Week 5 Devotionals: Prayer as Spiritual Warfare

The Oaks Community Church

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Week 5 Devotionals: Prayer as Spiritual Warfare

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

January 29, 2023

2 Chronicles 20:12 is interesting: “Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Three armies had surrounded the Israelites. Understandably, they were tempted to be afraid, discouraged, overwhelmed, and worried. You can feel it in their words, their pleas. Often, we do not know what to do. Other temptations in the form of the devil’s spiritual attacks can seek to neutralize us and drain our spiritual life. When we are faced with personal troubles or attacks from the evil one, when the devil tries to dump all kinds of evil temptations on us, we can stand strong. Christ will lead us on into victory.

40 Days of Prayer Introduction

January 1, 2023

Welcome to our third year of the Alliance’s 40 Days of Prayer! This prayer guide features daily devotionals and prayer prompts designed to lead you into the presence of God, cry out to Him in prayer, and listen for His still, small voice. This year’s prayer emphasis will focus on the various aspects of the Lord’s Prayer. The aim of this 40-day focus is to fix our gaze on Jesus; remember who He is, what He has done, what He has given us to do, and what He asks of the Father on behalf of those who call on His name. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” –Jeremiah 29:12 As we anticipate how the Lord will fulfill His promise to His people during this year’s 40 Days of Prayer, we believe there is power in praying together. Let’s step into this prayer experience with the anticipation that we will encounter the living God and fix our eyes upon Him. Let’s pray with faith-filled expectancy that the Spirit of God will do great things in, among, and through us to the glory of Jesus Christ. Keep the faith! Terry D. Smith Vice President for Church Ministries

Prayer As Worship

January 1, 2023 • Pastor Gary Barber • Luke 11:1–2, Matthew 6:9

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first worship service of 2023 at The Oaks Community Church. We are glad you have chosen to worship with us. We are joining scores of Christian and Missionary Alliance churches all across the United States in beginning the year with 40 Days of Prayer. We will have 6 Sundays where we focus on prayer by studying the Lord’s Prayer. Today Pastor Gary Barber is preaching on “Prayer as Worship.” May God richly bless you and give you a greater understanding of His love for you and His plan for your life. Be sure to open the Worship Guide by pressing the link below. You can also download and print it if you wish. And press the link “I Am Watching Today!” and it will open your messaging app. We would love to know you are watching with us. Send us your name and email address. And if you have any questions or need prayer press that link also. It will send a text that will be given to one of our pastors/ministers, and be kept private. Be sure to give us your name so we can contact you for follow-up. God bless you.

Week 1 Devotionals: Prayer as Worship

January 1, 2023

Prayer is our invitation to commune with God Himself and in its purest form, begins as worship simply by addressing Our Father in heaven. We acknowledge His place in the world and our lives. We honor His name and His power. The spoken words to a loving Heavenly Father are a testament to His authority and divinity. Our prayers are futile if they are directed toward any other entity. We worship our Father when we acknowledge His rightful place on the throne, and we express our faith in a sovereign God when we make known our requests. To pray is to worship.