Saturday, December 14, 2013

Prayer Guide using the book of Hebrews

May this prayer guide using the Book of Hebrews usher you to God's throne of grace on this 3rd weekend of Advent. (All scripture passages quoted here come from the NLT.)

"Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe" (Hebrews 12:28). 

Let’s pray…

ADORATION:
-Long ago, O God, you spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days you have spoken to us through your Son, Jesus Christ.
-Father, we praise you that through your Son you created the universe.
-We praise you that Jesus radiates your glory.
-We praise you that Jesus sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.
-We praise you for how Jesus cleansed us from our sins and sat down in the place of honor at your right hand, our majestic God and Heavenly Father (based on Hebrews 1:1-4).

CONFESSION:
-Heavenly Father, your Word says, “the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable" (Hebrews 4:12-13).  

-By your Holy Spirit, help us to confess to you those things that need to be brought out of the darkness and into your light.          SILENCE.
                                                                                     
ASSURANCE:
 -Gracious God, help us to remember that “there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.” And that blood is only “the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 9:22; 10:19).
-Jesus is “our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek” and “his priesthood lasts forever" (Hebrews 6:20).
-Therefore remind us today that Jesus, “is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on” our behalf (based on Hebrews 7:24-25).

Church, rest in this assurance!

THANKSGIVING:
-“Let us be thankful and please God” by expressing to Him the wonderful things He has done on our behalf (based on Hebrews 12:28).

SUPPLICATION:
-Father I pray for the believers here at ____________, in ______________ and around the world that we “will move forward to further understanding” of you and your ways this Advent and Christmas season and in 2014 (Hebrews 6:3).

-Gracious God, help us to “remember our leaders who teach us the word of God” and so we pray for _________________. May he do his pastoring work “with joy and not with sorrow” as he “watches over our souls and is accountable to” You (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

-In this Advent/Christmas season especially, but in all the year through, help us to “continue in brotherly love,” “to show hospitality to strangers,” and to “remember those in prison…and those being mistreated” (Hebrews 13:1-3).

-Father we know that “faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” To your glory and honor, may our will be conformed to your will as we wait on you in faith (Hebrews 11:1).

-“Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God” with our SILENT requests for it is “there we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16).                       

CLOSING:
-Therefore, because we have been forgiven of our sin, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
-As we prepare our hearts for your First Advent when you came as the Christ child; help us to also prepare for your Second Advent when you “will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for you"(-based on Hebrews 9:28).

Jesus, you are “the same yesterday, today, and forever” and it is in this unchanging name that we pray.                                                                             (-based on Hebrews 13:9)


And all God’s people said, AMEN!

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