Day 21: A Renewed Commitment

Scriptures:

Joshua 24:15 (Old Testament):
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Romans 12:1 (New Testament):
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Reflection: Joshua 24:15 challenges us to choose whom we will serve, while Romans 12:1 calls us to present our lives as a living sacrifice to God.

Questions:

1. How can you renew your commitment to serving God in all areas of your life, and what changes might this require?

2. What steps can you take to offer yourself as a living sacrifice, fully devoted to God’s will and purposes?

Thank you for joining us on this transformative journey. Let’s embrace each day with faith and expectation, trusting that God will do amazing things in our lives.

Day 20: Reflecting on Growth

Scriptures:

Colossians 2:6-7 (New Testament):
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Psalm 92:12-14 (Old Testament):
“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.”

Reflection: Colossians 2:6-7 encourages us to be rooted and built up in Christ. Psalm 92:12-14 depicts how the righteous grow and flourish when planted in God’s presence.

Questions:

1. What spiritual growth have you experienced during this fasting period, and how can you continue to nurture this growth?

2. How does being rooted in Christ and flourishing in His presence impact your life and your role in the community?

Day 19: Spiritual Warfare

Scriptures:

Ephesians 6:10-11 (New Testament):
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 (Old Testament):
“And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’”

Reflection: Ephesians 6:10-11 describes the armor of God for spiritual battles. 2 Chronicles 20:15 assures us that the battle belongs to the Lord.

Questions:

1. What spiritual battles are you facing, and how can you rely on the armor of God to stand firm?

2. How does knowing that the battle belongs to God impact your approach to spiritual warfare?

Day 18: The Call to Serve

Scriptures:

Mark 10:45 (New Testament):
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Micah 6:8 (Old Testament):
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Reflection: Mark 10:45 shows that Jesus came to serve others. Micah 6:8 calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Questions:

1. In what ways can you serve others during this time of fasting, and how does this reflect Jesus’ example?

2. How can you incorporate acts of justice, kindness, and humility into your daily life?

Day 17: God’s Unfailing Love

Scriptures:

Psalm 136:1 (Old Testament):
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Romans 8:38-39 (New Testament):
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Reflection: Psalm 136:1 declares that God’s love endures forever. Romans 8:38-39 assures us that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Questions:

1. How have you experienced God’s steadfast love in your life, and how can reflecting on this deepen your relationship with Him?

2. What are some practical ways you can show and share God’s unfailing love with others?

Day 16: The Power of Community

Scriptures:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New Testament):
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (Old Testament):
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

Reflection: Hebrews 10:24-25 highlights the importance of encouraging one another and meeting together. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 shows the strength found in community and mutual support.

Questions:

1. How can you actively encourage and support others in your community or church during this fasting period?

2. In what ways can strengthening your community connections help you grow spiritually and personally?

Day 15: Walking in Faith

Scriptures:

Hebrews 11:1 (New Testament):
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Habakkuk 2:4 (Old Testament):
“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

Reflection: Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see. Habakkuk 2:4 declares that the righteous live by faith.

Questions:

1. What areas of your life require you to step out in faith, and how can you trust God despite not seeing the outcome?

2. How does living by faith impact your daily decisions and overall outlook on life?

Day 14: Cultivating Patience

Scriptures:

Galatians 5:22-23 (New Testament):
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Proverbs 14:29 (Old Testament):
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”

Reflection: Galatians 5:22-23 highlights patience as a fruit of the Spirit. Proverbs 14:29 shows that patience leads to understanding and wisdom.

Questions:

1. In what areas of your life do you struggle with impatience, and how can you cultivate patience through the Spirit’s fruit?

2. How can practicing patience in daily situations help you grow in understanding and align with God’s will?

Day 13: The Peace of God

Scriptures:

Philippians 4:6-7 (New Testament):
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 26:3 (Old Testament):
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Reflection: Philippians 4:6-7 promises that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds. Isaiah 26:3 assures that perfect peace is found in keeping our minds focused on God.

Questions:

1. What anxieties or concerns can you bring before God in prayer today, and how can you seek His peace in these areas?

2. How can focusing on God and His promises help you experience His peace more fully?

Day 12: Confession and Healing

Scriptures:

James 5:16 (New Testament):
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Psalm 32:5 (Old Testament):
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

Reflection: James 5:16 teaches that confession and prayer lead to healing. Psalm 32:5 emphasizes the importance of confessing our sins to God for forgiveness and restoration.

Questions:

1. Are there any specific sins or areas of your life that you need to confess and seek healing for during this time of fasting?

2. How can confessing and praying with others enhance your spiritual healing and growth?

Day 11: The Joy of the Lord

Scriptures:

Nehemiah 8:10 (Old Testament):
“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’”

John 15:11 (New Testament):
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Reflection: Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. John 15:11 shows that Jesus’ joy can be in us, making our joy complete.

Questions:

1. How can you cultivate and express the joy of the Lord during your fasting period, even in challenging circumstances?

2. In what ways can experiencing and sharing Jesus’ joy impact your relationships and daily life?

Day 10: Renewing the Mind

Scriptures:

Romans 12:2 (New Testament):
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Psalm 119:11 (Old Testament):
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Reflection: Romans 12:2 urges us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, while Psalm 119:11 emphasizes the importance of hiding God’s word in our hearts to guide our actions.

Questions:

1. What specific thoughts or patterns do you need God to renew in your mind, and how can you use Scripture to support this transformation?

2. How can regularly engaging with the Bible help you align your thoughts with God’s will?

Day 9: Strength in Weakness

Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Testament):
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Psalm 73:26 (Old Testament):
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Reflection: 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches that God’s strength is perfected in our weakness. Psalm 73:26 shows that even when we feel weak, God is our strength and portion forever.

Questions:

1. In what areas of your life do you feel weak, and how can you rely on God’s strength and grace in those areas?

2. How can acknowledging your weaknesses lead to a deeper reliance on God’s power and presence?

Day 8: Embracing Simplicity

Scriptures:

Matthew 6:25-34 (New Testament):
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Old Testament):
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Reflection: Matthew 6:25-34 urges us not to be anxious about material needs but to seek God’s kingdom first. Ecclesiastes 3:1 highlights the importance of timing and the peace that comes from embracing God’s seasons in our lives.

Questions:

1. What are some areas of your life where you can simplify or reduce anxiety, and how can seeking God’s kingdom help with this?

2. How can embracing simplicity and trusting in God’s timing bring peace and clarity to your life?

Day 7: Reflecting on God’s Provision

Scriptures:

Philippians 4:19 (New Testament):
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 23:1 (Old Testament):
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Reflection: Philippians 4:19 promises that God will meet all our needs according to His riches. Psalm 23:1 assures us that the Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want.

Questions:

1. How has God provided for your needs in the past, and how can you trust Him to continue providing during this season of fasting?

