In 2026, we are growing in prayer. We need to connect with our Father in Heaven in a meaningful, heart-felt way every day (every minute?). Many of us struggle with this because it feels like we are talking to ourselves or the ceiling. Or we just don’t what to say. Use the following guide to train yourself to pray. Whether you just read the prayer by itself or use it to spark a longer conversation with God, we hope this will help you build a strong, active, two-way relationship with Jesus.
There are multiple ways to access the guide:
April 2026
This month, with Spring in the air and our celebration of Easter, we are going to focus on the beautiful reality of NEW LIFE. Jesus died and was raised, defeating death. He told us that we must be born again, and Paul encourages us to consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. We are new people. Let’s live in that newness and ask our Father to give new life to those around us.
1
Lord Jesus, you explained in John 12 that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. You understood this about yourself and what you would do. You died and are bearing fruit. You are alive. You have made me alive, when I gave me life to you. But I know that you also call me to a lifestyle of “dying”, to keep giving you myself, so that I can bear fruit for you. But I don’t want to die. I don’t want to sacrifice. I don’t want to give up what I want to give others what they need. Forgive my selfishness. Show me what I refuse to let go of and put into the ground. Be with me this month. Help me focus on my new life in you; bring new life into my life. But here on day one, show me what I must get out of the way. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
2
Thank you, Lord for a heart of mercy as you show me mercy for my sin. Teach me Father, to seek your ways in my life and trust in your Word. Read: Ex. 23:7 and Romans 2:14
3
Lord, sunny or cloudy, rain or shine, hard or easy, in sorrow or joy, because my debt is paid in full, it’s a good day in the You. On this Good Friday, I remember what that payment cost. Read: Isaiah 53:11 and Romans 8:3-4
4
[Today, the earth is silent. Today, Jesus is in the grave. Today, it feels like the gloom has won. Today, we are silently hopeful. Today, simply sit in the quiet. Remove your thoughts and concerns; simply be for a few moments and let your mind anticipate the joy of tomorrow.]
5
You are risen! You are alive! All things are new! Hallelujah, Jesus, you are no longer in the grave! Let me feel the weight of this, God. Let me feel your power. Give me the strength to stare into the wonderfulness that is the Gospel. Today, I will worship you for my new life!
6
[From Jamie Schuring, borrowed from Prime Time with God – 3/4/26]
Dear Lord God,
I am thankful that today is a fresh new start from You, as Jesus proclaimed…
Behold, I make all things new.
Revelation 21:5
Thank You for Your unending mercy and for each new beginning…
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Lord I need Your help to keep my focus on You and on others today.
The time You give me is so precious, yet I find myself looking through my phone, consumed with social media, with TV and many other diversions that pull me away from time that could be spent with You and with others.
I pray that I will live more intentionally with You and for You today.
I want to prioritize time with a friend, or eating dinner with my family instead of meaningless distractions.
Please remind me to put my phone down when I am with others.
You created me to live in community and I want to start investing more deeply in my family, my friends, my church and my community.
Thank You for all that You have blessed me with.
I want to be a better steward of the time that You have given to me, now and throughout this day.
In the mighty name of Jesus I pray,
Amen.
7
Thank our Lord Jesus for taking that heavy pack of sin and guilt and giving to me, can you believe it! a pack so light. Knowing that you God, will remember my sin no more because my Savior lives! Read: Mathew 6:12 and Romans 2:4-5
8
Can I put my sin on other creatures to be redeemed from sin, no, Lord only one way can my soul be brought back from sin. No, the Lord, my Savior, Jesus is the only way. Read: Ezek. 18:4, 20; and Hebrews 2: 14-18
9
From Psalm 57:7-11
My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth. (NIV)
10
Thank you, Lord for warm and sunny days that remind me of spring in Michigan. I can look out on a new day filled with light and hope. Like the new life in Christ given by way of a sacrifice from one fully human yet fully divine. Thanks be to the Lamb of God. Read: Romans 1:3; 1 Cor. 15:21-22 and Hebrews 2:17
11
From Psalm 63:1-4
You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands. (NIV)
12
Lord, please be with the expecting moms in our church family. Thank you for the blessing of children and for the new life that comes through children, including the new way parents get to experience your love by experiencing a little bit of what experience as a Father and as our nurturer.
