Dear Father,

Thank you for the gift of prayer:

Not only have you invited us to share our innermost thoughts with you—

the sins and sorrows we don’t want to share with anyone else, 

but you have also invited us to share our prayer needs 

with other praying believers. 

You designed the body of Christ 

to pray for all sorts of things: 

for church growth and unity, 

for families and marriages, 

for work and play, 

for health and healing, 

for equality and justice.

Not only that, but you gave us your Spirit, 

who groans for us when we cannot find words 

to pray for ourselves or others (Romans 8:26). 

Not only that, but you gave us your Son 

to intercede on our behalf, 

to come as our Advocate, 

pleading your mercy upon us (Romans 8:24; Hebrews 7:25).

Father, may we understand this command 

to “pray without ceasing” as the gift it is; 

may we enjoy your surpassing kindness 

in calling us to pray, 

the most important work we will do this week. 

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 8:24-26; Hebrews 7:25.