30-Day Prayer Challenge

Welcome to your 30-day Prayer Challenge! This will guide you in prayer's who, what, where, when, how, and why. If you are a new Christian, haven't established a prayer practice in your life, or need something to help you refocus on prayer, this challenge is for you. Here we'll walk you through what prayer is and go over the Lord's Prayer and other prayer examples in the Bible. We encourage you to journal through these days to solidify each day's point, establish a devotional routine, and memorize the Lord's prayer if you're new to it. Each day will build upon the last and reiterate points to engrain scripture, memorization skills, and routine for you.

This challenge should be your daily focus and foundation for everything else in your life. It's a continual conversation with God as you walk through each day. This challenge will take up some of your day every day. Prepare to make it your daily foundational practice. Whether working on it early in the morning, working on this instead of social media, going through it on your lunch break, set the appointment for yourself to meet with God. You're investing your time and mind towards Jesus.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near you."

~James 4:8 ESV~

Time in prayer and The Word is the best and most lucrative investment of your time you will ever make. May God bless these 30 days and beyond for you! Let's get started:

Grab some paper to start journaling today and beyond in this challenge. We highly recommend using a pen or pencil as this action forces your brain to engage with the topic more effectively than if you typed it out or just thought about it. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to get started and focused. Why do you want to take this prayer challenge? What has prayer meant to you in the past? How will you schedule or prioritize your time in this study as you move forward? What are you looking forward to the most about the next 30 days? Take a moment to ask God to teach you how to pray and fill you with an unquenching desire to know and love Jesus better every day.

Day 1: What is Prayer?

Today's reading - Matthew 6: 9-13

Prayer is the highest form of worship. But what is worship?

From Merriam-Webster:

"To honor or show reverence for a divine being or supernatural power; to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor or devotion."

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's Prayer and thank God for this time together and the chance to meet and worship Him.

Journal Questions:

How can you offer prayer in worship towards God for the rest of the day?
What has prayer meant to you in the past?

Day 2: What is worship?

Today's reading - Matthew 6: 9-13

Worship is imitation, praise, and adoration.

"A man will worship something...That which dominates will determine his life and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Lord's Prayer is our prime example of worship given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Let us imitate Jesus and the way He prays and serves our Father.

Action Steps:

Read through and pray the Lord's Prayer.

Journal Questions:

What or who else have you worshipped in the past?
How can you refocus your worship on God?

Day 3: How can we pray?

Today’s reading - Matthew 6: 5-15 & Psalm 23

We can pray in the morning, in the evening, all the time, and everywhere. You can also pray scripture. You can pray from your heart and mind. You can lament and cry to Him. (There's a whole book in the Bible called Lamentations.) You can dance and sing to him. You can also just sit and be with Him.

Prayer is more than just asking God for things. It's a conversation. It's about having a relationship with Him and walking with Him everywhere.

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's Prayer as we're practicing here.

Journal Questions:

Why do you think God used this prayer as our example to pray?
Do you think there's a right and or wrong way to pray?

Day 4: Who do we pray to?

Today's reading: Hebrews 12: 28-29

We pray to "Our Father."

Prayer was fundamentally and forever changed when Jesus referred to God as "Our Father." Before that, people had to go to the temple, see a priest, and use an altar to worship and pray. Thanks to Jesus, our high priest, we can come freely to "Our Father."

This conversation is a privilege. We get to talk to God as Father and listen to Him. It's how we get to know Him and learn about his characteristics and personality.

Examples of his character are; he always refers to himself as male, as a Father, as "I Am." He's an architect and engineer. He loves storytelling and symbolism. He's righteous, holy, full of love, mercy, grace, and patience. And He loves you.

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's prayer and whatever else is on your heart.
Ask God to help you know Him better.

Journal Questions:

Write down your thoughts on Hebrews 12: 28-29.

Day 5: "Who art in Heaven"

Today’s reading: Revelation 4: 1-11

Heaven is a place. It's very real and full of life. What you just read in Revelation 4, that's happening right - at this moment - as you read it. We should all be in awe! That is who we worship and pray too!

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's prayer and offer reverence to Him.

Journal Questions:

What will be your response when you see God's throne room?
Can you imagine physically walking up and speaking to Him?
What do you think about this Almighty being, creating you, loving you, and wanting to have a relationship with you?

Day 6: "Holy/Hallowed is your name..."

Today’s reading: 1 Peter 1: 13-16

What is God's name? According to Matthew 6:9b ESV, it's Holy. "Hallowed be your name." But what does Holy mean?

