Prayer Renews Faith

DAY FOURTEEN

Prayer Renews Faith – Isaiah 54:10 10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Mountains have been shaken and moved, but the promises of God have never broken by any event. We could also view mountains as great men. However, even though men fail, God does not.

God will rebuke and correct His people for sins, but He will not cast them off. Let this encourage us to give more diligence to make our calling and election sure.

Prayer
“Lord, I believe that You have the power to keep my feet from falling. You have set before me life or death – today, I continue to choose life. I can’t make it a day without You. When I consider this world and it’s wickedness, I’m reminded that we are living in the last days. You told us to “look up” – today, I choose to look to You and I’m extremely grateful for Your tender mercies and abundant grace.”

Pray For Wisdom

DAY THIRTEEN

Pray for Wisdom - James 1:5 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Wisdom – definitely something to be cherished in this world. When you have wisdom…you can achieve great things.

Recognize your need for wisdom.

• Wisdom will get you through the greatest trial. Without it, our trials lack joy.
• Wisdom can give you the ability to apply the facts for life application.
• Wisdom can be asked for. “let him ask of God…”
• The good news is – no matter the circumstance we go through, God has provided wisdom in our trials on how to get through them.

What’s required to get wisdom?

• When you ask, do not doubt.
• This is where FAITH enters the picture.
• God is ready and willing to grant us our request, but we must be willing to ask Him to be with us and give us our wisdom in faith…there must not be any doubt.

Five steps to Wisdom

1. Pray – ask God for guidance.
2. Slow Down – we can make bad choices when we’re in a rush.
3. Don’t try to get ahead by living dangerously – swerving in and out of situations is dangerous for you and others. You can’t afford to let self-destructive patterns guide you. It’s very risky and leads to instability.
4. Pay attention to direction – God puts people in your life to help you see the warning signs.
5. If you make an unwise choice it is not the end of the world – quickly make a wise choice to correct your situation.

Pray for our Leaders

DAY TWELVE

Pray for Our Leaders - 1 Timothy 2:1-2 1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Paul is specific about what he feels will grow the church:

• Supplications – this highlights a personal need. From this we can draw an emphasis on something requested.


• Prayers – a spoken or unspoken address to God. Of course, our prayers are not only methods of communication but also a means to worship and honor God.


• Intercessions – the act of pleading on someone’s behalf.


• Giving Thanks – an attitude of gratitude.


• For all men – of course, this is the first objective for our prayers.


• Peaceable – an attitude of tranquility.

Seven Reasons to pray for your Leader

1. So that our life will be good - 1 Timothy 2:1-3


2. Out of respect for God – 1 Timothy 2:3


3. So that souls will be won in peace – 1 Timothy 2:4


4. Because God leads the leaders heart – Proverbs 21:1


5. Cursing your leader is wrong – Ecclesiastes 10:20


6. Your leader is following the rules – Romans 13:1,3,4


7. Out of obedience to the Word of God – 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Let me encourage you today to pray for your leader every day. You may not always agree with your leader’s policies or decisions but you are committed to stand with them as they travel their personal journey in faith.

• Pray for your leader’s spiritual state.


• Pray that your leader will make wise decisions. “The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord…He turneth it whithersoever He will”. (Proverbs 21:1)


• Pray for your leader’s associations.

Prayer
“Lord, thank You for the leaders You have placed in my life. I know they provide a covering for me and have the freedom to speak into my life encouragement, wisdom, correction and charity. I commit to continue to pray for my leaders in every aspect of their life. God, grant them wisdom, purity, discernment and peace in their leadership. As I serve my leader, I will keep their hands raised even when I’m uncertain of the direction, decisions or details.”

Prayer Accesses God's Strength

DAY ELEVEN

Prayer Accesses God’s Strength - Isaiah 40:29-31 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Wait (Websters) = to stay in place; in expectation of

Waiting isn’t something we are comfortable with. As Americans, we tend to have little patience in the realm of waiting for anything. Almost everything in this generation is “instant”. (i.e., coffee, water, potatoes, credit card approval, internet, jello, financing, breakfast, camera, messaging, pudding, texting, etc.)

Why wait? Is it really important to wait? Who benefits? (God or us?)

Learning to wait, in this day of extra busyness and pressure, is essential in our relationship with God. Waiting on God does the following:

1. When we look at Him, we are looking less at ourselves and our own issues.

• When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the cares of this life (bills, schedules, problems, etc.) seem so small.
• It’s like the relationship parents and children share: kids, don’t seem to worry about anything. They know that their parents will provide everything they need in their life. (Food, shelter, clothing, etc.) They don’t even have to ask. Parents just provide these things.
• God is the same way.
• Paul would agree:
• 2 Timothy 4:16-17 16At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
  

2. When we wait on the Lord, we come to realize that God is in control.

• Matthew 6:31-33 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• “Take no thought for…all these things shall be added”
• When we learn to wait expectantly on the Lord, fear and doubt have no choice but to leave us!

