Prayer Devotional – August 2020
The year 2020 will be remembered as the year when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our world. One of disruption that we have had to deal with is disruption to our rhythms and routines.
Have you found yourself saying to your self during this time: “What day is it?” or “What on earth did I do all day?”. Whenever we have faced upheavals and disruptions in life it has impacts our emotional and mental well-being.
At this time it’s vitally important to give attention to establishing and maintaining our rhythms and routines. This is also true when it comes to prayer life. Many have shared how they have struggled during this time in the area of their prayer and devotional life.
So today I want to give you some very practical aids to help you maintain rhythm and routine in your daily and weekly prayer time. For your daily prayer rhythm I’m going to use the image of a hand. For your weekly prayer rhythm I’m going to use the days of the week.
OUR DAILY PRAYER RHYTHM: Open and look at your hand
Your pinkie/small finger: We pray for the weak and vulnerable.
Read: Corinthians 1:3-4; Psalms 72:12-12
Pray for:
- Those who have suffered loss
- Those who are sick
- Elderly/lonely
- Poor and needy
The ring finger: We pray for families.
Read: Psalms 121: 2-3; 2 Corinthians 9:8
Pray for:
- Those struggling financially
- Marriage relationships
- Children’s wellbeing and safety
The middle finger: We pray for those who support and serve us.
Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Psalms 46:1
Pray for:
- Health care works
- Essential workers
- Teachers
- Headmasters
- Under resourced schools
The index finger/pointing finger: We pray for those who lead us.
Read: Hebrews 13:7 and 17; 2 Timothy 2:1–2
Pray for:
- Our pastors and their families
- The elders and team leaders
- Those who serve in the church and outside the church
- Missionaries and their families
Pray for our country:
- The President and Parliament
- The Premier of our province
- The Mayor of our city
The thumb: We pray for those closest to us and our needs.
Read: Numbers 6:24-26
Pray for:
- Members of your family
- Friends
- Financial needs
- Health and protection
The Palm: We lift up those who are far from God.
Read: John 3:16
Pray for:
- Your 1 ONE 1 person
- That God would draw others to Him
- That we would be Jesus’ hands and feet to a needy and desperate world.
OUR WEEKLY PRAYER RHYTHM: Using the days of the week
Monday: We pray for money matters.
Read: Matthew 6: 9–13
Pray for:
- Your financial needs
- Financial needs of others
- Business owners
- Unemployed
- Needs of our church
- Prosperity for our nation
Tuesday: We pray for those facing trouble and hardships.
Read: Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalms 46:1
Pray for:
- The sick
- Those suffering loss
- Family breakdowns
- Those struggling with depression and mental illness
Wednesday: We pray for workers in and for the kingdom of God.
Read: Matthew 9:38
Pray for:
- Our Church Pastors and leadership: for strength and wisdom
- For the churches and leadership in our community
- For missionaries and the spread of the gospel to all the corners of the earth.
Thursday: We focus on Thanksgiving and expressing our gratitude to God.
Read: Psalm 107:1
Give thanks for:
- God’s love and care
- God’s provision
- God’s authority and control over all the earth.
Friday: The faithfulness of God towards His people
Read: Proverbs 3:5–6; 1 Corinthians 15:58
Pray:
- Thank God for the promises He gives us.
- Thank God for the promises He gives us
- Pray that we will be faithful in our commitment to Him
- Pray that we will be steadfast and endure
Saturday: Time of searching, seeking and surrendering to God.
Read: Psalm 139:23-24; Romans 12:1
Pray:
- That you will confess your struggles and sins
- That you would forgive others.
- Surrender your life to God and His will and purposes.
Sunday: The day to commit to worship and honour God.
Read: Psalm 95:6; Psalm 47:1-2
Praise and worship:
- Bring your worship and praise to God
- Make Sunday worship and church a priority in your life
- Bring God your prayers and a heart of gratitude
