts May it be said of the ______ family as for me and my household we shall serve the Lord Joshua 24 15 We love You and worship You Lord I praise you Father that You are our shield and our rampart Thank you for loving us and protecting us No weapon forged against the ______ family shall prosper Isaiah 54 17 for You cover us in Your feathers and under Your wings we find refuge In Jesus name Amen 9 10
Family BY DE LIA JO HN SO N Lord I give thanks for my husband wife and for each of my children by name and the blessing they are to my life Help me to be a good steward of this most precious treasure and to love them with fullness and grace Help us Lord to train up our children according to Your Word so that when they are older they will not depart from Your ways Prov 22 6 Bless them with the gift of discernment that they may know Your voice at an early age and that they may reject the voice of their enemy Give our children the grace to receive Your sayings as we teach them so that they will have longevity Proverbs 4 10 May they come to see themselves and as You see them Father Remind them who they are and whose they are when the enemy slings arrows of ridicule and rejection their way May they extinguish these fiery darts with their shields of faith and stand firm in their true identity in Christ Jesus Give them malleable hearts and teachable spirits Till their hearts and make them good soil O Lord Grow them into mighty oaks of righteousness for Your glory I will have no greater joy than hearing that my children are walking in the truth 3 John 4 Dear Father I pray that You bring this to pass for each member of my family We take shelter in Your refuge from all sickness terror and destruction It will not come near our home Psalm 91 May we walk in peace because we walk with You Jesus Lord I stand firm with You against my enemies against every scheme that has been set against me and my family I raise up a canopy of prayer over my family I cancel and disarm all plans of the enemy to harm my family in any way and in Jesus almighty name I submit to you Lord I resist the devil and I command him to leave in Your name Jesus James 4 7 Cultivate in us hearts of mercy Open our eyes to see the hurting ones in our path Allow us to love them with Your eyes Set a fire within us to advance Your kingdom here on earth Use us Lord as Your hands and feet May we be Your chain breakers and disciple makers but most of all may we carry Your love and hope Expand our vessels so we may hold ever more of You May we always shine bright for Your glory and maintain humble hearts May it be said of the ______ family as for me and my household we shall serve the Lord Joshua 24 15 We love You and worship You Lord I praise you Father that You are our shield and our rampart Thank you for loving us and protecting us No weapon forged against the ______ family shall prosper Isaiah 54 17 for You cover us in Your feathers and under Your wings we find refuge In Jesus name Amen 9 10
Developing a Hunger for God BY KA LE KIN CHE N Father I hunger for so many things of this world so many things that will only temporarily satisfy me How often I set my mind on temporary things and not eternal things God please help me Help me to see how You see help me to hear how You hear help me to desire what You desire Let me understand that I do not live on bread alone but by every word that You speak How sweet Your words are to my broken heart Help me to long to be in Your presence and in Your Word Make Your words a joy and delight to my soul so that I will be satisfied Give me food and drink from Your table You are my bread of life and living water Satisfy the desires of my heart so that I will never hunger or thirst for this world May I hunger and thirst for righteousness Please bring me into the knowledge that my satisfaction is in doing Your will Create in me something new today A new desire a new yearning a fresh appetite for You and You alone God You are my treasure Holy Spirit You are my guide Jesus You are my Savior Forgive me where I have fallen short and thank you for everything You have so graciously given me Health and Healing BY A M Y WAL L N E R Dear friend I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well 3 John 2 Dear God I come to You today to thank You for Your goodness Thank you for all that You have given me from my first breath to my last I pray for healing today You know the pain I carry You know every heartache and every worry It feels like the world is crashing down around me and I have no control I come to You in complete surrender You are restoring and redeeming every place of difficulty and every battle for Your glory You are using all of my burdens for good When I am weak You are strong I read of miraculous healing in the Bible and I know that You still heal that same way today Thank you that You will never waste my pain and suffering Give me an awareness of Your presence and give me a peace knowing I am in Your hands Amen In Jesus mighty name I pray Amen 11 12
