God’s Good Work

Author and Perfecter of our faith, Your way is perfect; Your Word is flawless. You are a shield for (names of those for whom you are praying) ______________, and I pray they will take refuge in You throughout this new year. For who is God besides You, Lord? Who is their rock except You? Arm them with strength and make their ways perfect. Encourage them to be confident of this, that You who began a good work in them will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And I pray, O God, that they will stand perfect and complete in all Your will. (2 Sam. 22:31-33; Phil. 1:6; Col. 4:12b, all kjv ­paraphrased)

1.  If you need to, add more specific requests for the person about whom you are praying here.

Teach Me to Revere You

Father God, in this new year, I will come and listen to You; for You will teach me to revere and worshipfully fear You. I desire life and long for many days that I may see good. Therefore, I will keep my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceit. I will keep my heart from idols. I will be careful so that my heart will not be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. I will submit to You, O Lord, and be at peace; thereby good will come to me. I will receive the law from Your mouth and lay up Your words in my heart. For then I will delight in You, Almighty One, and will lift up my face to You, O God. (Ps. 34:11-13 amp; 1 John 5:21; Deut. 11:16; Job 22:21-22, 26, all paraphrased)

1. Listen to what the Lord is saying to you through this Scripture prayer, and then write it in your journal.

2. Choose a verse you can memorize this month, and write it here.

A Thousand Years in God's Sight

Everlasting Father, a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when they are past and as a few hours in the night. Behold, God, You are great and beyond understanding; Your years cannot be numbered or searched out. You appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down. And You change the times and the seasons; You remove and set up kings; You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that have understanding. Therefore, in these times and in this new year, I commit my spirit—my heart and my life—into Your hand; for You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. I commit my way to You, Lord; I also trust in You. (Ps. 90:4; Job 36:26; Ps. 104:19; Dan. 2:21; Ps. 31:5; Ps. 37:5a, all kjv paraphrased)

1. In what ways can these truths about God, help you in your present situation and give you hope?

2. Write a prayer committing your spirit, your heart, and your life unto the Lord.

Crown This Year with Goodness

Crown this new year with Your goodness, Lord. Be mindful of us, O Lord, bless us; bless our house. Bless those who fear You, both small and great. All Your works shall praise You, Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. Every day I will bless You; and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Seven times a day I will praise You because of Your righteous judgments. I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart. At all times throughout this new year, I will continually praise You. I praise You, Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. (Ps. 65:11a; 115:12a, 13; 145:10, 2; 119:164; 9:1a; 34:1; 146:1, all kjv paraphrased)

1. Offer seven praises to the Lord about your life today. 

2. Name the one thing you are most grateful for in your list of praises.

3. Now write a prayer of thanksgiving unto the Lord based on your seven praises.

Near to the Heart of God

As this new year begins, I will draw near to Your heart, O God, with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart to wisdom. Yes, Lord, I will get wisdom and understanding; I will not forget nor turn away from Your words. I will trust in You with all my heart rather than lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge You and trust You to direct my paths. Now may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Heb. 10:22a; Ps. 90:12; Prov. 4:5; 3:5-6; Ps. 19:14, all kjv paraphrased)

1. When we ask the Lord to help us number our days, we are asking Him to help us use our time wisely.  In what areas of your life do you need wisdom? 

2. What concerns do you have that you need to trust the Lord for and not lean on your own understanding?

3.  List the ways you will acknowledge the Lord and trust Him to direct your path this coming year. 

Introduction to Prayer Journal 2013

The daily personalized Scripture prayers will help you present your requests to the Lord, confess sin, express your deepest needs, find comfort, worship the Lord, and offer praises and thanksgiving. Prayers for New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and for various other themes are also included. 

Do you long for a more meaningful prayer life? Do you often feel at a loss to know how to express your heartfelt concerns to the Lord? In this Scripture prayer journal, you will find the words you need to talk to the Lord and to draw near to His heart in His Word. 

This devotional journal provides lined spaces for you to record “Praises, Prayers, and Personal Notes.” Feel free to write the thoughts and requests that are on your heart even when they don’t match the theme of the prayer for that day. 

Like Scripture itself, on some days the prayers will speak to your need while others won’t seem to fit at all. At another time the prayer may be exactly what you needed. As you pray, listen for what the Lord desires to say to you. Then write how the Lord spoke to your heart or helped you express your desires through the Scripture prayer.

This is a private prayer journal, one for yourself alone. If you feel uncomfortable writing detailed requests, you may want to write one word or a brief phrase, or use an initial for the name of the person for whom you are interceding. 

When you write abbreviated requests, make sure to use an easy clue that will help you remember what you desire to pray about. Some prayers are specifically worded to express intercession for others, with blanks to fill in the name of the person(s) for whom you are praying.

        

Though our prayers are not always answered the way we desire, we can be assured that the Lord deeply loves us, cares about our heartfelt needs, and is always present with us to comfort and support us. We have this confidence that Jesus “is at the right hand of God . . . interceding for us” (Rom. 8:34).  

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” (Rom. 8:26-27). 

Regularly go back and pray the requests in your journal. Be sure to record answered prayers with the date near the request, including your praises and perhaps an explanation as to how the answer came about. 

You’ll be surprised and blessed afresh by how God has answered. You’ll be reminded of the ways God has led you safely through trials you had long forgotten about. You’ll be encouraged and strengthened by His never-failing presence in your life—and you’ll be adding more praises!

This devotional prayer journal provides you a place where you can meet with your Savior. And as the hymn Near to the Heart of God promises, you will find a place “of quiet rest,” “where sin cannot molest.”  

You will find a place of comfort and full release, “where all is joy and peace,” where Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, sent from the heart of God holds us near to the heart of His Father.

        

Note: Copy and paste each day’s prayer and question into a document so you can answer the question/s and write your prayer requests, personal notes and praises.