Today’s prayer focus gets at the very heart of our seven days of prayer and fasting. Maybe the disciples saw in Jesus’ prayers not only its importance but also the joy and assurance it brought to His life. The disciples wanted to pray like Jesus. The apostle Paul spent time in prayer that included praying for churches, government officials, his personal needs, and the spiritual health of others. Prayer plays an essential role in the Christians’ abiding life in Christ. Even though the disciples prayed often with Jesus, they asked Jesus to teach them to pray. (Luke 11:1) Today’s focus is a great time to ask the Lord to teach us to pray so that prayer will be all He intended it to be.

Refreshing your life of prayer may mean you continue in and build upon the discipline of prayer you have now. Maybe your desire to be with the Lord has outgrown your current involvement in prayer. Refresh by adding new elements to your times of prayer. It may mean asking the Lord to increase your desire for and understanding of prayer. Refreshing your prayer life may be needed because you find yourself in a rut of saying routine prayers, but you know there must be more. A refresh for you may mean asking the Lord to help you deal with what has kept you from heartfelt prayer for years.

As you pray…

• Consider adding journaling and/or fasting to your regular prayer life.
• Ask the Lord to lead you to those who will be encouraged by you praying with them.
• Pray for our pastors throughout the week, especially on Sunday.
• Pray during the week for Sunday worship and Bible study. Pray for hearts to be receptive to repentance from sin and reverence for the Lord.
• Ask God to make you aware of His presence in your life and to restore the joy and amazement of abiding with Him in times of prayer.
• Pray that every member of our church will prioritize prayer.
• Pray that we as a church will find more ways to employ prayer in the spiritual warfare for our community, city and nation.