Cottonwood Church | Prayer week 8

Week 8

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A Prayer for Greater Kingdom Influence

Overview:

In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, Jabez prayed that God would bless him and expand his territory. We can also pray that God would bless us and expand our influence so that we can show God’s love to those who do not know Him.

Prayer Prompt for the Week:

Ask God to help you become more passionate about bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God to others. Ask Him to help you steward the influence you already have, and to give you new windows of opportunity to influence others.

Prayer:

“Lord, I come before You with a broken and contrite heart. I confess my sins to You and ask for Your forgiveness. Wash me clean from all unrighteousness. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Don’t cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. I trust in Your mercy, knowing that You are faithful to forgive. I surrender my life to You and ask You to make me whole again.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Questions for Reflection:

What opportunities do you already have to share God’s love and the good news of Jesus (e.g. work, school, family, friends, neighbors, etc.)?
What people or groups of people seem most closed off to you at the moment?
You don’t have to be a preacher in order to show people God’s love: what gifts or skills do you have that might help other people know that God loves them?
Jesus models that you don’t need power in order to be influential. What do you think it means to be influential in the Kingdom of God? Read Matthew 5:1-10 for guidance.

Tips for Using This Prayer:

Individuals are More Important than Categories: As you pray about your influence in your family, friend groups, neighborhood, workplace, and so forth, ask God to bring specific faces and names to mind.
Don’t Limit God: some people or groups of people may seem impossible to reach. However, God is interested in reaching them – if God has placed them on your heart, ask Him boldly for opportunities!
Take the Opportunities You Have: outside of your prayer time, be sensitive to any opportunities you have throughout the day to show God’s love to someone or tell them about the gospel.
Ask God to Send Others: Even if you don’t have the capacity or opportunity to reach a specific individual or group, you can pray that God would send others to show them God’s love and tell them about Jesus.

Final Encouragement:

Remember, growth is a process that happens by God’s grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we don’t make mistakes—it means that when we make mistakes, we turn to Him for forgiveness and for the strength to change.

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