Prayer at Novation
How can we pray for you?
Whatever is on your heart, we would love to pray with you. Share a request anytime, and choose whether it goes to the Pastoral team only or to the iPray Team.
Prayer & Care Ministry
A prayer lifted. A meal shared. A reminder that someone cares. These simple acts help us walk alongside one another through life’s joys and challenges.
iPray Team
Receive prayer requests by email and join us in praying for our church family and community.
Take a Meal Team
Share a little comfort by providing a meal for someone welcoming a baby, recovering from surgery, grieving a loss, or walking through a difficult season. Sign up to hear when there’s an opportunity to help.
We’d love to have you join one or both teams.
meets in Room 2 at 9am each week
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER MEETING
Join us to pray together for the needs of the Novation Church community and the world around us.
Learn to Pray
Lord, Teach Us to Pray
Seven Sundays to learn, practice, and grow together.
Have you ever wanted to grow in prayer but weren’t sure where to begin—or wished your conversations with God could go deeper? Together, we’ll explore models of prayer in the Bible and make time to put what we’re learning into practice. Whether prayer is new to you or has been part of your life for years, you’re welcome here.
October 4–November 15, 2026
Sundays at 9:00 a.m.
Room 2 at Novation Church
This seven-week workshop takes the place of our Sunday morning prayer meeting.
Space is limited to approximately 20 people. Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming.
Week 1
Our Father in Heaven
Jesus invites us into his relationship with the Father. We approach the Creator of the universe as his children, welcomed into conversation and community.
Understanding the Prayer
Our Father
Jesus includes us in his relationship with the Father. We approach with praise and thanksgiving, trusting that God is close and welcomes us as his children.
Our—not only mine
Prayer belongs to the whole community. We bring the needs of others alongside our own and remember that we are part of God’s family.
A conversation
Prayer includes speaking and listening. Moses’ conversations with God in Exodus and Numbers offer examples of an honest, ongoing relationship.
Great—and near
Our Father rules over creation and calls us his children. The teacher notes that the Greek word ouranos can refer to heaven or the sky and atmosphere, inviting reflection on God’s greatness and nearness.
Reflect & Discuss
- What do you hope will grow in your prayer life through this course?
- What does it mean to approach the Creator of the universe as Father?
- How does “our Father” shape your view of Christian community?
- How have your experiences with a father or father figure shaped your view of God? What barriers might you want to bring to him?
- How do God’s greatness and nearness shape the way you pray?
Pause & Pray
- Draw near. Come quietly before God, on your own or in a group of three to five. Address him as Father if you can, and express your desire to know him more closely.
- Come honestly. Bring any difficult feelings about the word “Father.” You can begin simply with “God” and ask him to help you know his goodness.
- Rest. Picture yourself welcomed into his care—like a child resting on a loving parent’s lap. Allow quiet without needing to fill it with words.
Practice Between Sessions
- Pray slowly. Say the Lord’s Prayer at least once a day. Pause and meditate on its different phrases.
- Reflect on his goodness. Read Ephesians 1:4–6 and Ephesians 4:6. Consider God’s generosity and welcome as Father.
- Listen. Spend time with “Run to the Father” by Matt Maher or “Good, Good Father” by Chris Tomlin.
Read the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
May your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven those indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
But rescue us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever, Amen.
Scripture & Additional Resources
Scripture: Ephesians 1:4–6 · Ephesians 4:6
Suggested music: “Run to the Father” — Matt Maher; “Good, Good Father” — Chris Tomlin.
Week 2
Hallowed Be Your Name
To hallow God’s name is to honor him as holy. We recognize his greatness and ask how our lives can reflect his character.
Understanding the Prayer
Honor, respect, and awe
“Hallowed” means holy or revered. God’s holiness points to his perfection, eternity, glory, and uniqueness.
His name reveals his character
In Scripture, a name carries meaning. The many names of God offer different viewpoints on his greatness and character.
We bear his name
As image-bearers and witnesses, we represent God to others. The lesson connects the third commandment with bearing his name well, in contrast to the ways his name is dishonored.
His name among the nations
Israel was called to make God known. Moses appealed to God for the sake of his name; Ezekiel describes God’s promise to restore the honor of his holy name.
Reflect & Discuss
- What does “hallowed” mean, and how does it shape your approach to God?
- Which name or description of God helps you understand him more deeply?
- How is God’s name honored or dishonored in the world around us?
- Read Ezekiel 36:22–23. How do you see God’s holiness revealed in Jesus?
- Where do you see God’s glory in creation or other people? How can you participate in honoring his name?
Pause & Pray
- Read Psalm 8. Pray it slowly, aloud on your own or together.
