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DEPENDENCEin
40 Days of Prayer
A PRAYER GUIDE
A U R O R A C A M P U S
40 Days of PrayerDEPENDENCEin
Hey Church Family!
Get ready! The next 40 days has the potential to be life changing. Actually, the next 40 days could be the best thing that happens to our church. My desire is to see 300 men, women, students, and kids at this church pray for the next 40 days. That’s 12,000 prayers over the next 40 days. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James says just the prayer of one believer is powerful, but imagine 300 all praying for the same thing every day.
What are we praying for?Our theme in 2021 is inDEPENDENCE and our goal is that each of us would be more dependent on God and each other at the end of the year than we are right now. God has something big for us this year and that’s to become our own independent church. To be honest, that’s too big for us. If it’s going to happen, it has to be a movement of God and we must be united as a church. That starts with prayer, but it starts with praying together. So we have designed each day of this 40-day prayer guide with Scripture, a prayer from one of our people, and one church prayer request. It should take you five minutes each day. If prayer is not already a habit for you, then use this time to develop it as a new habit. If you already have a consistent prayer routine, consider adding this to it.
Try fasting as well.During our inDEPENDENCE series, we talked about the importance of fast-ing, so I want to challenge you to consider adding that to your 40 days of prayer. Fasting and prayer were often paired together throughout Scripture and Jesus Himself modeled this. The goal of fasting is to give up something you enjoy or need for a period of time in order to deepen your dependence on Jesus. Fasting is typically from food or particular foods, but you can get creative with what you give up. It could be sugar or coffee or pop. It could be one fasting day per week. It could be that you give up social media or TV or video games. Whatever it is, the goal is that when you are hungry or really want to get on social media, you are reminded that what you need more than anything is Christ. He is the only One that lasts for both this life and all of eternity.
Let’s deepen our affection for Jesus together!
Pastor Todd
40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Bill Merkel
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
PRAYER:My Lord,
Forgive me. I so quickly forget Your promises. I fear because I do not remember You are with me. I am anxious because I do not remember You are my God.
Strengthen me and help me. Your righteous hand has upheld me and will not fail me. By the work of Your Son, I rest in Your grace. My Lord, forgive me.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for God to raise up spiritually strong elders to provide godly oversight to our church.
FEBRUARY 17
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Nikki Olechnowicz
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
PRAYER:Lord,
Let us actively choose to let the Gospel give us hope in You. Use us as vessels to love and encourage all people around us so they, too, will feel Your presence and be filled with the hope only You can provide.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for a smooth transition with Pastor Mark and Pastor Todd.
FEBRUARY 18
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Rick Schuping
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
PRAYER:Father,
Keep me from reliance on my own intellect, skills, or understand-ing. They always fall woefully short of what is truly needed and far short of the depth of Your wisdom and ways. Be my guide and my strength and help me to draw upon all that You have shown me, taught me, and allowed me to experience through Your love. Open my soul and my heart to be aligned with Your will and purpose in all things. Help me to trust You in all things as You are completely trustworthy and faithful. Help me to be quick in always acknowledging to myself and others my reliance on You. Help me to live a life that reflects the blessing of Your intimate presence.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our staff to be united and spiritually strong as we carry out the ministries of the church.
FEBRUARY 19
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Carla Merkel
Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
PRAYER:Gracious Father in Heaven,
Thank You that You have given us brothers and sisters in Christ. As we travel this road together, please help us to live together in unity. Our world runs rampant with discord. Unite us so we may bring light into a dark world. Bless us with the joy that comes when we are united in Your Spirit.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for the marriages and families of this church to grow closer together and closer to the Lord.
FEBRUARY 20
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Aaron Arnold
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
PRAYER:Father,
Thank You so much for all that You have given to us in Jesus. Please help me to stay close to You and stay connected to You as the vine. Without You and the life You give, we falter, we can be-come so discouraged and even led astray by things of this world. Keep our eyes fixed upon You, that we would be good witnesses to this world and that we would bear much fruit for Your kingdom in Your name. Be glorified in my life, in my home, in my family, in my church, and in my neighborhood. Refresh my spirit that I would be ready to pour out everything I have to worship You with my whole heart, soul, body, mind, and strength today.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our kids to have strong discipleship in their home and in the church.
