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 GENEROSITY, take time to focus on who God is as our Father-
- Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! -Matthew 7:9-11
- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17
- Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. -Ephesians 1:3
- He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? -Romans 8:32
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: Goodness of God
THANKSGIVING
Take time to thank God for the ways you’ve experienced His generosity in your own life. There are a few categories below to give some guidance if needed.
It can be our default at times to think of things we don’t have instead of what we do have. Even if there are some areas where you are still waiting for God’s provision, thank Him for the ways you see Him at work and the ways He meets those needs.
- Relationships– God sets the lonely in families. -Psalm 68:6
- Finances– And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
- Health– In him we live and move and have our being. -Acts 17:28
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 generosity, and ask Him to give us clean hands and pure hearts (Psalm 24).
- Father, forgive us when we have seen others in need and have not helped when we had the ability to do so. Help us to love not just with words, but with actions (1 John 3:17-18).
- God, we have sinned by allowing the love of money to take root in our hearts (1 Tim 6:10). Forgive us for putting our trust in riches and not in You. We acknowledge that You are our great reward and the pearl of great price.
- God, we have sinned by striving after earthly gain and trusting in our own strength. Help us to cease striving and enter your rest (Hebrews 4:9-10).
INTERCESSION
In Isaiah 58:6-7 we read: Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen…. to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.
Pray we would see this transformation of God’s love in our own lives and throughout our community-
- Personally- ask God how he may be leading you to freely give what He has given to you.
- Church- In Act 4 we see there was “no needy among them” because of the generosity of the Church. Pray God would show the Church in our community how to best care for the poor among us.
- Government Leaders- pray our government leaders would make decisions not based on seeking power for themselves, but seeking the welfare of others. -1 Timothy 2:1
- Business Owners-pray business owners would use their resources generously and in ways that bless others (Leviticus 19:10).
- Educational Systems- pray our educational systems would be used to help break generational cycles of poverty and that every student, regardless of their income level, would have the same opportunities to thrive academically and socially.
Several of our ministry partners are serving our neighbors in need throughout our community. Please pray for them and the work they are doing. Below are some requests they shared:
Acts 6: www.stonebridgemarietta.org/acts-6-ministry/
Acts 6 is the benevolence ministry of StoneBridge and is funded through your contributions. We help people obtain birth certificates and assist with rent and utility bills. Pray for Acts 6:
- That the Lord would use the resources of Acts 6 to lighten the burden of visitors who come heavy laden
- That the generosity of our assistance and service would be seen and received as God’s love, kindness, and mercy
Mission 1:27: www.mission127.ngo
- Pray for our children’s and youth programs – May we be fruitful at making disciples & making ready for the marketplace, so generational spiritual and physical poverty will be eradicated.
- Pray for our families (especially single parents) and seniors – May God meet their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
Forgotten Initiative: www.theforgotteninitiative.org/cobbga/
- Pray that every foster child (over 440 currently) in our community finds a family and a home (there are over 75 children available for adoption now).
- Pray more and more families open their home and hearts to take care of orphans, especially more foster parents for teens and larger sibling groups.
- Pray for support, and gestures of appreciation for foster parents and agency workers as they continue serving foster children and their biological parents.
- Pray for support for biological parents working to satisfy requirements to reunify with their children. Pray for hope, motivation, breaking generational curses, and ultimately for them to know Christ.
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. |
