Prayer Journal March 2019

March 2019

Dear Southside Family,

Welcome to Practicing God’s Presence in Prayer! This Journal has been prayerfully prepared to assist you and your family on the journey. There are 5 daily lessons for each of the three weeks (I think that still equals 15!). You can do them individually, with your spouse or as a family. You’ll need your Bible, a pen (or favorite electronic device) and a heart to find out more about prayer.

If these truths are discovered, understood and applied, our prayer lives can be transformed, our spiritual growth can be accelerated and our lives and relationships changed! God is speaking. He desires to be more than a part of our life – He is life itself. May we learn how we can regularly, intentionally remain in His presence throughout the day through an attitude of prayer.

Each day, read the suggested Bible passages and answer the questions. Use the KidConnect Corner with your kids or grandkids. Space has been given for you to record your thoughts and impressions from the Lord each day. Customize the content and make this fit for you and your family. Each day’s lesson will take about 20 minutes. Our goal is to become stronger in our walk with God by developing healthy spiritual habits. Don’t be overwhelmed. Take the Practicing God’s Presence in Prayer experience one day at a time! If you miss a day or two, don’t panic! Make them up when you have the opportunity.

It’s my hope and intent that our whole Southside family (children, youth and adults) will be discussing the topics in KidConnect, Home Groups, the Sunday morning messages and in our homes. Let’s do this together!

A lifestyle of passionate Christianity is supposed to be the norm, not the exception. Don’t ever settle for less. Keep the fire for God burning in your heart and do what it takes to feed your spiritual hunger for God.

The tendency of fire is to go out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart. Anyone who has tended a fireplace fire knows that it needs to be stirred up occasionally. —William Booth

Stir us up, Lord!

Now, take a moment and flip through your Practicing God’s Presence in Prayer Journal. Pray and ask God to help you, and our church family, as we journey together on this prayer adventure. If you have any questions, need more journals, or just want to pray, please contact the church office: #(920) 458-7075 [email protected]

Blessings, Pastor John

GETTING STARTED

We all have intentions. Many are really good intentions: eat less, exercise more, spend more time on things that really count, etc. Most of us desire to spend quality time with aging parents or growing children. Yet we are stretched to find time and never quite get around to it like we would want to...

Spending time with God and practicing God’s presence in prayer can seem intimidating and impossible. For Jesus, it was the source of His strength. Let’s ask God to help us nurture a consistent and growing intimacy with Him in prayer. By doing these five lessons each week, you’ll have PRACTICING started an important transformational journey with God over the next 6 weeks. These lessons include questions for HIS PRESENCE you and your entire family.

IN PRAYER READ Mark 1:29-39 Week 1, Day 1 OBSERVATIONS March 11, 2019 1. Jesus was busy, just like you! How did He respond to the busy times in His life? How do you respond? KidConnect Corner: 2. Jesus stayed connected to the Throne Room through prayer. According to vv. 38-39, what was When a battery runs low, we the result of His conversations with His Father? can put it on a charger to give it more “juice.” Spending time 3. What would Jesus say about your daily schedule with His Father got Jesus fired and the time you spend with Him in prayer? up. How do you “recharge” Consistency is the key! Let’s be practical! Are you when you’re tired from a big a morning or a night person? Give God your best, day at school? not the leftovers. When during your day could you find 15 minutes to spend with God? God wants to hear from you! We’re going to practice DIGGING DEEPER praying with a pencil. Wow! Write down some things that Check out more about Jesus’ prayer life: Matthew 14:19- you would like to ask God or 23, Matthew 27:46, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Luke tell God. That’s prayer! 22:17, Luke 23:34, 46 and John 6:15

Notes Praise: ______

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Requests: ______

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READ Luke 6:12-16

OBSERVATIONS

1. Decisions, decisions! Some decisions are easy (What color socks will I wear today? or What’s for

supper tonight?), while others are life-changing (Who will I marry? or Should we get a new car?). PRACTICING Life is filled with decisions. In this passage, Jesus is making a big decision. What was it? What did HIS PRESENCE Jesus do prior to making this decision? (v. 12)