FEBRUARY 22
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Mindy Kinford
Matthew 18:19-20 “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Fa-ther in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
PRAYER:Lord,
Thank You for community and the power that comes when we gather with other believers in prayer. May this verse be a pow-erful reminder to us of not only the importance of prayer but of gathering together to pray with others. As we join in prayer, may we grow deeper in our relationship with You and with those whom we gather.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our students (middle school, high school, college) to find this church to be a place they can belong and grow.
FEBRUARY 23
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Todd Iannetta
Psalm 73:23-26 “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and after-ward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
PRAYER:Father,
It’s not about me. Forgive me for my tendency to operate inde-pendently from You, and remind me every hour that You sustain me and You lead me. Remind my soul that everything on this earth will pass away, even my own flesh, but You remain forev-er. Because of Jesus, You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. You are the best thing about me, and without You, I can do nothing. Lord, help me to walk in dependence on You today.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for a culture of trust, transparency, and truth in our relationships with each other.
FEBRUARY 24
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Anna Lile
1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”
PRAYER:Lord,
I want to be more like You – with a tender heart filled with love for others. As I look at this fallen world around me, it seems to be filled with so much anger, sadness, and frustration right now. But I know that even in this darkness, You offer peace and hope. Please help me to be a light for You. Guide me to ap-proach people and situations with a humility and discernment that will reflect You and encourage unity and understanding. I know this is only possible because You first loved us – even in our brokenness and sin. No matter how many times I hear that, I am continually humbled and overwhelmed. Thank You is not enough of a response. Use me, teach me, and mold me into someone worthy of claiming You as my Lord and Savior. I praise and worship You today and always.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for consistently powerful and effective preaching of God’s Word.
FEBRUARY 25
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Brock Thompson
Psalm 94:17-19 “If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’ your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
PRAYER:God,
You truly are a faithful consolation. When life’s crushing pressures weigh, You are my gracious support. When my mind storms with anxiety, Your quiet comfort steadies my hand. And not only are You able to keep my foot from slipping, but You do it with great joy (Jude 24). Your goodness and companionship are never-end-ing treasures, and forever You will be my strong tower.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our outreach events like Night to Shine, Vacation Bible Camp, and others, that they would act as great avenues to see people come to know Jesus.
FEBRUARY 26
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Susan Tomich
Acts 2:46-47 “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
PRAYER:Dear Heavenly Father,
As we strive to create true community, please open our hearts to love others with a love that comes truly and sincerely from You. Open our hands to give generously of our time, talents, and earthly treasures. Lord, allow us to share with others the true joy that comes from being a follower of You… and as we share, may Your Spirit draw them to faith in You.
In Your Holy Name, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for Gospel impact in the community, including strong connections to the schools and community organizations.
FEBRUARY 27
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Will Bursch
Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the pres-ence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
PRAYER:Lord,
Humble me to be guided by You, the Good Shepherd. Your ever-lasting love is all the comfort I need in this busy world. Though I may desire to prove myself to You, You call me to rest in Your pres-ence. In You, I can be restored. Thank You for Your tough love to bring me back to You. Forgive me for confusing discipline with bad luck. I need Your correction. You discipline whom You love. God, I praise You in all circumstances, for You are with me. I can rest know-ing You hold me in Your hand – in this life, and the life to come.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for the church’s worship services, that the songs and rhythms of worship would teach people how to worship and bring glory to God.
March 1
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Jennifer Smith
Romans 12:14-18 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haugh-ty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honor-able in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
PRAYER:Heavenly Father,
I confess that I do not have the kind of empathy for others that You call me to. I am quick to jump to conclusions and slow to listen. I do not engage in dialogue, and I keep to myself and prefer com-fort over outreach. My pride gets in the way, and I too often think I’m right and seek to be heard rather than to understand.
Lord, help me to love as You love. Help me to see others – ALL others – as You do. Help me always to remember that I have been forgiven by Your great mercy, yet was once lost and without hope. Move me to share the hope I have in You and walk alongside those who are struggling to comprehend the riches of Your love. Use me to bring Your peace to a contentious world.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for the older generation to seek out opportunities to mentor and disciple the younger generations.
March 2
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Mark Lile
Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
PRAYER:Dear Father,
You alone are the source of peace. You, Oh God, are never anxious or concerned. Nothing sneaks up on You, catches You by surprise, or shatters Your hopes. You know, God, that our lives are very different. Hardly a day goes by when we are not faced with circumstances that feel like they could devour us. We are frail and often afraid.
