A Year of Prayer
Week 10
A Year of Prayer
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst righteousness, for they will be filled.
PRAY AND DISCERN
As you sit and have a meal today, picture having it with God. Se an extra cup or plate to visualise.
PRAY AND DISCERN
As you eat today, think of the food and tastes, the time you ate it in, the location and the people around you. Where is God present here? What is God asking?
ACTIVITY
Draw a picture of a cup. Write 'glory' on it. Draw some food. Write 'righteousness' on it. What is God saying through this? (Ask someone else!)
Week 11
Isaiah 55:3
Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
PRAY AND DISCERN
This week, commit to not eating, drinking or watching something and spend that time with God.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Google the definition of ‘covenant’. How is it different to what you thought it was? Speak to God as you wonder about it.
ACTIVITY
Look outside at the trees and nature today. Take a leaf in your hand and examine it. Pray for God to speak through nature and this leaf to tell you something healing.
Week 12
Jeremiah 6:14
They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Wounds can get infected and hurt. What wound or sore has The Salvation Army received?
PRAY AND DISCERN
Write down all the words you can think of associated
with the word ‘peace’. Turn this into a prayer of praise
and worship.
ACTIVITY
Write down all the words you can think of associated with the word ‘wounds’. Turn this into a prayer of lament (regret and sadness) for our people.
Week 13
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
PRAY AND DISCERN
Spend time reflecting on a Christian message or teacher you trust that really affected you.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Each time you drink or shower this week, practice saying the prayer, “You cleanse me, I am yours.” What does this practice evolve into for you?
ACTIVITY
Our Holy Spirit is a supernatural gift, a Comforter and Guide who loves us and directs us. Create a sketch, words, song or artwork of any type depicting our Holy Spirit to you.
Week 14
Proverbs 30:12-14a
Those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful; those whose teeth are swords.
PRAY AND DISCERN
When we are blind, we cannot see. Ask God to show you where you are not able to see in your own life right now.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Find a safe friendship or trusted advisor to ask their opinion of where you cannot see. Pray together over this spiritual warfare. Ask for transformative peace.
ACTIVITY
Try looking up the Scripture in another translation. What words are different? Talk together about what times we have been arrogant, angry or unkind. What have our family or friends asked us to do instead?
Week 15
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Arrogant people walk in a straight line and barge others out of the way. Are you like this when you are ‘on a roll’ or passionate? Ask God what walking ‘humbly’ might look like for your personality.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Think about something valuable you have given to a friend or loved one to bless them. What have you done for God this week to bless God? Make a list of ways you want to bless God this week.
ACTIVITY
Write the words ‘justice, mercy, humbly’ on your hand, a post-it note or make it your device’s background. Ask God for opportunities for you to live these words out.
Previous Weeks:
Week 1
A Year of Prayer
John 1:23
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
PRAY AND DISCERN
God, what are you asking me in this journey of prayer?
PRAY AND DISCERN
Read the Scripture aloud.
What new thing do you notice this time?
ACTIVITY
Spend some time today find 'wilderness'.
What do you notice about the wilderness?
How does that make you think about God?
Week 2
A Year of Prayer
1 Samuel 3:10
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
PRAY AND DISCERN
How will you know when God speaks?
(Matthew 4:4)
PRAY AND DISCERN
Pick and piece of paper or a book and write down what you remember God telling you over the years.
ACTIVITY
Draw a picture of an ear.
What is needed from us in order to listen?
Week 3
A Year of Prayer
Mark 12:13
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and
Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Have you let others steal the truth of what Jesus says
from you?
PRAY AND DISCERN
What needs to change in your life right now for Jesus’
truth to be planted like a seed?
ACTIVITY
Read the whole of Mark 12.
How do you think you need to behave differently
this week? Share your hopes and thoughts with your
friends or family
Week 4
A Year of Prayer
Psalm 116:7-9
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
PRAY AND DISCERN
What areas do you most need 'rest' in today?
PRAY AND DISCERN
Notice today the weather, your body and your speech. What is God speaking to you through these things?
ACTIVITY
Find a quiet place in the sun to breathe and pray.
Spend time in confession (telling God where you have gone wrong) and repentence (letting God teach you how to live rightly).
Week 5
A Year of Prayer
Matthew 23:25-26
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Dirty plates make our food dirty. What areas of your heart keep making you react in anger? Is it a person, a place or a situation?
PRAY AND DISCERN
What is it that God is telling you needs to be approached differently in your community? This is a 'we' problem, not a 'they' problem.
ACTIVITY
Find a quiet place in the dark to breathe and pray.
Spend time in confession (telling God where you have gone wrong) and repentance (letting God teach you how to live rightly).
Week 6
A Year of Prayer
Isaiah 40:28b-29
He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Read Isaiah 40.
How might you pray these blessings over other people?
PRAY AND DISCERN
Ask a child in your life to draw a picture of an eagle.
Ask them how their eagle might speak about who God is. What have you learnt?
ACTIVITY
Find a quiet place in the morning rush to breathe and pray. Spend time in confession (telling God where you have gone wrong) and repentence (letting God teach you how to live rightly
Week 7
A Year of Prayer
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
PRAY AND DISCERN
Stains can be impossible to get out of white. What stains (sin) do you feel keep chasing you?
PRAY AND DISCERN
Share with a group of what God has revealed to you. Ask for their prayer. What is the solution the Holy Sporot has presented?
ACTIVITY
Find a piece of white cloth.
Dip it into something dirty.
How does Jesus promose to truly cleanse us?
(Psalm 51:7)
Week 8
A Year of Prayer
Psalm 78:11
They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.
PRAY AND DISCERN
What unexplainable wonders has God shown that you need recall, and give thanks for?
PRAY AND DISCERN
Take a walk by yourself or with a few others and pray as you walk, reflecting on your spiritual journey thus far.
ACTIVITY
Take some time writing out a list of all the great wonders God has done.
Add to this list whenever it comes to your mind.
Week 9
A year of prayer
Jeremiah 18:5
Then the word of the Lord came to me.
PRAY AND DISCERN
If possible, spend time asking a child this: "What is the Lord saying to you?" Write it down!
Ask God to speak to you through their words.
PRAY AND DISCERN
Find time to sit with someone today and share what you have felt God saying.
Read what someone else has shared about a child's response to this. Discern.
ACTIVITY
Find an empty room.
Speak aloud the words of thanks you have to God out of this spectacular week.