PRAYER AND 40 DAY FASTING

READ IT

Come near to God and He will come near to you. JAMES 4:8

PRAY IT

“Heavenly Father, You have promised that if I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. I need more of Your presence today, and I am drawing near to You through prayer, worship, and reading Your Word. I open my heart to You and ask You to be near to me and change me to be more like You.” 

LIVE IT

God is a Promise Keeper and we unfortunately are Promise Breakers. And because of Jesus we now have access to the Father. We can now draw near to Him at any time and at any place. In what other ways can you draw near to Him? (Ex. Take a walk on a trail or go out for a bike ride. Maybe instead of eating lunch go to a nearby park to pray and read your bible.)

READ IT

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. PSALM 139:23-24

PRAY IT

“Father God, I ask You to search my heart. If You find anything in me that is offensive, please show me and help me remove it from my life. Teach me to love others well and live a life that points people to You. Help me live my life on earth in a way that impacts eternity.”

LIVE IT

Other than God, who knows you better than you? So take some time to reflect and write down one thing you know that hinders you, distracts you, even pushes your heart away from where God wants it to be. (Ex. Anger, Bitterness, etc. Write it on a piece of paper, confess it to God, and crumble it up and throw it in the trash). 

READ IT

But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. MATTHEW 6:33

PRAY IT

“Your Word tells me that if I seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness, You will lead me to a life of blessing, purpose, and freedom. I am Yours today, God, and I give this day to You. Help me to focus on Your priorities first—sharing Your love, making Your Name known, and advocating for justice in our world. I know that by focusing on You and Your heart for others, rather than myself, I will receive joy and peace.”

LIVE IT

What is one way either at work, at home, or in between that you can prioritize/honor Him in what you accomplish today? (Ex. sharing His love, making His Name known, or advocating for justice in our world).

READ IT

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. JAMES 4:10

PRAY IT

“God, You have promised that if I humble myself before You, You will lift me up. I recognize today that I cannot succeed on my own, and I need You in every moment. I humble myself before You, and I ask You to work in and through me today. My time, efforts, thoughts, and words are Yours today (name specific parts of your day and give them to God). Show me what I don’t know, and help me grow in the knowledge of You and Your heart for people. Use me for Your purposes, Lord. I trust that You will be with me and lift me up.”

LIVE IT

Set today to humble yourself by putting God and others first before your needs or wants. Spend time with God and ask Him to give you opportunities today to put others first and serve them. Again, either at work, at home, or in-between, be intentional to put the needs of others first (your boss, your co-worker, your spouse, friend, or neighbor). You can even let the person behind you at the grocery store cut in front of you. Humbly serve them today!

READ IT

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 TIMOTHY 1:7

PRAY IT

“Father, I know You have not given me a spirit of fear or timidity, but one of power, love, and self-discipline. When my mind feels out of control, I pray that You will renew my spirit and let power, love, and self-discipline fill me. Help me look more like You every day. With confidence that Your power lives in me, give me boldness to confront the enemy and anything I see in the world that does not reflect Your heart. Thank You for breaking the spirit of fear off my life, and I receive the truth that You have given me a sound and healthy mind.”

LIVE IT

Life can be pretty scary. No doubt about that! But we do not need to live in fear. Circumstances and situations way out of our control can distract us and cause us to feel overwhelmed. We need to remember that the Word of God keeps us grounded. Keeps us focused. Keeps us in tune with God. Take time today at breakfast, lunch, and dinner and memorize 2 Timothy 1:7 (or if you know it by memory you can recite it).

READ IT

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. MATTHEW 28:19-20

PRAY IT

“Father, I pray for my church, The Met. I pray our congregation will take seriously “The Great Commission” written in Matthew 28:19-20; that each of us will make disciples, encourage others to be baptized as followers of Christ, and that we will strive to obey your word. Thank you for a church that points everyone to Jesus, the only one who can save us and fulfill us. Help me be faithful with my gifts, talents and treasures”

LIVE IT

As you attend church or watch online, at the conclusion of the service take a walk around the church building and pray for every detail of the church that you can think of; the staff, the volunteers, the building, the finances, the people who know Jesus and those who don’t, and pray for God’s greatest blessing yet in 2023. 