Lord, we need a greater awareness that You are “at hand.” We humbly ask that You grant us the wisdom to see our lives resting in the joy You have given us in Jesus. He is OUR peace, and OUR hope and OUR joy.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for the younger generations to seek wisdom and guid-ance from the older generations.
MARCH 3
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Barb Harris
1 John 4:11-12 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
PRAYER:Lord Jesus,
You are God’s one and only Son. Your sacrifice of taking upon Your-self my sinful nature and giving me Your righteous nature is truly pure love! Because of Your sacrifice, I have the right to be called a child of God. Let me feel the weight of this. I am an heir to all of God’s King-dom! God’s Kingdom is filled with love because God is love. (1 John 4:16) But like the prodigal son in Luke 15, I, at times, have taken my life out of my Father’s Kingdom and tried to manage life on my own. I go down the road of seeking love by performance or thinking I can be whole by experiencing human love alone. I soon realize my soul is famished. I must get back to God’s Kingdom. It is my true home. You, God, always accept me back with arms open wide. I feel the healing love. This love can change me, I know. This love can overtake my self-focused illness. God’s Spirit is present in Kingdom living. His Spirit can transform my thinking. If I follow the Spirit’s lead, I can love be-cause I abide in God and thus show His love. Apart from God, I can do nothing. (John 15:5). Apart from God’s love, I cannot love well. And so I see, Lord, that when I love others well, I am abiding in You. Thus You are made visible to the world around me. Lord, this is my prayer.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for the spiritual protection and spiritual health of our pastors, staff, elders, deacons, and key leadership.
MARCH 4
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Ed Grobelny
Philippians 4:12-13 “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
PRAYER:My Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your precious Word. It is my daily bread for living in a world where I am not yet home. As believers, we are sojourners in a consumer culture today that constantly tells us we are “entitled” or “deserving” of anything that will feed our happiness meter. We are assured we will be satisfied. And then, when the initial euphoria wears off, or life does not go the way we expected, we find the fleeting promise is all that remains. We are left empty and we need another “thing” to pump us up. We look to the latest trend in exercise, food, clothing, and at times in self-help or religion. The Apostle Paul shared with us his secret – that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him (Philippians 4:13), and that is a prom-ise passed on to all God’s children. Father God, thank You for inviting me into Your family. Your great love overwhelms me. In a world that continually tells me I’m entitled and deserve the best, only to leave me disappointed, only to be constantly let down, Your Word holds the key to my joy. Be-cause You hold my hand and never leave me, I can trust You in whatever circumstance I find myself. I begin each day praising You and find comfort in that my strength comes from You. I end each day thanking You for the day You have given me, for You alone are my joy and my blessed hope, my today and my tomorrow. Thank You, Father, for Your Holy Spirit and my Lord and Savior Jesus. It is in His name I give You praise!
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that our members would grow in the passion to share the Gospel with non-Christians.
MARCH 5
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Kelly Norville
James 5:13-16 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
PRAYER:God above we lift those around us who are struggling with physi-cal and spiritual health at this time. We call upon Your name to be-gin a healing in them, as You are the God of forgiveness and are able to restore those who confess and believe in You. We pray for peace to encompass them that they will be whole again.
We pray this prayer in Your holy and powerful name God, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that our giving would continue to be faithful, and that people would experience joy through their giving.
MARCH 6
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Mark Knabe
Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah.”
PRAYER:Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for all the blessings that You give us daily. For those that we recognize and those that we don’t. Thank You for being our rock to stand on as we face the trials this world throws at us. But most importantly, thank You for Your Son and our salvation by His grace.
In Jesus name,Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for Pastor Todd as he works with the current leader-ship to develop the new vision for this church.
MARCH 8
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Kate Arnold
Acts 4:32 “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that be-longed to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”
PRAYER:Thank You for giving us unity and fellowship, and oneness through the cross. What a gift it is to know we’re all so unique yet completely one in our purpose and action.
Help us to continue in our mission to share the good news, serve others and glorify You while holding nothing back as “ours.” Help me to use all of my gifts toward the biggest, coolest missions trip – bringing others to relationship with You. Help us all to remem-ber this purpose.
We love You so much! Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our members to find their place serving, using their gifts and abilities to serve the church.