IN PRAYER 2. What is a major decision you or your family is currently wrestling with? Week 1, Day 2 3. Have you prayed about this decision? No, no, not March 12, 2019 did you say a prayer, but did you really pray? Did God hear you? Did He answer your prayer? How did you know? KidConnect Corner: Jesus took time to listen to His DIGGING DEEPER Father. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus used this prayer to help teach His Sometimes waiting on the Lord in prayer to make a disciples to pray. It begins: Our decision is hard. It is worth the wait: Psalm 5:3, 33:20, 37:4, Father... To sign the word “Father,” 38:15 and Isaiah 40:31. put the thumb of your right hand against your forehead. Wiggle How seldom we pray things through! How often the your fingers a little. Use this sign to church and the individual get right up to the verge of a help you remember to talk to and great blessing in prayer and then let go, get drowsy, and listen to your Father in heaven! quit. –R.A. Torrey

Prayer means talking and listening Prayer is not a work that can be allocated to one or to God. Picture yourself in front of another group in the church. It is everybody’s your heavenly Father. What responsibility; it is everybody’s privilege. – A.W. Tozer in We would you ask Him? What would Travel an Appointed Way He say to you? Write down your thoughts on a computer or on paper, or try and take a walk and talk to God.

Notes Praise: ______

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READ Luke 11:1-13

OBSERVATIONS

1. The disciples had discovered the secret source of Jesus’ strength – prayer!

Jesus walked His talk. He practiced what He preached. He lived out His lessons. They had seen Him pray in public at His baptismal (Luke 3:21) and in private (Luke 9:18). Now they wanted to do it themselves. Describe your public and private prayer life...

Jesus’s power came through prayer. In my experience, I have found that simply “saying your prayers” is not where it’s at! Prayer, real prayer, is tough; it is hard work. Even later the disciples knew it. We must pray the price to tap into God’s power and let Him change us so that we can change our PRACTICING world!

HIS PRESENCE 2. The disciples asked Jesus for a piece of the prayer IN PRAYER action! At this point, these guys had been with Jesus for Week 1, Day 3 over two years. They had front row seats when He did His divine thing. They had first-hand experience March 13, 2019 in making miracles happen. We have in this verse the only request in the Gospels for Jesus to teach. They did ask, “Lord, teach us to pray...” The most KidConnect Corner: practical way to learn prayer is to do prayer. How Vivian and her family got a are you doing? new puppy. She said to her Mom after asking her dog to sit, 3. Staying connected with God in prayer isn’t always “He never does what I tell him.” easy. What does Jesus teach us about the role of Imagine how God feels when persistence in prayer (vv.5-10)? He asks you to do something and you don’t! Finish this DIGGING DEEPER sentence: “God, when I pray The “Lord’s Prayer” as written in today’s Scripture reading sometimes you are asking me can be recited in less than 15 seconds. It includes several to...” kinds of prayer, (e.g. praise, petition, etc.) Is your prayer Do you remember to pray and life balanced with different kinds of prayer? thank God before you eat? At school? At a restaurant? Why PRAYER & FASTING WEDNESDAY not practice praying right now? Prayer coupled with fasting is powerful! Is there something you can give up today to create more margin for focused prayer time? Even if it’s just 15 minutes! (e.g. a meal, a TV show, Facebook, etc.)

Notes Praise: ______

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Requests: ______

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READ John 12:44-50

OBSERVATIONS

1. Because Jesus was connected to His Father in prayer, He was on a mission. What was it?

2. Read Luke 19:10 and John 17:20. In John 17, Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples and all who would believe. His prayer was backed up by action shortly after: He gave His life for you and me. He’s still praying for us to complete the mission! PRACTICING 3. Read John 3:16-17. Do you think most people think Christians are trying to save the world or to judge it? HIS PRESENCE Why? IN PRAYER DIGGING DEEPER Who are two people you know who aren’t Jesus Week 1, Day 4 followers? Pray for them right now! What could you (and March 14, 2019 your family) do to be “light” in their world? If you can, do it now! Send a card, give ‘em a call, send ‘em a text or bake some cookies or... KidConnect Corner: Prayer has divided seas, rolled up flowing rivers, made

