HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
Thank you for joining the 21 Days of Prayer challenge! Over the next few weeks, our goal as a church is to grow closer to God, learn more about who He is, how He changes us, and how to follow Him. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” By praying together, we believe God will deepen our faith and work powerfully in our church and city.
This journal is designed to guide you daily in prayer. Rather than simply reciting the prompts, we encourage you to pray sincerely in your own words. Use the blank sections to write personal prayers, and let this journal provide a framework for intentional prayer using the PRAY Model.
P - PRAISE: Start your prayer by showing your appreciation for Him. Praise Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. Starting with gratitude and worship helps posture our hearts before God to listen to Him.
R - REPENT: Humbly bring your sins before God and ask for forgiveness. God wants to bring us close to Him. To do so, we need to seek forgiveness for the sins that hold us back from Him.
A - ASK: Once we have repented and received forgiveness, we can then approach Him in faith to ask of Him. Use this time to ask questions that are on your heart or to boldly ask Him to do something in your life.
Y - YIELD: Finally, we yield to God and what He has to say. We can boldly ask anything of Him, but we must also be ready to accept His answer. Take time to review His word and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit.
WHAT IS PRAYER?
James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Prayer is an intentional, personal, and real communication with our Heavenly Father. While prayer is, at its core, communicating with God, there are a few things we should keep in mind:
Prayer should be a two-way conversation. Just like with any other relationship in your life. We come to God honestly and humbly, sharing our hearts while being open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and correction.
Prayer should be consistent. As our relationship with God grows through daily communion, we learn from His word and hear His Spirit. Constant communication deepens our connection with Him.
Prayer should be intentional. We shouldn’t approach God only when it’s convenient or out of habit. Carve out focused time for Him daily. While short prayers may suffice in busy moments, make intentional prayer a regular practice.
Prayer should be personal. God desires heartfelt, honest prayers that trust Him fully. We can bring our hearts and concerns before the King, in expectation that He will answer us. We only need to approach with a humble heart ready to accept the answer He provides.
WEEK 1 ADORE
Our heart for this week is to grow in our knowledge and love for God the Father. We will spend the next seven days learning of His different names. By learning more about who He is, we will grow in our confidence and love for Him.
DAY 1
Jehovah-Tsidkenu
The Lord Our Righteousness
Jeremiah 23:6
“In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”
Reflection
God is righteous. In all His ways, He is perfect, and we are not. Through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, He made His righteousness ours. All we need to do to receive this gift of righteousness is repent and trust in Him alone.
Guided Prayer
Father, I thank You that You are my righteous Savior. Through the work of Your son, Jesus, on the cross, You have washed me clean of my sin. I am amazed Lord that You redeem the lost and love the broken.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Thank God for His work on the cross.
· Take time to repent of any sins you’ve been hiding from Him.
DAY 2
Jehovah-Mekoddishkem
The Lord Who Sanctifies You
Leviticus 20:7-8
“Consecrate Yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord Your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes You holy.”
Reflection
God is holy. He is set apart from us because He is perfect. God calls us to become more like Him and, through the Holy Spirit, He makes us more like His Son, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus lived a holy life, we can follow in His footsteps and live a life of holiness.
Guided Prayer
Thank You Lord that through Your Holy Spirit, You are making me new daily. Help me, Father, to keep Your word close to my heart as I become more like Your son, Jesus Christ. The angels called You “holy, holy holy” so I thank You that You are helping me to become holy through Christ.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Ask for God to reveal areas in your life where He is trying to change you.
· Write down ways in which God has already changed you.
DAY 3
Jehovah-Raah
The Lord My Shepherd
Psalm 23:1-3
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
Reflection
God is love. As a shepherd, God has a deep love for you and wants to guide you in your life. We can have faith that the good shepherd will protect us when we are threatened, guide us when we are lost, and care for us when we are in need.
Guided Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are the wise and loving shepherd who pursues me daily. You have led me in my life and are continuing to do so. You are my rest and refreshment. I pray that as You guide my path, I won’t lose sight of Jesus, my shepherd.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Write down a time when God has guided you in the past.