How long do I wait on the Lord?

• Could it be a few months, or a lifetime?
• Regardless of how long, here are some things to consider while you wait:

1. Get to know God better
2. Enjoy fellowship with others
3. Do something you love to do
4. Try something new
5. Help someone
6. Be reasonable
7. Refuse to compromise

Fasting & Timing

DAY TEN

Matthew 9:14-15 14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Jesus speaks of two reasons for His disciples not to fast at that particular time:

1. It was not time

Jesus knew the practice of fasting very well. John and his followers had routinely practiced it already. The Pharisees had hoped Jesus would either say John’s disciples were at fault or Jesus’ disciples were at fault. Jesus did neither.

We are tempted to blame others when the light of scrutiny is shining in our direction. However, that is not the time to point our finger at another but merely to stand on our own merits of truth during the inevitable critique.

Notice how Jesus uses the illustration of a marriage. (Of course, a wedding is a time of happiness and joy, not a time of sorrow or sadness)

• Jesus’ disciples were the children of the bride chamber, who were invited to the wedding feast. The Pharisees were considered to be children of the bond-woman who were not invited.
  
• We are like the children of the bride chamber – for we have the spirit of adoption and can celebrate continually. Those in the world, who have not received Christ, carry the spirit of bondage and fear and cannot rejoice.
  
• Jesus’ disciples had the bridegroom with them – John’s disciples did not. John was in prison and in danger of death – that’s why they were more so in a fasting mode.
  
• Jesus knew that one day His disciples would be fasting as He would be taken from them and no more would they be able to hold Him in their arms. This would definitely grieve their hearts and cause much sadness.

2. They were not ready

Jesus uses the illustrations of a new cloth being put on an old garment, which stretches the old pieces; the other is putting new wine into old bottles.

Remember, the disciples of Jesus were new this “ministry thing”. They weren’t trained in the schools of the prophets or the academies of religious scholars. The majority of them were farmers and fishermen who were not used to the rigorous disciplines of spiritual exercises.

• Jesus’ disciples were, if you will, infants to these rituals and requirements. Some of the duties of religion were harder than others, like new cloth and new wine.
  
• We too, are considered babes in Christ who must be nurtured and trained in the right way for proper growth to take place.
  
• Our food, work and exercises must be tempered to our age and maturity levels. When we train the next generation, we must be mindful of what they are actually able to bear. The hardest duties must be reserved for a latter time, lest the young believer is discouraged.
  
• Being mindful of this will help prevent the bottles from breaking and the wine being spilled. Let us side with caution to not be “over doing” when we’re “well doing.”

Video Vitamin 1-19-10

(small glitch in recording at beginning, but it corrects itself)

Pray for our Churches Potential

DAY NINE

Prayer for our Churches Potential – John 17:20-21 20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

I believe Jesus was declaring His desire for the church to rise up and be the church! For that to happen, we must adhere to these six principles.

1. Walk collectively.

• There is power in numbers. One reason the church has lost it’s effectiveness is because it’s become fragmented through differences of opinion and methods.
• Division can destroy vision.
• Our enemy is not our brothers and sisters in Christ – nor other denominational fellowships. Our enemy is Satan.
• We must walk together to see ultimate victory.
• Leviticus 26:8 8And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

2. Worship collectively.

• Psalms 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
• “Us” is the key word.
• Worship is wonderful when it’s an individual time of intimacy with God. But it is absolutely powerful when everyone worships together at the same time!

3. Work collectively.

• The law of synergy in enacted when we commit to work together.
• Together we can accomplish anything!
• When we work together, we are in one accord.
• We know who we are – Children of God…who care more about loving than arguing.
• We know what we are – Believers…who are free from religion and tradition.
• We know what we are to do – Reach people…by loving them and setting them free.

4. Fellowship collectively.

• Spending time with one another in settings outside of worship/preaching is vital for our church health as well.
• Dinners, fellowship events, picnics, cookouts, etc.
• Luke 15:6 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

5. Move collectively.

• Philippians 1:27 27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
• We have been called to move together not just sit together.
• Striving means moving towards something.
• I say, we should strive together and produce excellence for the Kingdom of God.
• If we refuse to move forward we will not change and if we do not change we will not grow.
• Don’t sit down…keep moving forward!

6. Love collectively.

• Colossians 2:2 2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
• What a joy it is to encourage one another. A smile can go a long way.
• It’s also encouraging when we can laugh & cry together.
• Love constrains us. It keeps us together.
• In order to have horizontal love with other another, we must have vertical love with God.

Prayer
“Lord, thank You for believing in me. Thank You for loving me so much that You would put some awesome people in my life as a reflection of Your goodness. I’m so thankful to be part of Your church. I purpose in my heart today to love Your people more affectionately. I will attempt to model a close knit relationship with my brothers and sisters so that You are revealed. Lord, I surrender to Your will.”

Prayer Preserves our Families

DAY EIGHT

Prayer preserves our families – Nehemiah 4:14 14And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Parents have an incredible responsibility to cover their children. If our families are to be protected, then we must fight for them. So much is at stake.

