Nov 27 – The focus of this week’s prayers is on praying for Sanctified Memories.

Father, Memories can help us know who we are, where we have come from, how we have become who we now are, and be generally positive or negative to our overall well-being.

Thus, they can be good or bad, wonderful or terrible, subconscious only surfacing in abstract forms, linked to a past trauma, or equipping us for future success.

We lay our memories before You – You know each one. Guide us, Holy Spirit, through a process which leads to the healing of any memory area that is damaged, cleansing of any memory that is still used to enjoy a past sin or opens a door to sin in our lives, and renewal in any memory which dampens our ardour for Christ.

We proclaim the Lordship of Christ over our past, and over every memory whether fully accurate, partially so, or distorted by time. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Nov 28 – Father, the senses can stimulate a memory including touch – handling a familiar object. Many people’s most treasured possessions have no intrinsic value except in the sentimental memories invoked when handled or looked at.

Outside influences such as a smells, sound, type of voice, music, an anniversary, a particular vista or scene or place, an experience or loss all bring memories flooding into our mind.

Again Lord, we are praying for the sanctification of our sensory perceptions so that these do not take us into carnality or into a spiritual experience whose origins are in ungodly powers, or even some being demonically based.

Thank You that You are the Creator of our senses, and we, when filled with the fullness of Christ, can use our sense to be the most amazing means of enjoying life and Your Creation.

We proclaim the intrinsic goodness contained in these when renewed and subject to Christ; and pray that our church’s people and ministries, in person and online, will give evidence of full sanctification in spirit, soul and body. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Nov 29 – Father, many people live in the past dwelling amongst their memories of happier days when they were young, or when doing particularly memorable things. These are wonderful, but also can have the propensity to root us in our pre-conversion lives before being in Christ.

Likewise, the memories of past trauma, sadness or loss can cause us to lose sight of Your grace and plan for us today.

Sanctify these memories, Lord, so that each memory is under the lordship of Christ so we can truly remember relationships, marriage, births, weddings, family get-togethers, school or college exam results, university graduations, each job, promotions at work, new business ventures, recognition, moving house, comradeship, and triumph over adversity through the lense of the Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Nov 30 – Father, as Christians, one of the great things we are counselled to do is to renew our thinking by ingesting or absorbing Your Word. Your Word has the power to transform our lives.

Coming to faith in Christ is a defining moment transferring us from darkness to Your Light, giving us a new heart and mind able to understand spiritual things, and bringing us into the New Covenant with all Your wonderful promises of salvation and blessing.

To be filled with Your Spirit is also mind renewing, and as growing in grace and sanctification through the means You determine.

Developing an ongoing walk in the Spirit encountering Your love, life and truth in a radically transforming way – this is the life we pray for; we pray for the renewed mind in Christ in each one of us in church, and among those we love and are friends with, to fully embrace it. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Dec 1 – Father, suffering, blessings, steps of faith, encouragement from other believers, and through many other means are important helping us learn to truly trust Jesus and His work of grace in our lives.

Teach us more how to draw upon His grace each day, and to desire and step into Your Spirit’s fullness each day.

Many people, after conversion, grow in grace and experience the wonder of forgiveness and the new life in Christ. This has a profound effect on creating new memories.

Bring back to our remembrance, Lord, the steps of faith, times You answered our prayers, and the grace we received in difficult or testing times as a means of building faith in us today, and propelling us forward into a deeper and more open Christian life. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Dec 2 –Father, one of the areas that do need to be sanctified, or brought under the lordship of Christ is our memories. We pray for any who are suffering self-condemnation, guilt or loss because of unsanctified memories.

Sometimes these memories are aids to repentance, forgiveness and the cleansing of issues we have never properly, redemptively dealt with; maybe it is an issue or sin that the Spirit is bringing back to our remembrance in order to lead us to desire cleansing, forgiveness and renewal.

You are Creator of everything, and have the right to be Lord of all – including our memories. Therefore, we declare Jesus as Lord of all, including our memories and minds with all that they mean for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Dec 3 – Father, we invite You to do an audit of our memories, and to guide us through the process of renewing them, especially where they are hindering our walk with Jesus.

Satan can cast up past memories of sin or failure as a way of destroying our freedom in Christ. May You help us to be biblically renewed in our minds, including our memories.

We also pray that the important milestones in our faith journey with Christ come once again to the fore in our minds – memories to encourage, build faith and trust, and to lead us forward into a Christ-honouring outlook on life. In Jesus’ name & for His glory. Amen