A Prayer Sequence For Examination: By Ken Boa

A PRAYER SEQUENCE FOR EXAMINATION


Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)


The Ten Commandments


You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.


The Lord’s Prayer


Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.


The Beatitudes


Poverty of spirit (nothing apart from God’s grace)
Mourning (contrition)
Gentleness (meekness, humility)
Hunger and thirst for righteousness
Merciful to others
Purity of heart (desiring Christ above all else)
Peacemaking
Bearing persecution for the sake of righteousness


The Seven Deadly Sins


Pride
Avarice
Envy
Wrath
Sloth
Lust
Gluttony


The Four Cardinal and Three Theological Virtues


Prudence (wisdom, discernment, clear thinking, common sense)
Temperance (moderation, self-control)
Justice (fairness, honesty, truthfulness, integrity)
Fortitude (courage, conviction)
Faith (belief and trust in God’s character and work)
Hope (anticipating God’s promises)
Love (willing the highest good for others, compassion)


The Fruit of the Spirit


Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

Four Life - Changing Prayers

[I ask] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19a

[May the Father] grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strength-ened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in or-der to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

[I ask] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Colossians 1:9b-12 (Prayers taken from Ken Boa's website.)

Intercession: Matthew Henry

Introduction and Exhortation to Pray for the Whole Lost World of Mankind
OF THE FIFTH PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS INTERCESSION, OR ADDRESS AND SUPPLICATION TO GOD FOR OTHERS
The Lord Jesus has taught me to pray, not only with but for others; and the apostle has appointed me to make supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18(ESV) and many of his prayers in his epistles are for his friends. And I must not think that when I am in this part of prayer, I may let fall my fervency and be more indifferent because I myself am not immediately concerned in it, but rather let a holy fire of love, both to God and man here, make my devotion yet more warm and lively.

1
I must pray for the whole world of mankind, the lost world; and thus, I must honor everyone 1 Peter 2:17(ESV) and, according to my capacity, do good to everyone. Galatians 6:10(ESV)

I pray, as I am taught, for all people, believing that this is good and pleasing in the sight of God my Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth and of Jesus Christ, 1 Timothy 2:3-4(ESV) who gave himself as a ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2:6(ESV)

O look with compassion upon the world that lies in the power of the evil one, 1 John 5:19(ESV) and let the ruler of this world be cast out, John 12:31(ESV) who has blinded their minds. 2 Corinthians 4:4(ESV)

O let your way be known on earth, Psalm 67:2(ESV) that barbarous nations may be civilized, and those who live without God in the world may be brought to the service of the living God; Ephesians 2:12(ESV) and thus, let your saving power be known among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; yes, let all the peoples praise you: O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Psalm 67:2-4(ESV)

O let your salvation and your righteousness be revealed in the sight of the nations, and let all the ends of the earth see the salvation of God. Psalm 98:2-3(ESV)

O make the nations your Son’s heritage, and the ends of the earth his possession; Psalm 2:8(ESV) for you have said, “It is too light a thing for him to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel,” but you will make him as a light for the nations. Isaiah 49:6(ESV)

Let all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ. Revelation 11:15(ESV)

Thanksgiving: Matthew Henry

Be Particular in your Thanks to God, Marvel at His Good Nature and Kind Providence
I must be particular in my thanksgivings to God:

2.1

For the discoveries that he has made to me in his word of the goodness of his nature.

I give thanks to the God of gods, to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:2-3(ESV)

Your goodness is your glory, Exodus 33:19(ESV) and it is for that which all your works do give thanks to you and all your saints do bless you. Psalm 145:10(ESV)

You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, Psalm 145:8(ESV) and have told me that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; but though you cause grief, you will have compassion according to the abundance of your steadfast love. Lamentations 3:32-33(ESV)

You take pleasure in those who fear you, in those who hope in your steadfast love. Psalm 147:11(ESV)

2.2

For the many instances of his goodness.

2.2.1

The goodness of his providence relating to my body and the life that now is; and this,

1st, With reference to all the creatures and the world of mankind in general.

You have stretched out the heavens like a tent, Psalm 104:2(ESV) and in them you have set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Psalm 19:4-5(ESV) And you make your sun rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45(ESV)

When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the sun, the moon, and the stars which you have set in place, Lord, what is man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4(ESV) For truly the light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun: Ecclesiastes 11:7(ESV) All glory be to the Father of light, James 1:17(ESV) who commands the morning and causes the dawn to know its place. Job 38:12(ESV)

Praying For Forgiveness of Sins by Matthew Henry

Earnestly Pray for the Forgiveness of your Sins

I must earnestly pray for the pardon and forgiveness of all my sins.

