The Story

40 Days of Prayer
Prayer Focus and Scripture

Day 1: Ask God to prepare the hearts of those who will hear His Story.
“Give yourselves to God…surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.” Romans 6: 13

Day 2: Pray for those who will be telling The Story.
“Now, Lord… enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4: 29

Day 3: Praise God for speaking to us through the Bible.
“For the Word of God is living and active…” Hebrews 4: 12a

Day 4: Ask the Lord for guidance as we seek him.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7: 7

Day 5: Thank God for our small group leaders.
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up…” Ephesians 4:11-12

Day 6: Pray that this Story experience will lead us to truth, freedom and hope.
“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’” John 8:31-32

Day 7: Confess our lack of attention to His word.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22

Day 8: Pray for our friends and family as we share God’s story with them.
“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.”
Psalm 145:4

Day 9: Pray for spiritual growth in our church.
“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity…” Hebrews 6:1a

Day 10: Ask God to bless our children as they learn of His love for them.
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14

Day 11: Thank the Lord that his written word is so accessible to us.
“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3

Day 12: Pray that we will be challenged by each week’s message.
“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4

Day 13: Praise God for Jesus Christ, the ultimate expression of His love.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Day 14: Ask God for wisdom as we apply His story to our own life story.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

Day 15: Thank God for those who prepared the materials for our study.
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29

Day 16: Praise God for His Holy Spirit who guides us.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
John 16:13

Day 17: Pray for our families as they experience The Story of the Bible together.
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Day 18: Pray for conviction of sin in our lives and the willingness to repent.
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

Day 19: Ask God to make our hearts receptive to His story and protect our minds from distractions.
“…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:13

Day 20: Ask God to be our voice as we boldly share our testimony with those who need Jesus.
“And God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come into his favor and be reconciled to him… This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. We are Christ’s ambassadors.” 2 Corinthians 5: 18b-20

Day 21: Praise God for the abundant grace He has poured out upon His people.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1

Day 22: Pray for salvation for those who have not taken that step.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Day 23: Pray for physical protection and good health for our leaders and participants.
“…I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you…” 2 John 3

Day 24: Pray that each person would sense God’s presence in their personal studies.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Day 25: Pray that God’s blessings would be poured out on those who lead and serve.
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10: 42

Day 26: Pray for God’s power to touch each person’s heart to respond to him with praise.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Psalm 119:103

Day 27: Pray that our church would hunger and thirst for spiritual transformation.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

Day 28: Pray that we would experience deeper relationships and changed lives.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” Ephesians 1: 17-19a

Day 29: Ask God to lead us to those in our neighborhoods who need Jesus.
“’You are the light of the world.’ …let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-15

Day 30: Pray that God will bring groups together to share The Story.
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Colossians 1:9

Day 31: Ask God for spiritual protection for our leaders and participants.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

Day 32: Pray that participants will have a renewed desire to pursue spiritual habits in their lives.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2a

Day 33: Pray for each person to have a servant’s heart and to serve wherever needed.
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26b-28

Day 34: Praise God for the hearts that will be changed by this study.
“Create in me a pure heart , O God…” Psalm 51: 10a

Day 35: Ask God to powerfully use The Story to impact our community for Christ.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always…” Matthew 28:20

Day 36: Pray that everyone will grow in their love of God – with all their heart, soul, and mind.
…”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37

Day 37: Ask God to maintain unity and harmony among leaders and participants.
“May they [believers] be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23

Day 38: Pray for lasting, eternal fruit.
“In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." Matthew 5:48

Day 39: Pray that those who visit our church will be warmly welcomed.
“May our church be a ‘place where the hurting, the hopeless, the discouraged, the depressed, the frustrated and confused can find love, acceptance, guidance and encouragement.’”
Rick Warren

Day 40: Pray that The Story will be a defining experience in our church’s journey.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105