2. What are specific needs or desires you have right now, and how can you look to God as your provider in these areas?

Day 6: Interceding for Others

Scriptures:

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (New Testament):
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

Job 42:10 (Old Testament):
“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

Reflection: 1 Timothy 2:1-2 calls us to make intercessions for others, including leaders. Job 42:10 demonstrates how Job’s intercession led to his own restoration and blessings.

Questions:

1. Who in your life or community could benefit from your intercession today, and how can you specifically pray for them?

2. How has interceding for others impacted your own spiritual journey or experiences?

Day 5: Gratitude in the Fast

Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New Testament):
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Psalm 100:4-5 (Old Testament):
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

Reflection: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances. Psalm 100:4-5 reminds us that gratitude opens the gates of God’s presence.

Questions:

1. What specific things can you be thankful for today, even as you are fasting, and how can expressing this gratitude impact your spiritual journey?

2. How can you integrate more practices of thanksgiving into your daily routine?

Day 4: Listening to God

Scriptures:

Psalm 46:10 (Old Testament):
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

John 10:27 (New Testament):
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Reflection: Psalm 46:10 invites us to be still and recognize God's sovereignty. John 10:27 assures us that Jesus knows us and we can hear His voice.

Questions:

1. What are some practical steps you can take to create moments of stillness and quiet in your life to better hear God’s voice?

2. How can you become more attuned to recognizing and following Jesus’ voice in your daily decisions?

Day 3: The Power of Fasting

Scriptures:

Matthew 6:16-18 (New Testament):
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Isaiah 58:6-9 (Old Testament):
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

Reflection: Matthew 6:16-18 teaches that fasting is an act of humility and devotion, not for public display but for God alone. Isaiah 58:6-9 reveals that fasting should be a catalyst for justice and compassion.

Questions:

1. How can you ensure that your fasting practice remains a personal and genuine act of devotion rather than seeking recognition from others?

2. In what ways can your fasting be a means of bringing about justice and helping those in need?

Day 2: Seeking God’s Guidance

Scriptures:

James 1:5 (New Testament):
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (Old Testament):
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Reflection: James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom, and He will give generously. Proverbs 3:5-6 guides us to trust in the Lord and seek His understanding.

Questions:

1. In what areas of your life are you currently seeking guidance, and how can you specifically ask God for wisdom in these areas?

2. How can you better trust in God’s understanding rather than relying on your own in your daily decisions?

Day 1: A Fresh Start

Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New Testament):
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 (Old Testament):
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Reflection: As we begin this journey, let’s embrace the newness that God offers us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that in Christ, we are a new creation. Lamentations 3:22-23 assures us that God's mercies are new every morning.

Questions:

1. What old habits or attitudes do you feel God is calling you to leave behind as you start this new season?

2. How can you embrace and make the most of the newness that God is offering you today?

Week 3 || Day 7

PRAYER FOCUS: OUR OWN NEEDS/WANTS

As we prepare to go before God today with our own concerns and requests, it is of utmost importance that we first remember that God’s Presence is greater than God’s Provision. Who He is FAR outweighs what He provides. Earlier in this study we looked at Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego who made it clear that EVEN IF God didn’t answer their prayers as they wanted - they wouldn’t stop believing in Him!

In light of that, it is also important to know that God is a FATHER - and one who loves to bless His Children! So much so that Jesus tells us in the Bible that “whatever you ask from the Father, He will give it to you in My name.” (John 16:23). This doesn’t mean ponies will appear in our kitchen or we’ll wake up to a barnful of cash. We should be praying according to the Word of God. If you’re not sure where to start - Jesus offers a great place - Matthew 6:9-13 “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, 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 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Following that prayer - we can ask for needs and desires. As our Father, He loves to bless us!

Illustration: “Among those in the court of Alexander the Great was a philosopher of outstanding ability but little money. He asked Alexander for financial help and was told to draw whatever he needed from the imperial treasury. But when the man requested an amount equal to $50,000, he was refused--the treasurer needing to verify that such a large sum was authorized. When he asked Alexander, the ruler replied, ‘Pay the money at once. The philosopher has done me a singular honor. By the largeness of his request he shows that he has understood both my wealth and generosity.’” - Today in the Word, August 1991.

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Kids SEEK, too!

Kids’ Illustration: A lady once took her children to a restaurant. Her six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As he bowed his head he said, “God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!”

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, a woman remarked, “That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!”

Hearing this, the boy burst into tears and asked asked his mother, “Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?”

As she held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at the boy and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.”

“Really?” the boy asked.

“Cross my heart,” the man replied.

Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), “Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.”

The mother bought her kids ice cream at the end of the meal. Her son stared at his for a moment, and then did something unusual. He picked up his ice cream and walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already.” - source unknown

Kids’ Activities for Today’s Prayer Focus: Lord’s Prayer Coloring Sheet

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Bible:

“But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” (Psalm 69:13)

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)“

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5-7)

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Quote for Today:

“If the request is wrong, God says, ‘No.’ If the timing is wrong, God says, ‘Slow.’ If you are wrong, God says, ‘Grow.’ But if the request is right, the timing is right and you are right, God says, ‘Go!’” - Bill Hybels, Too Busy Not To Pray

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Points to Ponder:

• Start by praying The Lord’s Prayer.

• List requests and needs. Think back to Day 5 of our 21 days and P.R.A.Y.

• P- Praise and worship God

• R - Repent as you confess sins and shortcomings

• A - Adoration and thanksgiving

• Y - Your needs and desires

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CLOSING PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you and we bring our worship to you. On a world where other things try to distract us from You we choose to focus on the wonder of who You are! We thank you that you are Good. We thank you that you are Holy and magnificent. We honor you. Today we ask that You would correct our hearts and clean up any YUCK that you find in us. We ask that you would enable us to turn from anything that stands against Your will and seek you wholly! We are so thankful for your mercy and grace. We are thankful for the blessings you have placed in our lives. And today Jesus, we also pray for (your requests and concerns) _____________. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Week 3 || Day 6

PRAYER FOCUS: OUR CHURCH FAMILY/MISSIONARIES

The world exists as a canvas for God’s glory. One way God is expanding His Glory is through missionaries living all over the world. To some of us, it may seem exotic and exciting to live that life - and it may be! - but there can be a heaviness that goes with it. There may be loneliness or a feeling of missing out. There are still hardships and can be danger as well. There are challenges to learning new languages - or if they are local - new customs and behaviors. Our missionaries and mission partners need our prayers and encouragement. And those in our church families do as well. Often there are difficult things that people are walking through that they may only share with a few close friends. We may not know all of the circumstances - but prayer can go places we can’t! All over the world - and it can even enter the hearts and minds of those we pray for. Prayers are so important to strengthen the global body of Christ. They are our roots! Roots do the hard work of grounding and strengthening the tree. They are often hidden but are not less important than other things we can do as believers.