The Hebrew word for holy is Kodesh (or Kadash), which means "to be set apart for a specific purpose." From Merriam-Webster, Holy is defined as: "exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness."

"And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"

~ Revelation 4:8 ESV ~

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's Prayer and what is on your heart and mind.
Pray for God to teach you about His holiness and what that means.

Journal Questions:

Write out the definition of holiness.

Day 7: "Your Kingdom come."

Today's reading: Ephesians 2: 8-9

"The Kingdom" IS Jesus. When we pray, "Your Kingdom come," we ask for Jesus to rule and reign here and now. And Jesus has come! He's brought the Kingdom down to us by coming in the flesh, incarnate.

"...The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

~ Mark 6:33 ~

All other religions strive to rise/ascend/work their way to Heaven. But in Christianity, God is the one who comes down to us. That's why we're to live in a "Kingdom down mentality," focusing on Jesus, imitating Him, walking with Him in all things, "praying always.*"

Action Steps:

Ask God to teach you to live, walk, and pray in "Kingdom Down Mentality."

Journal Questions:

What do you think of today's scripture reading?
What do you think living in the "Kingdom down mentality" means?

*Ephesians 6:18

Day 8: "Your will be done."

Today's reading: Matthew 26:36-39 and Romans 12: 1-2

What is God's will? Righteousness, justice, holiness, and the redemptive salvation of the human race through Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

~ Jeremiah 29:11 ESV ~

When he was in agony, sweating blood before His betrayal, Jesus Himself submitted to the will of God. He asked for The Father to take the cross away. But he also prayed,

"...nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

~ Matthew 26: 39b ~

Therefore…

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

~ Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV ~

Action Steps:

Trust in God and His goodness. Ask Him to show you His will for every aspect of your life.

Journal Questions:

What do you think it was like for Jesus to submit to the will of the Father?
What do you think God's will is for you?
How can you walk in that will and knowledge today?

Day 9: "On Earth, as it is in Heaven"

Today's reading: Romans 8: 28

"Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."

~Isaiah 66: 1-2 ESV~

We pray for God's will to be done here on earth, the same way God's will is done in Heaven. And, if we love God and His plans, we also trust that all things are working for our good.

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's Prayer and ask for His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Journal Questions:

What do you think of Romans 8: 28?
What about Isaiah 66: 1-2?

Day 10: "Give us this day our daily bread"

Today's reading: Exodus 16: 4-36

God wants to teach us daily reliance on Him. We may have the luxury of having things we want immediately more often than not. Still, we desperately need His daily word to transverse this world.

"Our daily bread" is His word. His word is what sustains us. It's a gift. We must consume it. The Word of God is our heart and soul "daily bread." We need it. Every. Single. Day.

Action Steps:

Ask God to show you how you can rely on Him more daily.

Journal Questions:

What do you think it was like in the wilderness for the Jewish people having to rely on God daily for their daily food?
How can you rely on God's daily provision yourself?
What do you think about consuming God's word daily?

Day 11: "Forgive us our debts..."

Today's reading: Luke 23: 32-38

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

~1 John 1: 9 ESV~

This is a grace of God toward us. Biblical Grace is "The undeserved love and favor of God." We don't deserve His grace or His forgiveness, but He graciously gives it to us, over and over again.

"For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

~Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV~

Action Steps:

Pray and talk to God about it, confess, repent, and thank Him.

Journal Questions:

What do you think it was like for Jesus to pray for our forgiveness while he was on the cross?
Are there any unconfessed sins in your life?

Day 12: "...as we also have forgiven our debtors."

Today's reading: Matthew 5:43-48

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

~Matthew 6:14-15 NIV~

Biblical forgiveness is you releasing your right to get even. That doesn't mean there aren't consequences for the wrongdoing, that there will be reconciliation, or that the offending side will even ask for that forgiveness. But it heals you when you forgive as Jesus has and does.

In imitating Jesus, we should reflect His forgiveness to those who've done us wrong. It breaks strongholds and is transformative.

You can forgive people in your heart who have passed, or you'll never see again. It's about you releasing that anger and not giving a place for the devil in your anger/bitterness/vengeance.

*Ephesians 4: 25-27

Action Steps:

Ask and pray to God to help you forgive because He has already forgiven us.

Journal Questions:

Are you withholding forgiveness from anyone?
How is that affecting your life?
Has anyone forgiven you? What was that like? How did you feel?

Day 13: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one"

Today's reading: Luke 22: 31-32

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure."

~1 Corinthians 10: 13 ESV~

God, Himself does not tempt us to sin but will allow us to endure trials for our edification and His divine purposes.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

~James 1: 2 ESV~

Action Steps:

Ask God to provide a way of escape and endurance through whatever trials you may be in today.

