40 days of prayer guide - pbcbr.org

40 Days of Prayer Guide (All scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version of scripture.)

Intro: C.H. Spurgeon said that “God gives us prayer as a basket.” It is a basket to put our cares and concerns in and lift them to the Lord. Through prayer with thanksgiving the Apostle Paul says that, “the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts until the day of Christ Jesus.” Prayer is important and it is powerful. Thank You for joining us on this journey of focused prayer for the next 40 days. One of our Core ideals is that we are Intentionally Missional. This means that we recog-nize the responsibility that we have to make Jesus known. We want to go to our neigh-borhoods and to the nations. One of the ways that we do that is to pray that the Lord would work in those areas. My prayer for you is that the Lord would burden your heart as you draw near to him in prayer. May the next 40 days prove to be an Ebenezer Stone in the life of Parkview. Blessings, Pastor Chris February 1 - 10: Prayer for your own Soul February 11 - 20: Prayer for the Church Please use the spaces below each prayer segment to journal through your time with the Lord.

February 1st 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Psalm 119:17-19. “Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your Word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on earth; hide not your commandments from me.” Todays intentional prayer focus is to ask the Lord to reveal himself to us as we study his Word. May we see wondrous things. Unfortunately sometimes we read and don’t feel like we are seeing or hearing much. The words run together and there is not much sticking in our hearts. The intention of God speaking to us is that we might be obedient. Would you pray today for the Lord to provide grace that you might be obedient to Him? Would you ask him to show you incredible things as you study His word? Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

February 2nd 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Matthew 3:2, “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Richard Owen Roberts says that Repentance is clearing a Highway of Holiness to God. The question that confronts us is whether there is sin standing in the way of our path to God? If there is that must be rooted out and disposed of. Repentance is going God’s way and turning from our own. Would you evaluate your heart and examine what you need to do before the Lord today? Would you offer repentance to the Lord for any diso-bedience that has been present in your life?

Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

February 3rd 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Philippians 3:8-10 Indeed, I count Everything as loss because of the surpas-sing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— We find forgiveness in Christ and the need for forgiveness is the result of our sins effect of separation from God. The grace of Christ brings us into right standing with God, and thus relationship with him. Everything else pales in comparison. Paul considered it of exceeding value to everything else. Our recognition should be the greatness of what is offered, and focus should be on what our response is to Jesus invitation to be right with God. Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

February 4th 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving: Focal Verse: Romans 10:9, “because, if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Paul outlines clearly what our response to Jesus should be. While these requirements may seem simple, they come with a great deal of cost. The cost should be ours, but is not because it has been paid for us. Jesus paid it with his blood and sacrifice. This is Amazing Grace that has been offered to us! Would you thank Jesus for his grace evi-dent in salvation? Would you thank him for saving you even thought you were unwor-thy? Would you pray on behalf of others that they might come to this realization as well.

Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse:

Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession:

Prayer for Needfulness:

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

February 5th 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heav-en and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always even to the end of the age.” Jesus command to his disciples and by extension to us is to carry the message that he has given. This involves communicating the grace from Jesus that has been given, and also teaching those who trust in Christ what it is to follow after him and experience what the grace he offers affects our lives. How are you involved in doing what Jesus has called us to?



Focal Verse: 2 Timothy 2:1,2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses en-trust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. The grace of Jesus offers us strength among many other benefits. Paul encouraged Timothy to allow it to strengthen him for the task he was called to, and to encourage others who would continue that as well. How do you intentionally seek to pass along what Jesus has taught you? DO you take it as a responsibility? Just like Timothy we are called to see to it that others know, and to encourage this same sharing from them.



Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


Focal Verse: Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more important than yourselves. Paul slayed out a simple formula for how we are to treat others. Others > Myself. This goes against our natural inclinations and stands against our own pride. How would I really defer to someone else’s needs before I would my own. Yet that is what Paul calls us to do. The beauty of it is that he also shows us that this is exactly what Jesus did for us. So why wouldn’t we seek to emulate his character in the way that we live?

Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness:



Focal Verse: John 13:35 By this will all people know you are my disciples, if you love one another. John amplifies the same calling that Paul gives us as he recounts Jesus words. The stakes are high when we talk about loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus hangs an important disclaimer onto our love for others. They will know that we follow him by the love that is demonstrated in our lives. So what does the way you treat your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ say about who the Lord of your life is?




