Partners In Prayer For The
Ukiah Bible Church
January 2025
Partners In Prayer For The
Ukiah Bible Church
JANUARY
Introduction:
Our purpose and how to use the Scriptures to pray
Our desire is to create partnerships in the ministry of prayer for our church. The purpose of this ministry is to unite the members of our congregation around the throne of God each week with a special theme for prayer. The manner in which this takes place is simple; each partnership determines the time, location or means of connecting for prayer.
One of the most effective ways of praying is to use Scriptures in conjunction with one’s conversations with God. When one does this, the Spirit of God will use the Scriptures to help you align your prayers with His priorities, thus effectively conforming your prayers with what pleases Him. One noted prayer Warrior said, “The Spirit rides best in His own chariot and His chariot is the word of God.” For this reason, along with each theme you will find Scriptures that relate to those themes. If you will read the passages from your Bible before you pray and consider the context in which you find them, you will discover a source of words and ideas that will help your prayers align with God’s Word and thus, enhance your experience and accomplish much.
James 5:16, “…The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
Our theme for the next few months includes aspects of suffering that our fellow believers may be facing. Suffering can be physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and often impacts all spheres of life. Paul writes, “we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). As those who wait and groan in this broken world, it is important to acknowledge both our suffering in this world, and the hope of Christ in it. This hope not only points us to a certain future where we will be with our Lord, but anchors us in the midst of everyday difficulties.
This month we will focus on mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual suffering. Although these wounds may not be as obvious as physical suffering, the impact of the fall on hearts, minds, and relationships is significant. We can bring to our Lord not just our physical needs, but also our inner weaknesses and struggles. As fellow saints at Ukiah Bible Church, we want to tune our hearts to be aware of and sensitive to these particular needs.
Week of the 6th— Mental Suffering
Week of the 13th— Emotional Suffering
Week of the 20th— Relational Suffering
Week of the 27th— Spiritual Suffering
Ukiah Bible Church
JANUARY
Introduction:
Our purpose and how to use the Scriptures to pray
Our desire is to create partnerships in the ministry of prayer for our church. The purpose of this ministry is to unite the members of our congregation around the throne of God each week with a special theme for prayer. The manner in which this takes place is simple; each partnership determines the time, location or means of connecting for prayer.
One of the most effective ways of praying is to use Scriptures in conjunction with one’s conversations with God. When one does this, the Spirit of God will use the Scriptures to help you align your prayers with His priorities, thus effectively conforming your prayers with what pleases Him. One noted prayer Warrior said, “The Spirit rides best in His own chariot and His chariot is the word of God.” For this reason, along with each theme you will find Scriptures that relate to those themes. If you will read the passages from your Bible before you pray and consider the context in which you find them, you will discover a source of words and ideas that will help your prayers align with God’s Word and thus, enhance your experience and accomplish much.
James 5:16, “…The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
Our theme for the next few months includes aspects of suffering that our fellow believers may be facing. Suffering can be physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and often impacts all spheres of life. Paul writes, “we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). As those who wait and groan in this broken world, it is important to acknowledge both our suffering in this world, and the hope of Christ in it. This hope not only points us to a certain future where we will be with our Lord, but anchors us in the midst of everyday difficulties.
This month we will focus on mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual suffering. Although these wounds may not be as obvious as physical suffering, the impact of the fall on hearts, minds, and relationships is significant. We can bring to our Lord not just our physical needs, but also our inner weaknesses and struggles. As fellow saints at Ukiah Bible Church, we want to tune our hearts to be aware of and sensitive to these particular needs.
Week of the 6th— Mental Suffering
- Ask the Lord to grant us grace and patience as we walk with fellow brothers and sisters who are suffering with mental afflictions. “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
- Pray for endurance and hope for those navigating various mental trials, whether in anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other difficulties. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1–2). "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22). “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
- Ask God to strengthen those who are walking with loved ones struggling with mental suffering. Pray that God would give wisdom and peace to love well in the midst of these complex trials. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:1–6).
Week of the 13th— Emotional Suffering
- Ask God to show our church family how to listen well to those who are in emotional pain. “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Proverbs 20:5). “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). “Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25).
- Pray for those who are experiencing emotional trials, that they would know God the great Comforter is near to them. “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” (Selah) Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples” (Psalm 77:7–14).
- Pray for those who perhaps ignore their emotions or on the other hand, are ruled by emotion. Ask that God would give wisdom and grace for us all to be good stewards of our emotions. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1). “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you…” (Proverbs 2:6–11).
Week of the 20th— Relational Suffering
- Ask God to help those in difficult family relationships, whether in marriage, parenting, or other family relationships. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let 2 us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:22–26).
- Pray for those needing help to face relational pain and suffering. In the difficulties of decisionmaking and tough conversations, ask that God would fortify hearts and make His faithfulness known. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
- Ask the Lord to help those processing the pain of rejection, abandonment, or abuse in close relationships. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). "I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:13). “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3, 5).
Week of the 27th— Spiritual Suffering
- Pray for those who wrestle with assurance of salvation, that they would look to Christ alone for assurance and hope. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand” (John 10:27–29). “…whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20). “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
- Ask God to provide encouragement and support to those discouraged in their faith. "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you…” (Psalm 42:5–6). “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28–31).
- Ask the Lord to give opportunity for our body of believers to spiritually strengthen one another in the Word and prayer. ”To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11–12). “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:9–16).