Go to your quiet place.
Clear your mind from the day’s demands, as best as you can.
For a few minutes be still, be silent, and know God is near.

Start your day with this brief prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence. Prepare my heart now Lord, through your Spirit, to receive your goodness and meet the obligations of the day so that all my interactions express the love of Jesus Christ and glorify you. Amen.

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;

    heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

My soul also is greatly troubled.

    But you, O Lord—how long?

Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.”

Psalm 6:2-4 (ESV)

Holy, Magnificent Physician, I am not whole. I am experiencing loss. I hurt in my heart. I need your healing now, Lord. Touch me and I will be healed. However, Lord, if I am to endure this brokenness for a season, then give me the strength to endure through the power of your Spirit in Christ. Teach me how to walk through this time solely dependent on your wisdom. My only comfort is that I know your are a loving, caring Father who is near.

Father, there are others that I know who could use your healing salve of comfort, too. I lift them up to you by name _________________. Attend to their needs, help them to experience your heart-healing hand on them.  Give them to know that you are a God who cares for his own. Strengthen them in this challenging season. Cleanse them. Restore them. I pray this in Christ’s holy name and for your glory. Amen.

“Help me O Lord, to make a true use of all disappointments and calamities in this life, in such ways that they may unite my heart more closely to you. Cause them to separate my affections from the worldly things and inspire my soul with more vigor in the pursuit of true happiness”

Susanne Wesley (1669-1742)

“I have felt the approach of it in the back of my mind,
O Lord, like a burden tilting
toward me across the calendar.
I have felt its long approach,
and now it has arrived.

This is the day that marks the anniversary of my loss,
and waking to it, I must drink again from the stream of
sorrow that cannot not be fully remedied in this life.

O Christ, redeem the day.

I do not ask that these lingerings of grief be erased, but
that the fingers of your grace would work this memory
as a baker kneads a dough, till the leaven of
rising hope transforms it from within, into
a form holding now in that same sorrow the
surety of your presence, so that when I
look again at that loss, I see you
in the deepest gloom of it,
   weeping with me,
even as I hear you whispering that
this is not the end, but only
the still grey dawn
before the world begins.

And if that is so, then let that which broke me upon this day
in the past year, now be seen as the beginning
of my remaking into a Christ-follower more sympathetic,
more compassionate, and more conscious of my frailty and
of my daily dependence upon you; as one more invested
in the hope of the resurrection of the body
and the return of the King,
than ever I had before.

Let this loss-hollowed day arrive in years to come
as a kindling of a fire in my bones, spurring me to
seek in this short life that which is eternal.
Let the past wound, and the memory of it, push me
to be present with you in ways that I was not before.

Do not waste my greatest sorrows, O God, but
use them to teach me to live in your presence-
fully alive to pain and joy and sorrow and hope-
in the places where my shattering
   and your shaping meet.
Amen.

Every Moment Holy

Go to your quiet place.
Clear your mind from the day’s demands, as best as you can.
For a few minutes be still, be silent, and know God is near.

Start your day with this brief prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence. Prepare my heart now Lord, through your Spirit, to receive your goodness and meet the obligations of the day so that all my interactions express the love of Jesus Christ and glorify you. Amen.

“Keep your tongue from evil

And your lips from speaking deceit.

Turn from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears are toward their cry for help.”

Psalm 34:13-15 (NASB)

My God who is near, I call out again in my lostness. I‘ve been wronged by someone dear to me and I don’t have the power within me to fix it. I don’t know if it is pride or arrogance or some other flaw in me that keeps me from allowing reconciliation.

Make it clear in my mind and my heart just how much you paid, through the sacrifice of your Son, to show you have forgiven me of all my transgressions. Humble me to confession. Remove this sin of separation so I can go to my friend and initiate forgiveness just as I have received your forgiveness. Let me not withhold anything, Lord, let me not even want to withhold anything, that might restore right relations.

Likewise, Father, show me where I have offended someone and strengthen me to offer forgiveness there also. Help me to be Christlike when forgiving.

Keep me now from making the same mistakes with my words and actions, my sins of commission and sins of omission, that cause discord among brothers, sisters, and those with whom I interact. I pray this for your glory. Amen.

“Heavenly Father, thank you that you are great and abundant in power, your understanding is beyond measure. Hear my prayer for relationship restoration.
Where there is hostility, please bring kindness.
Where there is conflict, please bring gentleness.
Where there is sin, please bring forgiveness.
You are the God of reconciliation, please help me to trust in your restoring power.
You are the God of endurance and encouragement. Help me to live in harmony with others, that together we may with one voice glorify Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.”