Developing a Hunger for God BY KA LE KIN CHE N Father I hunger for so many things of this world so many things that will only temporarily satisfy me How often I set my mind on temporary things and not eternal things God please help me Help me to see how You see help me to hear how You hear help me to desire what You desire Let me understand that I do not live on bread alone but by every word that You speak How sweet Your words are to my broken heart Help me to long to be in Your presence and in Your Word Make Your words a joy and delight to my soul so that I will be satisfied Give me food and drink from Your table You are my bread of life and living water Satisfy the desires of my heart so that I will never hunger or thirst for this world May I hunger and thirst for righteousness Please bring me into the knowledge that my satisfaction is in doing Your will Create in me something new today A new desire a new yearning a fresh appetite for You and You alone God You are my treasure Holy Spirit You are my guide Jesus You are my Savior Forgive me where I have fallen short and thank you for everything You have so graciously given me Health and Healing BY A M Y WAL L N E R Dear friend I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well 3 John 2 Dear God I come to You today to thank You for Your goodness Thank you for all that You have given me from my first breath to my last I pray for healing today You know the pain I carry You know every heartache and every worry It feels like the world is crashing down around me and I have no control I come to You in complete surrender You are restoring and redeeming every place of difficulty and every battle for Your glory You are using all of my burdens for good When I am weak You are strong I read of miraculous healing in the Bible and I know that You still heal that same way today Thank you that You will never waste my pain and suffering Give me an awareness of Your presence and give me a peace knowing I am in Your hands Amen In Jesus mighty name I pray Amen 11 12
Marriage BY LESLEY LILLY Father I thank you for the gift of marriage Thank you that You called us into this covenant where You unite us as one A threefold cord is not quickly broken Ecclesiastes 4 12 Lord will You establish in my marriage a bond of love that cannot be broken Show me and my spouse how to love each other best Give us hearts that put each other first and not our own selfish desires May we show mutual respect and admiration so that we become each other s greatest friend and champion Will you please bless our communication with each other so that we avoid misunderstandings Help us to be of the same mind when it comes to children finances and how we spend our time May our perspectives come to align with Yours Help us to forgive one another quickly and completely so that nothing comes between us May we not end the day with an angry heart but with a deep desire to make things right between us If there is any area I need to ask forgiveness for please bring it to my mind Specifically I ask for your forgiveness for 13 Set us free from past hurts and unrealistic expectations of one another May there be no thoughts of divorce or infidelity in our hearts or in our future May we turn to You first to solve our problems and may we be so committed to You and our marriage that we will not waiver no matter what storms come We plead the blood of Your Son Jesus over our marriage You are the God who called marriage into being and it is the first covenant you made with your creation that man and woman would become one Genesis 2 24 Only through the power of Your Presence does that Oneness happen We stand in the power of that covenant in our marriage trusting that what You have called into being You will bless and protect all the days of our lives Thank you Father for the beauty of this blessing Amen and Amen 14
Marriage BY LESLEY LILLY Father I thank you for the gift of marriage Thank you that You called us into this covenant where You unite us as one A threefold cord is not quickly broken Ecclesiastes 4 12 Lord will You establish in my marriage a bond of love that cannot be broken Show me and my spouse how to love each other best Give us hearts that put each other first and not our own selfish desires May we show mutual respect and admiration so that we become each other s greatest friend and champion Will you please bless our communication with each other so that we avoid misunderstandings Help us to be of the same mind when it comes to children finances and how we spend our time May our perspectives come to align with Yours Help us to forgive one another quickly and completely so that nothing comes between us May we not end the day with an angry heart but with a deep desire to make things right between us If there is any area I need to ask forgiveness for please bring it to my mind Specifically I ask for your forgiveness for 13 Set us free from past hurts and unrealistic expectations of one another May there be no thoughts of divorce or infidelity in our hearts or in our future May we turn to You first to solve our problems and may we be so committed to You and our marriage that we will not waiver no matter what storms come We plead the blood of Your Son Jesus over our marriage You are the God who called marriage into being and it is the first covenant you made with your creation that man and woman would become one Genesis 2 24 Only through the power of Your Presence does that Oneness happen We stand in the power of that covenant in our marriage trusting that what You have called into being You will bless and protect all the days of our lives Thank you Father for the beauty of this blessing Amen and Amen 14
