2019 LENT PRAYER GUIDE But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. MATTHEW 6:33
What Is Lent? Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin His ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. During Lent, we enter into a season of preparation, selfreflection and repentance when we seek to literally turn around and realign our lives and focus toward God. It is a time to give up things as well as take on new life-giving practices, helping us rid ourselves of distractions and our own selfish desires. By doing so, we seek to live and love as more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. During this season of Lent, we ll encourage you to journey with us as we confront our sinfulness, remember our mortality, listen for God s call on our lives, and give thanks for the gift of salvation we receive through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 2
How to Pray After hearing each days challenge, spend some time in prayer. Starting a new prayer time like this can seem akward for some. Here are some tips to help you get started. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." MARK 1:35 Set a Specific Time Each Day Jesus got up very early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. In order for prayer to be effective we should follow his example. Make a daily appointment with God and keep it. Find a Particular Place Jesus had a place to pray. Your prayer space need to be an undistracted environment where you can pray out loud. Some people like to sit, kneel or stand; still others like to walk while praying. Find a place where you can spend some time alone with God in a way that is natural for you. Follow a Clear Plan Our minds can easily wander in prayer. Having a clear plan can help focus our minds on Jesus and minimize distractions. You have the freedom to change the plan as the Holy Spirit leads. We don t want to become stuck in ritual. This journal will offer a few ways to help enhance your prayers. 3
Our Journey Together During this season of Lent, together in community, we will commemorate Jesus final days before going to the cross. We know that it ends with the joy of Easter, but to truly walk through this season alongside Jesus is to take a journey that starts in somber humble darkness. To take us down that path, each week s series of daily devotions will guide us on a journey through darkness toward the light. We will face hard questions and self-examination first, which will unlock the hopeful possibilities to come, concluding in worship on Sundays. Here s the pattern that we will follow: Monday: What is my problem? Explore your heart and identify the discontents that make you search for fulfillment. Tuesday: What is my sin? Reflect on your patterns and identify the sin with which these discontents tempt you. Wednesday: What is/was the consequence of my sin? Replay your past experiences and identify the damage it does when you give in to these temptations. Thursday: What is my confession? Talk to God in prayer to share transparently the sin you ve allowed in to your life. 4
Our Journey Together Friday: What is my hope? Look forward in peace, knowing that God intends far greater fulfillment for you than any sin might offer. Saturday: What difference can I make? You ve turned away from this sin and put your trust in Jesus Christ for true fulfillment. Now that you re totally forgiven and set free from this sin, what difference are you able to make in the world around you? Sunday: What is my role? During the sermons in all 3 worship services, you ll be invited to discern the ways in which you re a missing piece of the puzzle at Heritage as we do our best to make this world more like Heaven on earth! You can get these devotions sent to you by email each week. If you don t currently get Pastor Matt s Bible Minute, be sure to contact the church office and sign up. They ll start arriving on Ash Wednesday. The email will contain a link to a video in which Pastors Matt or John, or a member of our staff, will share the devotion content with you. You can choose to view it on Facebook, Instagram, or our new Blog, The Herald (herald.heritageumc.com). We ask that you please share the devotion on social media each day, and add comments to start the discussion each week about the different topics. 5
Suggested Prayer Focus The Lost God is love yet so many people in the world don t have an idea of who he is or his great love for them. Think of the people in your life who don t know Jesus and pray these prayers over them: 1. God, draw their hearts to you. JOHN 6:44 2. Send people to share your Word with them. MATTHEW 9:37-39, ROMANS 10:13-15 3. Convince them of their need for you. ROMANS 3:23, 6:23 4. Reveal your love to them. JOHN 3:16, ROMANS 2:4, 5:8 5. Open their eyes to see and their hearts to believe. LUKE 24:45, EPHESIANS 1:18, 2 CORINTHIANS 3:16, 4:4, ACTS 16:14 6. Help them hear your Word, receive it and let it take root in their hearts. ROMANS 10:17, MATTHEW 13:1-23 7. And may they come to a saving knowledge of who you are. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-6, ISAIAH 45:22, EPHESIANS 2:8-9, 1 PETER 3:18 The Church God s plan to reach the world is us! We need wisdom, resources and obedient hearts if we re going to see His plans for Heritage fulfilled. He s calling us to reach our Countryside community, Clearwater, Florida, the US and the entire world. Let s join together and pray for our church to fulfill all that God s calling us to: 1. God, grant us, our pastors and our church leaders wisdom to know and courage to follow your plans for us. JAMES 1:5, 2 CHRONICLES 20:12, PROVERBS 3:5-6, DANIEL 2:18-23 6
