Friday - Enter In - Week 2

Welcome to daily prayer. This week we are talking about the kind of fasting that God has chosen. Today, we are continuing our reflection on Isaiah 58. God’s chosen fast is a life of worship that reflects God’s love, compassion, and restoration.

As we begin our prayer now, let's quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD. 

Surrender:

Lord, I surrender this day to you. I was made for loving you and others. Give me grace and strength today to live according to my purpose. Would you guide me and empower me? 

Lord, I love you. I worship you. I don’t want to perform acts of worship while my heart is void of compassion. Lord, you have redeemed me and called me to be a minister of reconciliation. Would you do in me what I cannot do for myself. 

O Lord, open my eyes to see, my ears to hear and open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise. 

A Scripture reading from Isaiah 58:9-12:

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Daily Prayer – Isaiah 58:9-12

Adoration:

Lord, you restore the broken, you bring light into darkness, and cause us to become like a well-watered garden. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. You do not allow your children to treat people with dishonor or injustice. You correct us and redirect us. You guide us and you satisfy our needs. Lord, you are our strength.

Confession:

Father, I confess that I have been selfish in the face of need. I have ignored the hungry, the hurting, and those being taken advantage of. I have let pride, fear, and apathy keep me from speaking and acting rightly in your name. Forgive me for the times I have hoarded my time, my resources, and my love, when you call me to spend myself for others.

Lord, we confess that we have often come before you with words of devotion while allowing yokes and burdens to remain on others. We confess the pointing finger in our hearts and on our lips—blaming, judging, and distancing ourselves from people, rather than moving toward them in mercy. Lord, you have been so good to me. Forgive me for not extending your goodness to others. 

Trust:

Father, I trust that we are in the time of your favor. That you are at work even in the hardest places. I trust that you will guide me and strengthen me to live out your ways today. I trust that you will cause rivers of living water to flow in my life. That you will anoint me as a representative of Jesus to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. I trust that we can plant seeds of hope that you will make flourish. 

Intercession:

Lord, raise up Your people as repairers of broken walls and restorers of streets. Let us be your hands and feet in the ministry of reconciliation. Lord, use us to restore families and relationships in your name. Lord, empower your church to build up what others have torn down. Give us courage to stand for what is right even when it costs us. I pray that you would deliver and uphold those who are fasting in this week for a particular area of need. Would you answer those prayers LORD. 

Reflection:

Lord, Where can I bring your life, restoration or hope today? What person I can lift up, serve or make room for today or this weekend?

Make me a builder of Your kingdom through acts of love and reconciliation.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, use us today and this weekend to shine your light, bring your peace, and restore what is broken. Renew our minds with the knowledge that we are ministers of reconciliation. You have called us and empowered us to be witnesses of your love in every dark place we encounter. May we say with Paul, “the love of Christ compels us.” 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.