P r a y e r G u id e In Everything by Prayer…
Provided by Member Churches in the
“Stand at the crossroads and look… ask for the good way…and walk in it…” Jeremiah 6:16
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prayer Support Guide
CONTENTS
Table of Contents
PAGE NUMBER
In Everything by Prayer ........................................................................................................................... 3 Recruit a Prayer Coach ............................................................................................................................. 4 Prayer ACTS ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Pray 4 ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 CPR Saves Lives ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Appendix CPR Confidential Prayer Request Confidential Crossroads Career Ministry Prayer Journal
COPYRIGHT AND USE OF TRADEMARKS Materials Copyright Crossroads Career® Ministry materials are copyright © 2001-2010 by Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Active members of the Crossroads Career® Network are granted permission to duplicate these materials for use in conjunction with a local Crossroads Career® Ministry. Limited Use of Trademarks “Crossroads Career®” and “How To Walk Through a Crossroads in Your Career” are owned by Crossroads Career® Services, Inc., a Georgia non-profit corporation, and have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark office. Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. retains ownership of these trademarks and grants purchasers of Crossroads Career® Ministry materials limited license for use of the trademarks for publicizing and using materials in conjunction with a local Crossroads Career® Ministry.
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Prayer Support Guide
I N E VERYTHING BY P RAYER Surprise! Eight-in-ten Americans (81%) say that prayer is an important part of their daily lives, according to the Pew Research Center national survey. Should we do no less? Through prayer we have direct communication with our Heavenly Father, and receive provision for our needs. As we pray, we show our dependence on and trust in Him. Two of the most outstanding verses in the Bible are: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 Successful career ministries start (grow and renew) by prayer being first and throughout.
PRAYER
PEOPLE
PLAN
One of our member churches calls prayer the “engine room” of its ministries. As you pray for everyone and everything in/around your ministry, remember to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit.
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prayer Support Guide
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R ECRUIT A P RAYER C OACH It is everyone’s job to pray every day. It is even better when one person wakes up every morning with the passion and responsibility to pray and equip others to pray for all facets of the ministry Therefore, one of your first prayers is to ask God for a Prayer Coach. Begin by asking others in the church “who are the prayer warriors.” There are people who love to pray every day, and they are faithful to the task. You will often find them in your church’s prayer ministry, in your Sunday school class, in a small group and maybe even on staff at the church. 6 Principal Responsibilities
Pray every day for career ministry Recruit and organize other people to pray Collect prayer requests and shares with volunteer team members Pray regularly for ministry leader, team members and career explorers Report known answers to prayer to prayer team and to other Ministry volunteers Give monthly updates of prayer requests to Ministry Leader and church prayer ministry
6 Critical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Prayer warrior – gift of intercessory prayer Professing Christian – who personally “walks the talk” Sincere burden for people at crossroads in their careers Confidential and discrete with private, personal information Possesses basic organizational skills to coordinate people to pray Member or regular attendee of the church – with positive reputation and relationships
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prayer Support Guide
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P RAY ACTS Based on the Lord’s Prayer, here is a suggested format for anytime you pray for anyone or anything…
A
DORATION
C
ONFESSION
T
HANKSGIVING
Begin praying by focusing on W H O G O D I S. Many of the Psalms provide wonderful expressions of adoration of God for who He is. (Psalms 8, 33, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103, 104, 111, 117, 145, 146, 147), As you pray, think of words that describe the Lord. Some examples are Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Lover of My Soul, Forgiver, Passover Lamb, Almighty, Healer, Provider, Living Water, Bread of Life.
Now focus on W H O YO U AR E . Compared to God’s holiness, each of us is a sinner, undeserving, selfcentered, proud, deceitful, unloving, unkind, ungrateful, unfaithful. As you think about yourself, confess specific sins that come to mind. A beautiful prayer of confession is found in Psalm 51.
Next, think about everything that G O D H AS DO NE in your life. Remember specific blessings and answers to prayer. Give Him thanks for each thing.
S
UPPLICATION
ASK G O D T O DO specific things to meet your needs and the needs of others. You will find that, after
the first three areas of focus in your prayer time, your requests will be different. You will have the mind of God in your requests. You will be praying with a different attitude of mind and heart.
For more on Lord’s Prayer format, get a copy of Face to Face by Ken Boa from www.Amazon.com
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prayer Support Guide
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P RAY …our warfare is not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 We recommend seeking “prayer warriors” who love to pray and are faithful to the task, because it is warfare. It is not hard to imagine that the enemy has a major share of market of our economy and employment. Prayer is an offensive weapon, so we ask you to pray at 4 levels… 1. People First, foremost and forever, pray for the ministry leaders, supporting pastors, team members and career explorers. Pray for their protection and provision. Ask God to guard them and guide them. Ask everyone for Confidential Prayer Requests about all things important to them, not just in career ministry, but also in their personal and professional lives. When someone asks for prayer, pray for them immediately, as well as during your planned prayer time. 2. Plan Next, pray for the career ministry’s plans – their preparation and their performance. Ask God for His Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Remember the saying, “Work as if it all depended on you. Pray as if it all depends on God.” Pray before, during and after career meetings and events. Successful career ministries in the network consistently report that prayer is the #1 reason for “their success.” 3. Church Next, pray for your church. Not just the career ministry, but the whole ministry of the church. Pray specifically for pastors, staff and leaders. Be proactive and ask for requests from them… especially those with whom you work in the church… such as caring, stewardship and outreach ministries. 4. Community Next, pray for your community. A recent survey revealed 62% of the churches reported people from the community asking for help with unemployment. Many of our churches report that most of the people who come to their career groups and events are not from their church, but rather from the community. Not only pray for career explorers, but also employers and other churches.
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Prayer Support Guide
CPR SAVES L IVES CPR – Confidential Prayer Requests – saves lives figuratively and literally – temporarily and eternally. Remember that 81% of Americans say that prayer is an important part of their daily lives. How much more impactful if someone asks you to pray for them – and their need. Even if you never talk to them, it is an intimate and vulnerable moment when someone writes out their inner most thoughts and feelings. Take a few moments – right now – and see what we mean. Go to…
www.crossroadscareer.org/prayer-requests For all your ministry and career meetings and events, have a Confidential Prayer Request (CPR) box with forms like this…
Need CPR?
CONFIDENTIAL PRAYER REQUEST Your prayer request will be held in strictest confidence and will be shared only among those who will pray for you. PRAYER REQUEST(S):
NAME (Optional)
DATE
You will find easy-to-copy CPR forms and a Ministry Prayer Journal in the Appendix Finally, we also have opportunities for ministry team members to join our National CCN Prayer Team. If you are interested, just email
[email protected] stating your CCN member church.
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Appendix
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Need CPR?
CONFIDENTIAL PRAYER REQUEST Your prayer request will be held in strictest confidence and will be shared only among the Crossroads Career® Ministry Prayer Team, and the church’s prayer ministry. Please be as specific as possible. Someone will be praying you! PRAYER REQUEST (S):
NAME (Optional)
DATE
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Need CPR?
CONFIDENTIAL PRAYER REQUEST Your prayer request will be held in strictest confidence and will be shared only among the Crossroads Career® Ministry Prayer Team, and the church’s prayer ministry. Please be as specific as possible. Someone will be praying you! PRAYER REQUEST (S):
NAME (Optional)
DATE
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
C on fid en t ia l C r ossr oa d s C a r eer M in ist r y P r a yer J ou r n a l Date
Prayer Need
Prayer Answer
Crossroads Career® Workbook ©2010 Crossroads Career® Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Referred To
