Change Your Perspective

 Sometimes a different perspective can change out we view things. While we can see the crookedness of the tree in both pictures, a different perspective highlights or minimizes the crookedness.

Ask God what views of yours need a new perspective.

How can changing your view change how you view others?

Pray to Benefit Those Around You

 Sometimes when you are out walking in the woods, you see a fallen tree. Our instinct might be to haul it off to tidy up the forest, but this fallen tree nourishes and shelters the plants and animals around it.

Pray that you may benefit those around you. 

Pray that you may nourish those who are hungry.

Pray that you may shelter those who are weary and weak.

Pray that your life may enrich those in your influence.

Praying During an Election

 As Election Day (2024, USA) is happening on Tuesday, this will be a collection of prayer prompts for the election.

• not as I will, but as God wills.
• a peaceful election
• the results to be verified and accepted
• short voting lines for those with limited time to vote
• our outgoing leaders to finish well
• our incoming leaders to start well

What other prayers can you pray for this election?

Prayers for the School Year

Pray for teachers as they prepare for their new students.

Pray for administrators as they manage staff, students, and parents.

Pray for educational assistants as they step in to fill the gaps in the classroom, to help students who might otherwise struggle.

Pray for custodians and cafeteria workers as they prepare to do jobs and tasks that are so crucial, yet often unappreciated, until they go undone.

Pray for bus drivers, school protection officers, and crossing guards as they work to keep students safe. 

Pray for school nurses as they focus on keeping students healthy.

Pray for school counselors as they hear the highs and lows of students, and equip students to develop healthy relationships with others and themselves. 

Pray for students in new schools, new grades, and new classes. 

Pray for parents sending their children off to learn, grow, and mature. 

Pray Using Acronyms: JOY

There are many acronyms we can use to remind ourselves topics to pray for. This post will highlight one of them: the JOY method.

JOY gives us three categories to pray through:

J: Jesus

O: Others

Y: You

In our first section, we are focusing on requests close to Jesus' heart. 

Suggestions: 

-Pray for the lost (Luke 19:10)

-Pray for Christ-followers, including you and me, to obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)

-Pray for people to repent (Matthew 4:17)

-Pray for those on the margins of society: the orphans, the widows, foreigners, the poor, people with disabilities (Matthew 25:31-46)

-Good news to be proclaimed to the poor, prisoners to be freed, the blind to see, and the oppressed to be set free (Luke 4:14-29)

-Pray for peace (John 16:33)

-Pray for those mentioned in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)

-Pray for your enemies and persecutors (Matthew 5:43-48)

In our second section, we are focusing on requests of other people.

What have people asked you to pray for? 

What concerns do you have for your family and friends? 

In the third and final section, we are focusing on requests for yourself.

What vices is the Holy Spirit convicting you of?

What virtues is the Holy Spirit wanting to grow in you? 

What areas of your life do you need God's wisdom, guidance, and direction? 

Challenge: Take time this week to pray using the JOY method. 

Reflect on your experience. Which part was hard for you to do? Which part came the most naturally to you?