rocks gush into fountains, quenched flames of fire, There is a difference between muzzled lions, disarmed vipers and poisons, marshaled the what we need and what we stars against the wicked, stopped the course of the moon, want. Needs are things like air arrested the rapid sun in its great race, burst open iron and food and water and a gates, recalled souls from eternity, conquered the place to live. What do you strongest devils, commanded legions of angels down from need each day? Draw a heaven. Prayer has bridled and changed the raging picture of some things you passions of man and routed and destroyed vast armies of need. proud, daring, blustering atheists. Prayer has brought one

man from the bottom of the sea and carried another in a Sometimes we can pray out chariot of fire to heaven; what has not prayer done! loud and sometimes pray in our heart. When you pray tonight, –Author Unknown try using your whisper voice to talk to God. He can hear you loud and clear!

Notes Praise: ______

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READ John 5:16-24

OBSERVATIONS

1. Storm clouds are brewing. The water is getting rougher. Jesus faced tests and trials just as we do. Some were even trying to take his life. Even when things were darkest, Jesus prayed. (Luke 22:39-46) PRACTICING 2. If Jesus, who is perfect, stayed spiritually connected HIS PRESENCE and directed through prayer, what does that say about us? How are YOU doing in this area? Why or IN PRAYER why not? Week 1, Day 5 DIGGING DEEPER March 15, 2019 If you were to put your desire to spend time with God in prayer on the scale below, (with “1” being none and “10” being as much as possible), where are you? KidConnect Corner: Sarah plopped down next to Cassie on the school bus. “Amy thinks she’s better than me. She’s always putting everyone else down and now she’s picking on me!” Sarah sighed. Cassie said, Where would you realistically like to be by the end of our series? “You must hate her...” Cassie shook her head and said, “I wanted to, but it’s wrong to hate others. It was hard, but I forgave her.

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t forgive someone? (Parents, how about an example At this time in your life, what keeps you from being of the need to forgive within your consistent in spending time praying? What needs to own family?) How does it feel change so time with God is not short-changed? before you forgive someone? How about after? Remember, when we don’t forgive others, God can’t forgive us! Who do you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?

Notes

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READ

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6; NLT)

OBSERVATIONS

Have you ever looked at the top of your refrigerator or in the deep recesses of your couch cushions and noticed the filth that has built up over time? Even though we might clean on a regular basis, there are times when we need to go...a little deeper. We realize that what appeared to be clean on the surface was in all actuality, PRACTICING quite filthy. Yuck!

HIS PRESENCE The same thing can happen spiritually. As we go about our daily lives, there are things that can build up over time. IN PRAYER Even if we worship, pray and read God’s Word regularly, the different temptations, pressures and cares of this world Week 2, Day 1 can build up quietly and end up consuming our lives. March 18, 2019 Without even realizing it, we can lose our peace, joy and passion for the things of God. Our service to God, which used to fill us with life and excitement, becomes a KidConnect Corner: tiresome duty that we must fulfill. Praying is one way to What would happen if we get a deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off the never washed our clothing? things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on How would our home smell? If the things of the Spirit. our laundry was left unwashed, Praying offers an incredibly effective way to get into the the whole house would nooks and crannies of our souls and bring all those dusty eventually begin to smell. old habits, broken mind-sets and rusty attitudes out into Wearing dirty clothing can also the light of God’s truth. cause a person to smell. Dirty laundry is like having sin in our In prayer, our service to God returns to something we hearts that we have not want to do rather than something we have to do. As you confessed. To God, that sin pray today, ask God to show you any areas where you stinks. God wants us to talk to could use a refreshed spiritual focus. Pray as David did in Him about any stinky sin in our Psalm 51:10-12 that God will cleanse your heart, renew heart so we can be clean. We your spirit and restore the joy of your salvation. Pray with can do this by writing it down confidence, knowing that He wants to fill you with His life or simply talking to him like you and peace – and show you His glory! would a friend. The Bible tells us that He washes us clean every time because He loves us so much.