Obedience BY ME LISSA E RWIN Fear Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord my rock and my redeemer Psalm 19 14 BY C E CI E T UR L I N G T O N Father God I want to hear from you but am often afraid of what you might ask What if it costs more than I want to pay Lord forgive me when I choose the easy ways of the world instead of the hard good ways that bring glory to Your Mighty Name Lord I know that your ways are always right and I desire to obey you You have always taken care of me and I trust that you always will You are my rock Give me the strength and desire to make decisions that honor you Lord You did not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power love and a sound mind Rise up in me to remind me that You hold all things in the palm of Your almighty powerful hand When You are in control I have nothing to fear You are trustworthy and You are for me And when You are for me who can be against me Rise up Holy One and cast out fear from me Encircle me with Your glory Encircle me with Your peace and Your everlasting abundant love Thank you that Your perfect love for me means that I have nothing to fear May every thought be taken captive to follow Christ and may I approach you with humility when I inevitably disobey you May my words thoughts and actions honor You and may I follow you wherever you lead Amen Amen 15 16
Obedience BY ME LISSA E RWIN Fear Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord my rock and my redeemer Psalm 19 14 BY C E CI E T UR L I N G T O N Father God I want to hear from you but am often afraid of what you might ask What if it costs more than I want to pay Lord forgive me when I choose the easy ways of the world instead of the hard good ways that bring glory to Your Mighty Name Lord I know that your ways are always right and I desire to obey you You have always taken care of me and I trust that you always will You are my rock Give me the strength and desire to make decisions that honor you Lord You did not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power love and a sound mind Rise up in me to remind me that You hold all things in the palm of Your almighty powerful hand When You are in control I have nothing to fear You are trustworthy and You are for me And when You are for me who can be against me Rise up Holy One and cast out fear from me Encircle me with Your glory Encircle me with Your peace and Your everlasting abundant love Thank you that Your perfect love for me means that I have nothing to fear May every thought be taken captive to follow Christ and may I approach you with humility when I inevitably disobey you May my words thoughts and actions honor You and may I follow you wherever you lead Amen Amen 15 16
Finances and Stewardship BY JO HN F SULLIVA N III You may say to yourself My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me But remember the LORD your God for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth and so confirms his covenant which he swore to your ancestors as it is today Deuteronomy 8 17 18 Father God you shower me with blessings upon blessings Both spiritual and material I have new life in Christ Jesus because of Your great love which is everything Your grace is indeed sufficient You have assured me of my eternal inheritance and the heavenly riches that await me But You have also provided for my material needs here on earth and oh so much more than I need You first provide me with two fish and five loaves which is actually more than enough for me and my family but then You multiply them exponentially Yet You don t want me to hoard the wealth You have entrusted to me but to distribute it to the other people upon whom You have great compassion LORD I need Your constant reminder that what You have given me is not mine but Yours All of it I am often deceived to think I earned it myself by my hard work or skillful investments but in fact it is You and You alone who give me the ability to earn and accumulate wealth 17 Whatever I have and no matter how I get it comes from Your hand You are gracious and have entrusted me with much and expect me to be a faithful servant and good steward of these resources Just like Abraham You bless me so I can be a blessing to others and be blessed in the process Protect me LORD from the deception that I don t have enough to give others generously and graciously like You Remind me that I have more material prosperity than the vast majority of the 7 billion people on earth now and the 100 billion who came before Tithing should never seem a burden to me as it is but a token tribute to the You my Almighty and Gracious Father Indeed giving it all back to You is only just if You ask but You actually want me to invest it and earn more for Your Kingdom and the betterment of my fellow man Let me multiply the talents You have given to me so I can hear on that day the words I yearn to hear Well done My good and faithful servant enter the joy of your Master You have been faithful with little and now I will put you over even more LORD please give me clarity of thought to understand that true joy comes from giving and not receiving Let me show myself trustworthy to steward what you have blessed me with to Your glory forever and ever Amen 18
