WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT WILL MAKE LIFE BETTER IN 2017? Our thoughts tend to center around words like: job, money, relationship, health, direction, start, stop, and new. No doubt, if one of those words comes to fruition it may make things better - for a moment. What if there was one thing that would make everything better? One thing that could make our marriage, parenting, finances, job, or single life better; make our church better? One thing that would prepare us for the challenges that we know about in 2017, and those we do not? That one thing (no mystery here) is not a thing; but God. There is one thing though that may bring us closer to Him, help us experience Him, know Him, and trust Him more than ever before. That one thing is prayer. Prayer is where we discover His will. Prayer is where we enjoy His presence. Prayer is where we tap into the resources He has for us. Prayer is where we live life in God. Prayer is where we can help and serve others. This booklet is designed to be a companion to the Make It Prayer sermon series and as a helpful aid to your prayer life throughout 2017. In the series, we will be inspired by some great examples of prayers in Scripture and the people who prayed them. We will get practical instruction about how to pray, both alone and together. Prayer can be a place that all too often we feel inadequate and uncertain, and that is exactly where Satan wants to keep us so we miss all God has for us through prayer. As your pastor, I am not sure I have ever felt more moved, more convicted to speak on a topic as I do bringing prayer before you both in a sermon series and as a theme for the year. I pray that this focus will help us both as individuals and as a church. I believe this is the place that we need a new and fresh understanding and commitment, a revival. Join us in the series, in using the Prayer Guide, and in taking this on as a theme for our lives and church in 2017. - Randall T. Hahn 2
A PRAYER FOR 2017 Lord, I pray that every relationship, every event in 2017 will draw me into a deeper, better, and more faithful prayer life where I know you better than I ever have before. I pray that I will not only grow in my personal prayer life, but in the role I play in prayer as a part of my church. Through prayer bring this church into all that that you have for us to be in our community and world. Amen. 3
SERMON SERIES January 8 One Thing January 15 Nehemiah on Prayer January 22 Jesus on Prayer January 29 Praying Alone February 5 Praying Together February 12 One Thing to Always Be Praying For 4
January 8 One Thing 5
January 15 Nehemiah on Prayer 6
January 22 Jesus on Prayer 7
January 29 Praying Alone 8
February 5 Praying Together 9
February 12 One Thing to Always Be Praying For 10
OUTLINE FOR DAILY DEVOTED PRAYER TIME Date, Time: Yesterday: Scripture Reading: Joshua 12-2-; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88; Proverbs 13:12-14 What the passage says about God: What the passage says about man/me: What the passage tells me to do: Praise/Thanksgiving (Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name): His Desires (Your kingdom come, Your Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven): His Kingdom advancing - His rule in my life, family, friends, issues 11
For there to be witnessesses For people s salvation Missionaries, other pastors & churches, SBCV, SBC My Desires (Give us this day our daily bread): Monday - Family Tuesday - Extended Family Wednesday - Friends/Prayer Requests Thursday - Government, Nation, Soldiers, Police, Issues, Ministries Friday - Church Saturday - Wildcard Sunday - Church 12
Confession (Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil): Confessing sins Receiving forgiveness Asking for filling by the Holy Spirit Praying over areas of weakness and temptation, places to grow His Glory (For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory): I pray I am focused on Your glory and the advancing of You Lord, throughout this day. I pray my prayers advance You, not me; for that is the answer to everything. May there be less of me and more of You for Your glory and Your kingdom. Amen. Listen: Is there anything else You want me to pray about? Is there something I need to hear from You before I leave? 13
Fasting Pick a day and describe the type of fast you want to have: How long? (i.e. certain number of meals or hours) Write down the verses you want to pray with or memorize: Write down the things you will focus on when you pray: Do you want to ask someone to join you? 14
Fasting Do a Daniel Fast: No meats, no desserts/snack foods - a fast consisting of vegetables, nuts, and simple grains Try it for 7, 14, or 21 days This can be a good thing to do with others for encouragement and accountability 15
Prayer Focus for 2017 List Requests For Family: For the Lost: 16
Prayer Focus for 2017 List Requests For our Government: For yourself: 17
Prayer Focus for 2017 List Requests For our Church: 18
Building Your Prayer Life Pick a place and time you will meet the Lord to pray at least 3 days a week: Commit for 3 months to meet the Lord in prayer 3 times a week for more than 20 minutes Commit to fast one full day Consider a Daniel Fast Commit to pray for the salvation of 5 family members or friends Commit to pray for your church every week for 15 minutes Commit to pray with your family once a week Commit to pray with 2-5 friends at church once a week for 3 months Read a book or two on prayer this year: - Praying the Bible, by Whitney - Praying Through the Names of God, by Evans - Prayer: The Great Adventure, by Jeremiah - Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, by Keller - The Power of Prayer and Fasting, by Floyd 19
