Written Prayers: A Daily Prayer Guide

by Ryan Thurman 

We have created these 31 prayers, one for each day of the month, as a way of giving structure to our daily prayer time. These prayers are primarily composed of Scripture, especially from the book of Psalms, which is the prayer book of God’s people.  There is also an emphasis on the Words of Jesus, especially taken from the Sermon on the Mount, historically seen as powerful summary of Jesus’ call to discipleship and description of the kingdom of God.  We have also included prayers by those who walked closely with Jesus throughout the centuries, who represent different Christian traditions, reminding us that God’s beauty, and fullness cannot be contained in just one Christian tradition.   We have found that these prayers can help us go deep with God by rooting us in who He is and His grand story, that we are part of.  They connect us with the Church universal.  We join with others who are praying the same prayers.  They give us words when we lack our own and strength during the days of darkness and doubt that we all encounter.

These prayers are framed around six sections:  

1. Opening Prayer—a time to prepare our hearts, 
2. Prayer of the Bible—a time to express our ‘true’ heart to God.  Our fears, our joys, our frustrations our pains, our gratitudes, God delights in our genuine expressions.
3. Confession of Sin—a time to allow God to search us and reveal any areas of sin and bring it to the Cross of Jesus, where we find not only forgiveness, but also cleansing, healing and freedom from the power of sin.  
4. The Words of Jesus—At the center of each daily prayer are the words of Jesus. We are invited to move slowly and thoughtfully through His life-giving words, trusting He is always speaking to us personally.
5. Prayers for ourselves and others—here we have space to bring our own needs as well as the needs of others before God trusting He not only listens but is moved by our prayers.   
6. Closing Prayer—Encouragement to be faithful to God and a call to live a life of loving service.

These prayers are the creative outflow of the Apprenticeship to Jesus fellowship, as we have journeyed the past ten years together seeking to grow in our love for Jesus, as his friends working with him to see his kingdom come and will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.   

It is our hope that these daily prayers be a conduit of grace to help us grow in the practice of being with God  This is where our hearts will be reshaped into the likeness of Jesus.  It is in His presence where we will receive clarity and strength to face each day with all of its challenges, ready to be a servant of all in the name of Jesus.

-Ryan Thurman, friend and follower of Jesus