Prayer Meeting

11/25/2025

MIDWEEK PRAYER SERVICE MANUSCRIPT

Psalm 103 With Stage Directions (In Jordan Chambers’ Voice)**

Good evening, Church family. Before we do anything else tonight, I want to remind us of what Daniel Henderson says: “The Bible provides the vocabulary for our prayer.”

Tonight, we’re not hopping around Scripture. We’re anchoring ourselves in Psalm 103 and praying from this passage.

[PAUSE. LOOK AROUND THE ROOM. QUIET YOUR VOICE.]

Let’s open our Bibles to Psalm 103.

Take a breath. Let the room settle. Let’s begin.

1. WORSHIP (UPWARD) — Psalm 103:1–5

[READ THIS SLOWLY AND CLEARLY.]

“Bless the Lord, O my soul… who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit…”

Church, David starts where we must start—with praise.

Before we unload the burdens on our hearts, we look up and bless the name of our God.

[LIFT YOUR BIBLE A LITTLE. GESTURE TOWARD IT.] Look again at verses 1–5.

PROMPT FOR PEOPLE TO PRAY OUT LOUD

In one sentence—just one—call out a truth about who God is from this passage: “Lord, You are…”

[WAIT. LET 3–5 PEOPLE SPEAK. NOD. AFFIRM QUIETLY.]

Now let’s pray according to those truths. Short prayers of praise. Nothing long. Just worship.

“Lord, I bless You because You forgive…”

[OPEN THE FLOOR. KEEP YOUR HEAD BOWED. ALLOW 60–90 SECONDS OF POPCORN-STYLE PRAYERS.]

2. CONFESSION + SURRENDER (INWARD) — Psalm 103:8–12

[READ THIS WITH A CALM, PASTORAL TONE.]

“The Lord is merciful and gracious… as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”

Church, this is a mirror for our hearts. We see who God is… and we see who we are.

PART 1 — SILENT CONFESSION

Before we pray out loud, let’s go quiet before the Lord.

[LOWER YOUR VOICE.] Take one minute… let the Spirit bring to mind anything you need to confess, anything to surrender, anything to lay down.

[BOW YOUR HEAD. KEEP IT SILENT FOR 60–90 SECONDS. SLOWLY SCAN THE ROOM ONCE.]

PART 2 — OUT LOUD SURRENDER PRAYERS

Now, if you feel led, pray one-sentence prayers of surrender:

“Lord, forgive me for…”

“Lord, cleanse my heart…”

“Lord, make me more like You.”

[LET 3–6 PEOPLE PRAY OUT LOUD. KEEP THE PACE.]

Close this section with: “Father, thank You that Your mercy is bigger than our mess. Thank You that You remove our sins far from us.”

2. REVELATION (DOWNWARD) — Psalm 103:6–7

[LOOK AROUND THE ROOM. SPEAK CALMLY, WITH WEIGHT.]

Church, Daniel Henderson teaches that after we look up to God in worship… we look down to His Word in revelation.

This is where God speaks. This is where truth descends. This is where Scripture shapes what we pray next.

[READ SLOWLY AND PURPOSEFULLY:]

“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel.”

Church, notice the wording: God works righteousness. God makes known His ways. God reveals Himself.

This is the downward movement— God descending into the room through His Word, showing us who He is and how He acts.

PROMPT FOR REVELATION RESPONSES (OUT LOUD)

[INSTRUCT CLEARLY:] From verses 6–7, what do you hear God revealing about Himself?

One sentence only: “God, I see that You…”

[ALLOW 5–7 PEOPLE TO PRAY OUT LOUD ONE SENTENCE EACH.]

PRAYER OF REVELATION

Now let’s pray back what God just revealed:

“Lord, show us Your ways. Reveal Your heart to us. Teach us what You’re doing in this room tonight.”

[PAUSE. LET THE WEIGHT SETTLE.]

This is God speaking down to us… and now we are ready to look in and deal with our hearts with honesty.

[TRANSITION INTO YOUR CONFESSION SECTION:]

Let’s move inward.

3. INTERCESSION (OUTWARD) — Psalm 103:6

[READ.]

“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.”

Church, this is our confidence—God acts. He moves toward the broken, the hurting, the overlooked.

We’re going to pray in three circles. I’ll guide each one.

Circle 1 — Pray for Our Church Family

[SPEAK CLEARLY AND WARM.] Let’s lift up the hurting in our church. Those grieving. Those sick. Those struggling quietly.

Keep your prayers short.

[OPEN THE FLOOR. ALLOW 60–90 SECONDS.]

Circle 2 — Pray for Cedar Bay’s Mission

We want God to move in this place. On Sundays. In small groups. In discipleship. In our outreach.

Pray that God will work righteousness through us.

[OPEN THE FLOOR. ALLOW 2 MINUTES.]

Circle 3 — Pray for Our Community

Let’s pray for our neighborhoods, our schools, our city. Pray for light to break into darkness in Jacksonville.

[OPEN THE FLOOR. ALLOW 60–90 SECONDS.]

4. LISTENING + OBEDIENCE — Psalm 103:2

[READ.]

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

Church, obedience often begins with remembering. So we’re going to slow down and listen.

PART 1 — SILENT LISTENING

Ask the Spirit: “Lord, what are You calling me to obey from tonight?”

[KEEP THE ROOM SILENT FOR 60–90 SECONDS.]

PART 2 — OPTIONAL SPOKEN RESPONSES

If you feel led, share one sentence: “I believe the Lord is prompting me to…”

[ALLOW 2–3 PEOPLE TO SHARE. IF NOBODY DOES, MOVE ON NATURALLY.]

Pray: “Lord, help us obey what You’ve spoken.”

5. THANKSGIVING + SENDING — Psalm 103:1

[READ.]

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!”

Church, we don’t end low—we end in gratitude. One-sentence prayers: “Lord, I thank You for…”

[ALLOW 6–10 SHORT THANKSGIVING PRAYERS.]

Close with a strong, warm, pastoral send-off:

“Father, thank You for meeting us tonight. Thank You for Your mercy, compassion, and steadfast love. Send us out as a praying people—full of faith, full of joy, full of the Spirit, ready to make Jesus known. We bless Your holy name. Amen.”

[PAUSE. SMILE. DISMISS GENTLY.]