Notes

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READ

When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6; NLT)

OBSERVATIONS

What do you expect when you pray? Take a moment and think about that question again. When we pray with earnest expectation, we are exercising our faith. The PRACTICING earnest prayer of righteous people produces powerful results (James 5:16; NLT), and the most earnest prayers HIS PRESENCE come from us when we recognize our need for God. IN PRAYER There can be a natural tendency to shrink back when praying for the impossible, but we must remember that Week 2, Day 2 nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). If we know the promises that God has given us and understand His March 19, 2019 character and the principles by which He works, we can pray with confidence and trust Him for the answer. KidConnect Corner: What has caused you to waver in your expectation with God? James reminds us that faith and wavering are Read James 5:13-18. Are these actually contradictory – James says, “Do not waver.” big prayers or little prayers? Know that God never wavers in His love for you. You can (Trick question! It’s both!) God trust Him completely. wants us to trust Him with the big things and little things in our There is no way that Christians in a private capacity can life. do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom of Christ as by prayer. – Jonathan Edwards Today, make a list of things you want to ask God for. Maybe When we depend upon organizations, we get what you want to put the list on the organizations can do; when we depend upon education, fridge where the whole family we get what education can do; when we depend upon can see it. Or make a prayer man, we get what man can do; but when we depend chain with strips of paper to upon prayer, we get what God can do. – A.C. Dixon decorate your room. Don’t What are you trusting God for in this season of your life? forget the BIG things that might How can you line up your expectations with the Word of seem impossible to you. God when you practice His presence in prayer? Find Nothing is impossible with God! promises in His Word that answer your need and write them down today.

Notes Praise:

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READ I Kings 18:43-44

OBSERVATIONS

“How do I know God is going to say yes to my prayers?” This is a common question many people have when they pray. However, it’s important to recognize that prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer. It is our responsibility to check our motives and believe God hears us. God wants to change US!

We see an example of the process of prayer in this story of Elijah (1 Kings 18). Elijah climbed to the top of the mountain to pray for rain to come. As he waited for the rain, he continued to pray, believing God would answer. PRACTICING When he finally saw a small cloud, he told Ahab to get HIS PRESENCE ready because rain was coming. Elijah knew what to pray for, and God heard him the first time he prayed. But there IN PRAYER was preparation that needed to take place in order for Elijah to receive the answer to his prayer. Prayer is not just Week 2, Day 3 about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer. March 20, 2019 It is no mistake that God waited until Elijah had prayed seven times before He answered. In the Bible, seven KidConnect Corner: represents completion. In this story, seven represents the completion of God’s process regarding Elijah’s prayer Have you ever had to wait a request. Where are you in the process of waiting for really long time for something? God’s answer? Can you trust Him? What was it? Was it hard? Read Elijah’s story today. How God does not want merely to answer our prayers; He many times did he pray? wants to spend time with us to prepare us for the answer Remember your list you made that will come. Many times we want to skip over the yesterday? Are you still process involved in engaging God in prayer as we wait for praying? Don’t get our answer. But it is this very process that works maturity in discouraged! God is listening! us and prepares us for the answers our prayers bring. Sometimes we have to show God we trust Him by being The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait patient for His answer. Find your until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is list and keep praying today. because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes and you will always have victory. –R.A. Torrey

PRAYER & FASTING WEDNESDAY

Prayer coupled with fasting is powerful! Is there something you can give up today to create more margin for focused prayer time? Even if it’s just 15 minutes! (e.g. a meal, a TV show, Facebook, etc.)

Notes

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READ

It came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant.” (I Kings 18:36)

OBSERVATIONS

Elijah declared he was a servant of the Most High God. Elijah belonged to God, and he represented God to the people. However, Elijah’s boldness was not a result of who PRACTICING he was; it was the result of knowing God!