Suggested Prayer Focus 2. God, grant us financial resources that we might be able to fund the plans and the vision that you have for Heritage so that we might fulfill all that you ve called us to. DEUTERONOMY 8:17-18, PROVERBS 3:9-10, MATTHEW 6:10 3. God, show us our part in your plans for your church. 2 CHRONICLES 20:12, 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19, ROMANS 12:6-8 4. God, strengthen our marriages, our families, our children and youth and the ministries we have for them, strengthen them in your love. PROVERBS 24:3-4, PSALM 1:1-3, 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8, EPHESIANS 5:21-33 5. God, give us unity, may we as a church be of one mind. Together may we seek your heart, see your kingdom come and love well. JOHN 17:20-23, PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11, 2:1-5, COLOSSIANS 1:9-12, ROMANS 15:5-7, 2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-12, 3:1-5 Our Nation & World God desires that we pray for our leaders and those in authority, that we would be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Join us in praying for our nation and world: 1. God, help us to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek your face and turn from our own wicked ways that you would heal our land. 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 2. God, we ask that you would give those in authority wisdom to rule with truth and justice, give them hearts of peace not war. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2, PSALM 2:10-11 3. Bring bold Christ followers before them that they might hear your Word and be impacted in such a way that their leadership reflects such evidence. DANIEL 6:12-28 7
A.C.T.S. Prayer A.C.T.S. is an easy way to remember key elements of prayer. It s simply prayer in four parts: Adoration "Praise be to God!" PSALMS 68:35 Tell God how much you appreciate Him. Express your love for Him. Praise His power and majesty. This is a great way to begin your prayer time. Sometimes I watch the sun rise, and praise God for the beauty of His creation. You should never run out of praise. "How awesome are your deeds!" PSALMS 66:3 Confession "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 JOHN 1:9 Tell Him where you have fallen short. Be specific. I thank Him for the forgiveness I have in Christ, and ask for help and strength to turn away from future temptations. Each days online devotional from Heritage will reflect on specific areas of our lives which we can confess during this time. 8
A.C.T.S. Prayer Thanksgiving "Always glorify him with thanksgiving" PSALMS 69:30 You have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Thank God for His love, His faithfulness, His patience and a million other things. Express gratitude for what He s doing in your life. Thank God for all the that he has provided to us. Thank Him for the ways in which we are making an impact for His kingdom on Earth. Supplication "Make your requests known to God." PHILIPPIANS 4:6 Tell God what you want, no matter how small it seems to you. Do you really think any of your requests are big to God the Creator? You should have lots of intercessory prayer here. Ask God to give you guidance, and for the Holy Spirit to give us direction and courage to follow his plan for ourselves and for the ministries of Heritage UMC 9
The Lords Prayer The Lord s Prayer : Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 10
The Lords Prayer Three Benefits of Praying the Lord s Prayer There are probably dozens of benefits to praying to God as God himself taught us. Here, We will just offer three. 1. "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" - MATTHEW 6:33 We sometimes tend toward praying inward-focused prayers that center on my confession, my problems, and my requests. Praying the Lord s Prayer helps us to seek a greater awareness of Christ, other people, and God s broader mission in our prayers. 2. Discipline our wandering minds. Our minds drift so easily in times of prayer. Utilizing the structure of the Lord s Prayer helps us to recognize when our mind has wandered and helps us remember where to pick up again. 3. Build a fence so our prayers can run wild inside. Our lack of prayerfulness is chiefly a heart issue. Some people may push back on this method of prayer, saying that it is too structured and therefore restrains the Spirit s spontaneous leading. In fact, we have found the opposite to be true. 11
Fasting "Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water." EXODUS 34:28 "where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days." LUKE 4:2 So, if prayer serves as a way to connect us more to God, fasting is a way for us to disconnect from the world. Fasting reminds us that we depend entirely upon God and helps us identify with those who lack the necessities and luxuries that we enjoy. We need not fast from food (particularly if doing so is not an option for medical or health reasons), but we can abstain from from other things. And when we commit to a fast, we can focus more clearly on God and turn our attention to the work that God calls us to do. Some suggested Fasting options: 1. Partial Fast: Abstain from a particular food item, skip a meal, juice fast - drink water and fruit juices. 2. 24Hr Fast: Abstain from eating for 24hrs - variation allow water, milk, juice, etc. 3. Daniel fast: No meats, sweets or treats. 4. Electronics Fast: No TVs, Movies, Phones, Video Games, or any device that distract us. 5. Social Media Fast: No Facebook, Twitter or Instagram 12
Fasting Preparing to Fast Spiritually Set your heart right before the Lord. Do not think of fasting as earning points with God. Fasting is actually a humbling expierence and God shows up in powerful ways when we humble ourselves through fasting. Physically If you have never fasted from food or not in a long time, be wise. Start slow and build up your spiritual strengh over time. If you have health issues consider other forms of fasting, such as electronics, or social media. Keys to successful fast: 1. Determine the reason you are fasting, answer to prayer, reconnection with God. Expect God to show up 2. Determine the type of fast, and the length of time 3. Only tell people who need to know about your fast. 4. Partner with someone. 5. Begin slowly, start with a partial fast. 6. Don t over indulge to end your fast. 7. Some breakthroughs come after the fast, not during. The Goal The goal of fasting is to humble yourself and spend the time you saved with Him. He s waiting and ready to embrace you as you come to Him in prayer and fasting. 13
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Holy Week Schedule ASH WEDNESDAY 7:30 AM Drive-Thru on Landmark 12 PM Traditional Sanctuary Service 7 PM Contemporary Sanctuary Service MAUNDY THURSDAY 7 PM Contemporary Sanctuary Service GOOD FRIDAY 6 PM Contemporary Service led by Youth Located in Lighthouse Auditorium 7 PM Traditional Sanctuary Service EASTER 7 AM Sunrise Service led by Youth Located at Philippe Park 2525 Philippe Pkwy, Safety Harbor Follow the main entrance to the back of the park 9 AM Traditional Sanctuary Service 10:30 AM Contemporary Sanctuary Service 9 AM Ignite Modern Service 10: 30 AM Ignite Modern Service Ignite is located in the Lighthouse Auditorium 16