“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked… but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

—Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV)

Begin today by reading Psalm 1. Let its simplicity and clarity frame the way you approach God during this Week of Prayer.

Psalm 1 reminds us that spiritual hunger is shaped by what we delight in. The psalmist paints a vivid picture of a person whose life is rooted in God’s Word. They are steady, nourished, and fruitful, like a tree planted by streams of water. God’s primary way of revealing himself to his people is through Scripture. Therefore, if we desire to know God more deeply, we must spend time listening to him through his Word.

Yet, being rooted in God’s Word means much more than just reading and comprehending it. According to Psalm 1:2, it means finding delight in it. In the original Hebrew, the word delight describes something that is desirable because of its own goodness. God’s Word is not simply useful; it is beautiful, life-giving, and worthy of our affection because it reflects who God is. A hunger for God naturally draws us toward his Word—not out of obligation, but genuine desire.

As we fast and pray, Psalm 1 invites us to ask some honest questions: What do I truly delight in? Where do my thoughts go when distractions are removed? What competes for my affection? Prayer and fasting create space to realign our desires and deepen our hunger for God’s presence through his Word and Spirit.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!”

—Psalm 139:23 (ESV)

Now read Psalm 139 in its entirety. This psalm shows us where true delight leads—wholehearted surrender.

In this psalm, David stands in awe of a God who knows him completely and perfectly. This kind of awareness is both sobering and comforting. God sees every hidden sin, motive, and weakness. Yet he remains gracious and near.

David delights in the fact that God is all-knowing and always present. And because David is convinced that God sees everything perfectly and completely, David then invites God’s examination. Praying, “Search me, O God,” is asking God to restore our spiritual sight and opens the door for real growth. It is an expression of wholehearted surrender. A hunger for God and delight in him should produce in us a glad submission to God’s watch and care over our lives.

One of the humbling realities of fasting is coming face to face with our dependence on God. When physical hunger reminds us of our need, God often uses that space to reveal areas of sin or self-reliance that have gone unnoticed. Consider using the discipline of fasting as a tool for God to reveal to you a weakness that he very clearly sees in your life. 

How is your posture of surrender toward God? Are you fully aware that he sees everything in your life, and are you earnestly welcoming his evaluation? Ask God to increase your delight in him and lead you to a place of joyful and glad submission to Jesus’ lordship over your life.

Prayer:

“Lord, I want to delight in you above all else. Search my heart and reveal anything that keeps me from you. I surrender my sin, my distractions, and my self-sufficiency to you. Increase my hunger for your Word, for your presence, and for your will. Lead me to walk in your ways.”

Daily Prayer Points:

Self-Reflection

• Pray that the Lord would place your heart in a posture of humility and repentance before him.

• Pray for the areas in your life that give you unrest. Pray that you would open your eyes to how God is working in all circumstances.

Our Congregation

• Pray for the spiritual vitality of our church—that people would earnestly grow in their spiritual walk and live out their faith.

• Pray for God to grow us to be in the Word, delighting in God's truth, and for us to live in the light of that truth.

Bethel Ministries

• Pray for our Worship Ministry and all those who lead our church in worship—Dustin Rouse, Payton Leoni, Daniel Asher, and Mitch Pynakker. Pray that our weekend services will provide God-centered, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-empowered corporate worship and singing.

• Pray for Bethel’s Women’s Ministries and Kim McCool, Amanda Vanderzee, and Iris Perez, who are encouraging our women to dig into the deep truths of God's Word. Pray for the Word of Christ to dwell in them richly.

Ministry Partners

• Pray for our ministry partners in the Middle East and Southeast Asia*. Pray for perseverance for those in the persecuted church. Pray that the gospel would continue to spread despite restrictions and hostility.  

• Pray for Wes and Lori Taber as they serve with LIFE in Messiah. Pray for the gospel to be proclaimed to Jewish people around the world. 

• Pray for our partner seminaries in Central America, the Middle East*, and Southeast Asia*, as they train the next generations of Christian leaders. Pray for alumni serving around the world. 

*Name protected for security. 

Praises

• Praise God for meeting us in prayer and meditation on God's Word, and for fellowship with fellow believers.

For Families:

Read Psalm 139:23–24 together. Talk about what it means for God to “search” our hearts—that he knows us completely. Help your kids think about what God might see in their hearts and how surrender means inviting him to lead and change us. Place these verses somewhere in your home where you’ll see them each day.  Work together to memorize them as a family.