READ IT

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. ROMANS 8:28

PRAY IT

“God, You promise me in Your Word that in all things You work for my good. Right now, there are circumstances in my life that don’t feel good and that I can’t see an ounce of good in (talk to God about the specific situations that are causing you difficulty or pain). Even though this is how I feel, I choose to believe Your truth over my feelings. When You say You will work in all things for my good, I believe You. Even in situations that seem hopeless, I know You are working on my behalf and that You want more for me than I could ever want for myself. Thank You for having a purpose for me and for working all my circumstances for good.”

LIVE IT

Take an intentional moment in the stillness of the day to pause. Listen to our worship team play “Goodness of God” by Bethel Music. Close your eyes and simply allow your heart to reflect on the Goodness of God in all of the years of your life. Ask God to flood your heart and mind with evidence of His goodness and unfailing love. You will begin to sense your heart responding with overwhelming gratitude and an abundance of love toward our Heavenly Father. Record God’s goodness and love in your life to reflect on often. 

READ IT

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. PSALM 62:8

PRAY IT

“Father, in Your Word You invite me to pour out my heart to You. You are my refuge, and I know that anything I think, feel, or do is okay to bring to You. Knowing that You are a safe place for me, I come to You and give You everything on my heart (talk to God about the specific things that are on your heart today). From what is worrying me to what is delighting me, for what I hope for to what I’m afraid of, I bring it all to You because I know I can trust You. Help me and guide me in every area, in Jesus’ name.”

LIVE IT

Listen to our worship team play the song “Speak to the Mountains” by Chris McClarney and ask God to reveal the mountains in your life. Call those mountains out by name as you worship and call on His greater strength as you declare you will TRUST Him even when you can’t see what He’s doing. Speak to the mountains by proclaiming with your whole heart that our God is BIGGER, BETTER, STRONGER and GREATER than any mountain we are facing. 

READ IT

The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.
DEUTERONOMY 28:12

PRAY IT

“Lord, I believe You have everything I need and You want to bless me. You tell me in Your Word that You will open the heavens to bless the work I do. I know that without You, I can do nothing. I ask that You will open the heavens and pour out Your blessings and power over me. I give my work and my efforts to You and I ask You for favor and blessing in anything my hands touch (surrender specific efforts to Him). May it be for Your glory alone so that others may see Your power and goodness at work.”

LIVE IT

Today as you focus on the Providence of God as the Great Provider and the Sovereignty of God in that He moves people, places, and things for His honor and His glory, know that He is for you. Know that His favor abounds. And so if He indeed is for you who can be against you? He knows your every need and knows how to exactly provide for you. Throughout your day what are 3 things you are grateful for that you can pray to God and thank Him for?

READ IT

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROMANS 8:38-39

PRAY IT

“God, I am in awe of Your love for me. You are so great, and I am so small, yet You love me fully. I remind my soul today that nothing can separate me from Your love—I am so grateful! There is nothing I can do to win or lose Your love; You love me without condition. Because I know nothing on earth, in time or space, or anything in existence can separate me from Your love. I will live confidently and peacefully knowing I have always been and will always be fully loved by You.”

LIVE IT

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 a few times very slowly. 1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is love” but we often can’t comprehend the full capacity of what that means. Allow your heart to understand the depths of God’s love by inserting GOD for the word LOVE as you read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 again a few more times. Reflect on what God reveals about His unwavering love. 

READ IT

“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. — ISAIAH 54:17

PRAY IT

“Lord, I know that no weapon raised against me will succeed because I am Your child. I feel pressure in my life right now, and sometimes I feel as though life will overcome me (talk to God about the concerns weighing on you). Even though I feel this way, in faith, I claim Your promise that no weapon can overcome me and that any accusations that come against me will be silenced. This truth is verified by Your love and saving power in my life.”

LIVE IT

The Sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, is our ultimate source of protection. Ask God to reveal a few scriptures in the bible that personally speak to His protection in the lives of you and your family. Write them on sticky notes, pray them over your home, and place them where you and your family will see them often within your home to be reminded of God’s protection that surrounds you daily. Let’s choose to guard our hearts and homes with God’s Living Word. 