· Where do you think He is guiding you now?
DAY 4
Jehovah-Jireh
The Lord Who Provides
Genesis 22:14
“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’”
Reflection
God is wise. The Father wants to give His children what they need to grow closer to Him. A wise father knows when to hold something back and when to give it to his children. We can trust that our Heavenly Father will provide for us when the time is right.
Guided Prayer
As I look back on my life, I see how You have always provided. Father, I thank You that You can provide in all situations. Everything is in Your hands so we trust Your plan to provide for us when it is needed. We love You Lord and help us to be content in all circumstances.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Write down a few different ways that God has provided for you.
· How is He providing now?
DAY 5
Jehovah-Rapha
The Lord Who Heals
Exodus 15:26
“He said, ‘If You listen carefully to the Lord Your God and do what is right in his eyes, if You pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on You any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals You.’”
Reflection
God the healer. God cares for us in every way imaginable. He wants to bring healing to your life. We live in a world affected by sin and the wages of sin are death, physically and spiritually. The good news is that we can approach our Heavenly Father and boldly pray for specific healing in our lives and the lives of others.
Guided Prayer
In Your love, Father, You are the true healer. You delight in bringing dead things back to life. Lord, I pray for healing physically, mentally, and spiritually in my life and in the life of my neighbors. We praise You Lord that Your work on the Cross brought ultimate healing to all who come to You!
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Pray for healing over a situation in your life (physical, relational, etc.). Be specific. · Pray for healing over someone else. Be specific.
DAY 6
Jehovah-Nissi
The Lord My Banner
Exodus 17:15
“Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.”
Reflection
God is victorious. We constantly try to fight our own battles and take matters into our own hands. God wants us to find our strength in Him. Our identity isn’t founded in our victory but rather the ultimate victory through Jesus Christ.
Guided Prayer
You have said in Your word, time and time again, that You have won the battle for me. Help me to see the spiritual warfare that is happening in my life. Lord, I pray that I will carry Your banner in my life and proudly find my strength in You.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · What battle are you trying to fight on your own?
· Pray for those far from God to find their victory in Him.
DAY 7
Jehovah-Shalom
The Lord is Peace
Judges 6:23-24
“But the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”
Reflection
God is peace. Once we understand who God is, it will only bring us peace. Knowing that we have a good, righteous, just, wise, and loving, shepherd who cares for us causes us to then find rest in Him. In moments where you are anxious or stressed, pray for God to give you His peace.
Guided
Prayer
Lord, it is so easy for me to be restless in life. Always remind me of how You are my righteousness, sanctification, shepherd, provider, healer, victory, and peace. In all areas of life, give me peace that passes all understanding, peace that only comes from the Holy Spirit.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Pray for God to bring you rest in a situation where you feel anxious.
· Write down times when you can intentionally come before God for prayer and rest each day.
WEEK 2 RESPOND
The more we learn about who God is, the more it changes who we are. We will spend the next seven days taking time to evaluate our hearts and ask God to change them.
DAY 8
Surrender
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Reflection
The first step to drawing closer to God is to first surrender to His will. We must see our righteous Father, humbly approach the throne, and willingly listen to what He has to say to us.
Guided Prayer
Lord, I humble myself before You. You are God and I am not. In all that I do, give me the grace to begin from a posture of surrender and remain in that state of surrender to Your will and Your way. Help me focus on love-driven obedience and trust You with the outcome.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Pray for God to search your heart and reveal any areas that need to be surrendered to Him. · Pray for God to give you joy when you are tested.
DAY 9
Confess
1 John 1:8-9
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Reflection
As we come before His throne, we need to lay down everything at his feet, especially our sins. To restore our relationship with the almighty creator, we need to ask for forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ, God has given us limitless grace and mercy but we still need to receive that gift through confession and repentance.
Guided Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of confession. I acknowledge that I still battle sin. I desire to be quick to confess for You, Lord, are quick to forgive. Show me areas in my life where I’ve become blind to sin and the courage to throw it off so that I may grow in holiness.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Take time to think about the sins you struggle with and write them down here. Ask God for forgiveness and for Him to help you break free of those sins.