Illustration:
“The first message at the birth of Christ was a missionary message—Luke 2:10

The first prayer Christ taught was a mission­ary prayer—Matt. 6:10

The first disciple, Andrew, became the first missionary—John 1:41

The first message of the Risen Lord was a missionary message—John 20:17

The first command of the Risen Lord to his disciples was a missionary command—John 20:21

The first sermon given by an apostle was a missionary sermon—Acts 2:17-39

The first reason the Lord gave for Christian love was a missionary reason—John 13:35

The first coming of Christ was for mission­ary work—Luke 6:13-21

The second coming of Christ is to be prompted by missionary work—Matt. 24:14

Our Savior's last wish was a missionary wish—Matt. 28:19

The last wish of the Jesus as he was leaving should be the first wish of believers.—(Mark 16:15)” - source unknown

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Kids SEEK, too!

• Note to caretakers: Encourage kids to ask others in the congregation what they need prayer for. Then ask if you can pray right then and there!

Kids’ Illustration: 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola. 72% of the world has seen a can of Coca-Cola. 51% of the world has tasted a can of Coca-Cola. Coke has only been around since 1886 - 135 years! If God had given the task of sharing Jesus to the Coke company it would probably be done by now! (Source unknown)

However - God gives US the opportunity to share Jesus! We can do that right where we are and we can also pray for those who are doing that around the world. Life West Church supports many missionaries right here in Grand Rapids (you can find more at the Give page on our website), in the United States (including Hawaii!), and in Japan, Guatemala, Thailand, Uganda, and TWO missionary organizations in India!

Kids’ Activities for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• Pray for People Around the World

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Bible:

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message…” (Colossians 4:2-3 NIV)

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:19 NIV)

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1 NLT)

“And then he told them, ‘ Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” (Mark 16:15 NLT)

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Quote for Today:

“In no other way can the believer become as fully involved with God’s work, especially the work of world evangelism, as in intercessory prayer.” — Dick Eastman, president of America’s National Prayer Committee

“We can reach our world, if we will. The greatest lack today is not people or funds. The greatest need is prayer.” — Wesley Duewel, head of OMS International

“Prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work.” — A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

“The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.” — Samuel Zwemer, missionary nicknamed “The Apostle to Islam” 

“Just a word of warning. Passionate prayers not only change the world, they have a way of transforming the people who pray. … God’s goal is to recruit every one of us for his search and rescue team.” — Debbie Meroff, author

“I never knew before how much is dependent upon a full cooperation with the Lord in prayer. He has, in some sense, limited himself to the scope of the prayers of his people, as taught them by his Spirit. What a partnership prayer is!” — Phil Armstrong, SEND International’s first director 

“Prayer needs no passport, visa or work permit. There is no such thing as a ‘closed country’ as far as prayer is concerned … much of the history of mission could be written in terms of God moving in response to persistent prayer.” — Stephan Gaukroger, British philosopher and historian

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Points to Ponder:

• Below is a prayer to pray but there are many ways we can pray for our missionaries and our congregation!

• Pray for the boldness to share Jesus

• Pray for protection for them and their families

• Pray for peace in the missionary organizations

• Pray for the salvation of the missionary’s own family

• Pray for their emotional needs

• Pray for their relationship with God - that it would be continuously strengthened

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CLOSING PRAYER: Father God, today we pray for missionaries around the world. We ask that you would open doors for them to be able to share the truth of your Gospel. We ask that you would protect them as they do so. We also ask that the Holy Spirit would continue to soften the hearts of the people who will be hearing the Bible for the first time, so that the message may be planted in their hearts and take root to grow strong! We pray that the missionaries would have a boldness for sharing who You are and the account of Jesus! We stand against any tricks of the enemy that would stand in the way of our missionaries and that you would help to remove obstacles from the paths of those furthering the Gospel. Finally, we pray that their ministry would be effective and fully lead by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Week 3 || Day 5

PRAYER FOCUS: THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED OF HEALING/TRIALS AND UNCERTAINTIES

As a child, I never dreamed of wanting a garden. However, when Samuel and I got married, the idea of growing our food on our property got me excited. As a lover of books, I knew right where to start. I hopped online and requested every book on gardening that the library had to offer. I read the beautiful how-tos—from amending soil to harvesting perfectly round watermelons—I studied the effects of different minerals and fertilizers. I gathered the supplies I would need. I was ready!

And then I began my garden. It was soon overtaken by cutworms and rotting roots and weeds. My watermelons looked like olives. My soil was dense and did a better job of creating perfect mini ponds than nourishing plant life.

I soon learned that reading about gardening was much, MUCH different than actually gardening. I needed to spend time in the soil, feeling it in my hands and addressing the specific pests and issues that my soil produced. I needed to try different things and then switch up my practices if they didn’t work. My success in gardening has come much more in getting my hands dirty than in filling my head.

Prayer is similar. Successful prayer isn’t gained by learning, but by leaning. Just as gardening became easier and more fruitful as I practiced it, so, too, does prayer become more fruitful as it is practiced. We are meant to lean on the understanding and Word of God and pray! As we pray, then, we will see things change. We will grow more accustomed to how God speaks to us and how He allows His will to be accomplished.

“Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God.” - E. Stanley Jones, Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome

Today, we are praying for healing and for rescue from trials and uncertainties. When praying for these things, it is important for us to first understand God’s will in the matter. In the Lord’s Prayer, we see that Jesus instructed his disciples to pray, “Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We know that in Heaven there is no illness, no trials or tribulations. So we pray in accordance with that. We can boldly come before God, asking for healing and rescue from trials, knowing that it is in accordance with His Word. Again, as we discussed in the story of Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego in week one, we must also be prepared to glorify God as Lord “even if” He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we see fit.

Illustration: “On October 15, 1997, David Huxley strapped a harness around his upper torso and attached it to a steel cable some fifteen yards long. The other end of the steel cable was attached to the front-wheel strut of a 747 jetliner that weighed 187 tons. With his tennis shoes firmly planted on the runway, Huxley leaned forward, pulled with all his might, and began moving the jetliner down the runway. In fact, he pulled the 747 one hundred yards in one minute and twenty-one seconds.

God’s work resembles that 747 jetliner.  Just as it is impossible to pull a plane any real distance without using its engines, we can do nothing in our own strength.  We must pray for God’s power that enables His church to fly thousands of miles on the wings of Christ. The church needs God's strength and help to grow”. - Craig Brian Larson

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Kids SEEK, too!

Kids’ Illustration: From a student in the United Arab Emirates: When I was in school, I had to take the bus to travel back and forth each day, spending several hours on the bus. No one else went to my stop so it was of least importance and was the last stop. Some days I didn’t get home until late at night. The smell on the bus made me very sick and I would get home, not wanting to eat anything because my belly ached. It was tiring and frustrating. I knew it was a privilege for me to be able to go to school, but I was losing my desire to attend due to how sick I felt. I decided to pray that God would lessen the amount of time it took me to get to school. After three weeks of constant prayer, God answered my prayers! One day, many other kids from my neighborhood enrolled at the school, which led to a new bus being needed! My new bus only had one stop and my time on the bus was cut to a very short ride! God is good and He heard and responded to my prayers.

