It’s so important that we go into this challenge with the right heart posture so we’re taking a full week to give the Lord time and space in our days to settle our minds and align our wills with His.
Every day we’re going to devote a few minutes to listen for the Lord. Feel free to follow the Clean Your Heart prayer any time you need to throughout this challenge.
If you’re ever having a truly difficult time settling your heart and aligning yourself with God, step away from the prayer Bible and commune with Him one on one. There’s likely something He wants to work on in your own heart before you begin.
This is not a moment to perform, produce, or prove anything. Quiet yourself before God and intentionally lay down pride, distraction, control, and any known sin. Confess what Holy Spirit brings to mind. Release your own agendas, assumptions, and expectations. Choose humility. Choose obedience. Ask God to empty you of self so He can fill you with His Spirit. Do not move forward until your heart is surrendered and your spirit is yielded.
Lord, thank your calling me to draw near to You in this way.1 Your Word says the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working2 and You hear the prayer of the righteous.3 I know my sins have made a separation between You and I.4 If I cherish sin in my heart, You, Lord, will not listen.5 Therefore, let me test and examine my ways.6 Lord, weigh my spirit,7 for even a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.8 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!9 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.10
[Selah – pause, listen, repent, forgive, receive grace]
Thank you for cleansing me from what is dishonorable, that I am a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to You, and ready for every good work.11
1 James 4:8; 2 James 5:16; 3 Proverbs 15:29; 4 Isaiah 59:2; 5 Psalm 66:18; 6 Lamentations 3:40; 7 Proverbs 16:2; 8 1 Corinthians 5:6; 9 Psalm 139:23-24; 10 Psalm 51:10; 11 2 Timothy 2:21
Every week I’ll link a worship song that fits with the week’s topic. I encourage you to sit, stand, or lift your praise hands and spend a few minutes with the Lord before diving in to the video each week.
I’m using these 20 minute candles by Polite House, another Jesus-loving small business, as daily timers to help me stay focused and on task.
I’m including my deep dive into the Thompson Chain Reference Bible. My research was not limited to these themes but it’s a great place to get started!
(For more help with using a “Tommy Bible”, here’s a video on how I use it for making prayer Bibles.)
WISE WOMEN – 3877 – crowning qualities of wisdom and virtue
WOMEN – 3862 – wives
WIVES’ DUTY – 1627
SPEECH – 3298 – kind words
FAMILY JOYS – 1667
WOMEN – 3874 – crowning qualities of a devotional spirit
MEDITATION – 2358
TONGUE RESTRAINED – 3308
COMMITTAL – 1217
SPRITIUAL CLEANSING – 964
SIN SEPARATES – 3353
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL – 2584
WAIT ON GOD – 3762
We all have a first time for everything and I want to equip you as best I can with knowledge & confidence to simply start even when you don’t feel ready. Here are some ways to learn:
A community for asking questions and sharing praise reports among others who are also working on Prayer Bibles.
