Guided Prayer

Today, March 24th, from sunup to sundown, we invite the Summit family to fast and pray together.

The prayers of God’s people are powerful. Consider this passage from Revelation 8:3.

“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”

Your prayers, and mine, mix together with all the prayers ever uttered from the lips of God’s people and waft up to him like a sweet aroma with incense. God hears us! What a miracle, we have the ear of the King of the universe. In this season, we are coming together as a church to pray from a place of pain, disappointment, and deep concern. We are taking the time to pray. We will pour out our hearts and pound our fists on the very throne of God, and he will hear us.

We are taking this opportunity to fast as well. From sunup to sundown. Fasting moves us, it humbles us, it shows us that truly, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Know this—the Father’s heart longs to hear from us. Today, we will cry out to him. Please join us.

If you are not able to fast safely, we hope you will join us in prayer. If it is helpful for you, follow these prompts throughout the day to guide your prayer. As you pray, remember that there are others in our church family praying with you.

7 a.m. | Take time this hour to remember God’s sovereignty. Because God knows the end from the beginning, we can trust that he has never been surprised nor is he dismayed. He loves us and will be with us.

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

— PSALM 94:19

8 a.m. | Take this hour to remember our humanity. We are creatures fallen and frail. We are made in the image of God, and yet because we are fallen, we often miss the mark. But thanks be to God for his grace.

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

— PSALM 103:13-14

9 a.m. | Take this hour to contemplate the depth of our need for Jesus. Our sin is vast; there is no hope for any of us apart from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

— ROMANS 5:8

10 a.m. | This experience has no doubt exposed pain in the hearts of many. Take time this hour to give your pain to the Father, and let us all remember to pray for the pain of our church family.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

— PSALMS 34:18

11 a.m. | Learning to be honest about our sins and where we fall short can be scary. The temptation to put up a facade only hurts us in the end. Take time this hour to pray for authenticity within our community.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

— 1 JOHN 1:8-9

12 p.m. | Take time this hour to be thankful for what God has done for you. It could be big picture, like your salvation. It could be little blessings that he has blessed you with.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”

— HEBREWS 12:28

1 p.m. | Take time this hour to pray for the family. Let us take time to lift them up to God, who is merciful, that he may surround them with his love.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

— EPHESIANS 3:16-19

2 p.m. | Take time this hour to remember the leadership of Summit Church. Pray for wisdom, for clarity, and for faithfulness in this time of difficulty.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

— 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2

3 p.m. | Take time this hour to remember God’s forgiveness. Where would any of us be without God’s grace and his forgiveness?

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

— EPHESIANS 1:7

4 p.m. | Take time this hour to thank God for his kindness. The Lord has shown us such kindness, more than any of us deserve.

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

— ROMANS 2:4

5 p.m. | Take time this hour to be grateful for our church family and the greater family of believers all over the world. God has gathered his people together and called them out of darkness and into his marvelous light.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

— JOHN 10:14-16

6 p.m. | Take time this hour to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The price for our salvation was high—the very life of the Son of God. But for him, it was worth it. You were worth it. Never forget it!

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

— HEBREWS 12:2

To end our fast, the Herndon, Lake Mary, and Waterford Campuses will be offering communion at 7:30 p.m. It will be available outdoors at each campus and will be a simple way to remember what God has done as we complete our day of prayer and fasting.

Doug Foley is the 33rd Street Team Leader and Riverside Minister at Summit Church.