13
We praise you Jesus, the Redeemer of man. You are the One prophecy foretold. Read: Isaiah 53:9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Hebrews 7:26; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Jeremiah 23:6 and John 1:1
14
Lord, I pray for ______________________ who needs new life in you. You are the only one who can wake him/her up. Please do that. Please help there be repentance, acceptance, and confession.
15
[From Steve Johnson, borrowed from 40-Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2007)]
Lord Jesus, only you know where my path will lead, but I trust that, even if I do not know either the way or the destination, you are with me and before me, and I follow you with joy.
16
Even here in the middle of April, thank you, Lord, for the Christmas story. You came down in as actually human. As a sinner I can’t pay for my sin, but you can. Thank you Jesus for such a gift. Read: Romans 5:12; Romans 15; 1 Cor. 15:21; Hebrews 7:26-27 and 1 Peter 3:18
17
Father, this morning I lift up to you our softball team! Thanks for sports and fun and recreation. Thanks for teams where people can hang out and relax. Help the team have a bunch of fun with each other and other teams. Help them have so much fun (the good kind) that people think church is okay. And if church isn’t so bad, maybe they’ll want to know more about you. And please let Kyle hit one home run in his life. Thanks, Lord.
18
Psalm 25:4-5
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
19
Father, tomorrow is the Boston Marathon. I pray for Keith Lohman and his preparation for the race. May all the logistics be handled smoothly, and may he feel refreshed and ready to run. Renew his strength, fill him with joy and may tomorrow be a success.
20
Father, I pray again for Keith and for his Boston Marathon race to raise funds for Shalom. Thank you for this idea you gave him, for his discipline and commitment, and for your faithfulness as a he trained while undergoing cancer treatment. May his race be a testament to your faithfulness and goodness, and thank you for providing for Shalom through his efforts. May I think today about my own race. Help me be faithful to train and help me run well.
21
Abba Father, keep the poor in my mind today. I confess I prefer not to think of them and their problems. I confess I get judgmental and that I can be prideful about my own life, as if I made this life for myself without your help. I know that the poor, helpless and hurting were your primary concern and I want to be more like you. And if you give me a way to actually help someone today, I will do it.
22
[From Steve Johnson, borrowed from 40-Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2007)]
Lord, show me a time in the morning when I can listen to you for the day ahead and when I can talk to you for the day ahead.
23
Thank you, Jesus our Lord and God, who alone could bear the penalty for our sin. What a merciful God. Read: Isaiah 53; John 3:16 and 2 Cor. 5:21
24
We worship you the Holy Oe, Jesus, our righteous Lord come to earth to be human and divine. The perfect sacrifice for our sin. Read: Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 2:11; 1 Tim. 2:5 and 1 Cor. 1:30
25
Lord, we continue to pray for the process for putting together a team for our student ministry. Whatever shape that takes and whomever you are leading to this position, may you guide them and our leadership to identify that person. This is a phase of new life here at First, and we ask for your perfect direction and timing.
26
[From Steve Johnson, borrowed from 40-Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2007)]
Lord, when I go out to work may I go joyfully and with enthusiasm for the tasks at hand. May my work be good for me and good for others.
27
God we thank you for knowledge of Jesus through prophecy even after man’s fall. We give you our gratitude for a sinful condition removed! Amen. Read: Genesis 3:15
28
Jesus, I pray for a new friendship in my life. I know that relationships are one of the ways you bring new life into the world, so help me be open to a new connection with someone.
[Open up the Church Center Directory and scroll through the pictures and names. Ask God to prompt you to reach out to a new person in our church, even if it’s just to say hi and introduce yourself.]
29
Today I pray for encouragement and wisdom, not only for myself, but also for my family and spiritual friends. I pray for discernment and understanding in my concern for the needs of others. Lord, draw me to your living Word and let it be for me food for the journey today.
30
Father, today I pray for First Kids, for all the little minds and hearts that are hearing your story. I pray for understanding, even in their young minds, of who you are and how much you love them. May the seeds implanted in their hearts be watered by your spirit and may your life grow in them. Protect them from evil and from the messages of the enemy.