Kids’ Activity for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• Praying for Others in Need

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Bible:

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26 NLT)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

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Quote for Today:

“When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we really upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do, and so on. Nor am I disposed to undervalue any of these things in their proper place, but when we real upon prayer, we get what God can do.” - A. C. Dixon, Evangelism, A Biblical Approach.

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Points to Ponder:

• It is important when we pray that we pray according to the Word. One of the best ways to pray for others is by doing just that - praying through the Bible! We have an excellent prayer tool that you can use to do that!

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CLOSING PRAYER: Dear God, we thank you that one name you have revealed yourself to us by is Jehovah Rapha, the God who Heals. We thank you that you sent Jesus so that we could pray that Your will would be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven. We thank you for healing for sickness and disease. We thank you for healing aches and pains. We thank you for healing broken hearts and broken minds. Father, we ask that you would continue to reveal ways that we can pray boldly to you, according to Your Word. We love you, Father! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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Week 3 || Day 4

PRAYER FOCUS: WIDOWS/ORPHANS

When it comes to the church, God has been clear that we are called to care for the widows and orphans among us.

While the two groups (and even the individuals within each group!) are vastly different in many respects - their personalities, challenges, financial status, and demographics - many of their basic needs are the same.

Here are 6 areas of prayer for widows and orphans:

Deliverance from Shame - Many widows and orphans feel blame for their positions. They may experience deep shame that doesn’t belong to them at the loss of their spouse/parents. As we’re praying for widows and orphans, we pray that God would continue to show them the truth of his Word - that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.” (Romans 8:1-2)

Provision - Often widows and orphans are more at risk financially. One aspect of the 1st century church that was so appealing to outsiders was how they cared for all of their members. While other religions were mainly expected to give to the temples of their Gods - the Christian faith commanded that the body of believers care for each other as well, so there would be no need. God has promised to meet the deepest needs of widows and orphans - and one major way He does that is through the community of saints - other Christians! As we pray for widows and orphans to find provision (through skills, careers, etc.) we also must keep our eyes and ears open to practical needs that we can fulfill, both as individuals and as the church.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Freedom from Rejection - Widows and orphans are often left to find a new place in their worlds. What has always been known to them slips away and there may be a void to how they sense their “belonging.” Belonging is a strong longing of every heart, so as a church it is vital for us to surround our friends who have lost their dear ones and envelope them in a community that welcomes them in and cherishes them. As Hebrews 13:5 states - “I will never desert you, nor will I every forsake you.” The church must act as Christ’s representative here on Earth and rally around the widows and orphans in our midst. God has also promised that He “sets the lonely in families.” (Psalm 68:6 NIV) One “family” that they are set in is the Church.

Peace - Fear can disguise itself as a friend to those who are hurting and have lost loved ones. It attempts to steal the future by highlighting the past. But fear is something we are to stand against. In the New Testament, we read the words “one another” 100 times. This is a powerful concept because often those who are in a thriving season of life can stand in for those who are hurting and remind “one another,” encourage “one another, “ pray for “one another,” in ways that the mourning are unable to do on their own. As we read through the Bible, it is clear to see that God’s message on the brink of any new undertaking is “Do not fear!” As we pray over the widows and orphans in our congregation - and across the world! - be sure to pray against any fear they may be facing.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

Protection - Psalm 68:5 tells us that God is “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows.” (NIV) Those who have lost parents and husbands require protection - emotionally, physically, and spiritually. God has promised that he is a defender of widows and a father to the fatherless. What do defenders and fathers do? They protect! They wrap loving arms around those they love to keep them safe from harm. We are the hands and feet of Jesus and so we must pray for our widows and orphans and offer protection by being advocates for the needs of our most vulnerable.

Comfort - All who are mourning need to know God is with them. There are often many shattered dreams and numerous levels of disappointments when we lose someone dear to us. God has told us that He is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV) As those in our midst are navigating their grief, come alongside them - in prayer and action - to comfort them.

Illustration: The following account is from Nancy Guthrie, who has lost two children.

Because my husband David and I have gone through the death of two of our children, and we do a lot of speaking and interacting with grieving people, oftentimes people ask us, “What do I say to someone who has just lost someone, or what do I do?” None of us wants to be that person who says the really stupid thing, or the really insensitive thing.

The first thing I would say to someone when you’re trying to figure out what to do in regard to someone who’s going through grief is, “Say something.” Let’s face it, it’s awkward sometimes to know exactly what to say, and we have the sense in which we want to say something that’s meaningful, maybe even memorable, compassionate. But the truth is, when you’re going through grief, you don’t need people to say something that’s any of those things. You just really want a sense that they’re with you in it, that they want to be with you in it. People in grief want to know that others are, in a sense, carrying some of the sorrow that they are experiencing — just by the fact that others express that they care.

So often one of the best things to say is, “I don’t know what to say.” When you say to a grieving person, “I don’t know what to say,” in a sense it shows respect for their loss, as if I don’t presume to have an easy right answer, something to say that’s going to fix this. And so that’s a good thing,

Or just to say, “I’m so sad.” Sometimes we tend to think that someone who’s going through grief, that their sadness is a problem. And we want them to get through that sadness to being happy again — or back to some sense of normal — and yet it makes sense when you’ve lost someone you love, that you be sad.

And so to interact with someone, anticipating that they would be sad, and then expressing, “I am sad with you.” I mean, grief is a very lonely experience. You know, even if all your friends are there for you in the best way possible — your spouse is there for you, all of those things — the essence of grief is a deep, pervasive loneliness. And it means so much for people around us to overcome the awkwardness — and maybe even the desire and fears that I’ll say the wrong thing — to say something. Honestly, the most painful thing is when you’ve had a loss and someone around you—because of the awkwardness — never acknowledges it. That’s what hurts the most. Because what it says to you is that person you love who died doesn’t even really merit a mention. And that’s devastating. 

I think another thing that keeps us from saying something to someone who has lost someone is that we think to ourselves something like, “Well, lots of other people are saying something to that person, and so they won’t even notice if I never acknowledged it.” 

But here’s the truth. When you’ve gone through the loss of a loved one, it’s almost as if there is a barrier put up between you and every person in your world. And it’s not until that person acknowledges your loss that that barrier comes down. And it doesn’t have to be anything brilliant.

And sometimes it can even be wordless. I can think of times when I was going through grief when someone just came next to me and squeezed my hand or gave me even a knowing look, with that sense of, “I know what’s going on, and I’m sad and I’m in a sense speechless.” 

And then one of the really beautiful things some people did was actually weep in my presence. And I know that sounds awkward for some people — I think especially men. I know for my husband, he wouldn’t say, “Wow, I was really hoping people would come and cry with me.” That wasn’t the form his grief took.

But for many of us, when you’re carrying this huge load of sorrow and you look up, and you see someone who is shedding tears — that they are so identifying with your loss that they are in a sense carrying some of the load of sorrow for you — that’s an incredible gift to give to someone who’s grieving.

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Kids SEEK, too!