Focal Verse: Philippians 2:2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Unity is always a struggle, but always an ideal that we should strive for. As we live in fel-lowship the unity we have speaks to those around us and becomes something that can attract them to Christ. The easy church in Acts was incredibly effective at allowing oth-ers to see their unity on dismay and it helped to draw in drives of new believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you pray that our unity would be so clear to others that it would cause them to investigate and that they would come to know Jesus. Our unity starts with each of us individually. Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance:

Prayers of Intercession:




Focal Verse: Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Jesus lays down the cost of following him. It is surrendering everything. A daily corona-tion of who the King of our lives is. We are tempted to hold on to the crown and keep it ourselves only yelling it when it is convenient. The calling of Jesus is to give him first place in every moment and in everything. Is your life yielded? Is he King?



Focal Verse: 1 Timothy 3:15 , “if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, which is a pillar and buttress of the truth.” The Church has responsibility. One of the greatest is to hold up the truth. The New Testament explains the church as the body of believers united together for the Glory of Christ and the advance of the gospel. The church must make the truth known to the world, and it begins with what happens among the believers who make it up. Our effort should be to see to it that these things would succeed. Would you pray that the Lord would make us aware, and that he would make us faithful? Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


Focal Verse: Colossians 1:9, “And so from the days we heard we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” Paul prays for the boys! Specifically in this instance, it is the church at Colossae. He prays specifically for them and constantly for them. Oh that our prayers would be consistent and constant. How much different would this church and our own lives if that could be said of us. Would you pray for consistency and constancy in your prayer life? Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in


Focal Verse: Colossians 1:10a, “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him:” The question of how we should walk is one that may occupy your thoughts from time to time. As Paul prays for the Colossians he recognizes this about their walk. That it would be worthy and fully pleasing. The term walk is used to describe their manner of life. His prayer is that theirs would be worthy of Christ, and pleasing to him. He is our first priority, and our lives communicate to others. Pray that ours would demonstrate the character of Christ to others. Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

February 14th 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving: Focal Verse: Colossians 1:10b, “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Drawing near to God, and having intimacy with him yields characteristic traits in our lives. This verse speaks to that reality as it acknowledges that there will be the bearing of fruit and an increase in the knowledge of God….namely the recognition of God’s will in their midst. A reminder that this is Paul's prayer for this church. He desires these things for them and specifically prays to the Lord that it may be seen and known among them. Would you pray that the very same thing may be known among us?






Focal Verse: Colossians 1:11, “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, with all endurance and patience with joy.” We must be strengthened for the task at hand. Corporately and personally the qualities outlined in this verse should be what we demonstrate to the world around us. But only intimacy with God yields that in our lives. Without it, no endurance, patience, or joy will be seen in our lives. This is why it is according to his glorious might and why we need his strength. Pray for the Lord’s power to create these traits in us as we draw near to him.



Focal Verse: Colossians 1:12-14, “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Our response to the work of Christ should be praise to God. He has extended all of these things to us. Just what he has done is outlined in these verses. Our redemption and forgiveness is set through the blood of Christ. This sets everyone in the body of Christ on a level playing field. All have received! It also lets us know what is needed by the whole world, and our recognition and gratefulness to God motivates us to be obedient to share. Would you pray for this response to be characteristic of our fellowship of believers.






Focal Verse: Philippians 1: 27, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ , so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” Paul is praying for the Philippian church and his prayer is that they would be united in spirit and purpose. That purpose is the faith of the gospel. A common goal leads to priority and unity. Let us pray that the Lord would convict us of our purpose, and set us on our mission united as one, determined to succeed.




Focal Verse: Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.” Paul demonstrates a quality that must be present in all believers and certainly present in the church. The consideration of others needs must rival even our own. This isn’t an easy way to live, but its a crucial characteristic. The early church in Acts was known by this very thing. As a result the numbers of those turning to Christ were staggering. We talk often of telling them, but how much do we show them? They will know we are his followers by our love. Let us pray for his grace to consider others more important than ourselves.