MARCH 9
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Rob Eberly
Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD estab-lishes his steps.”
PRAYER:Father God,
Through this season, You have taught me much about leaning on You and less and less about the plans that percolate from my heart. You are the God of creation. What a joy it is to be able to lean on Your wisdom and peace in times of my uncertainty and, forgive me Lord, doubt. You are in control, and it is through You that I earnestly seek to develop behaviors and attitudes that reflect Your charac-ter and not my own. You give me free will to make plans, but it is through the work of the Holy Spirit that my footsteps are guided, and the road to follow is chosen. I always find the paths of Your choosing better than the ones I would have ventured down. My plans often lack depth and are limited or limiting, but You guide me to places far more fulfilling than I would have thought possible. Christ on the cross poured out His human desires to the will of His Father. Lord, I pray to be that available. Who am I to think that I cannot live in dependence on the God of the universe? You know the future. It is in You and through You that I find confidence in the direction You set my feet for Your purposes. Forgive me, Lord, for my doubts and my stubborn-ness. Thank You, Lord, for Your love and guidance.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that our unity at this church would always be centered in Jesus Christ, His life, death, and resurrection.
MARCH 10
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Hannah Thompson
1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many mem-bers, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”
PRAYER:Heavenly Father,
Your beautiful design for the church is so refreshingly counter-cul-tural. You mean there is not a fight for headship? No, Jesus is there, the perfect, most trustworthy King. You mean we don’t have to all possess every gift? As if to validate our faith? No, You knew how to create a complementary body of believers, who are only fully effec-tive when we’re reliant on You and harmoniously working together. You mean we don’t have to worry about our role or our gifting not being valuable enough? No, all roles were assigned by You and please You, and all members are dear to You.
Please create in us harmonious spirits, eager to listen to one anoth-er. Create in us humble spirits, courageous enough to lean on one another. Give us wisdom, so we can see that You redeem our short-comings often through other’s strengths. And help us see opportuni-ties to serve with the gifts we have, knowing fully that our service is merely a manifestation of our gratitude for all You have done.
What a gift it is to be a part of Your beautiful church. Thank You, God.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for Aaron Arnold as he leads the church in worship each week to develop meaningful worship experiences.
MARCH 11
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Mike Bayer
Psalm 40:16-17 “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!”
PRAYER:Dear Heavenly Father,
You are truly our Jehovah-Jireh. Only You can and give us what we need. THANK YOU for all You deliver!
In Your son’s sweet name, Jesus, we all say Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for Mindy Kinford and Nikki Olechnowicz as they lead our Kids Ministry to help raise kids up in the way they should go.
MARCH 12
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CONTRIBUTOR: Michele Chapdelaine
40 Days of Prayer
Colossians 3:12-16 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and be-loved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and pa-tience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds ev-erything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and ad-monishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
PRAYER:Father God,
You are so amazing! You are so generous and loving in all of Your ways. We desire to be loving and patient with each other. We want to forgive quickly and love compassionately. We long for hearts that are ruled by Your peace and are filled with gratitude for all You are and all Your blessings. Father, help us to always remind each other that Your Word is life-changing and true. Please help us to read and apply Your Word to our lives so we can be more like Jesus. Lord, we long to bring You glory in everything we do and say. We are so grateful to be Your children. Help us, Jesus.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our Student Ministry volunteers and for Dominic Massa as he prepares to join us in May to lead our middle school and high school students. May we see revival in the hearts of our students.
MARCH 13
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Rob Eberly
1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
PRAYER:Almighty God,
We are living in such a season of trials. We, as followers of Christ, are enduring humbling circumstances, trials that cause anxieties and doubt. As a man of faith, I am on trial. I am being humbled and tested through my doubts. Do I stiffen with pride, or do I bow down in humility? Forgive me, Lord, for my lack of humility. And, Father God, please forgive me for my pride. You, God, are in control. You, the Creator of us all, made us in Your image. You are Holy, and thus we are called to be Holy. Holiness begins with being humble. Humility is the foundation of Holiness. Lord, I will gladly wait on You… especially in this uncomfortable season. It is not easy, but Lord, I depend on You. It is Your will and in Your tim-ing that I place my prayers. Lord, hear the prayers of Your people.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our current leadership team which includes John Jones, Will Bursch, Rob Eberly, Bob Weisshaur, Mat Smith, Dan Lane, Rick Schuping, Jeff Rericha, Mark Knabe, Pastor Mark, and Pastor Todd.
