Lesson 2: Monday

“Our Father” - Our Relationship with God

Dear Heavenly Father,

I enter into your divine presence in Jesus’ name (Ephesians 2:18). I rejoice in the fact that you invite me to have fellowship with you and with your Son, Jesus (1 John 1:3), and with the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:1).

You invite me to come with confidence to the throne of grace, that I may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

I thank you that you are full of compassion (Psalm 103:13). Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Scripture asks, “Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!” (Proverbs 30:4).

I praise you Father, that I know that Jesus is your Son. I gladly obey your command to honor the Son, just as I honor the Father (John 5:23).

Lord Jesus, thank you for laying aside the glory you had with the Father before the world was created (John 17:5), and for becoming the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14).

Thank you for loving me so much that you willingly gave yourself to be the atoning sacrifice for my sins, and not for mine only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

You were pierced for my transgressions; you were crushed for my iniquities; upon you was the chastisement that brought me peace, and with your wounds I am healed (Isaiah 53:5).

I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you arose from the grave a victor over death and hell (Revelation 1:18). Because of my union with you, I too am dead to sin and have risen to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

I worship you, blessed Holy Spirit.

Fill me anew with your holy presence (Ephesians 5:18).

You comfort (Acts 9:31), strengthen (Ephesians 3:16) and lead (Romans 8:14) each person who desires to please God. Help me to know how to cooperate with you.

You also “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).

Teach me to submit to your leadership in every area of my life (Galatians 5:24).

Cleanse me from all that would hinder your work in my life. May I not grieve you today in any way (Ephesians 4:30).

Heaven is a place. It is where God’s throne is located. Yet we are not to think of God’s presence as limited to heaven. He is omnipresent (“everywhere present” - Psalm 139:7-12). However, God is said to be more present some places than others. The fact that God is in heaven signifies that he is not limited to earthly resources. He is sovereign and has unlimited resources. Further, “heaven” speaks of perfection and reminds me that God is the perfection of Fatherhood.

“In Heaven” - God’s Royalty

Heavenly Father, I praise you: You have established your throne in the heavens, and your kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19).

You are “God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39).

To you, the Lord my God, “…belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it” (Deuteronomy 10:14). “Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you” (1 Kings 8:27).

“Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people” (Deuteronomy 26:15).

Father, you said that those who keep your testimonies and seek you with their whole heart are blessed (Psalm 119:2).

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:10-11).

You are the royal King of heaven and the King of my life.

The very nature of God (all that God is and does) is holy. We claim to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Because God is holy, we must be holy in all our attitudes and actions (1 Peter 1:15-16). We influence what others think about him. His reputation is in our hands.

“Hallowed Be Your Name” - God’s Reputation

Father, all that you are, and all that you do is holy. “Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders” (Exodus 15:11).

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15).

Help me to be contrite and humble so that your holy presence will dwell with me and revive my heart.

Father, help me to live today in such a manner that will not detract from your holiness. Your reputation is in my hands since I claim to follow Christ. May I not bring a reproach on your holy name by anything I do or say.

May people see your holiness—Christlike attitudes and actions—shining forth from my life, for you command me, “as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15).

“Your Kingdom Come” - God’s Reign

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice” (Psalm 97:1).

“The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!” (Psalm 99:1).

Father, I worship you and praise you, for you are Sovereign! You reign supreme over all the nations of the earth. To you “…the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales” (Isaiah 40:15).

May your kingdom come! May your kingdom grow as more and more people come to know you as their Lord and Savior.

Bless, strengthen, and encourage all the preachers who work for you in various ministries throughout the world.

You said, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35).

Help me to do what I can to lead others to you. I pray that more people will hear your call and become laborers in the harvest (Matthew 9:38).

You promised, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3).

“Will you not revive us again: that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6).

I pray for... (names of people who are not saved)... to be saved.

