Week Four
Monday 28th September to Sunday 4th October 2026
Every week we will follow a rhythm where we’ll be praying for a different theme each day.
On Mondays our prayers will focus simply on God.
On Tuesdays we’ll pray for Exeter Vineyard Church.
On Wednesdays we’ll pray for the Church - whether here in Exeter, in the UK or around the world.
On Thursdays for Exeter and the surrounding areas.
And on Friday we’ll pray wider, for our nation and the world.
Over the weekend there is no set devotion, but on Saturday there’ll be a reminder to take time to reflect on anything that might feel like a God-prompt from earlier in the week.
Monday 28th September
On Mondays we focus on God as an act of devotion and worship.
Today we want to think about Jesus, our saviour. Who chose, because of his deep and passionate love for you, to do everything and anything to win you back.
In Hebrews 12:2 it says we should be “keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.”
The amazing implication is that we were the joy Jesus was pursuing.
Today, allow this idea to stir thankfulness and wonder. Use it to banish our feelings of shame and the persistent doubt that Jesus probably doesn’t really love me… and instead, by faith, accept that he saved you, because he wanted to, because he loves you, because it brought him joy.
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Tuesday 29th September
On Tuesdays we’re praying for Exeter Vineyard Church.
Today we want to pray for healthy relationships in the church. This starts from each of us being mature, stable and emotionally healthy… being secure in God’s love, receiving from him and overflowing to others.
Pray we would be a church of interdependent relationships. This is defined as: a healthy balance where two autonomous individuals come together, share mutual support, and rely on each other while keeping their own unique identity.
This is contrasted with independent (“I can do everything on my own and do not need anyone else”) and codependent (“My self-worth and emotional well-being are entirely tied to other people”)
This week is national ‘Single Friendly Church Week’. Let’s pray for single people (those happy to be single, those wishing they weren’t single, those somewhere between) who live in a society - and church culture - that often elevates romantic relationships and marriage to the ‘ideal’.
Let’s pray for marriages, where struggles and issues are often kept secret because it is something not spoken about.
Pray for relationships between parents and children, that at all stages of life they would be loving and healthy and, especially for young families, that the relationships there lead everyone towards Jesus.
Pray for friendships, that we would learn how to do deep and committed friendships that cover the full spectrum of fun and supportive companionship right up to loving challenge and accountability.
And pray that all our relationships would overflow to the people, situations and world around us, exhibiting God’s eternal values and bringing his Kingdom.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
Wednesday 30th September
On Wednesdays we pray for the worldwide Church.
Today we want to pray for the persecuted church. In many countries it’s illegal or dangerous to be a Christian and/or gather as the church.
According to the charity Open Doors 4,849 Christians were killed for their faith last year, something that might seem unimaginable to us.
Open Doors have a World Watch List of nations where it’s dangerous to be a Christian. The top ten are North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya and Iran.
There is an irony that in many of these countries the church is growing and the witness that people have such strong faith they are willing to suffer and even die for what they believe is incredibly powerful.
We might want to be so fired-up for our faith and in love with God that Jesus is the last thing we think about as we go to sleep and the first thing we think about when we wake up. I imagine this comes somewhat more naturally when you worry the secret police or a mob could bash your door down at any moment.
Pray today for Christians in circumstances where their faith makes their life dangerous. It can be in particular nations, but also in certain families. Ask God to strengthen their faith, protect them and allow their witness to shine brighter than the darkness. Pray for those jailed for their faith.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10
One Iranian believer says, “In these days, Psalm 94 has been my comforting passage. It acknowledges despair and injustice, yet declares that God sees, judges and acts.”
Who will protect me from the wicked?
Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
Unless the Lord had helped me,
I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.
I cried out, “I am slipping!”
but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.
When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalm 94:16-19
Thursday 1st October
On Thursday we are praying for our local area.
Devon is about to undergo a reorganisation of its two-tier government system into four unitary authorities. This plan, set to be in place by April 2028, is supposed to make local government simpler, more efficient and better at delivering for the people of Devon.
Let’s pray today for this change, for a transition where all politicians work for the benefit of the county, putting this before party loyalty or personal ambition. Where we have such polarised politics, pray that locally, where the councillors know each other personally, there would be respect and a positive working relationship.
On Wednesday 14th October there is the City Life Conference in Exeter, where leaders of churches and Christian organisations get together to think about how we can be a blessing to the city and beyond. Politicians, such as our MP and City and County Council Representatives and Officers, also come to talk about how they see the church being able to make a positive impact to the city.
Pray for the Church’s relationship to the city, that we can speak with a unified voice to important issues and support the local government to enact Kingdom values in their policies.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4
Friday 2nd October
On Fridays we pray for the world.
Today we’ll pray an audacious prayer - for a worldwide move of God. In a world of more than 8 billion people, God knows every single one. He loves them, wants the best for them and is at work in their life, all in a way beyond our comprehension.
Pray today for a global awakening - for people to ‘wake up’ to their spiritual hunger and need for something beyond what the world can offer them. For people to realise that there is only one true God who make unique claims and works in a unique way with his creation.
Pray for a global church to be prepared, ready and willing to co-work with God in drawing people to his family. Pray for Exeter Vineyard to do this too.
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar,
“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
and from the Lamb!”
Revelation 7:9-10
Saturday 3rd October
The weekend is a chance to think back over the week.
Was there something that stuck with you? A topic you felt connected with you? Some prompt to do something as a response?
We want to be people who don’t just say prayers, but listen for God’s reply and act on it.
As a summary, this week we prayed about:
Jesus our saviour
For healthy relationships in our church family
For persecution in the world wide church
For the local government and it’s coming reorganisation
For a worldwide awakening to the reality of God and his good news