MARCH 15
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Karla Lane
1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
PRAYER:We thank You for being the center that holds us together. Help us to lean on You for the ability to be in community as a body of believers who have different backgrounds and diverse mindsets. Help us to use our differences to complete the work together as the Body, Your church. Help us to use the time we have to bring You glory and honor, for us to help others to know who You are and move to a deeper relationship with You, God. We love You and worship You as the only One who can truly bind us together.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for staff member Carla Merkel as she leads our Care Ministry and Food Ministry team.
MARCH 16
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Greg Pollock
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
PRAYER:Dear Heavenly Father, Protector, and Provider,
Thank You for sending Your son to die on a cross for Your sons, that we may have grace available to us with the promise of eter-nal life. We know that You are the same yesterday, today, and to-morrow. May we not take these promises for granted, taking this into our hearts and minds as we go through our daily lives. Watch over us and keep us safe.
In Christ our Lord, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for Susan Tomich, our Hospitality Coordinator, that she would lead us in developing a welcoming culture.
MARCH 17
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Barb Harris
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
PRAYER:Father,
As I read the words around this scripture, I see that this is not an in-struction given to one who has it all together. I read in The Message (Galatians 6:1-3): “Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” Lord, I can help bear another’s burden because I probably have been where that person now is. I can understand the weight on my friend’s shoulders. I can remember back to my pain of carrying a load, and I can see how someone came alongside me and shared the weight of my trouble. Your Law, Lord, is to treat others as I would like to be treated. Or, put another way, to treat others as Jesus treats me. Lord, may I practice Your principles, for Your principles are good. They help usher in Your Kingdom here on earth. May I make choices that aid in “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.”
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our Facilities Team of Zach Fry, Kyle Bee, and Jill Peterson, to continue their servant’s heart to set our church up for success behind the scenes.
MARCH 18
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Jeff Rericha
Matthew 6:30-34 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
PRAYER:Heavenly Father, You are a wonderful, good Father. You love and care deeply for us.
Every day as we navigate our broken world, we wrestle with a variety of anxieties – sometimes carrying a heaviness that can feel too much for us. This pandemic has only added to the existing anxiety – a subtle layer that permeates seemingly all existing toils: relationships, careers, finances, health. This is an anxiety we likely did not realize existed but can feel so isolating or suffocating when combined with others.
So let us cast away those anxieties by drawing near to You, meditating on Your truths. We know You are always in control, Father, as everything is done according to Your perfect will let us give all our anxiety to You; releas-ing all that burdens us… we give it to You, Father. You are our good, good Father – loving and trustworthy. Thank You for Your all-sufficient love.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our church building, that it would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and that people sense the Holy Spirit’s presence when they come into it.
MARCH 19
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Nicole Coy
Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
PRAYER:Father,
We thank You for the wonderful example of the early Church and for giving us the apostles’ teachings in the scriptures. Help us to be de-voted to learning together. We pray that all of us would be commit-ted to attending and that our hearts and minds would be engaged, stirred up, and transformed as we meet week after week.
Thank You, Lord, for the friendships that we already have in the fel-lowship. May we grow in grace and knowledge of You as we seek to share the truth of the Gospel of the grace of God with everyone we meet. Help each of us during this Lenten season to think about who else we could seek to deepen a relationship with.
Father, help us also to be devoted to prayer. We ask that a culture of prayer would permeate our church and that as a church family, we would delight in coming together to pray for each other and our community.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that our congregation would be marked by a hunger and dependence on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
MARCH 20
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Bill Merkel
Romans 8:31b-35 “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or naked-ness, or danger, or sword?”
PRAYER:Holy Spirit,
Prepare my heart to thrill at the resurrection of Jesus. Without it, there is no victory. It is the very hope of our glory – that even today, right now, He intercedes for me. Show me again the won-der of it. Take what doubt I have and replace it with ever greater confidence that “He is Risen!”
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that our unity in the church would be one of our greatest testimonies to the world around us.
