Each January, Grace Community Church enters a season of prayer for our congregation. We call this prayer emphasis “Devoted to Prayer.” This year, our prayers will be based on passages from the book of Isaiah.
Devoted to Prayer 2024
January 31
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.” Isaiah 65:17-18
Praise you, LORD God. You have a purpose and a plan to make all things new. You will do it through Jesus who died for sins to remove the curse on the world. Thank you for including all who are saved by grace through faith in the newness that is to come. Thank you for saving me and making me a new creature in Christ. Keep me, and all of us at Grace Community Church encouraged in the promise of the new heaven and new earth. Keep us faithfully laboring for your kingdom, knowing that our work is not in vain. May our feet be firm in faith as we follow Christ today. Let the prayer of faith, hope, and love forever be lifted to you… ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ Amen.
January 30
“The Spirit of the LORD GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” Isaiah 61:1-2
Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Son to earth to fulfill this prophecy. Thank you Jesus for coming to us with the good news of freedom from the bondage of sin and of comfort in the favor of God. Thank you Holy Spirit for anointing the Son to secure these things through his death and resurrection, and for applying his work to my heart. Father, I confess my spiritual poverty and my need of healing and liberty. I confess Christ as my Lord and Savior through whom I have these things. I ask now that in the year ahead, and for generations to come, Christ would be proclaimed in the power of the Spirit to poor, broken, and bound-up people through the ministry of Grace Community Church. May we teach and admonish everyone that they may become mature in Christ. With your energy at work in us, may we labor toward this end. May the great end of all things be your glory. Amen.
January 29
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” Isaiah 52:7
My Father, thank you for the salvation that brings me peace and happiness in Christ. Thank you for sending this good news to me through the preaching of the word and the person who shared it with me. Today I ask that the ministry of Grace Community Church will increasingly publish the news of Christ both within our church and in the world. May believers be encouraged by the daily and weekly reminder that our God reigns. Grant that unbelievers be converted to Christ as they come to see him as Lord by hearing the gospel. I rejoice to belong and contribute to a congregation for the purpose of declaring the praise of the glory of your grace in Christ. Give us the true beauty of being filled with Christ and his ambassadors for reconciliation in the world. All glory be to Christ. Amen.
January 28
“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”’ Isaiah 43:1-3
I give praise to you Lord God, for you are my Savior. You have saved a people for yourself. All who call upon your name through faith in Christ belong to you. Thank you for remaining with us to carry us through every trial and temptation whether by water, fire, or any other threat in life. Help us to remember that you keep and protect your church for your purposes and for the praise of the glory of your grace. Father, help us to trust you and not fear harm. May our minds be assured and resolved to do your will, knowing that you are with us. Glorify your name at Grace Community Church by protecting us and moving us forward by faith in ministry. I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ who today are experiencing high waters and hot flames that test their faith. May the promises of your word and the comfort of your Spirit strengthen and sustain them. Keep us praying today. Amen.
January 27
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31
Praise be to you my never-tiring and always-strong God. I joyfully acknowledge your eternal existence and inexhaustible power. Thank you for your care and responsiveness to your people who are weary and weak, and in need of your strength. I call upon you today as one who is in need. I pray for my congregation, Grace Community Church, which is filled with people who need you. Teach us to wait upon you in complete trust, submission, and willingness to do your will. Keep us waiting in faith until we see you face to face. In these days of waiting, renew our strength and hope for living, serving, loving, and obeying. Renew our courage for standing firm in Christ and witnessing boldly for him. Restore to us the joy of your salvation. May your Spirit strengthen our inner being to know your love. Glorify yourself in our weakness. In the strong name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
January 26
“Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Isaiah 40:9
Father, you who are the eternal, wise, and gracious God, I praise you today. There are no other gods, for you only are God. Your only Son, Jesus Christ, he is God the Son. You have given us your Spirit as your sons and daughters through faith in Christ. I give thanks to you as the one living and true God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Grant that we, the congregation of Grace Community Church, may behold you as you are. Lead us in the light and truth of your word to see with the eyes of our hearts your nature, ways, wisdom, and salvation. As we see you, may we proclaim you. Work in and among us that with one voice we may say to our city and our world, “Behold your God”. May your church be purified by beholding you. May grace abound to more and more people so they will behold your glory in the face of Christ and be saved. I pray this prayer with Jesus as my representative before you. Amen.
January 25
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horseman because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD…Turn to him from whom you have deeply revolted, O children of Israel.” Isaiah 31:1,6
Our Father, we hear the “woes” of your word as a gracious warning to keep our minds stayed on you and our hearts in your love. In them, we hear your correction and we are convicted of our sin. Forgive me, and your people, for trusting in ourselves and in others rather than in you, for relying on our own wisdom and strength and not yours, and for placing our plans above your will. Give us spiritual understanding to see that the way of self-trust and man-trust dishonors you and is disastrous for us. Lead us back to you. Put down the revolt against you in my heart and in your church. Capture us by your grace and return us to the joy of your salvation and to usefulness in your service. Send out your light and your truth and lead us home. For the glory of Christ our Redeemer I pray. Amen.