Finances and Stewardship BY JO HN F SULLIVA N III You may say to yourself My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me But remember the LORD your God for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth and so confirms his covenant which he swore to your ancestors as it is today Deuteronomy 8 17 18 Father God you shower me with blessings upon blessings Both spiritual and material I have new life in Christ Jesus because of Your great love which is everything Your grace is indeed sufficient You have assured me of my eternal inheritance and the heavenly riches that await me But You have also provided for my material needs here on earth and oh so much more than I need You first provide me with two fish and five loaves which is actually more than enough for me and my family but then You multiply them exponentially Yet You don t want me to hoard the wealth You have entrusted to me but to distribute it to the other people upon whom You have great compassion LORD I need Your constant reminder that what You have given me is not mine but Yours All of it I am often deceived to think I earned it myself by my hard work or skillful investments but in fact it is You and You alone who give me the ability to earn and accumulate wealth 17 Whatever I have and no matter how I get it comes from Your hand You are gracious and have entrusted me with much and expect me to be a faithful servant and good steward of these resources Just like Abraham You bless me so I can be a blessing to others and be blessed in the process Protect me LORD from the deception that I don t have enough to give others generously and graciously like You Remind me that I have more material prosperity than the vast majority of the 7 billion people on earth now and the 100 billion who came before Tithing should never seem a burden to me as it is but a token tribute to the You my Almighty and Gracious Father Indeed giving it all back to You is only just if You ask but You actually want me to invest it and earn more for Your Kingdom and the betterment of my fellow man Let me multiply the talents You have given to me so I can hear on that day the words I yearn to hear Well done My good and faithful servant enter the joy of your Master You have been faithful with little and now I will put you over even more LORD please give me clarity of thought to understand that true joy comes from giving and not receiving Let me show myself trustworthy to steward what you have blessed me with to Your glory forever and ever Amen 18
Forgiveness Finances BY A MY WA LLN E R BY C E CI E T UR L I N G T O N Judge not and you will not be judged condemn not and you will not be condemned forgive and you will be forgiven Luke 6 37 Lord I thank you for every good gift You have given me Help me to be a good steward of all of it You tell us in Malachi 3 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house and test Me now in this says the LORD of hosts if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows Your ways are not our ways they are higher and better Help me to loosen my hands and give it all away so that You will pour out Your blessing Help me to walk in confidence and joy praising You that You promise to meet all of my needs according to the riches of Your glory I am clinging to Your word that I will have all I need because You are My Provider Thank you Father that I trust in You Dear God Thank you for Your gift of forgiveness You forgive all of my sins You heal all of my diseases You redeem my life from the pit You love me enough to have sent Your only Son to die for me so that I can be forgiven and be with You You love me despite my failures Forgive my unforgiving heart and in turn dear God help me to bless those who have hurt me Help me to be like You and demonstrate Your unconditional love by forgiving them Your grace is sufficient for me Allow me to extend that grace to others Help me release my anger and show me how to love as Jesus loves Give me eyes to see them as You do Amen Amen 19 20
Forgiveness Finances BY A MY WA LLN E R BY C E CI E T UR L I N G T O N Judge not and you will not be judged condemn not and you will not be condemned forgive and you will be forgiven Luke 6 37 Lord I thank you for every good gift You have given me Help me to be a good steward of all of it You tell us in Malachi 3 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house and test Me now in this says the LORD of hosts if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows Your ways are not our ways they are higher and better Help me to loosen my hands and give it all away so that You will pour out Your blessing Help me to walk in confidence and joy praising You that You promise to meet all of my needs according to the riches of Your glory I am clinging to Your word that I will have all I need because You are My Provider Thank you Father that I trust in You Dear God Thank you for Your gift of forgiveness You forgive all of my sins You heal all of my diseases You redeem my life from the pit You love me enough to have sent Your only Son to die for me so that I can be forgiven and be with You You love me despite my failures Forgive my unforgiving heart and in turn dear God help me to bless those who have hurt me Help me to be like You and demonstrate Your unconditional love by forgiving them Your grace is sufficient for me Allow me to extend that grace to others Help me release my anger and show me how to love as Jesus loves Give me eyes to see them as You do Amen Amen 19 20