READ IT

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

PRAY IT

“Father, my heart feels anxious (tell God what is giving you anxiety). I don’t like this feeling, but I’m thankful I can come to You and receive peace. You invite me to replace my anxiety with prayer, and even though my mind and heart are racing, I’m coming to You knowing that You provide healing and calm for my soul. Thank You for giving me breath and life. I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. I lay down all worries, all my physical and mental anxiety, and any attempt at trying to control it all (tell Him the things you are laying down right now). I surrender it all to You. I need You. I need Your peace that transcends my human understanding. Even if things are unstable around me, I pray that Your peace will be evident in my heart and my life. Guard my heart and mind, God. I trust that You are faithful, and I receive Your peace in my life today.”

LIVE IT

Take a Prayer Walk through your home. Slowly make your way through every room and doorway within your home and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer. Pray over every space within the walls of your home- where you all sit, sleep, eat, gather, enter, exit, etc. Ask God’s presence to fill and overflow within every space of your home and flood the hearts of all who enter. 

READ IT

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up. GALATIANS 6:9-10

PRAY IT

“Heavenly Father, I pray that our church volunteers would remember that you have called them to serve and you will equip them. I pray they will fix their eyes on you and your leading rather than all the things and situations going on around them. I pray they will be refreshed by the Holy Spirit and that He will give them the strength to serve with greatness and faithfulness.”

LIVE IT

Find a church volunteer in the next couple of weeks and tell them how thankful you are to them and how much they have meant to you. Sometimes we don’t realized how much a smile or kind word means to someone else. You can tell them in person, email them or send them a message on social media. 

READ IT

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” JEREMIAH 29:11-13

PRAY IT

“My God, I try to make so many plans for my life, but I know Your plans for me are best. You tell me that You have plans for me to prosper and have hope and a future. Thank You for loving me enough to have a plan for my life. You have promised me that when I call on You, You will listen to me. Thank You for listening when I pray. I am confident knowing that I serve a God who cares about my life. I want to find You every day, and You say that if I seek You with all my heart, I will find You. Thank You for showing me the way to You. I lay my plans down at Your feet and receive Your plans for me (mention your plans and lay them down before God). I know that You see the big picture and You know what is better for me than I do. I trust You, and I ask You to guide me toward Your plans.”

LIVE IT

On a post it note, write down one plan/one goal you want to accomplish in 2023. Underneath that plan/goal write Jeremiah 29:11-13 (just the text location not the verses). Stick it on your bathroom mirror and leave it there for as long as the glue will stick to your mirror. It will remind you to pray for discernment in bringing it to fruition or remind you to pray for discernment to either tweak, change it, or drop it. His plans are always better than ours. We should always respond to God with our plans, “Let your will be done”.

READ IT

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” HEBREWS 13:5

PRAY IT

“Father, I am so comforted by the fact that You will never leave me and how deep your love is for me. You are always with me, and I am safe with You. As I go through my life and take on each new situation, I’m comforted by knowing I’m not alone because You are by my side. Help me feel Your presence. When I feel uncertain or afraid, I pray You will comfort me through Your Holy Spirit and remind me that I am never alone because You, the Almighty God, have promised to always be with me.”

LIVE IT

Today as you are reminded that God is Forever Faithful, that He will never ever Leave you or Forsake you, do this: Think about one person today who needs to be reminded of Hebrews 13:5. Next, plan to either call, FaceTime, or text them and remind them of the comfort and deep love He has for them. Make sure to end your conversation by praying for them. 

READ IT

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
MATTHEW 11:28-30

PRAY IT

“Lord Jesus, I am so tired and worn out (tell God the areas where you’re tired and weary). I feel exhausted mentally and physically. Life feels hard, and I feel like I can’t keep up my current pace. You invite me to come to You when I am weary, and I fall at Your feet desperate for rest, peace, and perspective. Show me where I am trying to do things on my own. Show me where I need to rest instead of strive. Teach me Your ways. Show me how to walk in gentleness, humility, and rest. I know Your ways are higher than my ways, and I pray that You will transform my heart and mind to be more like You.”

LIVE IT

Rest is gift – a time to be fully present, reflect and soak in all that God has placed in our lives. Ask God in prayer to give you clarity of what true rest looks like in your life.Throughout the Old Testament, God required Sabbath rest once a week for His people. Commit to a day this week to practice a day of Sabbath rest as a family. Begin making preparations to limit distractions and technology to truly find rest and deep connection. Suggestions to prepare for a Day of Rest: Books or Journals, Tuck away Technology, Prepare Food in advance, tidy your house to limit distractions, prepare the people in your life to join you or respect this time, create a playlist of music for your home. Prepare your heart to rest and enjoy God’s presence through prayer, praise, and worship, as well as your community while reflecting upon God’s abundance in your life. 