HIS PRESENCE As children of God we don’t have to be timid or fearful when coming to God in prayer. We can approach Him IN PRAYER boldly. Week 2, Day 4 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw March 21, 2019 near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy

[for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for KidConnect Corner: every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (Hebrews 4:16, AMP) What is something you are It’s intimidating to think about taking a fearless, confident, really good at? (Parents, help bold attitude when coming before God’s presence in here if they are struggling.) Did prayer. Yet this is exactly what we are told to do! God it take practice? Were you has already settled the issue of our access to Him only nervous the first time? because of what Jesus did on the cross. Sometimes prayer is the same way. We need to practice! We can come to the throne in such outrageous boldness God tells us that we can come because Jesus was outrageously righteous! When we to Him anytime and we can pray, we come to God in the authority of Jesus’ name have confidence when we do! and we can be confident that we will find grace, mercy Draw a picture of yourself and perfectly timed help. today and write some words about yourself that God might Do you approach God with timidity or confidence? Seek say about you. (Forgiven, God boldly today knowing you are fully forgiven and loved, beautiful, strong, Jesus made you righteous. When you approach God in confident…) prayer, seek a fresh revelation of who He is in your life. Dare we ask Him to show us His glory?

Praise: Notes

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READ

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals and angels took care of him. (Mark 1:12-13; NLT)

OBSERVATIONS

Even Jesus disconnected from the world to pray. Matthew, Mark and Luke tell of Jesus going to the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. They also describe other times Jesus pulled away from the demands of the crowds, His ministry and even His closest friends to PRACTICING pray. There are times that we, too, need to pull away from the HIS PRESENCE things of the world and focus and God. “The things of the IN PRAYER world” can certainly include more than just food. In fact, in our world they are more likely television, movies, Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, music and the internet. Week 2, Day 5 None of these things are wrong in and of themselves, but March 22, 2019 they are avenues for a mental and spiritual crowd to gather around us and drown out the Holy Spirit’s voice. Prayer is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of KidConnect Corner: daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus. Sometimes Jesus would go away from the crowd to pray In day-to-day life we nourish our souls as well as our to His Father. He did this bodies. We do so through reading, talking, socializing, because there were so many playing and entertainment. Yet when our souls are full of distractions. What keeps you those things, we often don’t hunger for God. from spending time with God (TV, video games, social During this time we are setting aside to practice God’s media, sports, friends…). Do presence in prayer, let’s be intentional about getting you have a safe, quiet place away from the crowd and lay aside for a season the you can go to get away like activities we use to nourish our souls. Instead, let’s enter a Jesus did? Think a place in your state of spiritual hunger, a craving for God. Jesus said that room or your house that you being spiritually hungry is a blessed state, because there could create a prayer space. we can be sure of being filled with food that truly satisfies Spend some time there and our deepest needs (Matthew 5:6). see if it helps you talk to God. You will find that being still before the Lord will put you in a place of increased strength, peace and hunger for God. Are you disconnected from things that nourish your body and soul? What do you need to deny yourself to make this a powerful time in your life?

Praise: Notes

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READ

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10; KJV)

OBSERVATIONS

We’ve all heard the phrase, “just like heaven on earth.” When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, He provided some insight into what “heaven on earth” might look like.

Heaven is a place where God’s will reigns supreme. If we want to have a taste of heaven on earth, then our prayer should be like Jesus’: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be

PRACTICING done...” The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our HIS PRESENCE lives, just as it does in heaven. IN PRAYER On a more personal level, we can pray that His will be Week 3, Day 1 priority in our own life. Rather than imposing His will on us, God gives us the choice to surrender to it with trust and March 25, 2019 gladness. As we yield to the Lordship of Christ over every area of our lives, we come into agreement with Him. We experience alignment with heaven and taste a little bit of KidConnect Corner: heaven here on earth.