- Consider his names. Choose a name or description of God from Scripture. Reflect on the glory and character it reveals.
- Respond in praise. Honor his greatness and ask that his name would be honored through your life.
Practice Between Sessions
- Pray with someone. Read and pray Psalm 8 together.
- Notice his glory. Look for reasons to celebrate God’s greatness in creation and in other people.
- Honor his name. Ask God for a practical way to reflect his character, then put it into practice.
Scripture & Additional Resources
Scripture: Psalm 8 · Deuteronomy 4:4–8 · Exodus 32:11–13 · Numbers 14:13–16 · Ezekiel 36, especially verses 22–23
Week 3
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done
“On earth as it is in heaven.” We ask God to shape our lives and relationships through his rule and learn to join in his work.
Understanding the Prayer
God’s kingdom is his rule
Jesus announced that God’s kingdom had arrived. The Greek word basileia emphasizes kingship or rule rather than simply a territory.
Inward and outward change
We invite God’s rule into our desires, decisions, and priorities. Those inward changes also shape our relationships and interactions.
Jesus follows the Father’s will
Jesus came to do the Father’s will. Consider the contrast with Adam and Eve turning away from God in the Garden, and what that means for our lives.
Listen and participate
Listening prayer makes room to seek God’s concerns and desires. Jesus invited the Twelve into ministry; we consider how he invites us into kingdom work.
Reflect & Discuss
- If Jesus announced the kingdom had arrived, what are we asking him to do when we pray “your kingdom come”?
- What needs to change within us for God’s kingdom to come in us?
- How would those changes affect our relationships and interactions?
- How does life on earth compare with God’s will being done fully in heaven?
- Read John 4:34. Where might Jesus be inviting you to follow the Father’s will and join his work?
Pause & Pray
- Pray slowly. Repeat “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Pause over its meaning.
- Listen. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize God’s work in the world.
- Offer yourself. Bring your plans and relationships before God. Ask how you can follow Jesus in them.
Practice Between Sessions
- Return daily. Pray this portion of the Lord’s Prayer at least once each day.
- Look for his kingdom. Reflect on what doing God’s will could look like in your ordinary activities. Notice signs of his work around you.
- Act and reflect. Take a faithful step in response. How did it affect you and those around you?
Scripture & Additional Resources
Scripture: Mark 1:15 · John 4:34
Week 4
Give Us Our Bread for Today
We bring everyday needs to a Father who knows and cares. As we pray for provision, we also learn to notice and respond to the needs of others.
Understanding the Prayer
Daily dependence
Daily bread recalls God’s provision of manna in the wilderness. Even with well-stocked shelves, we consider what it means to depend on God today.
Give us
This prayer includes people we know, our city, and our church. We bring their needs alongside our own.
Gratitude before requests
Praise and thanksgiving help us remember God’s provision. Though he already knows our needs, we bring them to him in relationship and trust.
Praying for others
Intercession means praying on behalf of others. Ask: “What is your heart and will for this person? Holy Spirit, how should I pray?” We may also be invited to help meet the need.
Reflect & Discuss
- What does daily bread mean when groceries and supplies are readily available? What do we truly need?
- If God already knows our needs, why bring them to him?
- Whose needs come to mind when you pray “give us”—including our city and Novation?
- When we pray “Please be with this person,” what are we asking for? How could we pray more specifically?
- What could it mean for you to be an answer to someone else’s prayer?
Pause & Pray
- Give thanks. Name ways God has provided for you.
- Bring your real needs. Ask God to help you recognize what you truly need today. Make room to listen.
- Intercede. Bring one person before the Lord. Ask how to pray for that person, then pray for their specific needs.
Practice Between Sessions
- Pray for someone. Quietly bring someone you know before the Lord in listening prayer.
- Consider your response. Is God inviting you to be present with this person in a practical way?
- Encourage. Consider whether there is a loving word of encouragement you can offer.
Scripture & Additional Resources
Scripture: Matthew 6:32 · Background: Exodus 16, the account of manna in the wilderness
Week 5
Forgive Us as We Forgive Others
We bring our sins to God and receive his forgiveness. From that place of grace, we learn to extend forgiveness and welcome to others.
Understanding the Prayer
Sins and debts
The Greek word opheilemata means debts and can describe sin metaphorically. Consider how wronging another person creates a sense of something owed or unresolved.
Receive forgiveness
We are invited to walk in Jesus’ forgiveness rather than remain trapped in guilt. First John 1:9 points to confession and God’s faithfulness to forgive and cleanse.
Extend mercy
Jesus’ teaching about forgiving “seventy times seven” and the parable of the unforgiving servant challenge us to consider how we respond to mercy.
