Day 1 — Fight in Prayer

Close your eyes and settle in as we Close your eyes and settle in as we prepare to talk with Jesus. prepare to talk with Jesus. prepare to talk with Jesus. Take a deep breath in and out and Take a deep breath in and out and Take a deep breath in and out and acknowledge God's presence in this acknowledge God's presence in this acknowledge God's presence in this moment. moment. moment. Slow down, quiet your mind. Jesus is Slow down, quiet your mind. Jesus is Slow down, quiet your mind. Jesus is with you. with you. with you. Let's begin by thanking Jesus for his Let's begin by thanking Jesus for his Let's begin by thanking Jesus for his presence. Jesus, thank you for being near. Jesus, thank you for being near. You hear us when we pray. You are our You hear us when we pray. You are our You hear us when we pray. You are our shield and our defender. shield and our defender. shield and our defender. We commit this time to you and trust We commit this time to you and trust We commit this time to you and trust that you will meet us here. that you will meet us here. that you will meet us here. [Music] [Music] [Music] Reflect on Nehemiah 4:9. We prayed to our God and posted a guard We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. day and night to meet this threat. day and night to meet this threat. [Music] [Music] [Music] In this verse, God reminds us that In this verse, God reminds us that In this verse, God reminds us that prayer is not an afterthought. It is our prayer is not an afterthought. It is our prayer is not an afterthought. It is our first line of defense.

first line of defense. first line of defense. When Nehemiah and the people faced When Nehemiah and the people faced When Nehemiah and the people faced threats, their immediate response was threats, their immediate response was threats, their immediate response was prayer. prayer. prayer. before problem solving, before taking before problem solving, before taking before problem solving, before taking action, they turned to God. action, they turned to God. action, they turned to God. In what areas of your life do you need In what areas of your life do you need In what areas of your life do you need to turn to God today? to turn to God today? to turn to God today? Take a moment and lift up your family Take a moment and lift up your family Take a moment and lift up your family before him. Picture each person by name. before him. Picture each person by name. before him. Picture each person by name. Picture their faces. Picture their faces. Picture their faces. Pray for God's protection over their Pray for God's protection over their Pray for God's protection over their faith. faith. faith. their hearts, their hearts, their hearts, their relationships, their relationships, their relationships, their purity. their purity. their purity. Ask him to guard your home from Ask him to guard your home from Ask him to guard your home from division, temptation, and distraction. division, temptation, and distraction. division, temptation, and distraction. [Music] [Music] [Music] Now, say the names of your family Now, say the names of your family Now, say the names of your family members again. members again. members again. Envision opening your hands and placing Envision opening your hands and placing Envision opening your hands and placing each person into God's hands.

each person into God's hands. each person into God's hands. As you do this, allow God to minister to As you do this, allow God to minister to As you do this, allow God to minister to you right where you are. [Music] [Music] Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, we recognize that our own strength is we recognize that our own strength is we recognize that our own strength is not enough to protect our families. We not enough to protect our families. We not enough to protect our families. We need you. need you. need you. You are powerful You are powerful You are powerful and you protect and provide for us. and you protect and provide for us. and you protect and provide for us. So please surround us, So please surround us, So please surround us, cover us with your peace and give us cover us with your peace and give us cover us with your peace and give us unity and wisdom as we trust in you. Before leaving this space, reflect on Before leaving this space, reflect on what God's been showing you. Then repeat what God's been showing you. Then repeat what God's been showing you. Then repeat these words and commit to living them these words and commit to living them these words and commit to living them out.

out. out. God, today I choose to fight for my God, today I choose to fight for my God, today I choose to fight for my family with prayer. I will advocate for unity and wisdom as I will advocate for unity and wisdom as I talk with you. I talk with you. I talk with you. [Music] I will come honestly before you because I will come honestly before you because I trust that you are our refuge, our I trust that you are our refuge, our I trust that you are our refuge, our fortress, and our strength. Thanks for joining us today. We hope Thanks for joining us today. We hope this time has refreshed you and left you this time has refreshed you and left you this time has refreshed you and left you feeling closer to Jesus. As you go about feeling closer to Jesus. As you go about feeling closer to Jesus. As you go about your day, continue to reflect on all your day, continue to reflect on all your day, continue to reflect on all that God has shown you. that God has shown you. that God has shown you. [Music]