Focal Verse: 1st Corinthians 3:1-3, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” The Corinthian church needed to grow in many ways. One of which was in their unity. Paul uses this as a demonstration of their failure to grow. A lack of unity within the body is a lack of spiritual maturity. The scripture clearly shows us the truths we must unite around. Therefore, to dismiss these is to misunderstand our calling. Let us pray for clarity and maturity as we follow Christ and yield to his calling. Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance:





Focal Verse: Revelation 7:9, 10, “After this I looked and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” The churches mission is to fulfill these verses. What an awesome thought to know we have the privilege to participate in seeing this fulfilled and then we will have the opportunity to participate in that moment. Let us pray for the Lords grace to be faithful until the day he returns.


February 21st 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Romans 1:16,17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” As we begin to pray for our neighborhoods it is important to consider ourselves. How open are we about the gospel? After all the word means good news. Good news is meant to be shared! Yet our hearts may be stymied by a reluctance to share what the Lord has given. Paul proclaimed that he was not ashamed in the least of Christ or the gospel he had received from Christ. His reason was because of the gospels power to bring change. Would you rely on the gospels power to change hearts, and pray for boldness to share it? Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse:

Prayer of Repentance:




February 22nd 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Matthew 5:43 - 45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

The sermon on the mount is one of the most profound ethical teachings ever given. Jesus lays out what the heart devoted to him will embody. The way of living that accords with his kingdom is much different than what we might naturally live out. His command in these verses is to challenge the common thinking of his day and feeling that it was okay to hate an enemy. Jesus turns it around and says to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. As we consider our neighbors, we may find many different feelings toward us. No matter what we encounter, our calling is to pray that the Lord would call them to himself. Would you pray for the Lord to move among your neighbors….even those who you may have animosity towards? If there is animosity in your heart, would you pray for the Lord to remove it?






February 23rd 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Matthew 22:37 - 39 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The thought of loving your enemy and praying for them is advanced when Jesus gives this command. The first involves our love for God. The second involves loving our neighbor, but with the qualifier that we are to love them as we would ourselves. This particular aspect adds an extra element to our calling. How do you view those around you? How can you demonstrate the gospel by the way that you love them? Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance: Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

February 24th 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving: Focal Verse: Matthew 5:14 - 16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Another encouragement that Jesus gives in the sermon on the mount is that we are light. In fact, our calling is to show that light to the world as a city on a hill. How can you be a city on a hill in your neighborhood? Do you have opportunities to shine that light so that they may see Jesus? Would you pray that you would be given strength and grace to be this in your area and relationships?






Focal Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:3 - 6 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

We are light, but what Paul demonstrates in these verses is that there is an active effort to obscure the light to those who do not believe. Satan (the adversary) is active in seeking to blind others to the light of Christ. Let us pray that Jesus would go before us and break down barriers to his gospel and that he would illuminate hearts so that they might see.



Focal Verse: Romans 10:1 - 4 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Our own hearts and desire serve as a motivation for us. Paul’s desire was for them to be saved. His prayer was also for that very thing. He recognizes their unbelief and the condition of their hearts and he prayed for them to know Christ. Would you pray for the Lord to give you a sincere desire for their salvation, and would you pray earnestly for that very thing?






Focal Verse: Romans 10:13 “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Recognition of Jesus is what is required for salvation. We acknowledge him as Lord and repent of our offense against God. Grace is extended to us through Christ and we are forgiven. It is that we must recognize Christ and call on him. When we call on him, we are saved. Would you pray that they would call on the name of the Lord? Would you pray that they would be saved?

Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse: Prayer of Repentance:

Prayers of Intercession: Prayer for Needfulness:



Focal Verse: Romans 10:14 - 15 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” They must call on the name of the Lord, but to do that they must know who he is. Paul acknowledges the challenges of the gospel message being heard. There must be those willing to take the message. Would you pray that the Lord would motivate you? Would you also pray that the Lord would convict others to share his love?


March 1st 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: Philippians 2:14 - 15 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” Yet again we see the encouragement to be light! We shine in the midst of this world to demonstrate the character of Christ. We do that through what we share and how we live. Those examples show the sacrificial love of Christ. Would you pray that the Lord would give you strength to demonstrate the Love of Christ to others! Prayer of Reflection on the focal verse:





March 2nd 40 Days of Prayer Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving:

Focal Verse: 1 Peter 1:17 - 18 “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold” If believers, we do not belong to this world. We are as exiles in a foreign land seeking to be faithful to the Lord. Let us conduct ourselves with fear of the Lord in demonstrating his gospel to the world. Would you pray that the Lord would allow you to have a passion that he would be known in your community?



40 days of prayer guide - pbcbr.org

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