“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Finding Help

 “I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about looking to God to find the help we need for each day.  I believe one of the things this global COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us is that human ingenuity on its own is severely lacking when it comes to meeting our every need.  It is in the most difficult of times that we often learn most clearly what our needs really are — and where our real help must come from.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you.  Pray that you would keep your eyes fixed on Him as you seek the help you need.  Pray for the ability to notice His hand at work in all of the help you receive, and in all of the help you give to others.  Pray that God would meet your needs according to His riches in glory.  Pray that God would help all of those researching COVID-19 and the countless other diseases, viruses, and calamities . . . and pray that they would look to and recognize God as their help.  Pray for the humility to both request and accept help from God through others and to give help from God to others.  Pray that your testimony of God’s goodness and help would be clear and visible as you “do your good works so that people see them and glorify your Father in heaven.”   Pray for a spirit of unity within your church congregation and within the body of Christ as a whole.  Pray each day for the individuals of your church family as well as for the body of Christ as a whole.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please pray each day for God to help you look to Him at all times for the source of the help you need.

Sunday:  Pray for your church staff and leadership as they navigate the many complexities of leading and shepherding in these uncertain times.  Pray for the spiritual and financial health of the congregation to remain strong during this time of not being able to meet together physically.  Pray that God would work through you in a mighty way to encourage others this week.

Monday:  Finding Help When Distressed.  Pray that God would remove the stress from your distress as you cry out to Him for help.  Pray for the confidence in knowing that God has heard your prayers and His help is on the way.  “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help.  From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”  Psalm 18:6 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Finding Help When Weak.  Pray that you would always turn to God for help, but especially so when you recognize your own weakness.  Pray for an awareness of God’s nearness to you when you feel you can go no further.  Pray that you would know the perfect timing of God’s help when you need His strength.  “But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.”  Psalm 22:19 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Finding Help When Needing Mercy.  Pray for a greater realization of just how much you are in need of God’s mercy.  Pray that a proper understanding of what  you do, and don’t, deserve would fill you with gratitude for God’s mercy.  Pray with thanksgiving for a God who hears and is merciful in your time of need.  “Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help.”  Psalm 30:10 (NIV)

Thursday:  Finding Help When Needing Protection.  Pray that God would fill you with great hope as you wait for Him to act with perfect timing.  Pray for God’s presence within you to be the shield of protection you need.  Pray that your patient endurance would be rewarded by a protection that can only come from God.  “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.”  Psalm 33:20 (NIV)

Friday:  Finding Help When Feeling Estranged.  Pray for a greater practice and desire to draw near to God, especially at times when you feel distant.  Pray for a confidence in knowing that God hears you and responds to you when you call out to Him from wherever you are.  “Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping.  For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were.”  Psalm 39:12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Finding Help When Afraid.  Pray that God would fill you with His peace when the things of this world are frightening.  Pray that you would recognize the comfort of God holding your hand in the midst of fearful situations.  Pray that your walk with God would be a comfort to others when they are afraid.  “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)