• Note to caretakers: Loss can be a difficult thing to navigate in conversations with children. Take care to use language that is considerate of the child’s age. Using language with words like “sad” or “lonely” can go a long ways to explaining the hurt to a child. Also highlight that there is hope - even when things seem scary or uncertain! God is a redeemer - He loves to restore what has been lost!

Kids’ Illustration: Things looked bleak for the children of George Muller's orphanage at Ashley Downs in England. It was time for breakfast, and there was no food. A small girl whose father was a close friend of Muller was visiting in the home. Muller took her hand and said, "Come and see what our Father will do." In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs. Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but there was no money in the home's account. Muller prayed, "Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat." Immediately, they heard a knock at the door. When they opened it, there stood the local baker. "Mr. Muller," he said, "I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at 2 o'clock and baked fresh bread. Here it is." Muller thanked him and gave praise to God. Soon, a second knock was heard. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He said he would like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart and repair it. - source unknown

God knows all about things that we may be uncertain about. He knows our challenges and He wants us to be praying about them!

Kids’ Activities for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• Neighborhood Drawing

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Bible:

“He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace.” (Psalm 68:5 NET)

“You must not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless.” (Exodus 22:22-24 NET)

“Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!” (Isaiah 1:17 NET)

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Quote for Today:

“God is pleased with no music below so much as the thanksgiving songs of relieved widows and supported orphans; of rejoicing, comforted, and thankful persons.” - Jeremy Taylor

“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” - Margaret Mead

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Points to Ponder:

• While it may seem uncomfortable to ask about the individuals who have passed away in the lives of those we love, it is often a great comfort to talk about dear memories or times they laughed.

• Sitting with those who are hurting is a wonderful way to show you care.

• Consider sponsoring a child - or start with praying for orphans and children around the world!

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CLOSING PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have told us that you are a “stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9) We ask that you would continue to be what you have said in the lives of all of the widows and orphans in our midst and in our world. Hosea 14:3 tells us that in you “the orphan finds mercy.” Father, we ask that that mercy would be evident in the lives of each orphan as they seek You. Deuteronomy 10:18 tells us that You “execute justice for the fatherless and the widow.” Come forth and execute justice for those who are in mourning. We also know that John 14:18 offers Your promise that you “will not leave [us] as orphans; [You] will come to [us].” Father, we pray in the name of Jesus, that you would continue to be with those who are hurting at the loss of loved ones - comfort them, provide for them, wrap them in your Love - and instruct us on how to do the same. Amen.

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Week 3 || Day 3

PRAYER FOCUS: THE LOST

Samuel used to think that drones were pretty lame. He didn’t get the appeal. While he didn’t go so far as to mock people who liked drones, they just weren’t his thing. He might watch some drone footage here or there, but it never piqued his interest.

Then someone bought Samuel a drone as a gift. At first he thought maybe he’d return it and use the money for something else. But then he decided to take it out and give it a try.

Less than a week later, I (Becca) knew that if I couldn’t find Samuel he was probably working on or flying his drone. He would hook it up to his iPad and all the kids could stand around as Samuel flew the drone over our neighborhood, high above the trees, until he could see something interesting. He’d spy on turkeys and deer, hovering lower and lower until they would be spooked and run off. In the summer, he’d take the drone on the boat and direct it to follow the tubing kids as they flew across the wake and crashed into each other. He was hooked. He could spend hours flying the drone, and time flew. It was suddenly enjoyable. He came to the realization that it wasn’t flying drones that he hated. It was just watching others fly them.

So what made the difference? Participation. The worth of activities shouldn’t be judged by spectating, but by participating.

Prayer is much the same. Prayer is not meant to be a spectator event. Prayer is meant for participation. When we step into prayer, it will not take long to realize that it is an easy way to spend our time. And one way that we can pray effectively, is for those who do not yet know the love of God.

Illustration: Jim Elliot was one of the martyred missionaries in 1956. He was a passionate Christian who journaled many of his thoughts and prayers. One such entry addressed his concern about impact. He wrote, “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.” His impact continues on even though he died over fifty years ago at the age of twenty-nine.

- Elisabeth Elliot, Shadow of the Almighty

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Kids SEEK, too!

Kids’ Illustration:

Last night I took a journey

To a land far "cross the seas;

I didn't go by boat or plane,

I trusted on my knees.

I saw so many people there

In deepest depths of sin,

And Jesus told me I should go

That there were souls to win.

But I said, "Jesus, I can't go

And work with such as these.'

He answered quickly, "Yes, you can

By traveling on your knees.'

He said, "You pray; I'll meet the need,

You call and I will hear;

Be concerned about lost souls,

Of those both far and near.'

And so I tried it, knelt in prayer,

Gave up some hours of ease;

I felt the Lord right by my side

While traveling on my knees.

As I prayed on and saw souls saved

And twisted bodies healed,And saw God's workers? strength renewed

While laboring on the filed.

I said, "Yes, Lord, I have a job

My desire Thy will to please;

I can go and heed Thy call

By traveling on my knees.'

-Sandra Goodwin

Kids’ Activities for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• Have kids spin a globe and spend some time looking up “Christians in __________”, “Christian Missionaries in ______________________”, “how to pray for Christians in _______________________.” Then spend some time praying.

• Download this Global Prayer Guide from Voice of the Martyrs

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Bible:

“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” (Colossians 4:3 NIV)

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,  because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.” (I Thessalonians 1:4-5 NIV)

“You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3 NIV)

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Quote for Today:

"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons -- but they are helpless against our prayers.” - Sidlow Baxter

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Points to Ponder:

• Be mindful as you pray for the lost that you not make them an item to check off your list, but see them as people that God created in His image, who are already dearly loved by Him.

• Head to our Missions Page to see how Life West supports boots-on-the-ground ministries that are working to reach the lost daily.

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CLOSING PRAYER: Father God, today we come before you on behalf of those who do not yet know you. We ask, Lord, that you would continue to reveal yourself to them through your world and Your Word, as those you love share it. Father, we thank you that you would place people who love you on the paths of those who have yet to know you. We ask that you would help those believers to develop relationships and give them insight and discernment as they walk alongside the lost. We pray that as the Gospel is shared, hearts may be softened to the truth of your Word and the life-saving sacrifice of Jesus. We pray for strength and integrity for the believers who share the gospel. We ask that you would allow them to walk as a guide and be beacons that point toward you. We pray for boldness for believers to share your Word and we pray for boldness for the lost to receive it. We ask for clarity as your message is shared with unbelievers and we ask that you would help to make the soil of their heart ready for the message of your love so that the cares of the world do not choke out Your Word. We pray for conviction of sin and for open eyes. And most of all, Father, we pray that they would develop a deep walk with you that Satan cannot snatch away. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Week 3 || Day 2

PRAYER FOCUS: FAMILIES/RELATIONSHIPS

Today we get to pray for our relationships. For some people, this is the easiest prayer focus; for others it is the most difficult. No matter where you are on that spectrum today, it is important to realize that our prayers carry weight.

