PRAYER
Grounded: WE ASPIRE TO BE A CHRIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY GROUNDED IN THE BIBLE AND PRAYER.
Woodlands in Prayer | July 10-17
WEEKLY PRAYER REQUESTS:
This week let’s pray for our team leaving for Uganda on Friday! Here are some ways to pray from them:
Woodlands has partnered with Global Hands of Hope in Uganda since 2009. This year Emma, Drew and Tina Nelson, Shane Glinski, Steve VanArk, Katrina Arnold, Deb Neff, and Phil Barker are traveling there to instruct and encourage teachers and staff and interact with children.
- Pray that the Lord Jesus would be honored by our service and attitudes. He is doing great things in Bukeka, Uganda and we want Him to use us to strengthen Global Hands of Hope. Many challenges will push against that.
- Pray for our physical health to not interfere with ministry and unity. Flying 3 outbound flights with the longest being 14 hours, and eating 2 weeks of different foods can impact our spirits and bodies. There are also ongoing personal ailments and family health issues that we are concerned about. We need wisdom, self control and favor in these needs.
- Unity is important on a mission trip. We get stretched in ways that can make us nervous, frightened, angry, and sad. Those stretches can make us doubt or mistrust one another. Pray that we can encourage, forgive, and love one another through the games, lessons, personal talks, laughing, praying and worshiping.
- We have multiple spiritual and practical lessons for 7 days. 500 children create significant cross-cultural dynamics. We are seeking the encouragement, training, and growth for the 70+ staff in their labor and abilities. Spirit guided conversations and personal insightsare necessary to do the good the Lord expects and plans for us. Pray that we would “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness”.
CHURCH-WIDE PRAYER TEAM
Our priority of being grounded states that “we will engage in widespread and consistent prayer at all levels of the church”. Prayer should permeate all areas of our lives, and as a church, all areas of our Christ-centered community. Prayer is vital to maintaining our relationship with God, and strengthens us individually in that relationship as well as strengthens our community as we faithfully follow Jesus, together. Each week Woodlands staff curate a list of prayer requests in order to submit the health and happenings of Woodlands Church to God, that we may advance His kingdom. We encourage you to join us in praying for our church. These requests can be prayed individually, in your Life Group, and in your own community with others. Text to join this church-wide prayer team and to receive our Woodlands in Prayer requests weekly.
CARE MINISTRIES PRAYER TEAM
Through our Care Ministries, there is a team of people praying for individual prayer requests that are submitted to the church. This team is made up of Pastors, Elders, and volunteers. This team exists to offer prayer for the members and attendees of Woodlands. As prayer requests are submitted they are sent to this team to be praying.
LIFE GROUPS
Joining a Life Group is a way to get involved in Christ-centered community. These groups are intended to be a place where you can deepen your knowledge of and desire for God, while engaging in the sermon, the Bible, and prayer with others. Prayer, as a foundation of Life Groups, is a powerful way to make your requests known to God and also to each other in order to be supported through community.
Resources
Senior Pastor Brian Berg | Two Approaches to Prayer
Senior Pastor Brian Berg | Kingdom Prayer
HAVING A QUIET TIME
Quiet Time in a Noisy World
How can you have a quiet time in a noisy world? Take the first step. Beginning today, set aside a few minutes each day to be alone with God. Ask Him to give you a hunger for His Word and a freshness in your prayer life. Put into practice some of these ideas and soon you’ll discover that those few quiet time minutes may become the most meaningful part of your day.
1. START WITH THE BASICS
Find a Bible translation you like. Maybe get a notebook and a pen. Choose a place and time when you can concentrate. For many this is first thing in the morning. But you don’t need hours. The point is, decide to begin today.
2. IT’S A MEETING, NOT A HABIT
People refer to the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer… your quiet time is really a meeting to dialog with the living God. Don’t focus so much on the mechanics of the process that you miss the Person behind it.
3. DON’T FEEL GUILTY
Remember, God really loves you. And He wants to meet with you. Don’t focus on guilt for not “paying your dues” to God. Rather, in whatever time you have, focus on expressing your love and devotion to Him. Soon you’ll find yourself feeling less guilty and more excited about meeting with God
4. BE CREATIVE, ADD VARIETY
Even good things can become routine. To keep your daily time with God fresh, vary your approach occasionally. Experiment on your own, but remember, it’s not about the method it’s about the Person
5. GIVE DISTRACTIONS TO GOD
It’s a noisy world out there and you can’t always control it. When distractions come, incorporate them into your quiet time. If young children interrupt, invite them onto your lap and read the Bible together your mind wanders, give those thoughts to the Lord in prayer. Don’t get angry or frustrated. Just come back into the presence of your Heavenly Father; He’s waiting.
6. LEARN TO LISTEN
Prayer is not just talking to God, it’s listening. Take time to still yourself in God’s presence. Give your worries and concerns to Him. Wait in silence listening to the still, small voice of His Spirit. Think back on the experiences of the previous day. How did you see God’s hand at work? Reflect on what you’ve read in God’s Word. What is God saying to you? Invite the Holy Spirit to be present. When you really love someone, you take time to listen.