Day 31

Most of us know that we should have a burden for lost and unchurched people in Madison County and around the world.  We even feel guilty that we don’t have such a burden.  Ask God for the burden … that’s a prayer He will answer.

Day 30

The Apostle Paul wrote, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against might powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6: 12 (NLT).  Most of us just live by the first five words of that verse … “for we are not fighting.”  It’s time to realize that prayer is warfare.

Day 29

At times, I look at the world, at what humans do to one another in the name of power and religion, and feel totally helpless and hopeless.  While we know that perfect peace will only come to our world when the Prince of Peace returns, we should never stop praying for our world and reaching out to those who suffer injustice.  We actually hasten the day of His coming by praying and going in the name of Jesus.

Day 28

The most powerful and influential thing any of us can do for our country is to pray.  Pray for our leaders, pray for a turning back of the tide of immorality.  Pray for a renewal of the sanctity of marriage and life.  Pray for Heaven-sent revival.  Let your voice be heard, yes!  Take your stand, yes!  Get involved in the process, yes!  Vote, yes!  But most of all, pray.

Day 27

God deeply cares for suffering people.  Today, I’ve been praying for suffering people who are connected either directly or indirectly to our church.  I’m also praying for people in other parts of the world who suffer at the hands of evil regimes, especially people who are suffering because they are Christians.  How can I pray for people I don’t even know?  I just do, and trust that God is working on their behalf in answer to my prayers.

Day 26

Some in our church know a missionary family who has left all to follow Christ to a far-away place.  This is a young couple with three small children living among people with a language and culture unlike they have ever known in pretty Spartan conditions.  Don’t feel sorry for them or their kids.  They are happy, because they are where God wants them.  Pray for them and for other missionaries you many know; for their provision, protection and fruitfulness.

Day 25

The job we’ve been given to reach the world with the good news of Jesus is truly a huge undertaking.  It begins in our hearts with prayer that is bold and unafraid.  Jesus told his disciples (and us) that when it comes to His mission, His resources are unlimited and no request is too big (John 15: 7-8).  Pray with me for Heaven-sent revival right here and around the world.

Day 24

Today’s reading really dovetails with our emphasis at HCBC, “One Plus One.”  There truly is a great harvest for Christ on our community, and not just for us but for all of the churches in our area.  God give us a heart that burns for the lost and unchurched in Madison County and around the world!  The challenge is not in an abundant harvest, but workers to go into the harvest field.  God, help us to take the challenge … to be obedient.

Day 23

God uses a multitude of people in a multitude of ways.  I am often amazed at the people God will use in powerful ways.  It seems to have little to do with talent or education, but rather hearts that are willing and who believe God to do amazing things through them in spite of talent and education or a lack of either.

Day 22

The finest thing church members can do for their pastors is to pray for them;  not that God would change them into the image of what the member wants them to be, but to be made more into the image of who God wants him to be.  We need wisdom, vision, a deepening love for those we are called to lead and the courage to live our lives to please an audience of One.

Day 21

When a baby is born into a family, there is no expectation that the child will immediately talk, or walk or feed himself.  The expectation is only that one day he will do those things, and more!  The same is true of God’s new-born children.  He expects them to develop to maturity in time, and He expects us to be actively involved in that development.

Day 20

I recently met with a man who spent most of our time together spewing out hatred for another person, while at the same time telling me what a religious person he is, never missing church and actually feeling like he was quite spiritual.  I fear for folks like him, inoculated with so much “religion” that they miss the real thing.

Day 19

Maybe the biggest reason many of us do not pray for lost people is that, for some reason, we have become numbed to the reality of Hell.  My prayer for myself and for our church is that God would burden our hearts for lost people in Madison County and all around the world.  When our hearts become burdened and broken, we will pray.

Day 18

It is very important to God that Christians love each other. This has little to do with how we feel, but everything to do with what we do; how we treat each other; how we support and refrain from talking about each other.  Those who don’t know Christ notice and are either drawn to or repelled from Him because of the way we are toward one another.

Day 17

Vance Havner once said, “God didn’t save you to make you happy.  He saved you to make you holy.”  Recently, I preached on God’s pruning of our lives to make us more useful to His glory.  Cooperate with Him in your trials.  Learn the lessons they bring.  Deep joy and peace come from them.

Day 16

The Bible tells us that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or think; that His resources are unlimited and that God loves to give good things to his children.  You would think that we would want to spend hours in His presence every day!  Maybe we need to ask first for the desire and discipline to pray.  You learn to pray by praying.

Day 15

God loves our children and grandchildren even more than we do.  Pray diligently that God will give them a heart for Him and the courage to live out their faith in a world that is constantly pulling them away from Him.  In your praying, realize that you are your child’s most influential model.  Pray for the wisdom and courage to learn and live out your faith, too.

Day 14

Holiness is expressed in the way we live toward God and others.  Who we are at our core informs the way we live.  On the other hand, the way we live reveals who we are at our core.

Day 13

Before I was a pastor, I was a Sunday School teacher.  Then, as now, I took teaching the Word of God very seriously, just as those do who teach the Bible to children, students and adults at Highland Colony.  Thank God for these committed servants!  Our church is blessed.

Day 12

What a difference it makes when we begin to see fellow members of Christ’s body here at Highland Colony as precious in the sight of God, worth every drop of the blood of Jesus.  You matter to God, and it matters to Him that we matter to each other.

Day 11

The realization that the God’s Spirit, Who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me and all who believe is too much to wrap our minds around.  We have living within us the unlimited resources of the Universe to accomplish all God has given us to do!   So go ahead and trust Him for amazing things!

Day 10

The first step in seeing a person you care for turn to Christ is prayer.  Call that person’s name out to God, praying that her eyes will be opened to her need for Christ.  Prayer lays the foundation for a powerful work of God in a person’s heart.  Pray about many things, but always pray that many will turn to Christ.

Day 9

We should never be hesitant to pray for ourselves.  God takes joy in taking care of His people and according to His Word, would do much more for us if we would only ask with a motive to please Him and serve others (see James 4: 2-3).  

Day 8

An unloving, critical, unforgiving and angry spirit flows from the heart of one who has no idea just how forgiven and loved he is by God.

Day 7

To yield to the Lordship of Christ is ultimately an act of faith and wisdom.  Yielding to His wisdom is believing that God knows better than I about life, even my own life.  It is when I decide not to yield that I get myself into trouble.

Day 6

I hope that by going through this 31 Days of Prayer, your heart is being encouraged and your faith strengthened.  Add to your prayer some daily time in God’s Word.  It will change your life!  This time of year is an excellent time to begin a read-through-the-Bible–plan.  We can help you with that if you like.

Day 5

One of my favorite Bible passages is James 1: 2-5.  It talks about how God uses trials in our lives to grow us and test our faith.  I was thinking today that God is more interested in my being effective than my being comfortable.

Day 4

I’ve found the more time I spend in prayer and God’s Word, the more I know how to live.  God doesn’t think like we do, but He’s always right, He’s good and wants to show us His will.  We can trust Him for that.  Life just works out better when we do it God’s way.

Day 3

It is incredible to me that God wants to meet every need of my life.  He really cares about that!  He who has no need is able and wanting to meet all of mine!  The same is true of you.
 

Day 2

For the Christian, Christ is not only with us, but in us.  The Apostle Paul said that Jesus is our very life (Colossians 3: 4), and it’s only through remaining close to Him that we can live fruitful, meaningful lives.

Day 1

It is amazing to me that God actually desires to be near us, and that He cares about our work and activity today.  We can literally take our plans to Him for today, trust Him for what is unplanned and ask Him to use it all to help us and to serve Him.