DAY 10
Awe
Pray this scripture:
Psalm 29:3-11
“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a Young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’ The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Reflection
The grace offered to us by God and the gift of confession causes us to be amazed by who God is. There will be many times in life when it will be difficult to find the words in prayer, in those moments pray a scripture to the Lord to guide you. In your voice, take time to pray to God, thanking Him for what He has done in your life and how you are amazed by Him.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Find a few scriptures where people are worshipping God and list a few that resonate with you.
· Write your praise to God of how you’ve seen Him work in your life.
DAY 11 Help
Psalm 28:7
“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.”
Reflection
God wants to be your foundation in life. As we find our strength in Him, He desires for us to come to Him for help in everything we do. In every trial that you face in life, God wants to guide you through it.
Guided Prayer
Lord, thank You for the truth that You are my help and have given me the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to dwell within me. Forgive me when I try to help myself rather than running to You, my strength and my shield. When I am tempted to stare at the problem, lead me to stare at You. You are the answer.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Pray for God to step into your life and help you in areas you haven’t given to Him yet. · Pray for someone else who doesn’t yet trust God.
DAY 12
Rely
Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Reflection
Our first instinct is to trust our abilities but as we grow in our faith we should fight against our sinful nature and instead rely on the strength of our Heavenly Father. If the Father is our help, we must no longer trust in our capabilities but rely on Him.
Guided Prayer
Lord, this world glorifies self-reliance yet, I was made to rely on You alone. No matter how long I have believed in You, may I never believe the lie that spiritual maturity means needing You less. In this moment, You are the answer to every question and the solution to every problem.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Pray for God to give you the strength and confidence in Him to weather any storm
DAY 13
Desire
Psalm 63:1-4
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.”
Reflection
As we grow in our faith, we should want more of God, not less. The world and our sinful nature will get in the way. In those moments, we should pray for God to give us a desire for Him. To want His heart to become our hearts.
Guided Prayer
God, I recognize that there are times I desire things of this world more than You. Help me to love You and desire You more than anyone or anything. You alone can satisfy my soul.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Write down the things that compete with God in your life.
· Pray for God to remove those desires from your heart and to fill your heart with the Holy Spirit.
DAY 14 Guidance
John 14:26
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach You all things and will remind You of everything I have said to You.”
Reflection
Once we’ve learned to rely on God and to desire His ways, then we can be guided by Him. Part of our walk as Christians is to meditate on His word, learn what it means to follow Him and follow the Holy Spirit. We should take time in our prayers to not only talk to God about what is on our hearts but to also listen to what He is saying to us.
Guided Prayer
Lord, lead me and help me follow. Teach me to walk by the Holy Spirit and stay in step with You. Forgive me for the times I run ahead or lag behind. Help me to wait on You, listen to You, and trust You with all my heart.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Pray for God to reveal His will in your life and the strength to follow Him.
· Take time to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you.
WEEK 3 GROW
In this final week, we want to take time to boldly ask for God to help us mature in our faith.
DAY 15 Faith
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Reflection
In Mark 9:24, someone approached Jesus with a humble heart and said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” All of us will have doubts in our lives but we want to have the heart of that man so that when doubt comes our way, we cry out to God asking for Him to reinforce our faith. Our faith in God, confidence in His promises, who He is, and what He says about us, is the foundation of our walk with Him.
Guided Prayer
God I thank You that in moments where I lack faith, I can come before You and ask You to strengthen my faith in You. Help me to make decisions in my life that are based on faith in Your plan and not my strength. Lord, grow my confidence in Your word, Your promises, Your church, and Your plan in my life.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Write down a few of the Bible verses God has placed on your heart.
· Write down any doubts you’ve had recently and pray for God to give you faith in Him.
DAY 16
Love
1 John 4:19
“We love because he first loved us.”
Reflection
As we grow closer to God, our love for Him, others, and ourselves will grow exponentially. We are called to love God first and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Love is many things, but is also a choice. As followers of Christ, we choose to sacrificially love our neighbors.