Prayer of Repentance Psalm 51 BY DILAN BRADDO CK Have mercy on me O God I have fallen short of your command to Love God and Love Others with everything I have I turn my back on You and Your Holy ways and follow my own paths that lead to destruction I have forgotten You and in Your place crafted idols out of success wealth popularity intellect and my own achievements Instead of directing my focus and praise to You I have broken the first commandment and bowed to lesser creations Lord I confess my sins to You Have mercy on me O God I know my sins have not only hurt You but also those whom You have placed around me I contribute to human suffering through my greed selfishness racism apathy and complicity I have gotten caught up in my own dreams and fallen asleep to the pain of those around me My sins and transgressions are great and I know I have done evil in your sight Lord I confess my sin to you Have Mercy on me O God According to your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions Jesus You are the only one who can cleanse me of my sins 21 Lord Deliver me Wash me clean make me whiter than snow Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing Spirit Pause for a moment of silence and reflection God I praise You for Your perfect redeeming love Let me sing Your praises at the top of my lungs and declare Your good works Teach me to hate my sin and love my Savior more and more every day Let me meditate on Your words and follow Your ways May I make You my sole focus and one desire Jesus thank You for Your forgiveness God I praise You for Your perfect redeeming love Grant me a willing Spirit that leads to meaningful change in my life Create in me a pure heart and give me clean hands to serve Your people Allow me to advocate and work on behalf of those You so recklessly pursue Give me the faith and boldness to follow wherever You lead Jesus thank You for Your forgiveness Give us ears to hear what You re saying and ready our feet to go where You re calling us and give us courage to go We are Yours and we love you In Jesus name we pray Amen 22
Prayer of Repentance Psalm 51 BY DILAN BRADDO CK Have mercy on me O God I have fallen short of your command to Love God and Love Others with everything I have I turn my back on You and Your Holy ways and follow my own paths that lead to destruction I have forgotten You and in Your place crafted idols out of success wealth popularity intellect and my own achievements Instead of directing my focus and praise to You I have broken the first commandment and bowed to lesser creations Lord I confess my sins to You Have mercy on me O God I know my sins have not only hurt You but also those whom You have placed around me I contribute to human suffering through my greed selfishness racism apathy and complicity I have gotten caught up in my own dreams and fallen asleep to the pain of those around me My sins and transgressions are great and I know I have done evil in your sight Lord I confess my sin to you Have Mercy on me O God According to your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions Jesus You are the only one who can cleanse me of my sins 21 Lord Deliver me Wash me clean make me whiter than snow Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing Spirit Pause for a moment of silence and reflection God I praise You for Your perfect redeeming love Let me sing Your praises at the top of my lungs and declare Your good works Teach me to hate my sin and love my Savior more and more every day Let me meditate on Your words and follow Your ways May I make You my sole focus and one desire Jesus thank You for Your forgiveness God I praise You for Your perfect redeeming love Grant me a willing Spirit that leads to meaningful change in my life Create in me a pure heart and give me clean hands to serve Your people Allow me to advocate and work on behalf of those You so recklessly pursue Give me the faith and boldness to follow wherever You lead Jesus thank You for Your forgiveness Give us ears to hear what You re saying and ready our feet to go where You re calling us and give us courage to go We are Yours and we love you In Jesus name we pray Amen 22
When I Am Afraid BY CA RRIE ME LOY So do not fear for I am with you do not be dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Isaiah 41 10 God in days filled with uncertainty and unknowns I am afraid I fear for my physical safety and the safety of friends and family I fear disease I fear loss and grief I fear change in my life and the disruptions it may cause Lord help me to know that this fear is not from You Your word tells us to not fear because You are our God You will strengthen and help us and hold us in Your hand When fear takes root remind me to take every fearful thought captive and know that I can trust You to be my strength and fill me with peace I ask that You pour out Your Holy Spirit on me when I am afraid Your word says For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind 2 Timothy 1 7 Remind me of Your generous love and provision so that I can rest in Your presence knowing You will help me Thank you for Your protection courage and comfort When I Am Anxious BY L E S L E Y L I L LY Lord settle my heart during these uncertain times Remind me You are firmly seated on Your throne and I have nothing to fear today Right now in the throne room of heaven the elders are proclaiming You are worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created Revelation 4 11 Remind me that just as You were the God of Daniel You are my God and Your character NEVER changes You are the Ancient of Days Like Daniel when I choose to worship You and keep my eyes on You You will redeem me from the fiery pit of this world Even when my trials evoke emotions that feel bigger than my faith You send Your angels to shut the mouths of lions Thank you Father God May Your supernatural peace rest on me Thank you for Your word that encourages my faith I lay my worries at the foot of the cross and thank You for what You have already done You have redeemed me by Your blood and made me a king and a priest Revelation 5 9 Thank you sovereign Father Amen In the name of Jesus I pray Amen 23 24
