Rejoicing in Overflow
The following is a suggested prayer structure. Each section should take approximately 10 minutes. However, be flexible, and enjoy going off-piste by adding any prayer points you would like! Spend longer on the sections that are meaningful for you, and feel free to leave out others as time permits. Whatever you do, however, please pray – and in particular pray through today’s specific prayer points so we seek God’s Kingdom with others as a united, praying church.
Praise and Worship
Spend some time praising God. Use songs, listen to music, speak out words of praise. You can find some worship songs to sing, or reflect upon by clicking here.
Pray in tongues
If you have the gift of tongues, use this now and allow the Holy Spirit to build you up (1 Corinthians 14:4). If you have never spoken in tongues, you can spend time asking the Holy Spirit to receive this specific gift, or alternatively seek God’s blessing for your time of prayer. If you have the gift of tongues, pray for a full 10 minutes, and consider the following: what has changed in my thinking, how have my emotions shifted, what do I want to pray for now that may be different from, how has my view of Jesus changed?
Waiting on the Lord
Take some time to still your thoughts and sit before the Lord in silence. Ask him to reveal to you anything that is coming between you and Him. Confess anything that comes to mind. This will enable you to pray without anything coming between you and God. If God highlights anyone He wants you to forgive, muster up the courage and strength to forgive them from your heart (Mark 11:25).
Reading and Praying Scripture
Read today’s passage. What is God showing you or talking to you about from that passage: for instance, what strikes you as unusual, interesting, provocative, or puzzling? Ask God and pray about those things.
Acts 2:44-47 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What a wonderful picture of community and unity in the early church. Whilst people continued to meet corporately in the temple courts, the church met in one another’s homes – breaking bread, worshipping and loving each other. Small groups were vital to the life of the early church. They were clearly central to Jesus’ ministry too as he developed and nurtured his twelve closest disciples. Without the closeness of others, we cannot grow closer to Jesus. Like the early church, we need to pray to enjoy the benefits of tight-knit communities in which we can grow and develop as followers of Jesus. Are you in a small group alongside others who can encourage you in your faith, and whom you can encourage? If not, go to kchw.co.uk/sign-up to find a suitable group of others with whom to grow closer to Jesus. You can do that right now – and then pray straight after!
Intercession
Please pray for:
- All our small group leaders: they would be encouraged and empowered to lead groups full of the love and presence of Jesus
- Chapter One (our first-level, introductory discipleship experience): strong sign-ups for the term both from those who are brand new to the church as well as those who have been part of us for many years. Strong and enduring connections and friendships to develop through the term. Powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit that are life-changing and unforgettable.
- Chapter Two (our ministry for believers to enjoy freedom in their lives, in their thoughts, in relationships with others and Jesus): for encounter with the Holy Spirit, for God to show up, for the new team leading this. Ask Jesus for it to bring enduring change and freedom in the lives of all those who attend
- FOCUS (our ministry to those close to or in retirement): As we look to relaunch, pray for inspiration for a new generation of leaders – with God’s equipping and envisioning – and a fruitful Spirit-led ministry for those it serves
- Alpha: strong sign-ups for this course from people who are genuinely and earnestly searching for Jesus.
- Our other courses: Called to Influence, TSM (Training in Supernatural Ministry). These would be life-changing and highly influential on the lives of those attending and on many lives outside the church
- For those who have become disconnected (especially in the last couple of years of restrictions and lockdowns) to re-engage with small group life and love it!
Reflection
Write down anything that God has spoken to you. You can send in your reflections, thoughts, words of encouragement, prophetic words to office@kchw.co.uk.
