Focusing on the Lord. Gazing on His character and beauty. Looking and meditating on the Lord’s Prayer, glorifying God and spending time on personal repentance. Dedicating ourselves to deepen our work with Him and be obedient. Each day we will read the Lord’s Prayer in a different translation.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:9-14 (NIV)
Day One — Sunday 16th February
God as Father
God is known as Father throughout the Scriptures. He is known as Abba Father, a good Father, and a safe provider and protector.
Readings
This is how you are to pray:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
and do not subject us to the final test,
but deliver us from the evil one.
If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
Matthew 6:9-14 (New American Bible)
Reflection
Ask yourself:
What is the passage/verse saying?
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?
Spend time writing out an answer to all three questions.
Other verses to meditate and reflect upon: John 14:25-26, Psalm 68:5, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
Prayer
Things to pray for during the day:
Please Lord, help me to listen and obey what you have revealed to me today.
Thank you for being a good and kind Father.
Help me to embrace all you have for me today.
Help me to be more and more like you.
Pray for a thankful and grateful heart.
Thank you that you are my heavenly Father. Thank you that you are safe, kind, my provider, my shield, my protector.
I pray for earthly fathers, godly men that will live for you in everything – in word, thought, action and heart.
I commit myself to be the godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Action
Make a list of things you need to throw off — sin that is weighing you down and not allowing you to run with endurance in faith.
Further Reflection
Day Two — Monday 17th February
Looking Heavenward
Heaven is such an extraordinary place where God reigns and rules. It’s a place of no more pain or tears. God will dwell with His people. He will rule and reign for all time. It’s a place of worship and adoration towards God Himself and Jesus has Lord.
Readings
This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
Matthew 6:9-14 (The Message)
Reflection
This year, how will we run with endurance the faith race God has planned for us? Hebrews 12:2 tells us this is possible only by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. We can do this by receiving His sacrificial death on the cross for our sin, reading His word faithfully, obeying the Holy Spirit’s prompting, and keeping short accounts of our sin before Him.
Jesus endured on earth for 30 years separated from His Heavenly Father. He initiated the fulfilment of Scripture, offered the only acceptable sacrifice to God, obeyed God no matter the cost to Himself, and loved all mankind.
Prayer
Things to pray for during the day:
Thank you, Lord, for heaven. Thank you that it is a place so much greater than l could ever imagine.
Pray for heaven on earth.
Praying for Kingdom values and purpose.
Pray for our pre-Christian family and friends.
Pray for impartation of the Holy Spirit.
Pray for a desire within me to be the same as God’s heart and desire.
Pray for unity amongst believers.
Pray using John 17 as a base and reference.
I commit myself to be the Godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Further Reflection
Day Three — Tuesday 18th February
The Glory of His Name
Some names of God: Adonai, Abba, Alpha and Omega, Elohim, Immanuel, Jehovah, Messiah, Logos, and so many more.
Readings
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:9-14 (New King James Version)
Reflection
Ask yourself, how do l see God? Do l see Him has loving, or judgemental? Do l understand His heart?
Meditate on a few names of God (E.g. Adonai, Abba, Alpha and Omega, Elohim, Immanuel, Jehovah, Messiah, Logos). Look up the meaning and pray into that.
Look up the following passages: Psalm 148:13, Nehemiah 9:5, Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 22:32, Genesis 17:1.
Ask yourself:
What is the passage/verse saying?
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?
Spend time writing out an answer to all three questions.
Prayer
Thank God using some of His names – “Lord, thank you for being ‘God With Us’, for being our ‘Shepherd’, for being ‘I Am’.
Use some of the Names of God above to pray into.
Pray for the Glory and Power of God to be clearly seen and experienced.
Thank God for Jesus, the Messiah.
Use the name of God as Healer (Yahweh-Rapha) and spend some time to pray for those who need healing, spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.
I commit myself to be the godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Further Reflection
Day Four — Wednesday 19th February
God’s Kingdom
The Kingdom of God is everywhere in the Scriptures. God’s Kingdom is a safe place. God’s Kingdom is where He rules and reigns. Jesus uses parables to talk about the Kingdom.
There are 43 parables in the New Testament and 13 of these are about the Kingdom of God. Here are just a few: Matthew 13, Matthew 20, Luke 14, Luke 15, Matthew 18.
Readings
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:9-14 (RSV)
Reflection
Ask yourself:
What is the passage/verse saying?
