Thursday - The Letter of James (James 4:9-10)
Welcome to daily prayer. This week we will continue our journey as a church body
through James. This has been a convicting few weeks. May the Lord continue to search our
hearts and gently expose us this week as we walk through the beginning of James 4.
Change us, Holy Spirit, as we pray through your Word.
DRAW NEAR/GRATITUDE: Today, we will be asking the Lord to show us the depth of our sin.
Let’s begin by drawing near to God and focusing on the cross. If you’re able, close your eyes
for moment and picture the cross. Lord, thank you. I am undeserving and You have poured out
mercy on me. Father, thank you for opening my eyes to the treasure of Your Son. I want to
experience everything You have for me in Jesus. I submit myself to the forgiving and healing
power of the Cross today.
SCRIPTURE: A Scripture reading from James 4:9-10. We will include part of verse 8 for
context.
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is
divided between God and the world.
9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep
grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
A PRAYER OF CONFESSION/TRUST:
Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.
My righteousness before you is filthy rags Lord. I come to you in my inability to change myself.
I confess with the Scripture that I can do no good apart from You. Show me Jesus, in your
gentleness and timing, the depth of my sin. Jesus, give me new eyes today to see the cross
and experience again the reality of what you have done for me. I give you access to the deep
parts of my heart, to my locked up emotions. Give me the gift of brokenness Lord. You draw
close to the broken.
A PRAYER OF INTERCESSION: Lord, again today we ask for the gift of humility as a body.
Show us areas where we are walking in pride, where we haven’t wept over our sin. We bring
before you today relationships that are strained or destroyed because of sin. Jesus, may we be
broken today over the ways our own pride has hurt others. May we truly see even for the first
time areas of our speech and behavior or ways of relating have wounded others. We don’t want
to hide from truth when it is painful.
Show our community today places where we need to
repent and choose humility. Lord, bring peace and forgiveness today through brokenness,
weeping, and humility. Lord, thank you for honoring us when we choose to humble ourselves.
A MOMENT OF REFLECTION: Is there anywhere in my life where I am relying on my own
strength and “good deeds” instead of humbling myself at the foot of the cross?
SCRIPTURE AGAIN:
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is
divided between God and the world.
9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep
grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
MEMORY VERSE: And now a verse for us to memorize and meditate on this week…
JAMES 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. Come near to God and he will come near to you."
CLOSING PRAYER: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things
of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.