1/21/26

Mid-Week Prayer Service

Psalm 121 — “Our Help Comes from the Lord”

Good evening, church family. I’m grateful you’re here tonight.

I have come to really love this intentional time in prayer with the Lord.

James tells us “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

and I don’t know about you but I believe God hears and answers our prayers.

AW Tozer said “God hears us because He is present. Prayer is not shouting across a distance; it is speaking to One who is near.”

And we want to spend intentional time in prayer as a church family because our Lord is near.

If you have your Bible, open to Psalm 121. We’re going to let God’s Word lead our prayers.

This psalm was written for people on the move, people traveling difficult roads, people who knew danger, fatigue, and uncertainty. In other words—it’s a psalm for weary people.

I’ll read Scripture in sections and guide us through four movements of prayer. Some moments will be out loud, some silent. No pressure to pray publicly—pray as you’re led.

Let’s begin.

UPWARD — WORSHIP & TRUST

Psalm 121:1–2 (ESV) “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

Church, prayer always begins by looking up. Before we talk about our needs, we remind our hearts where help truly comes from.

Our help doesn’t come from strength, strategy, or circumstances. Our help comes from the Lord—the Maker of heaven and earth.

Let’s worship Him together.

OUT-LOUD PRAYER (short sentences): As you feel led, pray one sentence out loud, praising God for who He is based on these verses.

(Allow several voices to pray.)

Lord, we lift our eyes to You tonight. You alone are our help.

DOWNWARD — RESPONSE: SURRENDERING TO GOD’S CARE

Psalm 121:3–4 (ESV) “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

These verses remind us that God is attentive when we are tired. He is steady when we feel unsteady. He does not sleep on our lives.

This is the moment to humble ourselves before Him—to surrender control and trust His care.

SILENT PRAYER: Confess where you’ve been relying on yourself instead of the Lord. Yield your plans, your worries, and your fears to Him.

(Pause for silence.)

Optional Out Loud: Brief prayers of confession or renewed trust.

Lord, we admit tonight that we need You. We are not self-sufficient—but You are more than enough.

INWARD — DEPENDENCE: ASKING GOD TO GUARD US

Psalm 121:5–6 (ESV)

“The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Church, God doesn’t just watch over us from a distance— He is close. He is present. He is our keeper.

This is where we ask God to guard our hearts, strengthen our faith, and sustain us where we are weak.

SILENT PRAYER: Ask the Lord to keep you—emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Ask Him for endurance, peace, and trust.

Out Loud Prayer: Short prayers of thanksgiving.

(Pause for silence.)

Lord, keep us close and steady our hearts.

OUTWARD — READINESS: INTERCEDING FOR OTHERS

Psalm 121:7–8 (ESV) “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

Church, prayer never ends with us. Because God keeps us, we now carry others before Him.

Tonight, we’ll pray outward using three prayer buckets.

BUCKET ONE — OUR CHURCH

Now we pray for our church— for unity, faithfulness, wisdom, and courage to advance the gospel.

We pray that the Lord would keep our going out and our coming in as a church.

OUT-LOUD PRAYER: As you feel led, pray briefly for Cedar Bay Baptist Church—our leaders, ministries, revitalization and mission.

(Allow several voices.)

Father, keep this church faithful and fruitful.

BUCKET TWO — PEOPLE ON OUR PRAYER LIST

This bucket is for those in our church family and community who are hurting— those facing illness, grief, recovery, uncertainty, or heavy burdens.

As names or situations are shared, we trust the Lord to keep them.

OUT-LOUD PRAYER: I’ll read names or situations from our prayer list. After each one, I’ll pause. During the pause, pray briefly out loud for that person.

(Pray through the prayer list.)

Lord, keep their lives and their steps.

BUCKET THREE — OUR COMMUNITY & THE LOST

Finally, we pray outward for those beyond our walls— our neighbors, our city, and those who do not yet know Christ.

SILENT PRAYER: Pray quietly for someone you know who needs Jesus. Ask the Lord to draw them to Himself and to use you in their life.

(Pause for silence.)

Lord, help us live sent.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, tonight we lifted our eyes. We surrendered our hearts. We asked You to keep us. And we carried others before You.

You are our help. You are our keeper. You are faithful forever.

We trust You with our lives, our church, and our community.

We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.