#PrayerWeek - January 21-24, 2014
As a new semester begins, we’d like to call UMN Navs to pray. Of course, we already should regularly be in prayer. However, it does seem fitting for there to be a special call to focused prayer from time-to-time. The beginning of a new semester strikes us as one of those fitting times. 

All that we long to see happen on campus and in our lives is rooted in the transforming power of God. What might happen if we earnestly prayed for God to glorify himself at the University of Minnesota? To build up believers in Christ? To mobilize believers to reach the lost and make disciples? To reach the nations through us? It is exciting to think about what God may be pleased to do!

So, let’s pray! Here are the themes we’re pressing into, with suggested passages to pray from:

Tuesday: For God’s glory and kingdom to be manifest at the U of M

• Matthew 6:9-13, Romans 11:36, Psalm 115, Daniel 4:34-35, etc
  

Wednesday: For God to build up believers, in Navs and other ministries and churches at the U of M

• Colossians 1:9-14, Ephesians 3:14-21, Colossians 2:6-7, Ephesians 4:11-12, etc
  

Thursday: For God to mobilize believers to reach the lost and make disciples

• Matthew 9:35-38, Romans 1:16, Colossians 4:2-6, Matthew 28:18-20, etc
  

Friday: For God to reach the nations with the Gospel (among us, overseas)

• Revelation 5:9-10, Matthew 24:14, Acts 1:8, Psalm 67, etc
  

Where/when to pray: 
Of course you can pray wherever you are, by yourself or with friends. Here are a few times that you can gather with students in Navs to pray this week:

• Tuesday – 11:30am-1pm, Coffman Union 3rd floor (contact: Joe 612-875-8075)
• Wednesday – 3:30pm – 5:00pm, Comstock Ballroom (contact: Adam 815-499-5367)
• Thursday – 7pm – 8:30pm Nav Night (some of this time will be devoted to prayer and worship)

Thoughts to consider as you pray:

Why pray?

• Matthew 6:9-13 – Jesus taught us to pray to “Our Father in heaven…”
• John 15:7 – Prayer is an expression of our abiding relationship with God
• Matthew 7:7-11 – Prayer shows our dependence on God
• James 4:2, James 5:16b – Prayer changes things

Conditions for ripe prayer

• Matthew 6:8 - Acknowledge that God already knows what we need  
• John 15:7 - Abide in Jesus and let his word abide in you 
• 1 John 5:14 - Pray according to God’s will
• Hebrews 5:7 - Pray earnestly
• Matthew 21:22 - Pray in faith

Why use Scripture to pray?

• When we pray from God’s word, we are praying according to his revealed will (1 John 5:14)
• We are more apt to abide in him and have his words abide in us (John 15:7)
• The sword of the Spirit convicts us and directs us (Ephesians 6:17)
• We won’t be stuck in a “supplication rut”
• We will be less apt to “spend it on our passions” (James 4:3)
• We will pray for more grand and glorious things – things on God’s heart.