ABIDE Prayer Guide
Our Shepherd
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
Jesus gave His life for us so that we could enter into God’s Kingdom as His beloved sons and daughters. Our good shepherd, Jesus Christ, is the one who shepherds our hearts and leads us to abundant life through our relationship with Him. No matter what we are going through in our lives, Jesus is with us. We are not alone. We have a good shepherd who cares for us, leads us, provides for us and happens to be all-knowing, all-powerful and lives within us. We have a good – a very good shepherd!
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 my shepherd.”
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: Father, we love you and we need you. Holy Spirit, fill us and lead us as we gather to pray and study Scripture. We dedicate this time to you and what you have for us to receive from you as your sons and daughters. Remove any distractions and help us to focus our hearts 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 for being 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
Acknowledge that the LORD is God, He made us; and we are his – his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)
We are God’s sons and daughters and he is our shepherd. As our shepherd, He cares for us, guides us, provides for us, restores us, delivers us, comforts us, anoints us and pursues us with His goodness and faithful love (Psalm 23).
Let’s take a few moments and thank God for being our good shepherd and taking such great care of us. What are you grateful for when you think of God as your good shepherd?
Prayer: God, thank you for the way you shepherd us by___________________________In Jesus Name.
Prayers for My Heart
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the LORD; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3)
There are times when praising God just feels easier to do than other times. Stress, business, spiritual warfare, grief and a variety of other things can easily be exalted above our praises to God. Yet, Scripture tells us to bless and praise God – at all times!
Psalm 34:1-3 gives us a picture of boasting, proclaiming and exalting the LORD’s greatness with others. There simply may be times in our lives when it’s difficult to praise God and God works in our hearts through the praises of those around us – “the humble will hear and be glad.”
Prayer: God, I praise you and exalt you over_________________________(fill in the blank with whatever challenges, trials or situations that you are walking through in your life). You are my good shepherd and I praise you for_________________________. In Jesus Name.
Prayers for Other’s Hearts
Psalm 100:5 tells us “For the LORD is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.”
God’s love and faithfulness reaches through the generations. God’s desire and plan is for all generations to know Him and experience His faithfulness- to know our good shepherd.
Let’s pray for the younger generation in our families to know God’s love and faithfulness. Lift up prayers of people by name that the Spirit puts on your heart who need to know God’s love and faithfulness.
Prayer: God, we pray for________________________to know your love and faithfulness that endures forever. Set him/her free from anything that hinders him/her from knowing you as his/her good shepherd. In Jesus Name.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank you for your love and faithfulness that continually pursues us. Thank you for the way you care for us and provide all that we need. Help us trust you with our whole hearts and rest in your perfect love. Help us become more aware of your presence in our lives and depend on you – our good shepherd. In Jesus Name, Amen.