Let love flow outward
As we rest in God’s forgiveness and love, we learn to forgive and welcome others. The lesson invites us to let the Spirit work through those relationships.
Reflect & Discuss
- How can a sin against someone create a debt?
- What helps you receive God’s forgiveness rather than remain caught in guilt?
- Do we always forgive offenses? What makes it difficult?
- What does Matthew 18:21–35 reveal about receiving and extending mercy?
- How might resting in God’s love change the way you forgive and welcome others?
Pause & Pray
- Bring your relationships. Quietly bring before God any hurt or break in a relationship. You do not need to share private details with a group.
- Listen honestly. Ask God to help you recognize your part in an offense and where you need to forgive another person.
- Receive grace. Confess any sins that come to mind. Ask for forgiveness, cleansing, and help taking your next step.
Practice Between Sessions
- Consider what is unresolved. Is there a debt you owe or a wrong you need to acknowledge?
- Seek forgiveness. Prayerfully consider whether you need to ask someone for forgiveness.
- Return to God’s mercy. Bring your sins to the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing, and keep asking for help forgiving others.
Scripture & Additional Resources
Scripture: 1 John 1:9 · Matthew 18:21–35 · Colossians 3:13 · Romans 15:7
Week 6
Lead Us, Not into Temptation—but Deliver Us from Evil
We acknowledge our weakness and ask for God’s guidance and protection, trusting Jesus’ victory over sin and temptation.
Understanding the Prayer
Temptation and testing
The Greek word peirasmos can mean temptation or testing. Read James 1:2–4 alongside James 1:13 and consider the distinction.
Jesus understands struggle
Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness and overcame it. In the Garden, he faced deep struggle and surrendered to the Father’s will.
Bring your limits to God
Testing will happen. This prayer acknowledges our weakness and asks for God’s sustaining care. The teacher expresses it as: “Lord, not in a way that will break me.”
Follow the Spirit toward good
We seek the Holy Spirit’s leadership toward good rather than emptiness or frustration. We ask for deliverance from the enemy’s temptations and live in the reality of Jesus’ victory.
Reflect & Discuss
- What do James 1:2–4 and 1:13 reveal about testing and temptation?
- What encourages you about Jesus having faced temptation and struggle?
- Where do you recognize your weakness and need for God’s protection?
- What helps you recognize the Holy Spirit’s leadership toward good?
- How might Jesus’ victory shape the way you respond to temptation?
Pause & Pray
- Come honestly. Bring a trial, temptation, or area of weakness before God.
- Ask for guidance. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you recognize and follow what is good.
- Ask for protection. Pray for deliverance from evil and strength to trust Jesus in the struggle.
Practice Between Sessions
- Return to this prayer. Bring your need for guidance and protection to God each day.
- Notice your patterns. Reflect on situations in which you are vulnerable to temptation.
- Take a faithful step. Ask what following the Spirit toward good could look like in one of those situations.
Scripture & Additional Resources
Scripture: James 1:2–4 · James 1:13
Week 7 Yours Is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory
Understanding the Prayer
Praying when it is hard
Trials, crises, and compassion fatigue can leave us with few words. We can bring ourselves honestly before God and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help.Remember God’s works
Psalm 77 begins with distress and turns toward God’s great works. Prayer helps us turn our attention toward his power and glory rather than dwell only on our weakness.Pray what you’ve got
We do not need polished words. Moses’ prayer in Numbers 11 shows an overwhelmed person bringing his burden honestly before God.Rest in the Father’s compassion
Psalm 103 reminds us that God knows our frailty. We entrust our uncertainty to his mercy, faithfulness, and enduring love.Reflect & Discuss
- What happens to your prayer life when you feel overwhelmed?
- Read Psalm 77. Where does the psalmist’s attention shift, and what helps him remember?
- What do Moses’ words in Numbers 11:11–14 reveal about honest prayer?
- How does Psalm 103:13–18 help you understand the Father’s care?
- Which aspects of prayer from this course do you want to keep practicing?
Pause & Pray
- Bring your burden. Bring something hurtful, threatening, stressful, or uncertain to the Father’s throne and the foot of the cross.
- Remember who God is. Proclaim his power, faithfulness, mercy, and peace.
- Entrust it to him. Ask for trust in his care and patience with what is unresolved. Tell the Father you want to rest in his love instead of trying to carry everything yourself.
Keep Growing in Prayer
- Keep practicing. Return to the different aspects of prayer explored in this course.
- Remember his faithfulness. Revisit a psalm or recall ways God has cared for you.
- Rest in his love. Keep bringing your concerns to the Father, asking for trust and patience as you follow him.