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As we get closer to Renew Sunday, take the next few days to prayerfully prepare for renewal. Begin preparing today to get the most out of this focused day for God to do a great work.

Here’s how to pray to be prepared and ready for spiritual renewal:

 

PRAY FOR THE SPEAKER

 

The role of the guest speaker is not to blow in, blow up and blow out. He’s not coming to show us that he’s a great preacher. He’s not coming to simply fill his calendar. He’s coming to play a role in the spiritual renewal that is our goal for this special service.

Although he doesn’t know you or us as a church, he can make a positive impact with God’s Word if we let him. And that’s only done through his relationship with the Holy Spirit. Here’s three ways to pray for our speaker:

That he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

This means that his spirit and preaching is reflective of the Holy Spirit. The Bible gives clear connection to the Holy Spirit and joy. He is the source of joy. Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Further, Nehemiah 8:10 says that “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So, as he is filled with the joy of the Spirit, he will have the power and boldness of the Spirit.

That he will be led by the Spirit.

In special services like Renew with a guest speaker, we are still seeking to hear from God and God’s Word. And to hear just what we need to be renewed. The speaker understands this from a biblical perspective, but the Holy Spirit knows this on a personal level – in the hearts and lives of each one of us. So, pray that the Holy Spirit leads our speaker in the Word and in his words as he preaches, to what we need.

That he will be sensitive to the Spirit.

Then, pray for him to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. That he would lean on Him, not his own understanding. That he would follow God’s guiding to what passage and message to preach, and to what and how he says what he says in his messages.

 

PRAY FOR YOUR HEART

 

A Clean Heart

In prayer, confess sin and His cleansing of unrighteousness. Ask the Lord to reveal sin that could be hindering sensitivity to Him, and that could be a distraction from clearly and responsively receiving His instruction from His Word.

A Receptive Heart

Pray for an open and receptive heart. That as you hear the message of the preacher, you understand it’s not man’s words but God’s Word and receive it as It is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)”.

A receptive heart is a responsive heart. A responsive heart is one that applies the truth and teaching given, eager to learn and grow to be more like Christ. As we pray our speaker delivers the message for the hour from God, may we pray that our hearts will be open to receive it as such and respond to God’s speaking to our hearts.

A receptive heart is an expectant heart. Come expecting to hear from God, to learn, grow and be helped in God's Word.

A Focused Heart

We have many things going on in our lives. As we gather on Sunday, may we pray that God will help us to be focused on Him, worshipping Him and hearing from Him. Pray that God will give us a heart and mind that is tuned in and connected so that we can so that God can speak.