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?
Spend time writing out an answer to all three questions.
Prayer
Things to pray for:
The Kingdom of God to reign and rule here on earth.
For Kingdom values to be my values.
For the Kingdom of Jesus to be preached and discovered.
Pray for the lost.
Pray for the Kingdom of God to come in the lives and hearts of those we know in 2025.
Pray for the advancement of the Kingdom of grace and favour.
I commit myself to be the Godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Further Reflection
Day Five — Thursday 20th February
The Beautiful Provision of God
God provided us with what we need, not what we often think we want. He never lets us down. God is always trustworthy and reliable.
Readings
Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:9-14 (NLT)
Reflection
Ask yourself:
What is the passage/verse saying?
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?
Spend time writing out an answer to all three questions.
Prayer
Things to pray for:
Thank God for His provision.
Pray that you will be wise and discerning about what He has entrusted to you.
Pray for a spirit of generosity and willingness to give from your heart.
Pray for those who are in need.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to see and feel what He wants you to do.
l commit myself to be the Godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Further Reflection
Day Six — Friday 21st February
The Importance of Forgiveness and Repentance
This subject is so important. For too long we struggle to ‘let God’ and hold on to past hurts and pain. We find it so hard to forgive and then we hurt others in the process.
Readings
Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:9-15 (Living Bible)
Reflection
Spend time asking God, at the beginning of this year, is there someone l need to forgive? Am l holding on to unforgiveness and is it causing me to be bitter? Ask God to show you today how to free yourself from that pain and distress.
Ask yourself:
What is the passage/verse saying?
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?
Spend time writing out an answer to all three questions.
Prayer
Things to pray for:
God, show me if l need to repent and forgive anyone.
Father God, thank you so much for the example of Christ and how you demonstrated forgiveness by dying on the cross.
May l love others even when l don’t want to.
May l learn to live without resentment and pain.
l commit myself to be the godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Further Reflection
Day Seven — Saturday 22nd February
Hard Testing, Temptation & Resisting the Evil One
The Spiritual forces are real and at times it is difficult to resist temptation. It is so good to know that we are more than conquerors through Jesus (Romans 8:31-39).
Readings
This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven:
May your holy name be honored;
may your Kingdom come;
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need.
Forgive us the wrongs we have done,
as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.
Do not bring us to hard testing,
but keep us safe from the Evil One.’
“If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.
Matthew 6:9-15 (Good News)
Reflection
Spend time acknowledging the victory we have in Christ.
Spend time submitting yourself to God.
Ask God for spiritual muscle to resist the evil one.
Ask yourself:
What is the passage/verse saying?
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?
Spend time writing out an answer to all three questions.
Prayer
Things to pray for:
Help me to know and discover the victory Jesus has given me.
Help me to live in the power of the Spirit.
Ask God to help you to know peace rather than be fearful and afraid.
Father God, thank you that in my life l am not alone. You are right here with me in all of my life. You have never failed me. Praise your name, Lord.
l commit myself to be the godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Further Reflection
Day Eight — Sunday 23rd February
The Glory of God
God’s glory is everywhere. All we need to do is look and gaze upward. God desires to be glorified and honoured. He seeks worshippers (John 4).
Readings
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
[Added in the King James: “for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever”]
Matthew 6:9-15 (ASV)
Reflection
Ask today, what does it look like to honour and glorify Him?
Spend time asking what does it mean to glory God at home, at work and with my family and friends?
What does it look like to glorify God with my speech and actions?
Ask yourself:
What is the passage/verse saying?
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?
Spend time writing out an answer to all three questions.
Prayer
Things to pray for:
Father God, may l glorify you in every area of my life.
God, be honoured and gloried in your Church.
God, be gloried in this world where we live.
God, be gloried in my neighbourhood.
God, be gloried in my family.
l commit myself to be the godly man/woman that you have called me to be in 2025.
Further Reflection
Closing Thoughts
This year for 2025 we will be having three opportunities to pray and fast together. We have just gone through the first of these, focusing on the Lord’s Prayer, committing ourselves to God’s Lordship, and dedicating ourselves to deepen our work with Him and be obedient. We hope you have found it enriching and helpful.
Please feel free to let us know what God has been revealing to you. Contact one of the pastors or leaders that you are connected with, or contact scott.mitchell@crossway.org.au to let him know.
May God bless you richly as we begin 2025.