Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV
Before you begin to pray, take a deep breath and quiet your thoughts. Focus on being in the presence of God. Thank God for hearing your prayers. Then reread the scripture we will study next Sunday, Ephesians 4:17-24. Read it slowly, recognizing that God is speaking to you through His Word. If God puts something specific on your heart, pray about that today.
Thank. Our new self is “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Our God is righteous. He is free from sin; He is just, honest, and trustworthy. How thankful we should be that in a world where justice and honesty can be elusive, we can look to a God who is righteous. Thank God today for His righteousness.
Adore. Only God is without sin. All others fall short of His glory. It is so comforting to know that our God can commit no wrongs, make no mistakes. Today, praise God for his righteousness.
I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness;
Psalm 7:17 NIV
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Confess. God’s character is perfect. Though we may try to be sinless, we fall short. Ask God for forgiveness for the times you have sinned. You have been forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus. All you need to do is turn toward God and ask.
Others.
| CU Church: Pray for our Sisterhood Ministry (Carmen) and our monthly Men’s Breakfast (Rick). Pray that the men and women of our church will seek out Christian fellowship with one another in order to be strengthened and encouraged as they love people outside the church. |
| Community: Pray for all the students who recently returned to the University of Illinois campus. Pray specifically for the new freshman, that they seek and find Christian organizations that will minister to them. |
| Global Church: Pray for Somalia today, for the martyrs who have given their lives for their faith and for the families they left behind. Pray that, like Paul, those who have killed Christians will see the Truth and be convicted, repentant and changed. Pray for miracles to happen in the horn of Africa and for the Underground Church to be protected, provided for and empowered by the Holy Spirit. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44 |
Self. God is listening. He loves you. Pray for any specific needs that you or your family have.