When I Am Afraid BY CA RRIE ME LOY So do not fear for I am with you do not be dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Isaiah 41 10 God in days filled with uncertainty and unknowns I am afraid I fear for my physical safety and the safety of friends and family I fear disease I fear loss and grief I fear change in my life and the disruptions it may cause Lord help me to know that this fear is not from You Your word tells us to not fear because You are our God You will strengthen and help us and hold us in Your hand When fear takes root remind me to take every fearful thought captive and know that I can trust You to be my strength and fill me with peace I ask that You pour out Your Holy Spirit on me when I am afraid Your word says For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind 2 Timothy 1 7 Remind me of Your generous love and provision so that I can rest in Your presence knowing You will help me Thank you for Your protection courage and comfort When I Am Anxious BY L E S L E Y L I L LY Lord settle my heart during these uncertain times Remind me You are firmly seated on Your throne and I have nothing to fear today Right now in the throne room of heaven the elders are proclaiming You are worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created Revelation 4 11 Remind me that just as You were the God of Daniel You are my God and Your character NEVER changes You are the Ancient of Days Like Daniel when I choose to worship You and keep my eyes on You You will redeem me from the fiery pit of this world Even when my trials evoke emotions that feel bigger than my faith You send Your angels to shut the mouths of lions Thank you Father God May Your supernatural peace rest on me Thank you for Your word that encourages my faith I lay my worries at the foot of the cross and thank You for what You have already done You have redeemed me by Your blood and made me a king and a priest Revelation 5 9 Thank you sovereign Father Amen In the name of Jesus I pray Amen 23 24
Prayer of Repentance BY LYNN CA LHO U N Dear friends if our hearts don t condemn us we have confidence in relationship to God We receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him 1John 3 21 22 Those who hide their sins won t succeed but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy Proverbs 28 13 Forgive me for my comfortable and naive ignorance of the struggles of my neighbors of color Forgive me for my sense of entitlement that is based solely on having been born white I hate that I have not understood and appreciated the fears and realities of harm from law enforcement that my brothers and sisters of color live with daily Forgive me LORD for my easy life long acceptance of living in segregated christian community as if that is okay with You Forgive my immature clinging to folks who look and think just like me like a child clinging fearfully to his mother s legs hiding behind her skirts LORD God my Creator my Father I simply must unburden my soul The weight of the privileged and entitled weighs heavy on me I thought that I was holy in my regard for the suffering of the oppressed people around me Events in the news and the cries of the oppressed fill my ears and convict my heart Father please bring the power of Your Holy Spirit to bear on my heart Remove the guilt of my sin Create a clean and new heart in me and give me a voice that speaks in unity and understanding and empathy with my oppressed brothers and sisters wherever they might be but especially in the communities where I live where I work where I worship Forgive me for the pejorative stereotypes that haunt the corners of my mind thoughts and images and words that I inherited from my ancestors and that I kept for my own that rise up unbidden in moments of anger or contempt Have mercy Father on our broken and contentious nation Have mercy on Your church Have mercy on me 25 26 In Jesus precious and powerful name Amen
Prayer of Repentance BY LYNN CA LHO U N Dear friends if our hearts don t condemn us we have confidence in relationship to God We receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him 1John 3 21 22 Those who hide their sins won t succeed but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy Proverbs 28 13 Forgive me for my comfortable and naive ignorance of the struggles of my neighbors of color Forgive me for my sense of entitlement that is based solely on having been born white I hate that I have not understood and appreciated the fears and realities of harm from law enforcement that my brothers and sisters of color live with daily Forgive me LORD for my easy life long acceptance of living in segregated christian community as if that is okay with You Forgive my immature clinging to folks who look and think just like me like a child clinging fearfully to his mother s legs hiding behind her skirts LORD God my Creator my Father I simply must unburden my soul The weight of the privileged and entitled weighs heavy on me I thought that I was holy in my regard for the