It can be one of the most amazing things to grow up in a home that is filled with prayer. There are many places we can’t go with the ones we love…but prayer can travel anywhere! Husbands can pray for wives and vice versa. Parents can pray over their children from before they are conceived through adulthood. Because there is no junior Holy Spirit, kids also have full access to God through prayer! Everyone in the family can pray for and with one another as they resolve conflict and build strong relationships. We can pray for extended family and we can pray together in a way that it can be a life-changing experience that not only brings family members closer to God, but closer to each another! Below are some prayers that you may wish to include for your family:

Here are simple prayers to pray for your family. Remember, simple doesn’t mean they don’t pack power:

Scriptures to Pray Over Your Family

Numbers 6:24-26- "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Lord, bless my family and children. Give them hearts that follow after you.

Deuteronomy 31:6- "Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Father, give my family the strength to seek you when they are afraid. Give them courage to stand up to what is right. Help them tell fear to GO!

Psalm 51:10- "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Father God, produce in my family clean hearts and renew their Spirits as they seek You!

Luke 10:19 – "Jesus said: ‘Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

God, Allow my family to walk in your authority. May they understand and live each day, asserting the authority You have given them as your dear children.

Philippians 4:6- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Father, take away any spirit of fear from my loved ones. Give them a spirit of courage and surround to your will. Give them the ability to see the things in their lives they can be thankful for.

A Prayer of Blessing for Your Family (Follow this link to listen to Kari Jobe sing a blessing over your family):

Heavenly Father, in the book of Psalms, chapter 103, verse 17, You give us a wonderful promise. “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.” Father, there is no better promise we could receive from you than to see our children and their children blessed. We thank you that you have given us this promise as we raise our children in light of your love and righteousness. We pray that you would continue to grant us Your blessings. Bless us so that we may reach out and bless others. Bless us with strength to be there for those we love, with wisdom to know what to say to bring comfort, with encouraging words to say, and even with the ability to tenderly address difficult truths. We love you, Lord and we pray for these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer of Protection for Your Family

“Lord, I pray Your emotional, physical, and spiritual protection over my family. Keep evil far from them, and help them to trust You as their refuge and strength. I pray You will guard their minds from harmful instruction, and grant them discernment to recognize truth. I pray You will make them strong and courageous in the presence of danger, recognizing that You have overcome and will set right all injustice and wrong one day. Help them to find rest in Your shadow, as they live in the spiritual shelter You provide for them. Let them know that the only safe place is in Jesus, and that their home on earth is only temporary.”  - by Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Illustration: D. L Moody used to tell the story of a man who came to him and said, “When the Mexican war began I wanted to enlist. My mother, seeing I was resolved, said if I became a Christian I might go. She pleaded and prayed that I might become a Christian, but I wouldn’t. I said when the war was over I would become a Christian, but not till then.

“All her pleading was in vain, and at last, when I was going away, she took out a watch and said: My son, your father left this to me when he died. Take it, and I want you to remember that every day at 12 o’clock your mother will be praying for you. Then she gave me her Bible, and marked out passages, and put a few different references in the fly-leaf. I took the watch and the Bible just because my mother gave them. I never intended to read the Bible.

“I went off to Mexico, and one day while on a long, weary march, I took out my watch, and it was 12 o’clock. I had been gone four months, but I remembered that my mother at that hour was praying for me. Something prompted me to ask the officer to relieve me for a little while, and I stepped behind a tree away out on those plains of Mexico, and cried to the God of my mother to save me.”

God saved him, and after the Mexican war was ended, he said, “I have enlisted again to see if I can do any good for my Master’s cause.” - D. L. Moody, Anecdotes and Illustrations of D.L. Moody

*Website with daily prayers for our children

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Kids SEEK, too!

Kids’ Illustration: It's time to plant our gardens. As you plant, may I suggest the following rules for your garden planting:

Plant three rows of squash: 1. Squash gossip; 2. Squash criticism; 3. Squash indifference

Plant three rows of peas: 1. Purity; 2. Patience; 3. Perseverance

Plant six rows of lettuce: 1. Let us be unselfish and loyal; 2. Let us be faithful to duty; 3. Let us search the scriptures; 4. Let us not be weary in well-doing; 5. Let us be obedient in all things; 6. Let us love one another

No garden is complete without turnips: 1. Turn up for church, prayer and Bible study; 2. Turn up with a smile, even when things are difficult; 3. Turn up with determination to do your best for God's cause.

After planting, may you, "Grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18”. - source unknown

Kids’ Activity for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• 5 Finger Prayer

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Bible:

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13 NLT)

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NLT)

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Quote for Today:

"There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as prayer for him.” - William Law

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Points to Ponder:

• Prayer is powerful! It is not a Plan B, but our Plan A, our first line of defense AND our first line of offense.

• We can pray for our families. Take time to list each family member and ask God to show you specific ways to pray for them and for your relationship with them.

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CLOSING PRAYER: Father God, we thank you that you are a God of connection. We thank you that you have placed us on this earth and given us connections with people whom you love. We ask today that you would grant wisdom as we pray for others. We ask that you would guide us toward relationships that are honoring of you and that you would place barriers in the way of relationships that You do not want in our lives. We pray that you would strengthen us through relationships with other people. We pray that we would be able to help strengthen and encourage them, as well. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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Week 3 || Day 1

PRAYER FOCUS: LEADERS

As believers, most of us understand that we are called to pray at all times. And perhaps you’ve heard that it is important to pray for your leaders. In some instances we chose our leaders; in others, we didn’t. In either case, however, we can choose to cover them in prayer.

The Bible tells us in a few places how and why we should cover our leaders in prayer. When it comes to praying for our leaders, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV) gives us direct instruction: 

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT)

Our leaders need God’s help. Each and every one of them. While flawed people in places of authority can frustrate us, it isn’t a shock to God that leaders are imperfect. This has been the case since Adam and Eve chose their own way in the garden. God knows our presidents and kings and queens are broken. He knows our pastors are no less in need of prayer.

And even when our leaders’ flaws aren’t on public display, they are still there. So we pray for God to reveal areas where His will is not being fully represented to the world around us. We pray for our leaders’ purity and private lives. We pray for our leaders’ decisions. We pray for mercy for our leaders and we pray that God would direct them.

We recognize that we are all in need of God’s mercy. When we realize just how imperfect we ourselves are, we are humbled to offer deeper prayers for the imperfect men and women who lead us.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

Prayer is not passive! When we pray for each of our leaders we are taking part in advancing the kingdom of God here on Earth.  

Romans 13:1 acknowledges that those who are in positions of authority may have been allowed there by God for a specific purpose. When we pray for them, we are praying that God’s will would be done. 

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1 ESV)

It is also important for us to remember, as we pray, that our leaders face spiritual battles that they may not be aware of. 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

If our leaders do not make their decisions based on the Bible, we can still pray for their minds to align with God’s Word. We don’t have to complain; we can fight with the power of prayer. 

