Members of Parramatta Salvos are encouraged to spend this weekend in prayer and fasting. 

This is an opportunity to place ourselves before our great God and seek His will.  It’s a cry to Him to meet with us, forgive us, and show us what we need.  I have every confidence and excitement in our great God that He will reveal Himself as we seek Him.  We need Him more than ever.

You are welcome to pray in any manner you prefer, but I offer a format for focussed prayer as a guide.

May God be our God and we His people – people about finding freedom.

Finding Freedom through FAITH

PRAISE AND ADORATION

Give God the glory for who He is.  Read a Psalm of praise (e.g. Psalms 8, 19, 33, 47, 66, 93, 95, 96, 100, 111, 134, 135, 148, 150); sing and/or listen to worship music; dance, paint; lift your hands; create/write your own Psalm of Praise.

THANKSGIVING

Give God thanks for what He does.  Read a Psalm of thanksgiving (e.g. Psalms 46, 57, 63, 84, 89, 98, 103, 105, 108, 113, 117, 138, 145); write a list of His blessings; thank Him for His love, for Jesus, His salvation, His faithfulness, His goodness, His healing, His kindness, His forgiveness, His presence.

COME BEFORE GOD IN YOUR NEED

Place yourself before Him in surrender and confession.  Read a Psalm of personal petition (e.g. Psalm 13, 32, 38, 40, 42, 51, 70, 90, 121, 130, 139, 142); seek forgiveness and cleansing; ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh; pray for personal holiness, strength to obey His Word, to resist evil and to trust Jesus more; ask Him to show you how to grow in Christ.  And claim 1 John 1:8-9 and 2 Peter 1:3-4 for yourself.

Freedom through COMMUNITY

Pray for freedom ‘within’ – this is prayer for the fellowship of believers (e.g. name them; pray through a Corps Directory); for unity of faith and worship (that we are one people united in Christ; loving relationships; deepening of relationships; marked by love, respect, acceptance and togetherness; and against gossip and a spirit of disunity); other churches; discipling; building bridges; small groups; lives changed by Jesus Christ in the corps.

Pray for freedom ‘without’ – this is prayer for a passion for the lost; taking Jesus to the world; being Jesus; being The Salvation Army at its true purpose of ‘saving souls, growing saints and serving suffering humanity’; lives changed by Jesus Christ through the corps.

Freedom through ACTION

Pray for action – that we are united in the fight against injustice; being people of mercy, of love, acceptance and embracing all people without discrimination; to be people of both practical and prayer support to all whom God reveals to us; proactive pastoring; utilising our resources where God wants; being unselfish and sacrificial.  Being an ‘army’ with every ‘soldier’ engaged in the war.  Personally ask God to show you who your ‘neighbour’ is (as per Luke 10:25-37) and how you love him/her/them with your actions.