Day one...
Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. I don't know what spurred you on to start this 21 days of prayer journaling, but I've been praying the Lord would bring specific people. So if you're here, know I've been praying with you in mind and I expect the Lord has something sweet in store for you.
The more I pressed in to what he wanted this to look like, the more I saw how he wanted to leave room for this to be unique to YOU. In the same way that David, time and time again, felt permission to bring anything to the table- all his honest thoughts and emotions- I wanted these next 21 days to be an invitation to do the same. Then as the Lord responded to David and reminded him of his character and faithfulness, David praised the Lord in gratitude and in faith.
So, what you can expect is a simple format that will leave a lot of room for you to encounter the Lord in a more organic way, just as David did, over the next 21 days.
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Day ONE:
Here's the Lord's invitation to you before you start...
Get away with me: Go somewhere you can get away from distractions & it’s easy to think. If you aren't planning to play worship music in the background, consider putting your phone away. If you are playing music, consider placing your phone face down.
Undivided Attention: Ask the Lord to remove all the noise & distractions in your mind. Some days are harder to set it all down, so pray over your heart and mind something like this,
"There's enough time for the day and the tasks ahead, even if it doesn't feel like it. I lay it all down and I call my heart and mind to attention in the Lord's presence. Jesus, you have my full attention. If distraction comes, help me to remain uninvolved with anything that may interrupt this one on one time we've set aside for just us."
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Journal Prompt: Write a response to the daily prompt.
Tell the Lord one or two thoughts that have weighed on your mind repetitively over the last few weeks. If you're not sure how to start, try writing it like a letter.
Lord, something that has been weighing on my mind the last few weeks has been...
Listen: Take time to listen for the Lord's response to what you shared with him. Maybe you hear him speaking to your spirit. Maybe he brings a scripture to mind. Perhaps it's just silence. If you aren't sure but you think you hear him, write it down. Then pray, "Lord if any of this was not from you let it fall away". If you're not sure you're hearing anything after a minute or two, don't stress over it and move on.
Worship: Take a few minutes to meditate on the scripture and write it down. Note if there is a command, promise or wisdom in the verse.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
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Closing Prayer: Lord, help me to learn to trust you like it's second nature. If there is any space in my heart that has been off limits to you, I'm sorry. I give you permission to come in and speak to me about those things. I want to learn to trust you like a father. Like a friend who is always there. Like a wise counselor who always gives sound advice. Help me to not lean on my own understanding. I trust your promise to direct my path if I ask you to. Holy spirit, in each situation remind me to consider God and ask for your direction.
See you tomorrow for day two!