21 Days of Prayer - Day 18 - Praying for the World

Day 18, January 22, 2020 

Prayer Focus:  Our Missions (Local, National, and International

– Dream Center’s, Prisons, ARC, and Grow)

John 3:16 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God is a sending God! He sent His son for me and for you.

We come alongside God in sending through prayer.

We are making history as we pray for the world. 

Two verses that help me pray for the world.

Psalm 2:8 (NLT)

Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

    the whole earth as your possession.

You just ask and ask with boldly. God, give us the nations. Give us our nation, our cities, schools and neighborhoods. But also give us neighborhoods of the world where are so many people hurting and helpless. They all belong to you. So God, give them all to us .. We pray this with boldness.

This weekend ARC will plant 15 new churches across the United States. We pray that they will have boldness.

God, we pray that you will send people with boldness and no fear. Particularly the 10-40 window.  There are 7.6 billion people on the earth; 3.2 billion live in this window and nations. 80% of these have no church. 

100% of the world’s terrorism is in that window. Most of the world’s poverty and least evangelized places on the earth, is in this window, in this area and nations.

Matthew 9:38 (NKJV)

 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

God calls the world a harvest; not a lost world but a harvest. There are Christians and then there are not yet Christians.

So God we pray and believe  that you are sending out laborers. There is no harvest that is hopeless.  Why? Because we have a God of harvest.

There are people even nearby, that are in need of the harvest, that are in need of hearing the Gospel.

So we are praying and believing that with God’s leading, we can make a difference. We pray for our world.

21 Days of Prayer - Day 17 "Praying and Releasing the Next Generation"

Day 17, January 21, 2020 

Prayer Focus:  Children and Student Ministry

Psalm 127:3-4 (NIV)

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

    offspring a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

    are children born in one’s youth.

Children are a gift from the Lord. But the word “from” can also mean “of”; they are a gift from God, but they are also “of” God. They are entrusted to us.

V. 4 says they are like “arrows” and in a warriors hand powerful tools. 

The process of shooting an arrow is taking your stance, drawing back the arrow, anchor yourself so you are steady, aim and release.

These are great steps in positioning our children to reach their God given potential.

We need to take our stand.  Stand firm in our faith. Believe God for favor and His leading.

Draw them back. Create a tension in their life so that they will want to be around the things of God.

Anchor them.  Psalm 92 talks about how good is to worship and praise the Lord. Anchor your children in the house of God.

Aim. Direct them toward their purpose, their bent, that they may realize the giftedness from God that is in them.

Release. Let them go.. Release them to do great things.

So today we pray for the next generation!

21 Days of Prayer - Day 16 "HONORING LEADERS"

Day 16, January 20, 2020 

Prayer Focus:  Our Leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Why pray? Because prayer works!

Jesus taught about the need of having authority, however what He taught was that you cannot have authority unless you are under authority.

He says here to Timothy, “pray for all people.” It doesn’t matter who they are, pray for them.  Pray for blessings to be in their life. Pray that you will be submissive to them. Pray favor for them. If they might be far from God, pray that God will bring people into their pathway that they might come to know Jesus. Speak favor and blessings to leaders, no matter who they are.

Today I suggest that we submit and pray for 4 areas:

Our parents, in the work place, civil authorities and for those in spiritual authorities.  

No matter what you  think about these people, pray for them. Maybe ask God to help you adjust your thinking and attitude; but for sure pray and speak blessing and favor to them. 

Paul taught in Romans 13:1-2

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He found the right balance to stand against something peacefully and honorably. 

In honor of him, here are just a few quotes (He has many quotable quotes):

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” – Martin Luther King Jr. “He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.”

“… What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”