Natalie Regoli - ConnectUS

Go to your quiet place.
Clear your mind from the day’s demands, as best as you can.
For a few minutes be still, be silent, and know God is near.

Start your day with this brief prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence. Prepare my heart now Lord, through your Spirit, to receive your goodness and meet the obligations of the day so that all my interactions express the love of Jesus Christ and glorify you. Amen.

“I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.”

Psalm 34:1-3 (NKJV)

Triune God, I come to You today to pray for the unity of our church. We’ve gone through some difficult trials and tribulations as most families have and, as a family, we will not always agree but let us be united as one body when we consider furthering Your kingdom and the ministry of Christ Jesus to the world. When different preferences are causing division, help us to center our focus around the Person who unites us; King Jesus. Help me to always submit to Jesus as the Head of the Church. Help us unite around the love and mission of Jesus and to become an answer to His prayer that we, his disciples, may be one! With my eyes fixed on You, teach me how I can make every effort to keep the Spirit of unity through the bond of peace.

Incline us, Lord, to stop and consider how much You have blessed us in this time of instability and insecurity.  Let us rejoice in Your goodness and let us, in one voice, cry out and mourn for the families in churches that are diminishing, splitting, or dying out.

Pour down Your Spirit mightily on us and let Him dwell among us. Let this church be a church known for our love of You, fervent prayer, our inclusive fellowship, and community outreach. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus and come in one accord to praise and worship You in truth and power. I pray this in Christ’s holy name. Amen.

“O God,…we thank Thee for Thy Church, founded upon Thy Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon Thee… Help us to realize that man was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity.

Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace, help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow, will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the kingdom of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Go to your quiet place.
Clear your mind from the day’s demands, as best as you can.
For a few minutes be still, be silent, and know God is near.

Start your day with this brief prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence. Prepare my heart now Lord, through your Spirit, to receive your goodness and meet the obligations of the day so that all my interactions express the love of Jesus Christ and glorify you. Amen.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us

    and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,

    your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, God;

    may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

    for you rule the peoples with equity

    and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise you, God;

    may all the peoples praise you.
The land yields its harvest;

    God, our God, blesses us.
May God bless us still,

    so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.”

Psalm 16 (NIV)

Awesome God of the Universe, I lift this fallen, sin-filled world up to you today. It seems that all forms of media delight in showing the tragedies of the horrendous acts around the globe. The atrocities of war, genocide, hatred for the “different” ones and random acts of violence and ignorance. I am overwhelmed when I think of the brutality man can so indiscriminately inflict on his fellow beings.

But thank you Father that you have not left man completely alone. You have provided a way, the only way, to reconciliation, to a right relationship with you in Jesus Christ.

I pray now that you plant a seed of harmony for all the world that peace would grow and spread much like the concentric rings that expands outward when a pebble strikes the water. Let that effect begin with us in our families, our churches, our communities and let it extend out into the states and then this country and out into the world. We can only do this in your power.

Help us to be Christ’s light and salt in this otherwise dark and unsavory world. Give us discernment to act and react as children of the Almighty God when we see injustices that we may be influencers of civility and righteousness and show the path to the better way of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for it is in his name I pray. Amen.

“Our Father and Our God, we praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace. We pray today for our nation’s leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. This we pray in Your holy name, Amen.”

Billy Graham (1918-2018)

Go to your quiet place.
Clear your mind from the day’s demands, as best as you can.
For a few minutes be still, be silent, and know God is near.

Start your day with this brief prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence. Prepare my heart now Lord, through your Spirit, to receive your goodness and meet the obligations of the day so that all my interactions express the love of Jesus Christ and glorify you. Amen.

“The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;

    everything in the world is yours—you created it all.”

Psalm 89:11 (NLT)

Generous, gracious God, I thank you for all your manyfold supplies. May I, in turn, be a generous steward of your provision. It is not mine but yours. Give me a passion to share your resources whether I live a life of material abundance or scarcity. I know that through you I am blessed beyond measure. Therefore, let me give back to you what is already yours so that others may be blessed. I pray this in Christ’s glorious name. Amen.

“I praise you for the bounty you provide every day for all people, for the table you spread before me, and for the overflowing cup you place in my hands. I do not take this bounty for granted, as I share it with so many good friends. Thank you for enabling to receive help when needed, and that you enable me to serve others. Thank you for granting me compassion for those in need, as well as for those already blessed.

Thank you for a heart that feels the sorrow of those in need, and a mind that can think of ways to serve - even with my small ability. This comes from you, Lord. You are the author of every caring act, every wise plan, and every successful attempt to spread happiness or relieve pain. Amen.”

Philip Doddridge (1702-1751)

Go to your quiet place.
Clear your mind from the day’s demands, as best as you can.
For a few minutes be still, be silent, and know God is near.

Start your day with this brief prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence. Prepare my heart now Lord, through your Spirit, to receive your goodness and meet the obligations of the day so that all my interactions express the love of Jesus Christ and glorify you. Amen.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;

    but let them not turn back to folly.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,

    that glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

    righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Faithfulness springs up from the ground,

    and righteousness looks down from the sky.

Yes, the Lord will give what is good,

    and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before him

    and make his footsteps a way.

Psalm 85:8-13 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, today I ask for a sense of wellness throughout all that I am. I need rest for my body, peace of mind, comfort in my soul, clarity in my spirit, and warmth in my heart. Your steadfast love alone can provide these things.

You have set aside this day as an opportunity for rejuvenation and revival. Help me to intentionally put aside those things that distract and ensnare me. Let me, Lord, be in step with you and I know all will be well.

Fill me with your Holy Spirit that he becomes more than just a periodic resident in me. I surrender my spirit to you again. Let your Spirit preside over my thoughts and actions.

Father, teach me to walk in rhythm with Jesus Christ. To have no hurry sickness, no anxiety when troubles come. To love well. I can only do this when I acknowledge in all that I am that you are working out your good, acceptable, and perfect will in my life.

Prepare me today for praise, worship, and fellowship tomorrow.

Father, I am yours and you are mine through your Spirit and in Christ Jesus. Amen!

“I have heard all about you, Lord.

    I am filled with awe by your amazing works.

In this time of our deep need,

    help us again as you did in years gone by.

And in your anger,

    remember your mercy.”

Habakkuk 3:2 (NLT)

Go to your quiet place.
Clear your mind from the day’s demands, as best as you can.
For a few minutes be still, be silent, and know God is near.

Start your day with this brief prayer:
Heavenly Father, prepare my heart, through your Spirit, that the praise and worship I give you today will be an acceptable expression of my love for you, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

    so why should I be afraid?
The one thing I ask of the Lord—

    the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

    delighting in the Lord’s perfections

    and meditating in his Temple.
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”

    And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Psalm 27:1,4,8 (NLT)

Eternal Father, I have heard the call to come to you, to be with you, to talk with you. Here I am as a little child coming into the presence of the all loving Father. Let me linger here in your presence to experience the fullness of your goodness.

May my prayers today not be ones of petition but of adoration. Let my prayers be those of gratitude, joy, and exhilaration knowing you are always near. Also, let me show my loving devotion to you during today’s service without reservation.

Prepare my heart to celebrate who you are in my life and the life of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Refill me with your Holy Spirit that my whole being would overflow with Christ’s love as I come into your house of worship.

It is for your honor and glory that I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!

“O Lord, teach me to pray, that I may call upon your name. Prepare my heart to seek, and open your ears mercifully to hear me.

Almighty and eternal Lord God, you are the Creator and Continual Preserver of all things, both in heaven and earth. By your gracious providence I was at first fearfully and wonderfully made, and even now you keep me and preserve me.

I am the workmanship of your hands, and I desire to humble both soul and body  before your heavenly majesty.

So here in your presence, Lord, I confess my own unworthiness to come before you, to call upon you, or to perform the least duty that will concern your worship and glory.

Because my heart is polluted and unclean, I beg you to be gracious to me for Jesus your Son’s sake. For the sake of his promise, truth, and mercy, have mercy upon me.

Pardon and forgive all the sins, iniquities, and trespasses I have ever committed against you, in what I have said or what I have done. Amen.”

Robert Parker (1564-1614)

Our prayer for you as we close out the 21 days of prayer and fasting is that you’ve been blessed by these daily devotions. We pray that you have experienced a closeness with your Heavenly Father that you’ve never felt before or that this has rekindled a fire for God that has grown dim.

We pray you will continue to seek an intimate relationship with God daily through the habit of prayer and fasting and any other discipline that draws you close to him. He has given us all the resources we need. He has given us Jesus Christ as our Savior, Great High Priest, and Mediator to gain access to and to represent us in the throne room of Grace. He also provides his Holy Spirit to indwell in us to guide us in prayer and to speak for us when we don’t know what to pray. We must want to be with him. Father, we pray you give us the “want to” be with you.

Father, as we close, help us to rely on your triune presence and your immeasurable power today and every day that we may go in peace as we travel this world as holy ones, set apart for your service, until Jesus returns or you call us home. We pray this in Christ’s holy name. Amen.