SCRIPTURE

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. - Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT

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PRAYER

Lord,

As I enter into this season of prayer and personal reflection, I praise you as the Sovereign Lord of my life and all of creation. I read your promises and remember the times you have comforted me in my sorrow and brought me hope in desperate times. You don’t leave us where you find us. Only you can bring beauty from ashes, only you can turn mourning to joy, and only you can take my humble faith and use it for your glory.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

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JOURNAL REFLECTION

Think back on the time before you had Jesus in your life, when you may have felt hopeless, or held captive by a bad relationship, habit, or situation. What are some feelings or memories you have of those circumstances?

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CALL TO ACTION

As we begin 40 Days of Prayer this week, commit to making daily prayer, Scripture reading, and journal reflection a priority in your daily life. Consider scheduling time in your day to focus solely on prayer, and ask God to use this time to transform your relationship with him.