Rhythms of Grace

A Prayer Guide #1

Psalms‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV

Let us pray:

“Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭36‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Take a few moments and worship God as a faithful God over your life and over our city

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Take a few moments and pray for Holy Spirit unity for the Body of Christ in our city

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Take a few moments and pray for those in authority in our city. Pray that all will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

“The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Finally, take a few moments and pray for the protection of our city. Pray for the first responders who risk their lives to protect us.

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

Start to seek God earnestly and warmly in all circumstances of life so that when you need a season of intense prayer you find yourself ready and effective to both talk to and hear from God. 

Written by JOHN SCOTT

A Song for Today:

God of this City

Scripture:

Psalms‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of_________________. Help those who live here to seek You always AND in all ways. Open the eyes of my neighbors here and show each one that You are THE WAY. Keep our feet on right paths so that our city can experience the fullness of Your Kingdom here.(add your own prayers)

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

“You need every day anew to be in communication with the fountain of all light.” –Andrew Murray

A Song for Today:

Chris Tomlin-Always

Scripture:

Psalms‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of Lords! For His mercy endures forever: To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;”
‭‭

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of_________________. Lord, help us all to turn to You today with thankful hearts. In the midst of our storms. Your mercy endures. Remind us that our troubles are light and temporary but Your mercy never ends. Give us a greater revelation of Your goodness and Your faithfulness in all of our life circumstances. Be exalted today and always, Lord, for surely Your mercy endures forever! (add your own prayers)

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

The good life isn’t the absence of heartache; it’s the presence of God, by grace, in the midst of it. Our hope in the midst of hardship is that Jesus doesn’t just work things out for our good—he is our good.”
Ruth Chou Simons

A Song for Today:

I Need Thee Every Hour

Scripture:

Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
‭‭

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of_________________. Lord, cause true love to abound here so that all will be drawn to You. Let the actions of Your Church be an expression of Your love for this city. Let everything in this city be excellent bringing glory and honor to You. As Your love flows here eliminate the spirit of offense and let forgiveness abound .(add your own prayers)

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

This is our invitation today. In every decision, every trial, every act of faith—we’re stepping into His story. We’re discovering that a life given fully to Christ echoes in eternity. ~Our Daily Verse

A Song for Today:

Awakening

Scripture:

Luke 11:9-10 NKJV

⁹ “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of _________________. Please help all the true believers in my city to keep on asking for Your Kingdom to come here. Refresh those who have become weary in the prayer, pressing them back towards perseverance. Forgive us for the places where we have given up and give us renewed encouragement in prayer in place of any discouragement. Help us once again to embrace the promise of Luke 11:9-10 (above) that reminds us to ask and to expect! (add your own prayers)

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine…Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.”  ― Hudson Taylor

A Song for Today:

Ask and You Shall Receive

Scripture:

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am ^[a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of _________________. Let Your peace and rest come to my city so that our people can hear Your still small voice. Drown out the “voice” of busyness over all of us teaching us how to stop, to rest. Dismiss the lies of the enemy that tell us that we should “fill” each moment with something. Speak to the lost in our city who are desperately searching for life. Show them that You are the life. (add your own prayers)

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

“Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.” 

— Corrie Ten Boom

Some suggested music to help you slow down:

QUIET TIME WITH JESUS 🙏🏼🎹 Instrumental Worship Music for Prayer, Devotion & Bible Reading

Scripture:

Matthew 5:14-16

 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of _________________. Lord, teach every one of Your children in my city what it means to let their light shine. Wipe off the dirty “lens” on Your “lighthouses” so that nothing hinders Your light from shining clearly through us. Help all of Your children to begin to ask You for more of Your light to shine through them. (add your own prayers)

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

“The churches are the candlesticks, the golden candlesticks, in which these lights are placed, that they light may be diffused; and the gospel is so strong a light, and carries with it so much of its own evidence, that, like a city on a hill, it cannot be hid, it cannot but appear to be from God to all those who do not wilfully shut their eyes against it. It will give light to all that are in the house, to all that will draw near to it, and come where it is.” ~Matthew Henry

A Song for Today: (I just discovered this one and loved it!)

Be a Light

Scripture:

Psalm 127:1

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
    the guard keeps watch in vain.

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of _________________. Lord, let my city be built by You, on solid and righteous foundations. Remove the faulty foundations upon which we have placed our hope and remind us that You are the Rock. Guard my city from the evil one and surround us with Your angelic hosts. (add your own prayers)

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

“True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice.” ~Billy Graham

Scripture:

Psalm 122:6-9

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    ‘May they prosper who love you.
⁷ Peace be within your walls,
    and security within your towers.’
⁸ For the sake of my relatives and friends
    I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your good.

Let us pray:

Lord, today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for Your peace and safety in my city of _________________. Keep my city safe and prosperous and may many people come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior in my city. I say to my city, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of Your House, Lord, I seek Your good for my city.

(consider praying this prayer for another city, perhaps where you have friends and family.)

And add this personal prayer:

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

A thought on prayer:

“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Charles Spurgeon

Dear Praying Friends,

Have you been battling anxiety? I am truthfully telling you that I have been and I have to spend time everyday casting it all on the Lord. I hope you are doing that, too.

Everyday, for a while now, I have been praying: “Lord, I don’t know where we are going, but I know that You know the way!”

This past week, the Lord took me to Psalm 37:1-7:

Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

 Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

I realized that I was getting caught in the “weeds” of anxiety and fear over what is happening everyday all around us.

I know the Lord wants to help keep me and you out of the “weeds” and He is teaching me in Psalm 37:1-7:

1. Keep my eyes on the Lord…(v. 1 &2) Don’t fret, God will take care of it all in His timing.
2. Keep trusting Him and doing the right things each day…V. 3 Overcome evil with good!
3. Keep looking for places to give thanks and take delight in His good gifts…(v. 4) There is always something to thank God for!
4. Keep committing to trust Him knowing that the battle belongs to Him. (v. 5-6) I don’t have to defend myself. He will vindicate.
5. Keep practicing silence and stillness…in this crazy, busy world this is really important. (v. 7)

I invite you to pray with me now:

Lord, help each of us to keep looking to You every day with hope and trust. We know that You have the victory so please help us to walk in Your victorious ways. Help us to bring light into the darkness of this present age, always doing good to overcome evil. We give You thanks for salvation and the great things that You have done. Help us to be still and to wait upon You. Let the world see that we walk with confidence in You in these difficult times. (add your own prayers)

Show Us Your Glory, Lord. Let us be Your “candles” in this dark world. Light our “wicks” in 2026!

Until next time…be blessed! Gina