Illustration: Years ago, when Samuel was leading the youth group at a different church, he called me to ask my opinion on a matter. The youth team was wanting to include a specific, secular song in one of their programs and it didn’t sit right with me as I prayed about it. Samuel had called me on speakerphone with his team present and after I had given my opinion, he chose another direction.

I was so upset about the entire situation. I remember feeling frustrated, thinking that the Holy Spirit had been so clear with me. I confronted Samuel about the matter and attempted to get him to change his mind. It did not work, no matter how much I told him the Holy Spirit was clear with me. I kept prodding and poking and pushing and berating. (How very holy of me, I know.)

Finally, weeks later, after a rather silly outburst from me in which Samuel reiterated his stance, I chose to pray about it. I asked that God would direct Samuel and that He would allow me to step out of the matter so that Samuel could clearly hear from Him and not be manipulated by my complaining. I asked that if it was God’s will that the song not be used that He would make it clear to Samuel. I asked for forgiveness for my pride in the matter and I asked for a softened heart toward Samuel.  I also asked for a heart to pray for him as a leader.

God was so faithful. As soon as I turned to Him in prayer about the situation, my heart softened and I knew that, no matter the outcome, my heart was at peace knowing God was at work in both Samuel and myself.

The funny thing is, only hours after that prayer, Samuel came home and said He had strongly felt God lead him to change the song selection. While the outcome in this situation pleased both of us, the more important thing was me humbling myself to offer prayer for a leader (even if it was also my spouse). Our prayers will not always be answered our way (and most are not!). However, God will move in our leaders lives if we allow Him to convict and correct, instead of our berating.

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Kids SEEK, too!

• Note to caretakers: As you pray, ask your kids to pray as well. Do your best to use the words that they use. This helps them to feel present and heard in prayer as they are learning to seek God.

Kids’ Illustration: Lacey wanted to pray for her teachers! One day, God gave her a clever idea! With her parents’s help, she opened up a webpage that showed her school from the sky. She took time to pray for safety for her teachers and principal. Then they moved the map to the town hall and Lacey and her parents prayed over their community and mayor. Lacey realized that, even though she didn’t know what the outcome of her prayers were, praying them helped her heart grow toward the leaders in her life.

Kids’ Activities for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• Family Praying-on-the-Go Bags

• Coloring Sheet for Praying for Leaders

• Each day, pray for …

• Monday – Teachers & Coaches (by name)

• Tuesday – Local Government of Mayor and City Council (by name)

• Wednesday – Pastor and Spiritual Teachers (by name)

• Thursday – National Government of President, Congress, and Supreme Court (by name)

• Friday – law Enforcement & Firefighters (by name)

• EXAMPLE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I pray for _______________ and _____________ to lead a life that is worthy of You Lord. I pray that _______________ and ________________ will please You in every way, God. I pray that ____________ and ________________ will want to grow to know You better, God. I pray that _________ and _____________ will never give up and be joyful, God (based on Colossians 1:10-11).

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Bible:

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT)

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1 ESV)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

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Quotes for Today:

“It is a great privilege, as well as our responsibility, to pray for our government leaders.” - Billy Graham

“Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.” - D. L. Moody

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Points to Ponder:

• Here are some of the ways to pray for those in leadership:

• Pray for our leaders’ salvation and/or heart change. 

• Pray for wisdom in making good decisions according to God’s leading.

• Pray that leaders’ decisions and influence have a positive impact on our families, cities, churches, laws, schools, and more.

• Pray for our pastors - their leadership, their relationship with God, their families, and that they would correctly handle the Word of truth that has been entrusted to them.

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CLOSING PRAYER: Dear God, All authority is Yours, but You have given authority to leaders to protect and guide us. Today, we ask that You would give all our leaders wisdom, discernment, strength, and resolve. Keep them healthy, safe, and rested so that they can guide us.

Heavenly Father, we pray that our president and leaders will honor You and respect You as the One and only True God. We ask that You give us government leaders who will pray for Your Will and guidance. Lord, we ask that You pour out Your Spirit on this nation to help each of us discern good from evil, not as the eyes of man but through spiritual eyes. Lord, we ask that You humble our hearts so that we will be a nation filled with gratitude and thankfulness.

Likewise, give our spiritual leaders Your discernment on how to meet people’s needs as they continue to glorify Your name and encourage and build the Church.

Give our civic leaders inspiration, courage, joy, and strength to meet the needs of their communities.

And help us, as leaders in our communities, to display courage, hope, generosity, and kindness. Would the way we honor others inspire those around us.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Week 2 || Day 7

PURPOSE OF FASTING: TO WORSHIP

In the book of Luke, there was a prophetess, Anna, who was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. “She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. “(Luke 2:36-37 ESV)

Anna was a prophetess, and she realized that she could bless God and worship Him through prayer and fasting. That prayer and fasting resulted in her being so in tune with God that He spoke prophesies to her that she shared with Jesus’ parents when Jesus was dedicated at the temple. “And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38).

Worship is one of the most overlooked elements of effective fasting. As I look through the Word,  I am amazed by the idea that we can “bless” the Lord. In 1 Chronicles 29:20 (NKJV), King David commanded the people of Israel to, “Bless the LORD your God.” It is commonplace throughout the Bible that the person with greater standing grants the blessing to the one of lesser standing. However, there is a very real and tangible way in which we are called to be a blessing to our Heavenly Father! We can bless God through our adoration and time spent with Him. In fasting, our reliance is solely on God and cannot be placed in outside sustenance.

We don’t need to worship God for Him to be God. Our worship doesn’t change God. He is just as much God without our worship as He is with it. Yet, the Word tells us that our worship blesses Him. Our devotion moves His heart.

In the book of Acts we read about the first believers. "Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” These followers of Jesus fasted and prayed and just spent time worshipping the Lord. It seems they had no agenda but to love Jesus and worship the Father. Andrew Murray said, “Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.” The first century believers fasted to let go of the visible, natural things in order to take hold of their High King. During our time of fasting, let’s set our hearts on loving and pursuing Jesus. Reading through Acts, we see that Paul was sent out after that period of fasting and worship. God gave supernatural wisdom and practical instructions as a result of that fasting and worship! Those instructions changed the course of history! If Paul had not taken the gospel to Rome, it would not have traveled to where we are in the United States.

I wonder what could happen in our lives if we delight in God through fasting and worship? Because of who God is, I can guarantee you that when you bless the Lord, you will be blessed! Keep your focus on Jesus, and you will be able to rest peacefully in the fulfillment of His promises in you, to you, and through you.

Illustration: “Blaise Pascal observed that the people who have the greatest influence in shaping the hearts and minds of any generation are not the folks who write the laws, but those who write the songs. Plato observed, musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten.”  (Source unknown).

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Kids SEEK, too!

