ABIDE Prayer
The purpose of ABIDE is to help us draw near to God in prayer as we gather in small groups or as we spend time alone with God.
Psalm 100
Opening Prayer
Let’s begin ABIDE by taking a moment to quiet our hearts and minds before God. Simply take a deep breath and exhale slowly. You may want to pray a “breath prayer” as you inhale and exhale, such as, “God, you are good.”
Note: If you are leading a small group through ABIDE, pray the first prayer below over those you are leading. If you are praying ABIDE alone, use the second prayer.
Small Group Prayer: Lord, we give our hearts and lives to you. We surrender all that is within us to you. We love you and we need you. Spirit, fill us and lead us as we pray. We consecrate this time of prayer to you. Remove any distractions and help us focus on you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Personal Prayer: Lord, I give my heart to you. I surrender every area of my life to you. I choose to trust you with my whole heart and with everything in my life. You are my good, good Father who loves me. Thank you that you are faithful, all-knowing and all-powerful. Remove any distractions from me and help me focus on you. Holy Spirit, fill me and help me discern your voice as I pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
Read Psalm 100 aloud. As you read Psalm 100, read it slowly as a prayer from your heart to God who is all-powerful and worthy of all praise and glory, yet is our Heavenly Father who loves us and desires to walk with us, reveal Himself to us and loves us unconditionally.
Prayer: Thank you Father that you Word tell us,
Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to God! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are his – his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the LORD is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5)
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayers for Our Hearts
Psalm 100:5 tells us, “For the LORD is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.”
Let’s spend a few minutes thanking our good, good Heavenly Father for whatever the Spirit brings to mind as we reflect on these questions:
Questions: When you think of your life, how has the LORD, your Heavenly Father, shown you His faithful love? In what ways has the LORD changed your life – healed you, set you free, provided for you and your family? How has the LORD revealed his goodness to you?
Prayer: Father, thank you for _____________________________________.
Prayers for Other’s Hearts
When we consider all that God has done for us in our lives, what He is doing in our lives now and the promise of living in His Kingdom for all eternity, we certainly want to treasure these amazing gifts in our hearts and give praise to God as Psalm 100 so beautifully teaches us to do. However, Scripture also teaches us to share what God has done in our lives with others. The Gospel is to be received, treasured and shared!
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
Who are the people in your life, at work, school, neighbors, who have not received the treasured gift that has changed your life and all eternity, the Gospel? Let’s pray for those people who God deeply loves to receive Him.
Prayer: God, I/we pray for _________________________ to hear and to be open to you and to receive the Gospel and, “Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are his – his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100: 3). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Closing Prayer
Father, we/I bless your name! Thank you for inviting us/me to live in your presence. Thank you for welcoming us/me into a deep relationship with you. Thank you that we/I belong to you and every detail of my life is in your good, faithful, loving powerful hands. Anoint and lead us/me by your Spirit to serve you and your Kingdom with gladness. Change the atmosphere of our/my heart to songs of joy that declare your faithfulness to all generations. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