READ IT

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” PSALM 91:1-2

PRAY IT

“God, I claim that I dwell in Your shelter, the Most High God, and I rest in Your shadow, the Almighty One. I claim that You alone are my refuge and fortress. You are my God and I trust You. When I face anything that brings me uncertainty or fear (confess these things to Him), I know that I can come to You as my safe place. Thank You for Your strength and protection in my life.”

LIVE IT

Today, make sure to plan your day accordingly because I have found a great way to be strengthened by God’s Word. You’ll need your Bible app, your earbuds, and some comfortable shoes. Here’s your list to choose from: Set 1 Galatians & Ephesians (both are 6 chapters) or Set 2 Philippians & Colossians (both are 4 chapters). Choose only one set and go for a walk outside. If you choose set 1 walk in one direction as you listen and complete Galatians. Then turn around and head back home and listen to Ephesians. Do the same if you choose Set 2. Be strengthened both spiritually and physically by God’s Word!

READ IT

The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
PSALM 145:13-14

PRAY IT

“Almighty God, as I claim the promises in Your Word through my prayer time, I praise You for Your character. Trustworthy, faithful—that is who You are. I thank You that I can trust You to be faithful to me. I know that when I come to You with humility and a surrendered heart that You will lift me up.”

LIVE IT

Today make some time to reflect in your journal or on a piece of paper the faithfulness of God. Think about the last 12-13 months. All the ups and downs and where you are at today. Write down all the memories you have of God providing something or someone in your life that has strengthened you and your walk with Him. Make a list or write a letter but be reminded He is Forever Faithful. He is your refuge and fortress!

READ IT

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. DEUTERONOMY 6:5-9

PRAY IT

Dearest God, you hold me close even when I try to stray away. You bless me even when I don’t deserve it. I pray today to commit to loving you better. I want to love you, trust you, and put my faith in you alone. I pray to love you with all my heart, all my soul, and all my might. I pray specifically for my family (list each person) Help me to teach the truth of God’s Word in my words and actions each and every day. Protect my family’s hearts and minds each day and I pray for their safety and health…’Lord bless us, and keep us, make your face shine upon us and be gracious to us, Lord may you turn your face toward us and give us peace’ Numbers 6:24-26. Help me to live in and live out your commandments with each coming day as I lead and love my family. Guide our hearts and minds to keep you at the center in all that we do. May your Living Word be impressed upon our hearts so deeply that when we walk, talk, sit, gather or go anywhere with our family you are interwoven into every piece. Let the foundation of our home be built upon the solid rock and firm foundation of Christ for ever and ever, for generation after generation. This I pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

LIVE IT

Take a moment to pause today and visualize your family. Reflect on the past, soak in the present and envision the future for your family as a whole. Grab a journal or piece of paper and find a quiet place to listen to the song “The Blessing” by Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe. Ask God to paint a picture in your mind of the vision God holds for your family. Write or draw anything that comes to your mind. Use this as a foundation to begin building a God given Family Vision Statement for your family. A Family Vision Statement is comprised of a few sentences that capture your family’s PRINCIPLES, PRIORITIES, and PURPOSES. Let us remember that every small action we set into motion today will have ripple effects for generations to come. Our legacies are truly built one moment at a time. Share your family vision statement with your spouse or family members and build on it together. Once you feel it is complete, hang your family vision statement in a prominent place in your home, so that you can reference it often. 

READ IT

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 

PRAY IT

Faithful Father, thank you that you are perfectly faithful; you never forget, never fail and never take back a promise. You have said that I do not need to fear, for you are with me; I do not need to be dismayed, for you will strengthen and help me. When I am daunted by the pressures of this world, increase my faith that I may depend on your strength more than mine. May God the Father prepare my journey, Jesus the Son guide my footsteps and the Holy Spirit watch over me, on every path that I follow. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

LIVE IT

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You made it to the very end! We hope that this month has been a blessing to your personal growth in Christ. Make sure to share your experience with someone today at The Met or in your Life Group.