Ten Days of Prayer

Day 1 – May 22 - Guided by the Gospel For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. – John 3:16 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. – Ephesians 2:8 Offer a prayer of thanks that God loves us, forgives us and redeems us as a pure gift. Pray that this wonderful Gospel message will guide us in all that we do as a congregation and as individuals. Ask God to guide you so the decisions you make, the way you relate to other people, and the actions you take might reflect the good and gracious news of God's love.

Day 2 – May 23 - Gratitude to God for God's grace and blessings Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits — who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. – Psalm 103:1-5 Thank God for all the blessings God has showered upon you. Be specific. List important things first, then get to possessions. Ask God to guide you in your use of these blessings – your time, your talents, and your treasure. Consider areas in which you face challenges in giving God credit for your blessings. Ask for special help in these.

Day 3 – May 24 - Deeper trust in God Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -- Proverbs 3:5-6 Give thanks that God has come to you first in God's Son, Jesus our Savior. Give thanks also that you can come to God for guidance as you walk life's ways. Ask God to work in you through the Holy Spirit to deepen your trust in God and your reliance on God's guidance.

Day 4 – May 25 - Rededication of your life to God I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect. -- Romans 12:1-2 Thank God that in the waters of baptism you have been claimed as God's own child, and through the blood of the cross have been forgiven all your sins. Acknowledge before God the countless ways in which this world pulls you away from God and God's will for your life, and seeks to conform you to its way. Be specific about those areas in which the urge to conform is strongest. Ask God to transform you so that your life might reflect God's will, and that you might reflect God's love to those around you.

Day 5 – May 26 - Unity among members of our congregation I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. -- Ephesians 4:1-3 Thank God for the church, which is always Christ's church, and for our congregation. Thank God for those people in our congregation who have most profoundly influenced your life. Acknowledge before God that in times of change, well-meaning people often have differences of opinion. Ask God to build up our congregation, and bring unity of purpose to all members.

Day 6 – May 27 - The ministries of our congregation, their leaders and participants The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11-13 Again, thank God for the church, which is always Christ's church, and for our congregation. Thank God for those ministries of our congregation which have most profoundly influenced your life. Thank God for those who lead and participate in these ministries, being especially thankful for their willingness to give generously of their time and talents. Ask God to strengthen the ministries of our congregation, that we might ever more effectively proclaim God's love to our members, our community and our world.

Day 7 – May 28 - Our pastor and staff But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. – I Thessalonians 5:12-15 Thank God for those who serve among us as their occupation. Name these people by name. Ask that God's spirit might sustain these people in their work, and might fill them with the joy of the gospel as they work with us. Ask that the members of the congregation might honor them for their work's sake, and might keep them in their prayers regularly.

Day 8 – May 29 - Fears about this program, future growth, and other challenges Do not worry 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. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:6-8 Thank God for the great opportunities that present themselves to our congregation in this time of the Stewardship Key Leader program. Thank God for the exciting times that stand before us. Thank God that we are committed to meeting these opportunities as we are led by God's Spirit. Acknowledge before God that change can challenge even those who are committed to it. Ask for the calming power of God's presence, and for God's guidance to lead us to that which is God's will for us.

Day 9 – May 30 - Financial support for the "Building on Blessings" Program to make Zion Lutheran's plans to renovate our building become a long awaited reality Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. – II Corinthians 9:7-8 Thank God for the material blessings that have been showered upon you and the other members of our congregation. Acknowledge before God that everything you have belongs to God, and is given to you as a trust under your care. Ask God to fill our congregation with cheerful hearts as we respond to the opportunity before us. Ask God to move us to generosity as we dedicate to God's work the financial blessings that God has entrusted to us.

Day 10 – May 31 - Personal growth in stewardship Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:19-21 Thank God specifically for those material blessings that God has entrusted to you. Make a mental list of them. Acknowledge before God how tempting it is to imagine that you have these things because of your own deserving, and that they are yours to do with as you wish. Ask God to give you a gracious heart. Ask God's Spirit to stir you to give generously, that your treasure may lead your heart closer to Jesus.