suffering of the oppressed people around me Events in the news and the cries of the oppressed fill my ears and convict my heart Father please bring the power of Your Holy Spirit to bear on my heart Remove the guilt of my sin Create a clean and new heart in me and give me a voice that speaks in unity and understanding and empathy with my oppressed brothers and sisters wherever they might be but especially in the communities where I live where I work where I worship Forgive me for the pejorative stereotypes that haunt the corners of my mind thoughts and images and words that I inherited from my ancestors and that I kept for my own that rise up unbidden in moments of anger or contempt Have mercy Father on our broken and contentious nation Have mercy on Your church Have mercy on me 25 26 In Jesus precious and powerful name Amen
Pastors and Leaders BY CE CIE TU RLIN GT O N God thank you for the pastors and church leaders that You have called into leadership at such a time as this Anoint them empower them and protect them and their families Give them wisdom and revelation about Your will and Your heart There is so much being taught that is counter and false and confusing Teach our pastors Your pure and undefiled truth so that they can teach us Pour Your Spirit into our church leaders and give them good rest Give them dreams and visions Reset and restore their minds and bodies and renew their hearts Strengthen them with Your mighty hand and show them the way to lead us well Marriage BY J O H N F S UL L I VAN I I I Imitate God therefore in everything you do because you are his dear children Live a life filled with love following the example of Christ He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us a pleasing aroma to God Ephesians 5 1 2 And further submit to one another out of reverence for Christ Ephesians 5 10 Amen Heavenly Father of love light and all that is pure and good You are the Author of life and You have richly blessed me in every way You created me in Your own image to be relational like You are and to love others like you do You pour out Your love and grace upon me every day without limit and You call me to live an abundant life in the fullness of your love You demonstrated Your great love for me by sending Your Son Jesus to take on flesh to dwell among us and to then die for me so that I can live forever with You in Your love I have accepted Your free gift of love and now abide in Your love Your Spirit now lives in me and I am no longer my own but Yours You are showing me what true love is and how to live in it by it and through it But I want more LORD Help me to be a servant and to die to myself Thank you LORD 27 28 May they never tire of shepherding our flock Remind them that one of Your names is Yahweh Roi meaning The Lord is My Shepherd Your ARE their Shepherd Lord they will not be in want They will not fear evil Your rod and staff comfort them You anoint their head with oil their cup overflows Surely goodness and mercy shall follow them all the days of their lives Psalm 23 Thank you for our pastors and church leaders
Pastors and Leaders BY CE CIE TU RLIN GT O N God thank you for the pastors and church leaders that You have called into leadership at such a time as this Anoint them empower them and protect them and their families Give them wisdom and revelation about Your will and Your heart There is so much being taught that is counter and false and confusing Teach our pastors Your pure and undefiled truth so that they can teach us Pour Your Spirit into our church leaders and give them good rest Give them dreams and visions Reset and restore their minds and bodies and renew their hearts Strengthen them with Your mighty hand and show them the way to lead us well Marriage BY J O H N F S UL L I VAN I I I Imitate God therefore in everything you do because you are his dear children Live a life filled with love following the example of Christ He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us a pleasing aroma to God Ephesians 5 1 2 And further submit to one another out of reverence for Christ Ephesians 5 10 Amen Heavenly Father of love light and all that is pure and good You are the Author of life and You have richly blessed me in every way You created me in Your own image to be relational like You are and to love others like you do You pour out Your love and grace upon me every day without limit and You call me to live an abundant life in the fullness of your love You demonstrated Your great love for me by sending Your Son Jesus to take on flesh to dwell among us and to then die for me so that I can live forever with You in Your love I have accepted Your free gift of love and now abide in Your love Your Spirit now lives in me and I am no longer my own but Yours You are showing me what true love is and how to live in it by it and through it But I want more LORD Help me to be a servant and to die to myself Thank you LORD 27 28 May they never tire of shepherding our flock Remind them that one of Your names is Yahweh Roi meaning The Lord is My Shepherd Your ARE their Shepherd Lord they will not be in want They will not fear evil Your rod and staff comfort them You anoint their head with oil their cup overflows Surely goodness and mercy shall follow them all the days of their lives Psalm 23 Thank you for our pastors and church leaders
