2023 Retreat Preparatory Prayers - Day 17: Retreat Transformation

““And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.””

— 2Coriathains 3:18

When we dwell in the presence of God, we experience lots of benefits such as; repentance, spiritual building, and transformation. As we prepare to go to the retreat, pray for an open heart to have an encounter with God.

John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you” Pray that as we go to this retreat, the grace for all things that God intends for us to know will be released to us. We are not coming back empty.

Exodus 13:21 “The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” Pray that the Glory of God will go before us, be with us, and shine away every form of darkness around us.

Deuteronomy 38:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Pray that the Lord will go before us and be with us as well as an assurance that he will never forsake us even after this retreat.

Isaiah 58:11 “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Pray that the Spirit of the Lord will guide, satisfy, and strengthen us so that as we go to the retreat we will be come back like a well-watered garden, flowing in the glory of God, and yielding fruits in every season.

Deuteronomy 9:3 “But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.” Pray that the Lord will go before HOZ and this retreat and consume every obstacle in our path.

Exodus 23: 31 “And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.” Pray and ask God to establish and stabilize the borders HOZ.

1John 2:27 “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” Pray for the speakers, that they will receive the teacher’s grace and the anointing to teach the word.

John 4:14 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Pray that we will drink from the Lord and be satisfy with this living water so that out of us shall flow springs-joy, kindness, goodness, love mercy righteousness etc

Mathew 13:11 “He replied, "The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” Pray that during this retreat the great teacher-the Holy Spirit with reveal to us great mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” Pray that the Lord will indeed direct our hearts into his Love and help us be committed to this Gospel

Genesis 24:12 “He said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.” Pray for a successful retreat (lives changed, prayers answered, journey mercies, worship God etc)

2023 Retreat Preparatory Prayers - Day 16: Standing at the Gates of Our Families

““Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” ”

— Job 1:10

Job was a man who kept watch over the gate of his family. One can tell here that the devil was attempting but was unable to. According to Job 1:5, “And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” Job kept watch over his family EVERY SINGE DAY to ensure they are in the right standing with God. He was determined, dedicated, committed, and consistent in ensuring that there was a sacrifice on the altar for all his children daily before God.

Tap into this kind of graced heart and ask the Lord to help you do the same for your family.

Deuteronomy 23:14 “Since the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you, or He will turn away from you.” Pray for holiness and righteousness in our families so that the Lord will find it a place to dwell in; where the Lord dwells, the devil is always in defeat.

Luke 11:21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed.” Our strength is in Christ and we increase in strength only in him. Prayer is that spiritual chemical needed to tap the strength from God’s presence. Pray for that strength and the ability to put on the full armor of God so that we are able to guard the gates of our families effectively.

Nehemiah 7:3 “And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be over against his house.” Pray that God will grant the grace of discernment so that we are able to stand at the right place, time, and season to pray for the needs of our families.

Nehemiah 4:14 “When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.” Pray that God will raise a Nehemiah in us who will stand and fight against the enemy to ensure the great and awesome God will deliver his people from the devil as well as declare the promises of God upon our families without fear.

Isaiah 8:18 “Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” Pray that we all as a family shall follow Jesus to the fullest extent, the key to experiencing signs and wonders.

Ezekiel 37: 4- 6 “4He then told me to say: Dry bones, listen to what the Lord is saying to you, 5 “I, the Lord God, will put breath in you, and once again you will live. 6 I will wrap you with muscles and skin and breathe life into you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” Declare this word over every dry bone, situation, spiritual and physical poverty, obstacle, unbelief, every dead situation, etc. all of which stands against the word of God.

Acts 13:36 “For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.” Pray that there shall be no generation in our lineage who will not serve the purposes of God.

Genesis 35:2 “So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.” We can only make this kind of a statement if we ourselves have fully examined ourselves. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help us expose every idol in our homes and lives as well, that we will, like Jacob, purify ourselves and change our garments before the almighty and Holy God.