Prayer Connection April 2024
Prepare for Prayer – Our Focus is “Influence comes from whose you are, not just who you are.” (You can find accompanying outreach activities, a woman’s story, Bible study, and reflection questions in session 5, pages 82 to 98 of this year’s theme resource: Ordinary People; Extraordinary Influence.
This resource is available at https://stonecroft.outreach.com/).
Read: Esther 2:16-20, NLT (Page 385 in Tyndale’s NLT Abundant Life Bible, available at christianbook.com)
Pray: God, like Esther, who had been orphaned, then adopted, then abducted, then crowned queen, we can face confusing changes that leave us unsure who we are or whose we are. We desire to root deeply into who You are so we can live the extraordinary lives You have made us for.
Prayer Points:
God, I may know who I am and whom I belong to today or feel unsure. Wherever I am today, will You meet me here and meet each person here as we pray?
God, You have placed me and this group in circumstances where we can influence for You, for good—especially to love people toward Jesus. Will You open our eyes and hearts to what that looks like today?
Pray for Your Group’s Outreach
Read: Esther 7:1-3 (Page 387)
Pray: God, how wonderful You guided Esther to use her influence by throwing a banquet! And how kind of You to have guided Stonecroft women to do the same, now, for 85 years. Thank You for guiding us that, through the power of God-centered, gracious hospitality, we can accomplish Your purpose of seeing people reconciled to You through Jesus Christ.
Prayer Points:
God, help us remember how strategic our gatherings are—that they are for the purpose of saving many from destruction. And that we are to go before You and ask for the lives of those who may otherwise go without knowing You love them and want to bring them close.
God, help us keep the main thing the main thing. Whether we are gathering people by meeting for coffee, hosting people in our living rooms, or creating an event at a special venue, please help us be able to prioritize our time and effort so that we focus on inviting people to the gathering and are prepared to love them, courageously and kindly, toward You.
Pray for Opportunities to Share Your Faith and Invite People to Your Outreach Read: Esther 4:13-17 (Page 386)
Pray: God, help us not keep quiet by trusting You have the power to bring people to a saving knowledge of You, and by trusting You have given each of us a “such a time as this” calling.
Prayer Points:
For our eyes to open to the time, place, and people where we are called to share Your message.
To trust You that we only need to be faithful in sharing and inviting—You are the one who delivers and rescues people.
Pray for God-Honoring Influence in Our City, State, Nation, and World
Read: Acts 1:8, NLT
Pray: God, we pray for our witness in every relationship and your work in every place.
Prayer Points: As we focus this month on “Influence comes from whose you are, not just who you are,” we pray:
For our “Jerusalem” – For believers in our city to believe You are enough and to influence for You. For our “Judea” – For believers in our state to believe You are enough and to influence for You.
For our “Samaria” – For believers in our nation to believe You are enough and to influence for You.
For the “ends of the earth” – For believers in our world to believe You are enough and to influence for You.
Pray for the Stonecroft Family
Read: Esther 4:16, NLT (Page 386)
Pray: God, thank you that Esther shows us that we need each other to be prepared to do the brave things You ask us to do. And we must go to You to remember who You are and how You can make us enough.
Prayer Point:
God, please show us people we can pray with in our local group, region, and “Stonecroft nation” to strengthen us to share the Good News. (Please note: You are always invited to our weekly national prayer calls, and you can call in by phone if you don’t like Zoom. Go to https://stonecroft- org.zoom.us/j/847270680. You can always request prayer from the Stonecroft staff and others who pray for our ministry by going to Stonecroft.org/pray.
Pray for Each Other
Share Personal Requests – Pray for each other’s needs and lift one another’s ways of loving others toward Jesus.
Closing Prayer
God, we thank You for sending people to remind us that You are powerful and bring us to places of influence. We thank You for inviting us not just to remember we are Yours but that we are also part of a big community of believers and can band together in prayer and fasting and then do bold, essential things. Please keep us remembering that we are Yours and are not alone as we seek to love others toward Jesus. We ask this in Your mighty name, Jesus, amen!