Kids’ Illustration: “I was eating in a restaurant when Mike Croel, a linebacker for the Denver Broncos walked in. I was so excited because he played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in college and I had followed his career closely. I happened to be wearing Huskers stuff and went and got his autograph right there at the booth where he was sitting. I used this story to describe my awe, that this amazing man was that close to me, and my joy, how excited I was that he was there. Awe and Joy are two emotions I experienced and in worship we should experience those emotions also. Awe, we are in the presence of God, and joy, we are glad to be there. - Stan Roda, Sermon Central

Kids’ Activity for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• Worship Anywhere Coloring Page

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Bible:

“[Anna] was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. “(Luke 2:36-37 ESV)

"Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:1-3 NIV)

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Quote for Today:

“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food.” - Dallas Willard

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Points to Ponder:

• As you fast, I encourage you to set aside time to wait in His presence and minister to the Lord only.

• On your listening platform of choice, pull up soaking worship and spend time with God today.

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CLOSING PRAYER: Father, we worship you. We come before you humbly asking that you would receive our gift of adoration as we bring our lives to you and summit them. We thank you that you are not a God who stands far-off, making demands of us that we cannot fulfill. Instead, you are near to us and allow us to worship you and bless you with our time and devotion. We ask that today the meditations of our hearts and our lives laid down would be pleasing to you. It’s in Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

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Week 2 || Day 6

PURPOSE OF FASTING: TO DEVELOP DISCIPLINE

Our spirits function in much the same way that the muscles in our body do; the more they are exercised, the stronger they get. Fasting gives our willpower muscle an unbeatable workout that not only builds its ability to refrain from certain foods, but also builds its ability to discipline ourselves in all areas of life. 
Fasting submits our mind and body to the spirit of God. Your spirit will start to have dominion over your mind and your body. In Phil. 3:19 Paul says this, “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” He’s saying that those who constantly appeal to the flesh, who are constantly pleasing the flesh, for them, destruction is their end.

You see, you are a spirit-being and your spirit is meant to rule over your mind and your body. But most of us are just ruled by our worldly desires.

Galatians 5:16 (NIV)  says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” That’s it? Walk by the Spirit? It has to be more complicated, right? There must be more hoops to jump through. But there aren’t!

In the garden of Eden God told Adam and Eve they could feast on ANYTHING they wanted. Think of all of the things they could have eaten; Avocados, mangoes, grapes, raspberries, sweet potato... anything. Except one thing. Just one. Don’t eat of THIS fruit. But what do they do? They succumb to the seduction of earthly things; power, dominion. But we aren’t left in that place of brokenness. Jesus comes along and he’s baptized and led by the Holy Spirit out into the wilderness and the very first thing Satan tempts him with is not money, not power, not fame, or glory.....it’s food.

It’s the same temptation as the one in the garden.

And Jesus Christ answers, saying, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 NLT

Jesus overcame for you!

Illustration: A few years ago Samuel was working out of town and for six weeks he was gone from early Monday morning until Friday evening. This meant a lot of Monday-Fridays of me sitting at home with the kiddos, taking care of all of my usual tasks and adding those that he does to them. It was a rough stint for awhile but I found a way to comfort myself. It’s called the CREAM CHEESE DANISH. And you can buy them the cheapest at Costco. But Costco doesn’t sell things in packages of one or two. NOOOOOOO...... Costco sells them in packages of eight. And they’re nearly the size of my face. Well....the kids convinced me to buy these and my intention was that only THE kids would eat them. But then they went to bed, I was alone and wanted something tasty. And their golden-brown, flaky pastry filled with the slightly sweet cream cheese filling called to me. And soon I found myself finishing multiple cream cheese danishes. I  found myself committing gluttony.

Now, we don’t often discuss gluttony as a sin in America. In fact, we reward it. There are eating contests for pie, hot dogs, donuts, hamburgers and any other food you can think of. We celebrate it and cheer them on and then give the winner a prize! As a culture we don’t view gluttony as one of the “big offenders” when it comes to sin. But I believe that the overindulgence of things in life is what is killing this western world. We’re eating ourselves to death; both physically and we’re feeding on things of the world, spiritually, that are malnourishing our lives.

I read a statistic from 2013 that said that America produces 10 billion donuts a year. They say that is enough that if we put them side by side they could go around the world 19 times.

We have a deep affection for food. We have a deep desire to please the flesh on a daily, hourly basis. The Bible calls it the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life. John says that this desire “comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16 NIV

Fasting brings us to a point of telling our bodies that they are not in control of us. It allows us to build discipline for the things of God. It allows us to withstand temptation because we’ve done it in the most basic of human needs - our appetite!

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Kids SEEK, too!

• Note to caretakers: Fasting is a discipline not a punishment. It is about the heart. It’s important to make sure we’re not using the biblical discipline of fasting to punish poor behavior.

Kids’ Illustration: Henry was a very impatient child.

He could hardly focus on one task before jumping into another.

One day, while watching a movie, he decided that he wanted to be a rock climber. So he told his grandfather, “I want to become a rock climber! What should I do?”

His grandfather took him to a climbing gym and introduced him to the climbing instructor. The instructor trained Henry in different climbing moves. And even though the little boy was very enthusiastic, he didn’t want to practice only one thing at a time. He wanted to do it all!

Days passed and Henry didn’t get better at climbing.   He frowned at his grandfather, “I am not getting stronger. What will I do now?”

His grandfather took him on a walk by the beach and pointed to the cliffs. “Do you know, Henry, that the water breaks down these rocks?”

Henry’s eyes widened, “Really? But these rocks are so big! How can the sea break them down?”

His grandfather smiled and watched as Henry lightly splashed around in the water, “It takes many years, Henry. It doesn’t happen overnight. Just like you cannot become a great rock climber overnight. You need to be disciplined in your work and be patient. Then you will one day reach your goals. Discipline is hard to find, though. Ask God to help you develop discipline for the things you’d like to grow in.

We achieve our goals through discipline. We develop discipline as we seek the Holy Spirit’s help.

Kids’ Activity for Today’s Prayer Focus:

• FASTING CODE

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Bible:

“People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NLT)

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 NIV)

“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:19 NLT)

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Quote for Today:

“Fasting reduces the power of self so that the Holy Spirit can do a more intense work within us. “ - Bill Bright

“Fasting is not nearly so deadly as feasting.” - J. Harold Smith

“More than any other Discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us.” - Lynn M. Baab

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Points to Ponder:

• Do you have areas you are struggling to have discipline in? Take a second to write them down. Commit to praying over each of these areas as you continue your fast.

• Ask God to reveal how you can continue to grow in self-discipline as you seek Him through fasting. When we realize that fasting helps us in the area of food discipline, it is much easier to see other pursuits of discipline as achievable.

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CLOSING PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we love you. We ask that you continue to fill us with your Holy Spirit as we submit our lives to you today. We pray that you would help us with the discipline needed to choose you above all else and to bring all areas of our lives into agreement with your will for us. Father, we thank you for your presence. It’s so glorious, wonderful and available. Your eyes go to and fro throughout the earth seeking out those who are hungry and those who have faith. May we be that people. In the name of your precious son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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