CHURCH Prayer Requests for The Heights Baptist in 2017 That we clearly honor and exalt our Lord Jesus Christ in all we do in the walls of the church and beyond. Our pastoral staff is passionate in the Lord, growing in Him, and has His heart and mind as they lead and minister. May they be both humble and bold, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness for this church. May there be great unity in the staff, deacons, and teachers of the church. May the entire church enjoy a God-given unity and fellowship; and may each one know their role in God bringing that about. From a family conference to Easter to Halloween to Christmas to children and youth retreats to numerous mission trips and Love804, we will be doing much in the year ahead to minister to the church family and reach out to our community and world. May the Lord bless the planning and preparation for each of these things. May they each be well prayed over and through. May there be good involvement. May they each one accomplish everything the Lord has in mind for them. As each event is presented may we be a people who move to prayer first and foremost over each of these. May we be a church that feels a biblical bond to one another, responsible to and for one another. May each one really experience how much better life is when we are growing and developing a connection to God and His Church. May the Lord grow us as a church that prays, whatever that will mean and look like. May we be a people of great faith and prayer. Through prayer may big things be accomplished here, so big, it is clear to all, That s just God. May each one in our church faithfully consider what their role is as a part of this family in serving within the walls of the church, beyond the walls of the church, in praying, and in giving. 20
WORSHIP Prayer Requests for The Heights Baptist in 2017 May we worship in spirit and truth. May all that we do here on a Sunday morning honor the Lord, encourage and strengthen His people, and reach the lost. May the Lord s presence and glory fill this place every Sunday and in so doing fill our lives with a passion for living godly and holy in this world. May the preaching, teaching, music, fellowship, giving and serving that goes on Sunday mornings be anointed of God; serving Him and His purposes only. May God minister in our gathering so that people know every Sunday they have been in His presence and respond as they should. May our worship fuel our faith and give us an ever-increasing view of the greatness of our God and Savior and how worthy He is of our faith, obedience, devotion and sacrifice. May our pastor, staff, and teachers accurately, faithfully, and effectively communicate God s Word in it sufficiency and authority. MISSIONS May we be a church so very faithful to all God has for us to be, people engaging their community and world with the Gospel. May we give, go and pray for the cause of the Gospel spreading through us. May the Lord bless and use greatly our partnerships in Haiti, Nicaragua, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe; as well as all of our local ministries we partner with. Through these may the members of The Heights find avenues for being on mission with God through their church. May we be faithful to all these partnerships and the important work they do in our community and in the world. Pray for Amy Meade who has been moving throughout the world with a missions organization for almost a year now and will be coming home soon. May the Lord greatly bless her last couple of months with health, strength, and great opportunity to share the gospel. 21
MISSIONS Drew and Ashley Dixon have been serving in East Asia for two years now. May the Lord continue to really bless their relationships and the opportunity to be a witness for Jesus. David and Sheila Johnson, Todd and Veronika Gallagher, Hannah Southall are all in process of moving to the mission field to live and serve, the Johnsons (Zimbabwe), the Gallaghers (Ukraine) full-time, and Hannah for a 2-3 year service. May the Lord guide, provide and bring this about in this year. Pray for all that goes into preparing to do that and the transition to the field. EVANGELISM May the Lord raise up in The Heights a people ready and willing to share their faith and be a witness for Him. May the generations coming up be a new army of people bold, smart, strategic and kind in carrying the gospel message. May we be a church that is constantly reaching out to people and sharing with them Jesus, inviting them to church, and building relationships where we can encourage with the Gospel. CHILDREN AND YOUTH Prayer Requests for The Heights Baptist in 2017 May every adult in our church have a heart for the next generation and how that generation is coming up in the Lord and living for Him. Show each generation what it means to engage with the generation following them. May every adult have a burden that the faith is being passed to our young people, and may we each one pray for them and consider what role we play in reaching the next generation. May our young people be growing in the Lord with a passion and boldness to live for Jesus in their schools and neighborhoods and be ready to share the Gospel. May our young people know their value in the Lord and come up building heart, mind and body anchored to the Scriptures. 22
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