Can you think of a time when God’s will then becomes what we desire and the thing we you didn’t get what you most seek after. We enter into the incredible adventure of wanted? How did it make you participating in God’s plan to move His kingdom forward feel? Talk to Mom or Dad on the earth. This is where we find the most fulfilling and about why you didn’t get what joyous life, but it all starts with one personal “Yes, Lord” on you wanted. Was there a good our part. reason? God knows what’s Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power best for us. He might answer can come. Like a mighty locomotive, His power is our prayers by giving us irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails. – something different than we Watchman Nee asked for, but that’s because He cares for us! When you pray The life, power and glory of the church is prayer. The life today consider praying with of its members is dependent on prayer and the presence your hands out in front of you of God is secured and retained by prayer. Without it, the and palms up. This helps us church is lifeless and powerless. Prayer converts even the remember that we are open to bricks, and mortar, and lumber, into a sanctuary, a Holy of God’s plan for our life even if it Holies, where the Shekinah dwells. –E.M. Bounds means answering our prayers differently than what we ask What does God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven” look like for. in your life? Do the desires of your heart line up with the will of God? As we seek God together, let’s pray as Jesus taught us, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.”

Notes Praise:

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READ

Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43; NIV)

OBSERVATIONS

The story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection shows us the power of Jesus’ spoken word. Jesus was so aligned with the will of His Father that He already knew in His heart the miracle that was about to take place, but His words spoke the miracle into existence.

While prayer is our declaration of our dependence on PRACTICING God, our spoken words can be the manifestation of HIS PRESENCE what’s happening in our hearts. As you seek God in prayer, ask Him for discernment to IN PRAYER know a need and the words to help someone else today. Week 3, Day 2 Pray that your words would be encouraging and aligned with the truth of God’s Word. Building others up around us March 26, 2019 with our words allows us to be God’s instrument to accomplish His good work. There is power in our spoken words, whether they are used to build up or tear down. KidConnect Corner: It’s important to keep our hearts filled with the truth from God’s Word so that our words will produce good fruit in Read the story of Lazarus in others. May we practice His presence in prayer for His John 11 with your parents glory! today. What an amazing miracle Jesus did for His friend! The key to praying with power is to become the kind of By doing this, God’s power was persons who do not use God for our ends but are utterly shown to everyone. Do you devoted to being used for His ends. –John Piper have friends that are going through a hard time? Pray for As God continues to fill you through this season of prayer, them today. If you still have He wants to take what He is putting in your heart so you your prayer list or prayer chain, can share it with others. How might you use the power of make sure to write their name your spoken words to speak God’s truth in the lives of down. Remember, no prayer is others? too big for God! The power of prayer rests in the faith that God hears us. In more than one sense this is true. It is this faith that gives a man courage to pray. It is this faith that gives him power to prevail with God. The moment I am assured that God hears me too, I feel drawn to pray and persevere in prayer. I feel strong to claim and to take in faith this: my God will hear me. –Andrew Murray

Notes Praise: ______

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READ

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:44; NIV)

OBSERVATIONS

When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life change. The story of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates how it was the power of Jesus’ prayer and spoken word that resurrected Lazarus from the dead, but the disciples played a role in this miracle too.

PRACTICING Lazarus was bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face had been wrapped with a cloth during his time in HIS PRESENCE the tomb. When he arose from his death and came out of the tomb, Jesus called on the disciples to help in the IN PRAYER transformation process. Jesus said to them, “Take off the Week 3, Day 3 grave clothes and let him go.” The disciples needed to help Lazarus. Likewise, we all have a part to play in the March 27, 2019 lives of those around us. When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life change.

KidConnect Corner: Has God done some great things during this time of practicing His presence in prayer? Remember the friend you Could it be that someone around you is still walking prayed for yesterday? What around in grave clothes? What do you need to help him else could you do to or her let go of? encourage them? Maybe write them a letter or draw them a Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God picture? Next time you see for men is greater still. –E.M. Bounds them, encourage them and let them know that you are True prayer is measured by weight – not by length. A praying for them! single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length.