Journal Questions:

What trials are you enduring right now?
Are you being tempted by anything?
How has God helped you in the past regarding temptation?

Day 14: "For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the Glory forever, Amen."

Today's reading: Job 38 and Job 40: 1-5

Like the beginning of the prayer, we end the "Lord's Prayer" by offering reverence to Him and giving glory to all that is His. This acts as a verbal reminder to ourselves to offer Him that due respect. It's a reminder that all creation is God the Father's, made for, by, and through Him and His divine purpose.

"Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool;..."

~Isaiah 66:1a ESV~

Action Steps:

Ask God to show you His might and strength in your everyday life and for Him to give you a humble heart.

Journal Questions:

What are your initial thoughts after reading Job 38 and 40: 1-5?
How can you offer reverence to God today?

Day 15: Jesus prays for us. He's our intercessor.

Today's reading: Hebrews 7: 25-28

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..."

~1 Timothy 2:5~

Jesus is our only intermediary. No other saint, historical figure, priest, angel, etc., has any right to mediate between the Father and us; only Jesus, the second person of the triune God.

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

~1 John 2:1 ESV~

Action Steps:

Pray and thank God for sending us Jesus.
Thank Jesus for His righteousness and intercession to the Father for you.

Journal Questions:

Look up, define and write out what "imputed righteousness" is.

Day 16: How do we pray to Jesus, our High Priest?

Today’s reading: Hebrews 4: 14-16 & John 14: 6-7

Yesterday we learned that Jesus is our one and only mediator to God the Father. Today we learn that we can confidently draw near the throne of grace and pray to Jesus.

Graham Cole, professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, The Gospel Coalition, says, "When we pray to God, "Jesus stands at the center as the mediator, the Father as the addressee. And the Spirit is the enabler."

"But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"

~Acts 7: 55-56 ESV~

Action Steps:

Pray and thank Jesus for His completed work on the cross.
Thank Him for being our high priest and intermediary to God our Father.
Thank God for Jesus and our ability to confidently draw near the throne of grace because of His everlasting love.

Day 17: Why do we pray? (Part 1)

Today's reading: Matthew 7: 21-23 and Psalm 42: 1-4

We pray because it's a command. We pray because Jesus prayed, and we worship Him by imitating Him. We pray because we need to get to know Him personally.

When we get to know someone, we spend time with them, learn about their characteristics, likes, and dislikes, and listen to them. With God, it's all the more important and critical. We must learn to know Him more every day.

Action Steps:

Ask God to fill you with an unquenching desire to know who Jesus is and grow your love for Him.

Journal Questions:

What will you do to heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 7: 21-23?

Day 18: Why do we pray? (Part 2)

Today's reading: John 17: 1-5

God does not need you to pray. YOU need you to pray!

We pray because we need it for the health and well-being of our heart, mind, and soul. We pray for guidance in this world. We pray because the lost need salvation. We pray because it transfers the burdens you can't carry to the God who can.

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

~Hebrews 4: 16 ESV~

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time, he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you."

~1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV~

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's prayer.
Ask God to help you make prayer a daily thing like breathing for your life.
Give thanks and glory to God for the work Jesus completed on the cross!

Day 19: Who do we pray for?

Today's reading: James 5: 13-20

We pray for the afflicted. We pray for the sick. We pray for the lost, for our leaders, and the world. We pray for the persecuted in Christ, our neighbors, and even our enemies.

"You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

~Matthew 5:43-44 KJV~

We also pray God be glorified, and His will be done in heaven as it is on earth. We sing psalms and rejoice with our merry friends and family in worship.

"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the peoples."

~Psalm 96: 1-3 NIV~

Action Steps:

Pray that God is glorified and ask Him to fill you with rejoicing!
Who or what else can you pray about today?

Journal Questions:

Do you have any enemies/rivals/stressed relationships you can pray about?
Can you pray for them to be blessed?

Day 20: Where do we pray?

Today's reading: Ephesians 5: 19-20

Jesus prayed in solitude.

"But now, even more, the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray."

~Luke 5:15-16~

Jesus tells us not to pray to be seen by men nor to make a show of it.

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men."

~Matthew 6: 5a KJV~

We're also instructed to pray with other believers.

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

~Matthew 18:20 NIV~

We're to pray In our hearts and minds.

"...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,..."

~Ephesians 5: 19b NKJV~

Action Steps:

How can you sing and make melody to Him throughout your day?

