Establishing a Rhythm of Prayer
Good morning Imagine Church!
We are excited to welcome you to a Summer of Prayer. Below you will find a summary of this week’s teaching, along with daily prayer prompts. You can also download a printable version of the daily prompts.
-
This Sunday, the teaching centered around two questions:
What is prayer?
Why do we pray?
Here is what we learned:
Prayer is talking with God. It's more than just words; it's about deepening our connection with the triune God.
Prayer is a Kingdom Principle: God has established prayer as the main means by which His kingdom is manifest on the earth.
Jesus demonstrated the importance of prayer in His earthly ministry, setting the example for us all.
As the eternal Son of God, Jesus has always been in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit. His prayers reflect the perfect relationship that has occurred for eternity past and will continue for eternity future.
Prayer is a revelation of the love and unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Prayer is about cultivating a relationship with God. It's an ongoing conversation that deepens our understanding of Him and allows us to experience His presence in our daily lives.
Personal prayer deepens intimacy, while corporate prayer strengthens unity within the Body of Christ.
Join us in activating our faith through corporate and individual prayer. Let's engage our hearts and minds as we align with God's Word and seek His presence together.
Scripture references: Matthew 6:5-15, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 11:1-4, John 15:1-5, John 17:3, Acts 2:42 -
Find a consistent time and place to set aside 20-30 minutes daily.
Print out the prayer prompts and scriptures.
Invite family or roommates to join in, or find your own quiet space without distractions.
Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb” and put it in the other room.
Remember:
The prompts below are just a guide. Feel free to adjust and adapt during your prayer time.
Don’t worry if you miss one day. Just pick it up again the next day and keep going!
-
This week, the focus is on establishing a daily rhythm of prayer and growing in our understanding of the importance of prayer. Remember, the goal is relationship. Use these steps to guide your prayer time with each daily passage of Scripture and go slowly (2-3mins each):
Begin with thanksgiving. You can thank God for His Word, for the gift of prayer, and anything else that comes to mind.
Read the daily passage of scripture (found below) slowly out loud.
Thank God for the truth of His Word.
Out loud, commit to take the truth of God’s Word seriously.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand, believe, and act on the truth of God’s Word.
Read the passage of scripture slowly again.
With your Bible open, pause and listen to what God is speaking. Sometimes a word or phrase may be highlighted to you.
Spend a few minutes sharing anything that is on your heart.
Ask God what’s on His heart. Listen to what He might speak to you.
Thank God for meeting you in your time of prayer today.
*It doesn’t have to end here! Continue to pray as you feel led, and see where the Holy Spirit will take you in prayer today.
-
Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen. -
John 15:1-5 (NKJV)
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." -
Ephesians 1:15-21 (NIV)
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. -
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. -
Psalm 27:4-8 (TPT)
Here’s the one thing I crave from Yahweh, the one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with him every moment in his house, beholding the marvelous beauty of Yahweh, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to contemplate in his temple. In the day of trouble, he will treasure me in his shelter, under the cover of his tent. He will lift me high upon a rock, out of reach from all my enemies who surround me. Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy! Yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh! Hear my cry. Show me mercy, and send the help I need! I heard your voice in my heart say, “Come, seek my face;” my inner being responded, “Yahweh, I’m seeking your face with all my heart.”