When God determines to do a great work, he first sets his people to pray. –Charles Spurgeon

PRAYER & FASTING WEDNESDAY

Prayer coupled with fasting is powerful! Is there something

you can give up today to create more margin for focused prayer time? Even if it’s just 15 minutes! (e.g. a meal, a TV show, Facebook, etc.)

Notes Praise:

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Requests: ______

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READ

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6-7; TM)

OBSERVATIONS

Worry seems inescapable in life. No doubt there is plenty to worry about: our kids, the economy, war, disease... Sometimes it might seem that worry has even replaced PRACTICING Jesus as the focal point of our lives. Jesus Himself admonished us several times not to worry. And the HIS PRESENCE Apostle Paul told us that there is a remedy for worry...prayer. IN PRAYER Our eternal, timeless God owns the future. He knows Week 3, Day 4 exactly what is going to happen and He promises to be March 28, 2019 with us every step of the journey.

When we worry about something, we are spending KidConnect Corner: energy on it, wondering what might happen, rehearsing the “if onlys” and “what ifs” in our mind. Why not take that

same energy and refocus it on prayer instead? When we What does it mean to worry? worry, we are simply talking to ourselves about our fears, Can we worry and trust God at but when we pray, we are taking those fears to God. WE the same time? God wants us can’t control the future, but as Anne Graham Lotz said to trust in Him whenever we are throughout her book, Fear Not Tomorrow, God is Already tempted to worry because He There, our ageless God owns the future. cares for us. His is in control! If you have any worries in your As we are nearing a close to this time of practicing God’s heart, take a piece of paper presence in prayer, let’s take note of Paul’s words: Don’t and write them down. Pray out worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. loud and ask God to help you Then the peace of God will guard your heart... trust Him. When you are done, crumple your paper and throw Growing an unshakable trust in God as you face your it away. Commit to trusting tomorrow is not about self-improvement or mastering your God to handle all your worries! circumstances, but about God – who He is, what He does and how we can trust Him. –Anne Graham Lotz

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. –Oswald Chambers

What consistently causes you to worry? Today, recapture each worried thought and send it to God as a prayer. See how dramatically your outlook improves when the peace of God is activated through prayer!

Notes

Praise: ______

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READ

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. (Luke 4:14; NIV)

OBSERVATIONS

After praying and fasting for forty days, Jesus returned to Galilee empowered to do all the Father had called Him to do. Jesus was so powerful in public because He was so prayerful in private. To accomplish the assignments God has for our lives, we also need the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us. The power of the Spirit is PRACTICING essential for us to accomplish the assignment God has for us. He will equip you not just to know Him but to walk in His HIS PRESENCE power to accomplish what He has called you to do. IN PRAYER That’s exciting! Week 3, Day 5 Through prayer God can prepare us for what lies ahead. We might not know what opportunities or obstacles we’re March 29, 2019 going to face, but we can know that God will be faithful to us when we are faithful in practicing His presence in prayer. Today as you worship God in prayer, let Him know KidConnect Corner: that you refuse to go into the future without His power and that you want all the spiritual resources He has for you. This is the last day for this prayer journal. How’d you do? Did you Every great movement of God can be traced to a learn more about prayer? How kneeling figure. –D.L. Moody will you continue to spend time with God and talk to Him? Prayer is the unfailing resource of God’s people. When an Don’t forget to celebrate the earthquake makes our mountain tremble, the throne of ways God has answered your grace still stands firm and we may come to it. Let us never prayers. If you need to, start a forget to pray and let us never doubt the success of prayer journal so you can look prayer. –C.H. Spurgeon back and remember how you’ve prayed. This will help A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the you see what God has done future than he can eat enough today to last him for the for you and others you’ve next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at once prayed for. to sustain life for a week to come. We must draw upon God’s boundless stores of grace from day to day, as we need it. –D.L. Moody As you conclude this journey of practicing God’s presence in prayer, ask Him to continually reveal His purpose and give you constant clarity and strength to live His plan for His glory!

Notes Praise:

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Requests: ______

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