Guided Prayer
You’ve taught us Lord that the greatest thing in life to do is to love You and love our neighbor. God, help me to grow in my love for You. Father, let Your love shine through me and be a blessing to others. Let my cup overflow with Your Holy Spirit so that I may be poured out for others.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Write down three people in your life that you are thankful for.
· Write down one person who you need to show more love to.
DAY 17 Wisdom
James 1:5
“If any of You lacks wisdom, You should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to You.”
Reflection
Proverbs 8:11 says, “For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” God wants to give us wisdom that comes from Him so that we can live in a way that brings glory to Him and allows for others to come to know Christ. As we rely on the Holy Spirit and His wisdom, we will receive discernment in our decisions in life.
Guided Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are the source of all wisdom and truth. Help us to humbly approach Your throne to learn from Your Spirit. Give me a spirit of discernment to hold fast to You and guide others to Your heart. As I make decisions in my life, I pray that I will consult You first and that I will follow Your will, in every circumstance.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts:
· Pray for God to give you wisdom in every area of your life.
· Pray for God to surround you with wise and loving people in your life.
DAY 18 Trust
Matthew 6:28-31
“And why do You worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell You that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe You—You of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”
Reflection
God wants us to trust Him with everything. As Christians, we might be okay with trusting God with some aspects of our lives but not so much with others. God wants you to be all in. When we feel fear about something and do not come to God in prayer, we aren’t trusting Him with that thing. Everything from relationships to finances, to career, God wants us to bring it before Him and follow His guidance.
Guided Prayer
God, at every moment in my life, my trust in You is tested. Help me to grow in my trust for You, in everything. Father, I cannot do this on my own, help me to set aside my pride. Lord, take away any fear that I have so I can trust You with my finances, career, relationships, and ultimately my salvation!
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Pray over a specific need in your life and give it over to God.
DAY 19
Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
“Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for You in Christ Jesus.”
Reflection
When we are struggling with stress or doubt, gratitude is the cure. Gratitude causes us to shift our focus from what we are struggling with to the Creator where we find our help. Once you thank God for what He has already done, it is easier to see how He is helping you now, and how He will provide for you tomorrow.
Guided Prayer
Forgive me, Heavenly Father, that in my life I lose sight of how You’ve provided for me. Give me a spirit of gratitude to delight in how You are good. I thank You for the people You’ve put in my life, and the opportunities You’ve laid before me, and that even in my struggles I can rely fully on You. Ultimately, thank You for Your son’s work on the cross which gives me salvation and relationship with You.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Write down 10 things you are thankful for from God.
DAY 20 Hope
Romans 5:3-4
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Reflection
It is because of who God is and the security of His promises that we can have hope in what is to come. James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” We can have joy at the trials and suffering in our lives because our victory is in God. No matter what we face in our lives, the hope of the restoration of the world through the gospel gives us joy today.
Guided Prayer
Lord, at times the world seems dark and hope can be hard to find. Fill me with joy that can only come from a deep hope in who You are. When perseverance or trials come my way, grow my hope in Your plan for my life. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who reminds me daily of the hope that is found in Your son, Jesus Christ.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · What are you hopeful for in the future?
· Pray for God to increase your joy in an area of life where you feel joyless.
DAY 21
Intercession
Ephesians 6:18
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Reflection
Our hearts as Christians are to grow closer to the Lord, daily. There comes a point, however, where our focus should shift to sharing that love, excitement, and joy of the gospel with others. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” While our faith is personal, we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. We are here to guide others to the gift of grace offered by Jesus Christ. In our prayers, we should intercede on others’ behalf. We should pray for fellow Christians that God would encourage them and draw them closer. We should also pray for the lost, that they would come to trust in the Lord.
Guided Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray for Your church all over the world. God, light a fire in the heart of Your followers to passionately follow Your will. I pray for those far from Your heart, that they may hear Your word, repent of their sin, and believe in You. I pray this year for Hampton Roads that there would be a revival in this city, and that thousands would come to life through Your son, Jesus Christ.
Write your prayer here.
Prayer Prompts: · Pray for God to work in the city you live in. · Pray for your neighbors by name.