Father, draw them to Jesus (John 6:44). Grant them a heart of repentance (2 Timothy 2:25). Create in them a hunger and thirst for you (John 6:35).

Oh God, as long as they are happy in sin, they will not sense their need for you. Therefore, cause the pleasures of sin to turn to gravel in their mouths (Proverbs 20:17). Hedge them in to your will and your way (Hosea 2:6).

Please bring people into their lives who will help them know how to be saved (Romans 10:13-14).

Bind the powers of darkness that hold them captive (2 Timothy 2:26) and open their eyes to their need of you (2 Corinthians 4:4).

May the day of their salvation be soon.

“Your Will Be Done, on Earth as It Is in Heaven” - God’s Rule

Father, help me to be attentive to your word so that I will know your will. You express your will through scripture.

Help my will to be submissive to your will. If there is anything in my life that is not pleasing you, please show it to me and give me the ability to make whatever changes you want made.

It is your will that I live with integrity and do what is right. You require me to speak truth in my heart (Psalm 15:2).

I am not to say things about others that would damage their character or influence, nor am I to speak evil of my neighbors (Proverbs 11:9). I am not to take up a reproach against my friend (Psalm 15:3).

Place a guard on my tongue so that I please you in all I say (Psalm 141:3).

I don’t want to do anything contrary to your will. May your will truly be done in my life today.

“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread” - God’s Resources for Us

Dear Father, you said that if I seek first your kingdom and your righteousness—if I put you first in my life—you will supply all my material needs (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus, you said, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

You forbid me to grumble, murmur, or complain about anything (1 Corinthians 10:10).

Please forgive me for ever murmuring or complaining about my circumstances. You have been better to me than I deserve.

If I suffer financial reverses, help me to remember that Jesus had no place to lay his head (Matthew 8:20), but he was rich in his relationship with you.

Grant that as I pray and read your Word, I too will be rich in my relationship with you.

Forgive me for worrying.

You tell me in Philippians 4:6-7, “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.”

I thank you for your promise to supply every one of my needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

I thank you for all the blessings you have given me in the past.

I bring you my present needs…. (name them).

Help me to remember and be thankful for all you have already done!

I pray for… (people who are in need around the world).

I pray for those who occupy positions in local, state, and national government. I pray that you would guide them by the principles of your Word. Grant that they would honor you and that righteousness would reign. Please frustrate the purposes of evil and may your will be done. Grant “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:2).

“And Forgive Us Our Debts, as We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors” - Reconciliation with God

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you” (Psalm 86:5).

I acknowledge, Lord, that if I do not forgive others their wrongs against me, I do not hurt them, but I cut myself off from your forgiveness (Mark 11:25).

I thank you for your mercy and forgiveness.

When I truly repent and turn from my sins, you remove them from me as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). You cast them behind your back (Isaiah 38:17), to remember them no more (Jeremiah 31:34). You blot them out for your own sake (Isaiah 43:25) and cast them all into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).

“And Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil” - God’s Protection

Holy Father, keep me in your name, for you have given me to Jesus (John 17:11). Just as Jesus was in the world but not of the world (John 17:16, 18), help me not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). Please guard my desires and wishes.

You said, “The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Grant that today, Father, I may be spiritually strong in you.

This is your will for me: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood [people], but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:10-12).

You tell me, "Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13).

You instruct me, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14). Help me to be completely truthful today in all my relationships.

You said, “Put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14). Help me to be righteous and holy in all I do.

You tell me to “Put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). Help me to stand firm in your truth and recognize opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus with others.

You instruct me, “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). When I am tempted today, grant that my faith may not fail (Luke 22:32).

I am to put on the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17). May all my thoughts be taken captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

I am to learn how to use the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Help me to store up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11).

“For Yours Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, Forever” - Praise to God

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

I obey the command: “Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord” (Psalm 4:5).

“Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12).

Help me, Father, to obey these commands today.

In the name of Jesus I pray this, Amen.