MARCH 22
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Jillian Iannetta
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might pre-vail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
PRAYER:Lord Jesus,
You are so wise, so perfect in all that You do. Thank You for the gift You have given us in community. Thank You for creating us to crave the connection with others. Forgive us for the times we try to do things on our own. I pray that You would convict us of what-ever is holding us back from diving into relationships or asking for help. Open our eyes to the ways we can love each other well. Deepen our love and dependence on You as we seek to be a church that is marked by a depth of community. We love You and trust You.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that our different opinions and perspectives would help to enrich us as a church, and not divide us.
MARCH 23
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Mat Smith
Luke 12:22-28 “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”
PRAYER:Dear Heavenly Father,
Jesus told His disciples in Luke 12:22-28 to not worry about life, what we eat, or what we will wear. I realize if I don’t put my trust in You that my worrying leads to little faith. My desire this Lenten season is to show full dependence on You and how blessed I am for the way You love me unconditionally.
In Your name I pray, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for the usage of our gym, that we would see many events draw outsiders here so that they might be introduced to Jesus.
MARCH 24
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Eddi Grobelny
Ephesians 4:2-6 “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bear-ing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
PRAYER:Heavenly Father,
These verses challenge me to attributes that are not my human bend. To live them out declares my utter dependence on Your Spirit dwell-ing in me and moment-by-moment yielding my will to Yours. Yet, this is what You ask of me and of each member of Your Church. Humility, gentleness, patience, and accepting each other as unique parts of Your Body, the Church, is how the world will see that we love each other. You have declared we will be recognized as Yours by our love for each other. I love the reminder You put in the final verses of this passage – the “ones.” When I focus on these, the differences become unimport-ant. Your twelve disciples were very different people – fishermen, tax collectors, zealots against Rome… yet they worked as a team because they had One Master and One Gospel to declare by the power of One Spirit within them. As I prepare my heart to be awed again by Your love displayed at Calvary, may I accept Your instructions and love. Thank You for walking beside me. May I reflect Your characteristics, not mine, in my world today.
In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that we can fill in any remaining gaps we have as an inde-pendent church with future staffing and/or volunteers.
MARCH 25
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Bruce Harris
Matthew 11:28-30 “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have nei-ther storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”
PRAYER:Dear Lord,
All of us are burdened by so many things that are going on in our lives and in the world around us. With the pandemic, joblessness, daily chaos in our government, family issues, and so much more, the world seems so unwelcoming. You offer us a “yoke” – not the heavy kind that holds us back, but instead, Your commandments which offer wisdom and guid-ance amidst such confusion. Thank You for loving us so much that You have provided a clear direction and foundation for true happiness.
Thank You for Your grace and Your genuine forgiveness as we stumble through life. Most of all, thank You for loving us totally, even when we fall short of Your wishes for us. May we make the incredible, unending power of Your love the center of our being today and forever.
In Christ’s name, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our godly deacons with servant hearts to be constantly raised up for years to come.
MARCH 26
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Patty LaNasa
Romans 12:3-8 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in pro-portion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contrib-utes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
PRAYER:Lord,
Thank You for making us part of the Body of Christ. Please help us to work together to glorify You. Please don’t let us esteem any person’s gift as more important than any other person’s gift. Let us be grateful for all You have abundantly given us, and help us to serve You joyfully in everything.
Lord, I know when part of my body is sick or injured, it affects the rest of me. I don’t ignore the injury, but I give it extra care and attention until all of me is well. Please let us do the same for our church body – let us love one another and care for one another. Please let us remember those who are sick or injured physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Let us bind the wounds of the broken, and in doing so, bring healing to the whole body, so we may glorify You in all we do – that the world would not see us, but see You in us. Thank You, Father, for Your amazing grace.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that we as a congregation would always be checking our hearts to make sure we are working for God, and not to please men.
MARCH 27
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Mike Norville
Romans 5:8-10 “…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
PRAYER:Dear Lord,
I come to You today knowing many times in life, I develop my plans feeling I know what is best for me. I open my heart, my mind, my life to You, dear Lord, to learn to trust You right now to lead me down the path that You choose, not that I choose. Show me Your plan for this day and help me live it with gratefulness and joy.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for our Men’s and Women’s Ministries, that men and women would find a place to belong and grow deeper through God’s Word and relationships.
MARCH 29
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Kara Bursch
Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
PRAYER:Loving Father,
You have placed wise people in my life and given me people I can lean on. Help me to be a friend. Help me to be loyal, give wisdom, and comfort people I love who are in need. Just as You have never left me, help me to be there for others in their time of need.
