ANNUAL PRAYER INITIATIVE

Transcription

1 ANNUAL PRAYER INITIATIVE March 1 31, 2014 Beholding the Beauty of the Lord To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4 A Prayer/Worship Adventure in the Psalms Welcome to the Adventure In keeping with the current Conference theme, The Worshiping Church, the focus of this year s Prayer Initiative is the Psalms, the body of scriptures in the middle of our Bible that combines prayer and worship in a beautiful way. Its Hebrew title simply means Praises, or Book of Praises, affirming that this collection of praise songs was really the Israelite s hymnbook. It is therefore no surprise that its prominent place in the liturgical life of the nation of Israel is closely paralleled by its special place in the lives of New Testament Christians. Yes, we love the Psalms. We love the Psalms because they give expression to the full gamut of our human emotions and experiences. They teach us how to settle our souls in the presence of God, how to be honest with God about our disappointment and doubts, how to tell God those things otherwise thought inappropriate, how to be joyful in praise, how to bless the Lord with all that is within us. The Psalms teach us the priority of worship and prayer as pathways to a deeper and more intimate walk with the Lord. Because the content of this treasure chest is so vast, we will confine our focus to those Psalms that reflect the attitude of the Psalmist toward God in worship. Psalm 27:4 is a classic example: One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. Here David narrows life s true purpose down to a singular aim: the desire to gaze continually upon the Lord s beauty. This shapes worship and prayer into selfless acts of devotion, transforming us both individually and corporately into the image of Jesus. That s the passion of this year s initiative. May we truly behold the Lord s beauty over the next month as we revel in the Psalms. Welcome. Adventure Instructions The goal of each annual initiative is to engage the whole church in the spiritual exercise of prayer. Each initiative carries a different theme. This year s is worship, focusing in the Psalms. By reading five Psalms each day, participants will read through all 150 Psalms during this initiative. This can be done either by reading them in consecutive order (Track 1), or in sequences of 30 (Track 2). Because of the length of the daily readings, participants will narrow their focus for meditation to a shorter set of verses in each section that reflect the attitude of the psalmist toward God in worship. These verses will reference the house of God, temple, assembly, gates of Zion, etc. Consider how each portion of the Psalms reflects the priority of worship and focus on the Lord s beauty, and record personal observations of the text, thoughts, and impressions, in the space provided. If convenient, read commentaries on the Psalms and compare with other translations. Spend time in prayer and worship informed and inspired by your thoughts and observations of the text. Journal your spiritual journey in the space provided.

2 Week One Key Passage Journal Notes DAY 1 SABBATH, MARCH 1 TRACK 1: Psalms 1 5 TRACK 2: Psalms 1, 31, 61, 91, 121 PSALM 5:7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. DAY 2 SUNDAY, MARCH 2 TRACK 1: Psalms 6 10 TRACK 2: Psalms 2, 32, 62, 92, 122 PSALM 9:11 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion; Declare His deeds among the people. DAY 3 MONDAY, MARCH 3 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 3, 33, 63, 93, 123 DAY 4 TUESDAY, MARCH 4 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 4, 34, 64, 94, 124 DAY 5 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 5, 35, 65, 95, 125 PSALM 15 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. PSALM 18:1 3 (ESV) I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. PSALM 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise indicated.

3 DAY 6 THURSDAY, MARCH 6 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 6, 36, 66, 96, 126 PSALM 27:4 8 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, Seek My face, My heart said to You, Your face, Lord, I will seek. DAY 7 FRIDAY, MARCH 7 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 7, 37, 67, 97, 127 PSALM 35:27 28 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long. Week Two Key Passage Journal Notes DAY 8 SABBATH, MARCH 8 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 8, 38, 68, 98, 128 PSALM 36:7 9 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. DAY 9 SUNDAY, MARCH 9 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 9, 39, 69, 99, 129 PSALM 42:1 4 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, Where is your God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

4 DAY 10 MONDAY, MARCH 10 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalm 10, 40, 50, 80, 110 DAY 11 TUESDAY, MARCH 11 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 11, 41, 71, 101, 131 DAY 12 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 12, 42, 72, 102, 132 DAY 13 THURSDAY, MARCH 13 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 13, 43, 73, 103, 133 DAY 14 FRIDAY, MARCH 14 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 14, 44, 74, 104, 134 PSALM 46:10 11 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Also see Psalm 48:1 2 PSALM 51:15 17 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart These, O God, You will not despise. PSALM 57:7 11 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. PSALM 63:1 8 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. PSALM 66:13 15 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats.

5 Week Three Key Passage Journal Notes DAY 15 SABBATH, MARCH 15 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 15, 45, 75, 105, 135 PSALM 73:15 17 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) Had I spoken thus (and given expression to my feelings), I would have been untrue and have dealt treacherously against the generation of your children. But when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood (for I considered) their end. DAY 16 SUNDAY, MARCH 16 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 16, 46, 76, 106, 136 PSALM 77:13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? DAY 17 MONDAY, MARCH 17 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 17, 47, 77, 107, 137 DAY 18 TUESDAY, MARCH 18 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 18, 48, 78, 108, 138 PSALM 84:1 4 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; They will still be praising You. PSALM 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. DAY 19 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 19, 49, 79, 109, 139 DAY 20 THURSDAY, MARCH 20 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 20, 50, 80, 110, 140 PSALM 95:1 7a Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. PSALM 96:6 9 Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.

6 DAY 21 FRIDAY, MARCH 21 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 21, 51, 81, 111, 141 PSALM 100 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Week Four Key Passage Journal Notes DAY 22 SABBATH, MARCH 22 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 22, 52, 82, 112, 142 PSALM 106:19 22 They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea. DAY 23 SUNDAY, MARCH 23 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 23, 53, 83, 113, 143 PSALM 111:1 Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. DAY 24 MONDAY, MARCH 24 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 24, 54, 84, 114, 144 PSALM 116:12 14 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people. DAY 25 TUESDAY, MARCH 25 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 25, 55, 85, 115, 145 PSALM 121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.

7 DAY 26 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 26, 56, 86, 116, 146 PSALM 130 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities. DAY 27 THURSDAY, MARCH 27 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 27, 57, 87, 117, 147 PSALM 132:7 9 Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let Your saints shout for joy. DAY 28 FRIDAY, MARCH 28 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 28, 58, 88, 118, 138 PSALM 138:1 3 I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. Final Days of Prayer Key Passage Journal Notes DAY 29 SABBATH, MARCH 29 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 29, 59, 89, 119, 149 PSALM 145:1 8 I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.

8 DAY 30 SUNDAY, MARCH 30 TRACK 1: Psalms TRACK 2: Psalms 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 PSALM 148:1 14 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted thºe horn of His people, The praise of all His saints Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord! DAY 31 MONDAY, MARCH 31 TRACK 1: Psalm 46:10 11 TRACK 2: Psalms 33:1 3; 68:5 6; 96:6 9; 104:2 PSALM 116:16 19 O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the Lord s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!