Lord, I come to you, as the poor tax collector that stood far off and would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast; and I pray his prayer, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”: Luke 18:13(ESV) the God of infinite mercy be merciful to me!

O wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin, for I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:2-3(ESV) O purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow; Psalm 51:7(ESV) hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51:9(ESV)

Be merciful toward my iniquities, and remember my sins no more. Hebrews 8:12(ESV) O forgive me that great debt. Matthew 18:32(ESV)

Let me be justified by your grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus, Romans 3:24(ESV) from everything from which I could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39(ESV)

O let not my iniquity be my ruin; Ezekiel 18:30(ESV) but let the Lord take away my sin, that I may not die, 2 Samuel 12:13(ESV) not die eternally, that I may not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11(ESV)

Blot out my transgressions like a cloud and my sins like mist; for I return to you, because you have redeemed me. Isaiah 44:22(ESV)

Enter not into judgment with your servant, O Lord, for no one living is righteous before you. Psalm 143:2(ESV)

Take away all iniquity, accept what is good, heal my apostasy, and love me freely; let your anger be turned away from me, for in you the orphan finds mercy. Hosea 14:2-4(ESV)

Though my sins have been like scarlet, let them be as white as snow; and though they have been red like crimson, let them be like wool; that being willing and obedient, I may eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:18-19(ESV)

I will say to God, “Do not condemn me, Job 10:2(ESV) but deliver me from going down into the pit, for you have found the ransom.” Job 33:24(ESV)

Introduction To Petition by Matthew Henry

Introduction to Petition
OF THE THIRD PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS PETITION AND SUPPLICATION FOR THE GOOD THINGS THAT I STAND IN NEED OF
Having opened the wounds of sin, both the guilt of it and the power of it, and its remainders in me, I must next seek unto God for the remedy, for healing and help, for from him alone it is to be expected, and this also he will let me ask him to do for me. Ezekiel 36:37(ESV) And now I must affect my heart with a deep sense of the need I have of those mercies which I pray for, that I am undone, forever undone, without them; and with a high esteem and value for them, that I am happy, I am made forever, if I obtain them; that I may like Jacob wrestle with him in prayer, as for my life and the life of my soul. But I must not think in my prayers to prescribe to him or by my importunity to move him. He knows me better than I know myself and knows what he will do. John 6:6(ESV) But thus I open my wants and desires, and then refer myself to his wisdom and goodness; and hereby I give honor to him as my Protector and Benefactor, and take the way which he himself has appointed, of fetching in mercy from him, and by faith plead his promise with him: And if I am sincere in this, I am, through his grace, qualified according to the tenor of the new covenant to receive his favors, and am to be assured that I do and shall receive them. Mark 11:24(ESV)

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? Truly my hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool. Psalm 39:7-8(ESV)

Lord, all my longing is before you, and my sighing is not hidden from you, Psalm 38:9(ESV) even the sighs and groanings that are too deep for words; for, he who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit. Romans 8:26-27(ESV)

I do not think that I will be heard for my many words, for my Father knows what I need before I ask him; Matthew 6:7-8(ESV) but my Master has told me that whatever I ask of the Father in his name, he will give it to me. And he has said, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24(ESV)

And this is the confidence that I have toward him, that if I ask anything according to his will he hears me. And if I know that he hears me in whatever I ask, I know that I have the requests that I have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15(ESV)

Confession: The Second Part of Prayer by Matthew Henry

Introduction and Acknowledgement of the Need for Lowliness before God
OF THE SECOND PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS CONFESSION OF SIN, COMPLAINTS REGARDING MYSELF, AND HUMBLE PROFESSIONS OF REPENTANCE
Having ascribed glory to God, which is his due, Psalm 29:2(ESV) I must next take shame to myself, which is my due, and humble myself before him in the sense of my own sinfulness and vileness; and herein also I must give glory to him, Joshua 7:19(ESV) as my Judge, by whom I deserve to be condemned, and yet hope, through Christ, to be acquitted and absolved.

In this part of my work,

1
I must acknowledge the great reason I have to lie very low before God and to be ashamed of myself when I come into his presence and to be afraid of his wrath, having made myself both odious to his holiness and obnoxious to his justice.

