January 3rd Prayer Guide
This guide includes some suggested areas for reflection and prayer.
Feel free to pray in whatever direction you'd like or join us in praying in the following areas:
CLEAN HANDS
“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3 & 4
“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:2 & 7
“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.” Psalm 19:12
God says: “I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion” Jeremiah 33:8
Reflect: Cleansing in the Bible is symbolic of cleansing yourself of sin. Begin by acknowledging and owning (or taking responsibility for) all thoughts, actions, and words that are not obedient or pleasing to the Lord. This may include sins of “omission” (actions/choices/thoughts you have neglected).
Pray: Ask God for forgiveness and receive the forgiveness He offers you.
PURE HEART
“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3 & 4
“Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
“’Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love...’” Joel 2:12 & 13
“Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me.’” Jeremiah 15:19
Reflect: Our heart represents the seat of our will and affections.
Our heart is to be set apart for God & our affections are meant for Him.
When we give ourselves and our affection to things other than God, we put things before God in our lives or we participate in things that he expressly forbids us from participating in, we have sinned; we have allowed those things or activities to come between us and God.
Pray: Is there an area you need to surrender to God? Have you allowed your heart to stray to other things? Take a few minutes to surrender this area to God. Ask God for His help surrendering your entire heart to Him. Ask Him for help trusting Him if trust is an issue.
GOD IS
Reflect: Part of our growth as followers of God, comes when we learn WHO GOD IS.
When we learn (or remember!) and then declare who God is, these TRUTHS begin to take root in our hearts.
Take a few minutes to look for some Scriptures that describe who God is (some are provided below for you) and then thank God for who He is.
Pray: Ask God to root the truth of who He is in your heart and life. Take a few minutes to pray the truth of who He is over your own mind and heart (and family if applicable). Take a few extra minutes and begin to memorize one of the verses that describes who God is.
“God is faithful” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“God is light” 1 John 1:5
“The Lord is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9
“And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.” Psalm 50:6
“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion” Psalm 116:5
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“I love you Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:1-3
I AM
Reflect: Because we know who HE is, we know who WE ARE. Many people live their life in bondage to the lies that have taken root in their minds. When we think we are ‘not good enough,’ ‘not strong enough,’ or ‘too sinful,’ we have to go back to the truth of God’s Word which says that HE IS our strength, our rock and our righteousness. And if HE IS our strength, then WE ARE STRONG. We can also see throughout His Word who He says that we are; things like: redeemed (Isaiah 52:3), saved (Titus 3:5), loved (John 3:16), forgiven (Psalm 103:12), a blessing (Genesis 12:2) and so many more.
We tend to label ourselves poorly, thinking of ourselves according to our faults and shortcomings. We need to bring our thoughts, perspectives and words into alignment with what God says about us.
Pray: Take a few minutes to pray and meditate on this. Declare who God’s Word defines you to be.
OUR COMMUNITY
Reflect: In the book of Nehemiah, God’s people have been living in exile. The nation of Israel was scattered and devastated. When Nehemiah receives a report of the condition of his nation, and he hears how bad things are, he says in Nehemiah chapter 1: “when I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted and prayed to the God of heaven…Oh Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you.”
You will likely agree that our community (our world!) is in a deeply broken state too. Our hearts should at least be moved, maybe even broken, by the desperate need for God all around us. Our neighborhoods, communities, schools & families need God.
Prayer: Take some time to pray for our community, pray for specific neighborhoods (including your own!), cities and all of Snohomish County.
In just a 4-mile radius of our Central Campus are over 33,000 people, 30,000 of whom claim zero religious affiliation.
Pray for Christians to be a bright light for Jesus.
Pray for lost people to be drawn to Venture and to the other Bible believing churches in our county. Pray lost people are drawn to Jesus’ love for them.
Pray for each of the schools in our community, for safety and for Jesus to be present in each school.
10,000 REASONS
Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” This proclamation is the truth for every Christian. We have much to be thankful for as recipients of God’s love, forgiveness and faithfulness. A song by Matt Redman says that as a believer I have “10,000 reasons for my heart to sing.”
Reflect: Take a few minutes to read the Scriptures below, and even to look up a few of your own. Record in a journal or in a note in your phone what you are thankful for.
Pray: Spend some time thanking God for these blessings. Keep the journal or note in your phone as a reminder of His goodness and faithfulness to you.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7
“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:2-3
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8
COMMUNION
Reflect: In order for us to experience forgiveness, a sacrifice had to be made. Jesus made that ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross.
The purpose of communion is for us to remember.
We take the bread as a symbol of His beaten and broken body and the juice as a symbol of the blood that He shed for us.
Prayer & Communion: Pause for a minute to remember how awesome Jesus’ sacrifice was for you individually and the lifetime of sin that He has forgiven you of.
When you feel ready take communion, read the Scriptures below to guide you.
“And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19
Thanking Jesus for His body, broken for you, eat the bread.
“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”
Luke 22:20
Thanking Jesus for His blood, which represents His grace for you, drink the juice.
RECEIVE PRAYER
Scripture instructs us to pray for one another and reassures us that healing is something we can and should seek.
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:14-16
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23
Prayer: If you have a need for healing or any other need, please find a staff person or prayer volunteer wearing a lanyard. They will gladly anoint you with oil and pray for you. You are also welcome to stand in for someone else.
PRAY FOR OTHERS
Jesus told His followers to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15
We are also instructed to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
As followers of Jesus, we believe we are strategically placed to share the Good News of the hope that we have with those in our sphere of influence.
Think about your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, even your barista or local grocery checker. Who can you pray for by name that God will give you an opportunity to share the hope that you have found in Jesus?
Pray: In each of those that you name, pray for opportunities to share, for a willingness to hear/receive and for soft hearts to respond to Jesus.
“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3 & 4
“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:2 & 7
“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.” Psalm 19:12
God says: “I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion” Jeremiah 33:8
Reflect: Cleansing in the Bible is symbolic of cleansing yourself of sin. Begin by acknowledging and owning (or taking responsibility for) all thoughts, actions, and words that are not obedient or pleasing to the Lord. This may include sins of “omission” (actions/choices/thoughts you have neglected).
Pray: Ask God for forgiveness and receive the forgiveness He offers you.
PURE HEART
“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3 & 4
“Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
“’Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love...’” Joel 2:12 & 13
“Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me.’” Jeremiah 15:19
Reflect: Our heart represents the seat of our will and affections.
Our heart is to be set apart for God & our affections are meant for Him.
When we give ourselves and our affection to things other than God, we put things before God in our lives or we participate in things that he expressly forbids us from participating in, we have sinned; we have allowed those things or activities to come between us and God.
Pray: Is there an area you need to surrender to God? Have you allowed your heart to stray to other things? Take a few minutes to surrender this area to God. Ask God for His help surrendering your entire heart to Him. Ask Him for help trusting Him if trust is an issue.
GOD IS
Reflect: Part of our growth as followers of God, comes when we learn WHO GOD IS.
When we learn (or remember!) and then declare who God is, these TRUTHS begin to take root in our hearts.
Take a few minutes to look for some Scriptures that describe who God is (some are provided below for you) and then thank God for who He is.
Pray: Ask God to root the truth of who He is in your heart and life. Take a few minutes to pray the truth of who He is over your own mind and heart (and family if applicable). Take a few extra minutes and begin to memorize one of the verses that describes who God is.
“God is faithful” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“God is light” 1 John 1:5
“The Lord is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9
“And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.” Psalm 50:6
“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion” Psalm 116:5
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“I love you Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:1-3
I AM
Reflect: Because we know who HE is, we know who WE ARE. Many people live their life in bondage to the lies that have taken root in their minds. When we think we are ‘not good enough,’ ‘not strong enough,’ or ‘too sinful,’ we have to go back to the truth of God’s Word which says that HE IS our strength, our rock and our righteousness. And if HE IS our strength, then WE ARE STRONG. We can also see throughout His Word who He says that we are; things like: redeemed (Isaiah 52:3), saved (Titus 3:5), loved (John 3:16), forgiven (Psalm 103:12), a blessing (Genesis 12:2) and so many more.
We tend to label ourselves poorly, thinking of ourselves according to our faults and shortcomings. We need to bring our thoughts, perspectives and words into alignment with what God says about us.
Pray: Take a few minutes to pray and meditate on this. Declare who God’s Word defines you to be.
OUR COMMUNITY
Reflect: In the book of Nehemiah, God’s people have been living in exile. The nation of Israel was scattered and devastated. When Nehemiah receives a report of the condition of his nation, and he hears how bad things are, he says in Nehemiah chapter 1: “when I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted and prayed to the God of heaven…Oh Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you.”
You will likely agree that our community (our world!) is in a deeply broken state too. Our hearts should at least be moved, maybe even broken, by the desperate need for God all around us. Our neighborhoods, communities, schools & families need God.
Prayer: Take some time to pray for our community, pray for specific neighborhoods (including your own!), cities and all of Snohomish County.
In just a 4-mile radius of our Central Campus are over 33,000 people, 30,000 of whom claim zero religious affiliation.
Pray for Christians to be a bright light for Jesus.
Pray for lost people to be drawn to Venture and to the other Bible believing churches in our county. Pray lost people are drawn to Jesus’ love for them.
Pray for each of the schools in our community, for safety and for Jesus to be present in each school.
10,000 REASONS
Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” This proclamation is the truth for every Christian. We have much to be thankful for as recipients of God’s love, forgiveness and faithfulness. A song by Matt Redman says that as a believer I have “10,000 reasons for my heart to sing.”
Reflect: Take a few minutes to read the Scriptures below, and even to look up a few of your own. Record in a journal or in a note in your phone what you are thankful for.
Pray: Spend some time thanking God for these blessings. Keep the journal or note in your phone as a reminder of His goodness and faithfulness to you.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7
“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:2-3
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8
COMMUNION
Reflect: In order for us to experience forgiveness, a sacrifice had to be made. Jesus made that ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross.
The purpose of communion is for us to remember.
We take the bread as a symbol of His beaten and broken body and the juice as a symbol of the blood that He shed for us.
Prayer & Communion: Pause for a minute to remember how awesome Jesus’ sacrifice was for you individually and the lifetime of sin that He has forgiven you of.
When you feel ready take communion, read the Scriptures below to guide you.
“And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19
Thanking Jesus for His body, broken for you, eat the bread.
“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”
Luke 22:20
Thanking Jesus for His blood, which represents His grace for you, drink the juice.
RECEIVE PRAYER
Scripture instructs us to pray for one another and reassures us that healing is something we can and should seek.
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:14-16
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23
Prayer: If you have a need for healing or any other need, please find a staff person or prayer volunteer wearing a lanyard. They will gladly anoint you with oil and pray for you. You are also welcome to stand in for someone else.
PRAY FOR OTHERS
Jesus told His followers to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15
We are also instructed to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
As followers of Jesus, we believe we are strategically placed to share the Good News of the hope that we have with those in our sphere of influence.
Think about your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, even your barista or local grocery checker. Who can you pray for by name that God will give you an opportunity to share the hope that you have found in Jesus?
Pray: In each of those that you name, pray for opportunities to share, for a willingness to hear/receive and for soft hearts to respond to Jesus.