Amen.(From The Daily Prayer Guide)
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that everyone in the church would seek out a Community Group here and find it to be an essential part of their spiritual growth.
March 30
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Dan Lane
Ecclesiastes 7:14 “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.”
PRAYER:Loving Father,
We thank You that You are the God of everything. You are responsible for the sun rising in the morning and the fish swimming in the sea. Nothing past, present, or future exists or can remain without You.
We live in a time when it can be difficult to find joy. We see sorrow all around in our own lives and the lives of friends and strangers. It can be difficult to find ways to celebrate and experience the joy that we see and hear about in Your Word.
Thankfully, we know that You remain the God of everything. You orchestrate the days that are “happy” and those that can cause us “adversity.” Nothing surprises You. Nothing can cause You to abandon this world and Your desire for a deep relationship with us.
Please remind us of Your goodness and of Your power. Every action from You directly pursues a relationship with us. Please open our ears and hearts that You would guide our steps.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for a healthy relationship with our mother church, Christ Community Chapel, as we move to independence.
MARCH 31
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Cathi Eberly
Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
PRAYER:Loving Father,
Lord, I praise You, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that inhabit them. From the beginning of creation, You have given us an exam-ple of relationship and community within Yourself and in Your Word. You intend us to be dependent on You first and then others in Your family.
I am thankful that You have given me spiritual companions on my faith journey. Spiritual mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters who have taught, encouraged, and held me accountable to my growth and walk with You. It is a gift of enormous value. It’s priceless. It is my prayer, Lord, that every brother and sister in Christ will have at least one small group of Christ-fol-lowers to journey with them. A group to do life with, celebrate joys, share sorrows, encourage, pray with and for each other, and ask the hard ques-tions of accountability. You have blessed me for more than 25 years with a group of sisters that sharpen my soul. You have blessed Rob and me with a group of couples that travel with us and give each other strength and sharpening.
Lord, lead our church to be a community of loving, compassionate ser-vants committed to prayer and care for each other and to those who do not yet know You. Show us all how to love You more deeply and serve You more faithfully. Thank You for Your promise that when we come to You through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, You will hear our prayers be-cause we are Your children. We depend on You, trust You, and love You.
In the glorious name of Jesus our Savior, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for us to always to have God-sized dreams but remember that we are only promised today.
APRIL 1
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Lance Fry
Isaiah 26:3-4 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
PRAYER:Father,
I desire the peace that only You can give. My life is pulled in so many dif-ferent directions. Work, family, friends, health, along with so many other “needs” vie for my attention. My mind circles from one topic to another, seeking that place where I can rest, knowing everything is good. It is in that moment when I realize that peace only comes from You. When I trust You, truly trust You, to know what is best for me, only then can my mind rest. I know that the things that cause my fear, anger, hurt, joy, and happiness don’t magically disappear. They are part of my journey in this life, one that You have promised You will walk with me. It is in those times when I am overwhelmed by all that is expected of me or those times when I feel like I am all alone, I remember that You are my ever-lasting rock. You are my foundation, my tower, my help in a time of need. Your stability is not dependent on how calm my life is. Instead, You give my life stability. When I think of an everlasting rock, I picture a cliff or a mountain. When the sky is clear and bright, I stand on the rock and take in what You have created. However, when the storm comes, You provide that shelter that covers and protects me. Lord, teach me to trust You. Keep me in Your perfect peace.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray that we would be a church as deep as we are wide. And that our depth would be the catalyst for more people coming to know Jesus.
APRIL 2
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40 Days of Prayer
CONTRIBUTOR: Mindy Kinford
John 15:12-13 “This is my commandment, that you love one an-other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
PRAYER:Heavenly Father,
You have given us a hard yet satisfying commandment to love others. As we continue to walk and live with others in community, may we use Your example as our guide on loving others. Lord, grant us the desire to continue loving others well despite the pain that comes at times. Please give us the strength to keep going when it gets hard and sticky.
Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:Please pray for great partnerships with other churches in Aurora and the surrounding communities as we partner in Gospel ministry.
APRIL 3
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Christ Community Chapel – Aurora Campus252 North Chillicothe Road
Aurora, Ohio 44202330-562-3438
aurora.ccchapel.com