O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for my iniquities have risen higher than my head, and my guilt has mounted up to the heavens. Ezra 9:6(ESV)

To me belongs open shame, because I have sinned against you. Daniel 9:8(ESV)

Behold I am of small account, what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth Job 40:4(ESV) and put my mouth in the dust, for there may yet be hope, Lamentations 3:29(ESV) crying with the convicted leper under the law, “Unclean, unclean.” Leviticus 13:45(ESV)

You put no trust in your holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in your sight. How much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water! Job 15:15-16(ESV)

When my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts, I have reason to cry out, “Woe is me, for I am lost!” Isaiah 6:5(ESV)

Dominion and fear are with you, you make peace in your high heaven: Is there any number to your armies, and upon whom does your light not arise? How then can man be in the right before God, or how can he who is born of woman be pure? Job 25:2-4(ESV)

But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? Psalm 76:7(ESV) You, my God, are a consuming fire, Hebrews 12:29(ESV) and who considers the power of your anger? Psalm 90:11(ESV)

If I claimed to be in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I said, "I am blameless," you would prove me perverse; Job 9:20(ESV) for if you contend with me, I could not answer you once in a thousand times. Job 9:3(ESV)

If I was not aware of anything against myself, yet I am not thereby acquitted, for he who judges me is the Lord, 1 Corinthians 4:4(ESV) who is greater than my heart and knows everything. 1 John 3:20(ESV) But I myself know that I have sinned, Father, against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your child. Luke 15:21(ESV)

Introduction To Adoration by Matthew Henry

OF THE FIRST PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS ADDRESS TO GOD, ADORATION OF HIM, WITH SUITABLE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, PROFESSIONS, AND PREPARATORY REQUESTS

[Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

My spirit being composed into a very reverent serious frame, my thoughts gathered in, and all that is within me charged in the name of the great God carefully to attend the solemn and awful service that lies before me and to keep close to it, I must, with a fixed attention and application of mind and an active lively faith, set the Lord before me, see his eye upon me, and set myself in his special presence, presenting myself to him as a living sacrifice, which I desire may be holy and acceptable to God and a spiritual service; Romans 12:1(ESV) and then bind this festal sacrifice with cords up to the horns of the altar, Psalm 118:27(ESV) in such thoughts as these:

Let me now lift up my heart, with my eyes John 17:1(ESV) and hands, to God in heaven. Lamentations 3:41(ESV)

Let me rouse myself to take hold of God, Isaiah 64:7(ESV) to seek his face, Psalm 27:8(ESV) and to ascribe to him the glory due his name. Psalm 29:2(ESV)

Unto you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1(ESV)

Let me now with confidence enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for his people through the curtain, that is, through his flesh. Hebrews 10:19-20(ESV)

Let me now attend to the Lord with undivided devotion, 1 Corinthians 7:35(ESV) and let not my heart be far from him when I draw near to him with my mouth and honor him with my lips. Isaiah 29:13(ESV)

Let me now worship God, who is spirit, in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4:23-24(ESV)

Prayer's From The Pursuit of God by A.W.Tozer

Chapter 1

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, `Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Chapter 2

Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all Those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Chapter 3

Lord, how excellent are Thy ways, and how devious and dark are the ways of man. Show us how to die, that we may rise again to newness of life. Rend the veil of our self-life from the top down as Thou didst rend the veil of the Temple. We would draw near in full assurance of faith. We would dwell with Thee in daily experience here on this earth so that we may be accustomed to the glory when we enter Thy heaven to dwell with Thee there. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Chapter 4

O God, quicken to life every power within me, that I may lay hold on eternal things. Open my eyes that I may see; give me acute spiritual perception; enable me to taste Thee and know that Thou art good. Make heaven more real to me than any earthly thing has ever been. Amen.


Chapter 5

O God and Father, I repent of my sinful preoccupation with visible things. The world has been too much with me. Thou hast been here and I knew it not. I have been blind to Thy Presence. Open my eyes that I may behold Thee in and around me. For Christ's sake. Amen.

Chapter 6

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, `Speak, for thy servant heareth.' Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy Voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking Voice. Amen.

Chapter 7

(The Vision of God) O Lord, I have heard a good word inviting me to look away to Thee and be satisfied. My heart longs to respond, but sin has clouded my vision till I see Thee but dimly. Be pleased to cleanse me in Thine own precious blood, and make me inwardly pure, so that I may with unveiled eyes gaze upon Thee all the days of my earthly pilgrimage. Then shall I be prepared to behold Thee in full splendor in the day whey Thou shalt appear to be glorified in Thy saints and admired in all them that believe. Amen.

Chapter 8

O God, be thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth's treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee. Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, `Hosanna in the highest.'

Chapter 9

Lord, make me childlike. Deliver me from the urge to compete with another for place or prestige or position. I would be simple and artless as a little child. Deliver me from pose and pretense. Forgive me for thinking of myself. Help me to forget myself and find my true peace in beholding Thee. That Thou mayest answer this prayer I humble myself before Thee. Lay upon me Thy easy yoke of self-forgetfulness that through it I may find rest. Amen.

Chapter 10

`I beseech Thee so for to cleanse the intent of mine heart with the unspeakable gift of Thy grace, that I may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee.' And all this I confidently believe Thou wilt grant me through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen.