WAIT PRAY MOVE Week of Prayer and Fasting 1 to 7 February 2021 Hatfield Christian Church Psalm 40: 1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Slimy pit. You slip and slide and can’t get a footing. He put a new song in my mouth, You’re down low and you a hymn of praise to our God. can’t get out. Many will see and fear the Lord Mud and mire. It squelches between your toes. It gives and put their trust in him. way beneath your feet. It makes you unsteady and bogs you down. Rock. It’s firm and steady beneath your feet. You can stand tall and secure. It’s immovable. You can take in the view. A NEW YEAR A NEW SONG “Wait patiently for the Lord.” 2020 was a year of mud requires full engagement as our feet upon a rock from and mire and slimy pits we actively trust God. this place of watchful and for many people. While patient prayer. Jesus says our circumstances may The early disciples also that His words are the rock be different to David’s, learnt about waiting on on which we should build many of us can relate to God. They faced uncertain our lives (Matthew 7:24-27). his experience of feeling times after Jesus’s death stuck, unsteady or finding and resurrection. How did Jesus’ words sustain us ourselves in a dark place. they respond? They obeyed when the storms hit (Romans Psalm 40 shows us how Jesus’ instruction to gather 14:17). As we allow his words David responded when he and wait on God together in to transform us, our speech found himself in slippery or prayer (Acts 1:4,14). changes. We start to sing sinister spaces, and how we a ‘new song’ and ‘hymn of can too. This week, as we pray and praise’, proclaiming God’s fast together, we’d like goodness and encouraging David waited patiently for to create a similar space, others to put their trust in the Lord. Counterintuitively, to wait on God. We trust Him. waiting is not passive. It that God will lift us and set 4 5 On each of the coming seven days, we will focus on a particular foundational truth. Each daily devotional consists of three parts. 01A structure for prayer. Pray through the four sections of the acronym PRAY. Pause take time out to quieten your mind and heart. Reflect on a piece of Scripture. What is God saying? Ask God to help you and our community apply what He says. Yield to His will and way in your life. 6 7 Intercession Set time aside to pray through 02 these prayer pointers each points day individually, as a family and/or community group. Soundtrack A soundtrack of songs 03 relating to the theme for each playlist. day is included to enhance your prayer journey. You can listen to these on your favourite music subscription or via the Hatfield Christian Church playlists, we’ve created for you. A daily video devotional will enhance the written devotionals and will be available every day via our YouTube and Facebook platforms. You might want to consider fasting during this significant week. Fasting is the practice of making room for God by giving up one (or more) of your dependencies, such as food, coffee, streaming (Netflix), social media, ect. 8 9 Before we begin, reflection...let’s spend some time in What was your experience of 2020? For what are you grateful? Where have you seen the Lord’s goodness? Is He challenging you to fast this week? If so, what? What are your expectations for this coming week? Who or what situation would you like to intercede for this week? Wait on the Lord for a while… write down what He says to you. * All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NIV. 10 11 MONDAY | 1 FEBRUARY Reflect He will PSALM 143 deliver you A psalm of David. 1 Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 The enemy pursues me, He crushes me to the ground; He makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. 4 So my spirit grows faint within me; As I enter prayer now, I pause to still my heart my heart within me is dismayed. and mind and focus on your presence. 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works Pause for a moment. and consider what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you; 01Jesus, your name means “God who saves.” You came I thirst for you like a parched land. to live the life I should have lived, and die the death I deserved to die so that I could be saved. You conquered death for me! How much more can I trust You to rescue me amid my current fears and troubles. 12 13 What stands out to you from this Psalm? 7 Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word Troubled times are inevitable. David often of your unfailing love, finds himself in turmoil so deep it threatens to for I have put my trust in you. overwhelm him. Psalm 143 reveals his prayerful Show me the way I should go, response to intense pressure. Notice how his for to you I entrust my life. disposition transforms as he prays. He starts by 9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, lamenting his situation, bringing it honestly and for I hide myself in you. earnestly before God. Then, he calls to God for help 10 Teach me to do your will, and ends by remembering God’s goodness for you are my God; and unfailing love. may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. When you face troubled times, remember that you 11 For your name’s sake, Lord, are not without help. Like David, you can hide in preserve my life; God and trust that He will deliver you (Psalm 143:9). in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. What do you feel God is saying to you through this Psalm? 12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant. PSALM14 143 15 Ask Prayer Jesus, please remind me to turn to You when I face trouble. You are the God Who Saves. 02and intercession Write down your prayer requests Who do you know that is facing a crisis? Pray for redemption and deliverance. Ask God to rescue our nation from the effects of COVID-19, including the resultant economic downturn. Yield Jesus, thank you that You work all things for the good of those who love You, and who Soundtrack have been called according to your purpose. In this, I trust, and I submit myself to your loving care. 03for the day Listen to these songs today as you meditate on the deliverance of God. The playlist is available via YouTube Music: www.bit.ly/HCC1Feb I will sing BY MARTIN SMITH Deliverance BY GATEWAY WORSHIP Oceans (Where feet may fail) BY HILLSONG UNITED Promises BY MAVERICK CITY MUSIC 16 17 TUESDAY | 2 FEBRUARY Reflect You are never alone MATTHEW 1:23 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him As I enter prayer now, I pause to still my heart “Immanuel” (which means and mind and focus on your presence. “God with us”). Pause for a moment. JOHN 14:16 01Lord, as I start this day, I thank You that You are with me. And I will ask the Father, Holy Spirit, my Helper, remind me to be sensitive to your and he will give you promptings. I devote this time to You. another advocate to help Please have your way. you and be with you forever… 18 19 What stands out to you from these verses? Ask Where do you feel empty and in need of comfort? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill and comfort you. Loneliness can be a puzzling thing. You can be happily married, have children, good friends, and co-workers you enjoy, and yet feel alone. Feeling alone is not related to what is going on around Yield us, but rather to what is going on inside us. Change can May you be strengthened as you pray this prayer stir up feelings of emptiness and reveal our loneliness. by Ann Spangler, Our world erupted with change with the COVID-19 pandemic. While global lockdowns have curbed the coronavirus, they have also exacerbated loneliness. Immanuel, I praise You for your However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Often, we try faithful love – drawing me near to distract ourselves from our empty and lonely spaces. when I was far from You. Instead But Jesus came to fill these voids once and for all. of casting me away from your He is Immanuel, God with us. presence, You came to call me home. Instead of punishing me for Have you felt lonely this past year? Talk to God about it.