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Prayer
Prayer plays a big role in the life of Ashton United Methodist Church.
We publish a weekly list of prayer requests in our Bulletin for our congregation to include in their daily prayer
lives. We also have a prayer chain, a "Joys and Concerns" time during our services and at church meetings for
prayer requests and answers to prayer, and occasional prayer vigils.
A great way to establish a consistent pattern of
prayer is to remember ACTS. An explanation of this easy to remember formula is excerpted below from "7 Minutes with
God," written by Robert D. Foster and published by NAVPRESS, Colorado Springs, Colorado:
"... After God has spoken through His Book, then speak to Him - in prayer ... fellowship with Him
in four areas of prayer that you can remember by the word ACTS.
A - Adoration. This is the purest kind of prayer because it's all for God - there's nothing in it for you. You
don't barge into the presence of royalty. You begin with the proper salutation. So worship Him. Tell the Lord that you
love Him. Reflect on His greatness, His power, His majesty, and sovereignty!
C - Confession follows. Having seen Him you now want to be sure every sin is cleansed and forsaken. Confession
comes from a root word meaning 'to agree together with.' Apply this to prayer. It means to agree with God. Something
happened yesterday you called a slight exaggeration - God calls it a lie! You call it strong language - God calls it
swearing. You call it telling the truth about somebody in the church - God calls it gossip. 'If I regard iniquity in my
heart, the Lord will not hear me' (Psalm 66:18).
T - Thanksgiving. Express your gratitude to God. Think of several specific things to thank Him for: your family,
your business, your church and ministry responsibilities - even thank Him for hardships. 'In everything give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you' (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
S - Supplication. This means to 'ask for, earnestly and humbly.' This is the part of your prayer life where you
make your petitions known to Him. Ask for others, then for yourself. Why not include other people around the world,
such as missionaries, students studying abroad, friends in distant places, and above all the people of many lands who
have yet to hear about Jesus Christ. ..."
[Used with permission. Copies of 7 MINUTES WITH GOD are available in tract form from NavPress
at www.navpress.com.]
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Morning Prayer - December 2011
Dear God,
Thank You for blessing me with a new day. Thank You for blessing the world with Your Son,
Jesus.
Father, the gift I want most this Christmas is the gift of Jesus in my heart. Please forgive me for my sins, and lead me to live a
new life of faithfulness to Jesus. In His Name, I pray. Amen.
"You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins."
Psalm
85:2 |
Evening Prayer - December 2011
Father,
Thank You for the hope you give me and all who follow You. Thank You most of all for sending Your
Son, Jesus, to be my Savior. As You tell me in Mark 13:32-37, please help me to be ready for His return.
I pray that we will all rest well
tonight knowing that Jesus is in our hearts. In His loving Name, I pray.Amen.
"Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land." -- Psalm 85:9
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Morning Prayer - November 2011
Father,
I praise You for Your faithfulness. Forgive me for the times I have been unfaithful to You.
Please lead me to become more faithful in my commitment to You through reading Your Word daily, attending worship regularly, serving
others, and tithing.
Thank You for showing me in Matthew 20:28 that Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. Help me to pattern my
life after His, by giving my life in service to others. In Jesus’ Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
"In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
Romans 12:5
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Evening Prayer - November 2011
Father,
Thank You for being with me today. I pray that my thoughts, words, and deeds were pleasing to
You.
Please help me to renew my mind as You instruct me to in Romans 12:2, "do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind." As I lay down now to sleep, lead my mind to rest in Your love and peace. In Jesus’ Holy
Name, I pray. Amen.
"How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call
on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people."
Psalm 116:12-14 |
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Morning Prayer - October 2011
Father,
I praise You for you are my Provider, and I thank You for providing me with the gift of this day
to love and serve You.
Please lead me to live as You taught me to in Matthew 22:37-40, by loving You with all my heart, soul and mind, and
by loving my neighbor as myself. Help me to sow seeds of love today, and grant that they will yield a fruitful harvest. In Jesus' Holy Name, I
pray. Amen.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 107:1
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Evening Prayer - October 2011
Father,
Thank You for giving me the ability to love and serve You today. I pray that my efforts were
pleasing to You and that they will bear fruit for Your kingdom.
Thank You for showing me in Philippians 4:8 that when I think about things
that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, I am allowing Your Spirit to plant the seeds of joy, hope and love in my heart. Now, as I
go to sleep, please help me to focus on Your Goodness and rest in Your Love. In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray Amen.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everthing by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 |
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Morning Prayer - September 2011
Father,
I praise You, God, for You are my Creator, and I
thank You for creating me. I thank You, also, for keeping me through the night and for giving me this,
another, day to love and serve You.
Father, You promise in James 4:8 of Your Word that if we come near to You, You will come near to us.
God, please give me the desire to come near to You. Please give me the desire to spend time with You
in prayer and reading Your Word. Please instill in me the desire to become the person You want me to
become. And, please grant that I would become that person.
God, I give myself to You fully today. Use me for Your Purposes, and keep me in Your Grace. In Jesus'
Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10
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Evening Prayer - September 2011
Father,
I praise You for Your loving-kindness to me today in
providing for all my needs, in ways I readily observed and in ways that were known only to You.
Forgive me, Father, for the times I strayed from You in either thought, word, or deed. Thank you for
showing me in Your Word in Luke 15:11-32 that when I come back to You, You lovingly welcome me home,
Your arms open wide to receive me, Your heart full of grace to forgive me, and Your Words overflowing
with kindness to comfort me.
As I lay down now to sleep, please watch over me and all your children, keep us in Your care, help us
to sleep well, and to wake rested and refreshed by Your Love. In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
"I have loved you with an everlating love: I have drawn you
with loving-kindness."
Jeremiah 31:1 |
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