1. Give yourself to the Lord.

• Make up your mind that you’re going to live for the Lord.
• Joshua 2:15 “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

2. Give your children to the Lord.

• By acknowledging God as the owner of your child you recognize yourself as a steward of this precious gift.
• Psalms 127:3 “…children are an heritage of the Lord…”

3. Lead your child to the Lord at an early age.

• Salvation is essential for you and your children.
• If our children are to have a relationship with the Lord, than it will more than likely stem from the example parents give to their children in their own relationship with Christ.
• We must never take salvation for granted.

4. Reverence the Lord with a Godly fear.

• The fear of the Lord is a constant awareness of His holiness, righteousness and justice. As a result, my thoughts, words, actions and deeds are always on display before God.
• Proverbs 16:6 “By mercy and truth iniquity I purged; and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”

5. Alert your children how to identify and oppose evil.

• James 4:6-10 6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

6. Instruct your children about the danger of being “unequally yoked”.

• 2 Corinthians 6:14 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

7. Teach your children to respect and honor authority.

• 1 Samuel 15:23 23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Prayer
“Lord, I commit myself to the protection of my family. I will do everything within my power to keep the way clear from obstruction and unhealthy influences. I am reminded today of the incredible responsibility you have entrusted to me. Thank you for instructing me through Your word. Today is a new day – tomorrow is behind me – tomorrow Your grace will sustain me still. I need You Lord.”

Prayer Places Value on People

DAY SEVEN

Prayer places value on people – Philippians 2:3-5 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Let nothing be done through strife

• Paul is instructing us to refuse to be in opposition with one another and to share the same interests as the body of Christ.
• Our labor must be for the welfare of the whole body, recognizing that each of us function in the use of various gifts.
• Our reputation takes back seat to the consideration of the whole.

But in lowliness of mind

• Humbleness is not having a low opinion of yourselves, it is not thinking of yourselves. This kind of mind will help you prefer others over yourself.
• Each of us have faults that could cause us to be unlovely to one another. However, love will help us to view others in the best light and will give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Look not every man on his own things

• Our motivation has to be checked for selfishness. Why do we do the things we do? Is it for our self-interest or the interest of others.
• All glory goes to God. When we promote God’s glory and the salvation of men, God is honored.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

• The mind of Christ is seen in Jesus’ way of humbling Himself in obedience to the death of the cross.
• He made no reputation for Himself. Everything He did was to bring glory to the Father.
• Let us do the same…let us be humble, patient, laboring for the will of God and let us finish our work.

Prayer

"Lord, help me to see the value in others like You do. May my words be kind and my heart always pure in every relationship. I realize that You have given multiple gifts to your people. I choose to look for the good in others and be accepting of their talents, gifts and personalities just as I would want them to be accepting of mine. May my cup always be ready to receive more from You and those You send to pour into my life. Be exalted Oh God!"

Prayer Relinquishes Control

DAY SIX

Prayer relinquishes control – Luke 22:42 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Jesus’ disciples followed him in the night time into the garden.

• They had been with Him so long…they were'nt about to leave Him now.
• But not all were with Him. Judas had already begun his betrayal.

Jesus went to a place where He could have privacy.

• We too, must find a place where we can commune with God alone.
• When we’re alone with Him…that's when He speaks the loudest. Often, we cannot hear as clearly when we’re surrounded by the noise of people, duties & even ministry tasks.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to PRAY, that they might not enter into temptation to sin.

• The approaching trial could not be avoided.
• Jesus knew they would be tempted to desert Him in the greatest trial before them.

Jesus gave them an assignment.

• “Pray”
• Jesus knew His own assignment as well.
• Jesus knelt down on the bare ground (battleground – if you ask me) and asked for the bitter cup to be removed.
• We see the human nature of Jesus – which totally identifies with us our human frailty.

Jesus knew His Father’s will.

• He was headed towards death.
• There would be suffering and pain.
• He settled it in His heart and embraced our redemption and salvation!
• “Nevertheless not my will be done”
• He submits to the will of God – not the will of human nature.
  

The disciples fell asleep when Jesus was praying.

• Though we often like to point our finger at the disciples for their “seemingly laziness” – I truly believe they were exhausted in their spirit as a result of knowing their Lord was leaving them.
• Bearing one another’s burdens can be heavy to our spirit.

Jesus woke them up and exhorted them.

• “Wake up.”
• “Shake yourself.”
• “Quit being drowsy.”

When we find ourselves at a moment of temptation – we must RISE and PRAY!

Prayer
“Lord, I give up my rights today. I give up my way of doing things. I surrender to Your will. I know I will have to contend with my human nature and it won’t want to give up…but I’m going to push past my will and allow You full access to my heart and life. As this happens, Lord, I will listen with a blood anointed ear to Your voice. Please help me block out the voices of temptation, distraction and selfishness. You are my King and I bow at Your feet.”