Journal Questions:

Pray and give thanks to God, for He is good!
Do you have a prayer closet or a place you can go and focus on prayer?
Why do you think God wants us to be alone to pray sometimes?

Day 21: When do we pray?

Today's reading: Psalm 63: 1-11

We're called to pray always, continually, without ceasing:

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

~1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18" ESV~

Seek Him early; growing closer to God is our fundamental and daily priority:

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:..."

~Psalm 63: 1a KJV~

Action Steps:

Pray Psalm 63.

Journal Questions:

What do you think David was going through when he wrote this Psalm?
Why do you think he put God first here?
How can you walk and talk with God throughout your day today?

Day 22: How to pray effectively.

Today's reading: James 5: 13-20

Get rid of distractions if possible.

"Yet the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

~Luke 5: 15-16 NIV~

Be open with your prayer but know there's no need to use prayer beads/mantras/repetition. God knows what you need before you ask Him.

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."

~Matthew 6:7 NIV~

To be effective, we must confess our sins to one another and strive to walk in righteousness and be close to God daily.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

~James 5: 16 KJV~

Action Steps:

Ask God to help you walk in righteousness for His name's sake and be an effective prayer warrior.

Journal Questions:

How can you pray more effectively today?
How can you fervently pray to God today?

Day 23: How to pray when you just feel empty? (Part 1)

Today's reading: Psalm 1: 1-3

When we memorize scripture, we are building our storehouse of faith. It lets us lean on The Word to fill us, remind us, and encourage us. So fill yourself up with The Word, with our spiritual bread. It will lead and guide you daily when you have it stored up in your heart.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

~Colossians 3:16~

"But he answered and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

~Matthew 4:4 ESV~

"Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you."

~Proverbs 6:21-22 ESV~

Action Steps:

Ask yourself, have you meditated on his word lately?
Ask God to help you memorize and absorb scripture.

Journal Questions:

What favorite scripture has comforted and guided you in the past?
What scripture would you like to memorize next?

Day 24: How to pray when you just feel empty? (Part 2)

Today’s reading: John 14: 25-26 & Acts 2: 1-4

Did you know that the old testament Jews did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Some prophets, kings, and judges had the anointing. Still, Jesus specifically sent the Holy Spirit to all the Christ-believing Jewish people and the believing gentiles after His resurrection to guide us! WE are the temple of the Holy Spirit now!

So lean on The Holy Spirit. He even intercedes for us when we cannot speak.

"We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

~Romans 8: 26b NIV~

Action Steps:

Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to live, walk and pray more with Him today and every day.
Dwell on how cool it is that we live in the time of and enjoy the gift of the Holy Spirit and be indwelt by Him!

Journal Questions:

What do you think it was like when the believers were first filled with the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost?

Day 25: Be Persistent.

Today's reading: Matthew 7: 7-11

God directly tells us to be persistent in our prayers. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Keep at it! Paul, the apostle, cried out and prayed to God three times to heal him and take an ailment/chronic condition from him.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

~Matthew 7: 7-8 NIV~

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

~Romans 12:12 ESV~

"Three times, I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: 'My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.'"

~2 Corinthians 12: 8-9a ESV~

Journal Questions:

What have you been persistently praying to God about lately?
Is there anything you've stopped praying about?
Do you trust God to give you what you need and what's best for you?
What can you lay at the feet of Jesus today?

Day 26: King David: A study on who can pray to God.

Today’s reading: Psalm 63: 1-11 & 1 Samuel 17

"But now thy kingdom shall not continue: The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart,..." 1 Samuel 13:14 KJV. See also Acts 13:22

David led an incredible life. He had great faith, trusted and obeyed God, and repented when he sinned. He loved the word of God. He wrote many Psalms and songs to God; when he was a Shepherd boy, when on the run from Saul in the wilderness, after being confronted of his adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, when fleeing from his son Absalom, etc.

Twice in scripture, King David is called a "man after God's own heart." David had ultimate faith in God, even as a young shepherd boy when he slew the Philistine giant Goliath. There's a reason the Philistines ran away. Behold this epic scene…

"David said to the Philistine, 'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…' So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone;...After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran."

~1 Samuel 17: 45a; 50a; 51b NIV~

We can learn from David and his continual pursuit after God that anyone can pray to God. We are all sinners and all in need of a savior. David was a man of war, a murderer, and an adulterer, and still repentant and righteous in the eyes of God.

Mercy and grace are beautiful things and more than enough reason to rejoice always.

"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done this evil in your sight."

~Psalm 51 3-4a NIV~

Action Steps:

Pray Psalms 63 and thank God for His mercy and grace.