January 24
“Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.” Isaiah 12:4-5
Our Father in heaven, let your name be made known on earth. Open the eyes of your church to see more clearly the glory of your nature and the grace you have shown to us. Let us see more clearly the great work of atonement in the cross of your Son Jesus Christ. Grant to Grace Community Church fresh vision of Christ and faith in him. Then, may the double proclamation of thanksgiving to you for your grace, and testimony to the world of your grace, resound among and from us. Father, revive us that our voices may be used for your glory. Amen.
January 23
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:2,6
Father in heaven, thank you for the Son from above who was born among us. Praise be to the Son whose name tells us he is everything for us, all we need, our Savior. In his name, I ask that your light will shine bright in the proclamation of the gospel, that your Spirit will shine light in the hearts of people, and that we who are in darkness will walk in the light. Father, grant in these days that a multitude beyond number will hear the gospel and be saved. Glorify yourself and the name of your Son by granting repentance and faith in him for salvation. Revive churches to walk in the light and proclaim Christ. Exercise your zeal to accomplish your purposes in our congregation. Carry out your will on earth through your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
January 22
“Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint… If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” -Isaiah 7:4,9
Thank you, Father in heaven, for making peace with us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Teach me to pray so your peace which passes all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Build my faith in Christ so I will not faint in the face of trials and temptations. May the peace of Christ rule in the congregation of Grace Community Church. Keep us watchful for the things that will cause our faith to waver, and lead us to avoid and forsake them. As we walk the road of the year ahead, keep us quiet in heart because we trust in your sovereign rule and care for us. Keep us engaged with one another for the purpose of fanning the flame of faith in Christ. Thank you for your nearness to us, and may our trusting spirit be known to everyone. In the name of Christ who is our peace I pray, Amen.
January 21
“And I heard the voice of the LORD saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’ And he said, ‘Go…’” Isaiah 6:8-9
Thank you, Father, for sending your Son Jesus Christ into the world to save us from our sins. Thank you for sending the Spirit to live in us and lead us into Christ-likeness and ministry in his name. Thank you for sending someone to me to share the gospel of Christ. Now, Father, as you send Grace Community Church to proclaim Christ and your word, fill us with your Spirit. Motivate us to go. Prepare minds and hearts to receive the word. Give people the ability to hear and see the truth that is in Christ. Keep our congregation and your church around the world faithful in proclaiming the gospel until Christ returns. Use us for your glory. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
January 20
“And I said, ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” -Isaiah 6:5-7
Father, thank you for the gift of conviction of sin. Help me to see your grace in being undone before you, led to contrition and confession of my sin, and cleansed by the sacrificial death of Christ on my behalf. Help us at Grace Community Church to be true to the message of human sinfulness and guilt before you, and of Christ’s atoning work on the cross and forgiveness by you. Convict, call, and cleanse many people through the ministry of our church this year. May there be great joy among us because we are free from the guilt of sin and liberated to live for you and enjoy you forever. Restore to us the joy of your salvation. In the Savior’s name I pray, Amen.
January 19
“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said; ‘ Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’” Isaiah 6:1-3
Holy God, my Father by the grace of Jesus Christ and faith in him, praise and honor belong to you. Let me see more clearly today the holiness of your nature and the rightness of your ways. Grant vision to me and to all at Grace Community Church to see your attributes revealed in the Bible and in Christ Jesus. May our life together exalt you as holy as we preach and teach, corporately sing and pray, and mutually encourage one another in the faith. Move us out in evangelism and help us keep our communication about you true to your holy nature and ways. I pray this in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
January 18
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; through they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” -Isaiah 1:18
Father in heaven, your call to people is gracious and it works to bring sinners to yourself. No one comes to you unless you call. When you call, people come. Be praised in my life today for your grace toward me by which I am called and have come to you. Be pleased this year to call many to yourself through the ministry of Grace Community Church. May Christians who have strayed from you return to reason and run to you for cleansing. May the unconverted come to see their sin and your grace in Christ, and turn to you in repentance and faith. Send out the light and truth of your gospel and lead us to yourself. For the glory of your grace I pray, Amen.
Take this passage and this prayer with you today and expand upon it as you pray.
January 17
“O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” – Isaiah 2:5
Father, thank you for the light of your word and of Christ. Lead us today in confession where we have sinned against your light and walked in the darkness of our own way. We ask that you shine in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of your glory in the face of Christ. Open our minds to your word. By the light of your word make your way known to me as a Christian and us as a congregation. By your Spirit help us to walk in your light and to be light in our relationships and community.
Take this passage and this prayer with you today and expand upon it as you pray.