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WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is where we spend time paying attention to Jesus. Through conversation with Him, we express our worship, repent for those things that grieve the Lord, ask Him for what we need, and yield to listen to what He has to say on everything we’ve brought up.

We like the way Eugene Peterson explains prayer as “the attention that we give to the One who attends to us.”

 

Why A Corporate Time of Prayer 

Isaiah 56:7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."

God's answer to a society filled with sin is his church filled with his Holy Spirit. We come together as one church to lift offerings of worship unto God. Sacrificing our time and comfort at the altar that the perfect will of God would be fulfilled in this generation, this year, in our community. God loves his church and we come together as his collected beloved church seeking his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Here is our corporate prayer focus:

  • That God will purify His bride

Oh God make us spotless and blemishless that we would be the perfect expression of Jesus in our community.

    • Ephesians 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
  • Lead us to love one another and the forgotten, without reason.
    • John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
  • Lead us to serve one another and the stranger beyond our physical capacity.
    • Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
  • Lead us to exalt the name of the Lord of above all else!
    • Psalm 34:2-3 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

The Refining Fire

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

As we begin the new year with the focus of being "Carriers of the light of Christ". we must submit all our life to Christ that he can refine the purity of our life.

"We must be willing to audit our life before the Lord"

Our life in Christ leads us to be:

  • Refined (Malachi 3:2-3, Zechariah 13:9)
  • Pruned (John 15:1-2)
  • Purified (Psalm 51:10)
  • Transformed (Romans 12:1-2)
  • Renewed (Romans 12:1-2)
  • Matured (Colossians 1:28-29)
  • Sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
  • Restored (Psalm 51:12)
  • Disciplined (Hebrews 12:5-11)
  • Purged (John 15:2)
  • Cleansed (Psalm 51:7, John 15:3)

 

This refining can happen now if we submit our life to the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

We are submitting to the Holy Spirit. We are allowing him to search our hearts to reveal the impurities that lay within and to remove them from our lives. This refining process will further enable us to be submitted vessels filled with the light of Christ. The Lord is purifying his church that we would be a pure representation of the life of Christ.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Set time aside every day to engage and be present with the Lord. Whether it is 5 minutes or an hour, be intentional about setting that time aside. Not only set that time aside, but set all distractions aside as well. We will have opportunities during the 21 days for us to come together in the Sanctuary for prayer and worship. We will also have opportunities for you to engage digitally if you cannot get here in person.

 

We also have resources available for you on the Citygate App. Download the app on your phone and you will find a 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting button at the bottom of the screen. There you will find devotionals, a place for prayer requests, and a worship playlist.

 

We ask that you register so that we can be in contact with you during this 21 days. Register now at the button below!

 

FIRST STEPS

  • Make a Prayer List – Write down prayers needs and with faith believe that God is listening and honors your commitment to see His will be done.
  • Prayer Journal – Journal your feelings, your hardships, and what you hear God saying to you during the 21 Days of Prayer.

 

PRAYER GATHERING TIMES

January 7th | 6:30PM
January 14th | 6:30PM
January 21st | 6:30PM

Limited childcare is available for these nights with Registration at the link below. 

 

RESOURCES:

(Click each resource title to follow the link)

Digital Resources:

Printed Resources:

Register Here To Join Us or to Register for Childcare
Download App