When I married my wife husband I thought I knew true love then but I now see that that was but a glimmer of Your great love that I was experiencing As I have matured and continue to mature in my marriage and in my relationship with You I have begun to understand and live out new greater and more beautiful dimensions of your love These new depths of Your love in my marriage are induced by Your Spirit that helps align my will with Your will My marriage is no longer controlled only by my emotions or feelings Indeed You often call me to acts of love and forgiveness to my spouse even when my emotions and feelings want me to do the opposite You show are teaching me my marriage does not depend on the performance by my wife husband or even upon her him meeting my expectations Rather by the power of your Spirit and Your grace I am learning what seems paradoxical the more I serve forgive and unconditionally love my wife husband the more joy contentment and capacity to love and forgive her him I have I also thank you for Your Spirit working likewise in the heart of my wife husband LORD forgive me when I fail you and fail to love and forgive my wife husband I know that if I confess theses sins you are faithful to forgive me by the blood of Your Son 29 Yet you also call me to again forgive and love my wife husband unconditionally no matter what hurt or transgression I have experienced LORD empower me to be a better student in Your school of grace Father I thank you so much for my wife husband She he is just who you planned for me to be joined to for life here to love to respect and to submit to and to grow with until we are called Home LORD please overwhelm me by your limitless love and grace toward me so that it overflows into my marriage and into the heart of my wife husband LORD I surrender myself all my pride and self interest and desire to be right please let me love my spouse like Jesus Jesus says as the Father loves Me so I have loved you Now abide in my love This is truly remarkable Jesus says the same thing to my wife husband Lord please let each of us live in the fullness of Your great love and sanctify each of us and our marriage so that we may love each other as you have loved us by dying to ourselves and serving and exalting each other Then let us turn outward to demonstrate Your great love to the rest of our family and the world to Your glory Not only does this bless us in our marriage but it also blesses our children and our children s children and a thousand generations I love you dear Lord Amen 30
When I married my wife husband I thought I knew true love then but I now see that that was but a glimmer of Your great love that I was experiencing As I have matured and continue to mature in my marriage and in my relationship with You I have begun to understand and live out new greater and more beautiful dimensions of your love These new depths of Your love in my marriage are induced by Your Spirit that helps align my will with Your will My marriage is no longer controlled only by my emotions or feelings Indeed You often call me to acts of love and forgiveness to my spouse even when my emotions and feelings want me to do the opposite You show are teaching me my marriage does not depend on the performance by my wife husband or even upon her him meeting my expectations Rather by the power of your Spirit and Your grace I am learning what seems paradoxical the more I serve forgive and unconditionally love my wife husband the more joy contentment and capacity to love and forgive her him I have I also thank you for Your Spirit working likewise in the heart of my wife husband LORD forgive me when I fail you and fail to love and forgive my wife husband I know that if I confess theses sins you are faithful to forgive me by the blood of Your Son 29 Yet you also call me to again forgive and love my wife husband unconditionally no matter what hurt or transgression I have experienced LORD empower me to be a better student in Your school of grace Father I thank you so much for my wife husband She he is just who you planned for me to be joined to for life here to love to respect and to submit to and to grow with until we are called Home LORD please overwhelm me by your limitless love and grace toward me so that it overflows into my marriage and into the heart of my wife husband LORD I surrender myself all my pride and self interest and desire to be right please let me love my spouse like Jesus Jesus says as the Father loves Me so I have loved you Now abide in my love This is truly remarkable Jesus says the same thing to my wife husband Lord please let each of us live in the fullness of Your great love and sanctify each of us and our marriage so that we may love each other as you have loved us by dying to ourselves and serving and exalting each other Then let us turn outward to demonstrate Your great love to the rest of our family and the world to Your glory Not only does this bless us in our marriage but it also blesses our children and our children s children and a thousand generations I love you dear Lord Amen 30
and the prayer life continues Join t he pra y e r t e a m t h e s t o r y c h u r c h s e r v e R e que s t Pra y e r t h e s t o r y c h u r c h p r a y L i ste n to Ma y be G o d Po dc a s t Th e St o ry At H o m e t h e s t o r y c h u r c h p o d c a s t s Di gi ta l ve rs i o n o f t hi s bo o k le t a u di ble pra y e rs a v a i l a bl e a t t h e s t o r y c h u r c h p r a y CO N TAC T U S th e st o ry c hurc h c o nt a ct in fo t he s t o ry c hurc h