Journal Questions:

What do you think being in the wilderness and trusting God for protection was like for David?
How can you trust God more with your trials and struggles today?

Day 27: The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.

Today's reading: Psalm 23: 1-11

The Shepherds Prayer" is one of the most well-known Psalms and emblematic of Jesus's care for us and our need for Him.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:..."

~Psalms 23: 1-3a KJV~

David illustrates his complete trust in the Lord and confidence in His protection and guidance through this Psalm. David himself is a symbolic foreshadowing of Jesus as a humble shepherd and righteous King. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, and we are the sheep.

As shepherds see: 1 Samuel 16:11 and John 10:11. As kings see: 2 Samuel 5:3 and Revelation 19:16.

"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. I and the Father are one."

~John 10:27-30 ESV~

Action Steps:

Write out and pray Psalm 23: 1-11

Journal Questions:

Are you confident that God will protect, guide, care for, and bless you?

Day 28: Put on the whole armor of God.

Today's reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

As Christians, we war in the spirit realm. The battle is for your mind and your time. Struggling with intrusive thoughts and habits (strongholds) is common. Using scripture to battle them, reframing your thoughts, and directing them towards scripture - especially memorized scripture - is how you fight them. Your strength and authority to do it come from Jesus.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." ~Ephesians 6:11 ESV~

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.)."

~2 Corinthians 10: 3-4 KJV~

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

~2 Corinthians 10: 5 KJV~

Action Steps:

When you pray on the armor, ask God to reveal the depths and meaning of each piece as representative of Jesus.
Keep on praying always.

Journal Questions:

How can you find your strength in Jesus today?

Day 29: What prayer is not.

Today's reading: Exodus 19:14-25

The "Prosperity Gospel/Name It Claim It," "The Secret," "A Course in Miracles," mantras, the occult, magic, and practicing manifestation from the universe, etc., are not biblical. You may have practiced this in the past and found that some things worked out for you. Do not be deceived. Evil is working to trick you with false positives to lead you away from the Father.

Besides, occult is defined as "hidden or secret knowledge." Wasn't there a story in Genesis when a snake used the lure of secret knowledge that led to the downfall of humanity?

Prayer is a conversation with our mighty creator, who lives outside of time and space. God is Holy. Godly fear reminds us that we are small and that He is so immense and almighty that we cannot fully comprehend His true awesomeness.

"For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust."

~Matthew 5: 45b. KJV~

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

~Proverbs 9:10 NIV~

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's Prayer and ask Him to increase your knowledge of Him with ultimate respect, Godly fear, and unyielding love.

Journal Questions:

Do you have a healthy fear of God?
Why do you think the Israelites trembled in verse 16?
What do you think your response would be seeing this?
How awesome is it that this almighty, ancient, unfathomable being wants to have an intimate, close relationship with you?

Day 30: Review and Renew:

Today's reading: Matthew 6: 5-13

What an intense 30 days it has been. Congratulations on taking and completing this challenge. We pray it's been a blessing for you and that you've grown closer to God through this time. Let's take a minute to review and renew as we look forward to what you can study next.

In Review:

You have some scriptures and prayer examples to use now: The Lord's prayer, Shepherds prayer, The whole armor, many examples from the Sermon on the MountMount, and the book of Psalms.
You've memorized, become more proficient with the Lord's Prayer, and become more familiar with your Bible.
You should have established a daily Bible reading/praying/devotional time and routine by now. Let's keep that going!

Let's Renew:

What scriptures are you working on memorizing, or would you like to start memorizing?
How are you going about practicing memorizing now? Is it working?
Are there other methods you'd like to try?
What are some new things you want or need to start praying about? How can you add them to your prayer journal or prayer closet?
Have your prayers, big or small, been answered in the past 30 days? Is there anything that you're still fervently praying for?

Continue this practice of reading, journaling, and praying on your own, with a friend, and with family. Keep walking and learning in the Spirit while always praying and continually reading, memorizing, and learning your Bible.

Suggested further study ideas:

The Shepherds Prayer and The Whole Armor of God are great places to work on next. Work on praying them through and memorizing them daily. Journal and write them out and write out your other prayers.
Praise God every day.
Rejoice Always!!!

Action Steps:

Pray the Lord's Prayer.
Thank God for the last 30 days, and ask Him to continue to lead you and teach you as you continue to walk in prayer.

Journal Questions:

Make a list of answered prayers in your and your family's life. Print them out, frame them, and hang them on your wall. They'll be a powerful reminder and testimony of God's faithfulness to all you welcome into your home.