Day 6 - May 5

35 days of  Prayer and Preparation

www.ngumc.org/prepare

Collect

How many times have we felt comfortable and just wanted to stay there? Comfortable with our current appointments? Comfortable in not wanting to go somewhere new? Comfortable with the status quo? Comfortable with shaking things up? Comfortable speaking out? Comfortable staying silent? How many times have we listened to the voice of our comfort zones and not the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Lord, forgive us for the ways we let the comfortable take over. Forgive us when we assume that we won't stumble, because things seem just fine the way they are right now.

Lord, your word says that we are to be dressed in your joy, not just the joy of our own making. Open our hearts and minds to your Holy Spirit, to not be afraid of following You where You're calling us to go. As we go, turn our mourning into dancing, and let our hearts, our souls, and our mouths give forth Your praise. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

—Joe Palmer, East Cobb UMC

NOTE: A "collect" (call-ect) is a simple, focused prayer.

Psalm 

You have turned my mourning into dancing; 
you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. 
Psalm 30:11-12

Memory Verse

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
     your old men will dream dreams,
     your young men will see visions.
Joel2:28

Prayers of Invocation

Week 1: Focus on Health and Wellbeing
Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit upon… 

  • Those wrestling with addiction and those trying to love them well
  • Recovery communities and ministries, including Recovery Churches in Ringgold, Chickamauga, and Augusta
  • Those whose health concerns aren’t visible
  • The incarcerated, and those who love them
  • Those crushed by guilt and shame
  • Those unable to forgive, set them free from their unforgiveness

Praying for One Another

Lord, pour out your spirit on the following Central North District churches:

Johns Creek UMC
Jonesboro First UMC
Laster Chapel UMC
Lovejoy UMC Clayton County
Morrow First UMC
Mt Gilead UMC Atlanta
Mt Pisgah UMC
Mt Zion UMC Atlanta
New Hope UMC Clayton County
New Hope UMC Palmetto
New Spirit UMC
North Springs UMC
Northbrook Hispanic Ministry
Northbrook UMC
Northside UMC
Owl Rock UMC
Paces Ferry UMC
Palmetto First UMC
Peachtree Road UMC
Poplar Spring UMC Atlanta

About the Prayer and Preparation Project

Each day from April 30 to June 3 you will be prompted with a Psalm to read, a short breath prayer or collect (call-ect) written by a North Georgia United Methodist, and prayers of invocation.

We invite you to share this with your family, small group, congregation, and Christian community. Whether you are attending Annual Conference or not, we pray this will better prepare all of us for true holy conferencing.

How to Participate

  • To receive a daily prayer prompt, text Prepare to 833-848-9264
  • Visit www.ngumc.org/prepare each day
  • Follow the North Georgia Conference on social media
Prayer & Preparation: Praying the Psalms