WORSHIP

God’s Character: We want to begin our prayer time by focusing on God and worshipping Him for who He is and what He does. This week, as we pray about FREEDOM, take time to focus on who God is as our DELIVERER-

• Mighty Warrior:  The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.   -Zephaniah 3:17
• The Son:  Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.      -John 8:34-36
• The Spirit:  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  -2 Cor 3:17
• The Truth:  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.       -John 8:32
• Perfect Love:  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  -John 4:18

During the song, take time to connect with God’s heart-who He is and what He does and focus on His presence with you.

Song: No Longer Slaves

THANKSGIVING

Take time to thank God for the ways you have seen Him at work as a Deliverer and for the ways He has brought freedom in your own life.

• From Fear and Shame: I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.    -Psalm 34:4
• From Sin: But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.    -Romans 6:17-18
• From Condemnation: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.        -Romans 8:1-2

CONFESSION/REPENTANCE

We want to take time to confess personal sins we have committed. We can also pray a prayer of corporate confession on behalf of a people/community (see Daniel 9).  Take time to confess any areas of sin God brings to mind (personal or corporate) around the idea of freedom, and ask Him to give us clean hands and pure hearts (Psalm 24).

Father, forgive us for using our freedom to indulge in sinful behavior instead of following your ways. Forgive us for taking advantage of your grace. Forgive us for not trusting in your means of deliverance and for looking to other things to provide freedom and relief. Help us to use our freedom to serve you and one another humbly in love (Gal 5:13).

INTERCESSION

PRAY GOD’S TRUTH WOULD SET US FREE FROM THE THINGS THAT BIND US:

Below are a few areas we can get entangled by sin that are prevalent in our community. Pray that any who are bound by these things would know the abundant life God desires for them and that His love can satisfy every desire they are trying to get met in these and other ways.

• Greed
• Pride
• Jealousy
• Anxiety/fear/worry
• Anger
• Sexual Sin
• Striving
• Addiction to drugs or alcohol
• Any other areas you have encountered personally in your own life or in the community

Pray we would throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Pray we would receive the freedom Jesus purchased for us through his death and resurrection (Romans 8:14) and that our desire for Him would be greater than any sinful desires trying to entice us (James 1:14-15).

PRAYING FOR THE LOST: Each week we also want to pray for someone in our life that doesn’t yet know the love of Jesus. Pray they would experience God’s love and turn to Him for their salvation