MONDAY—EVANGELISTIC PRAYER

Chronological Reading: Genesis 46-48 + Matthew 12:26-50
Monday, January 19, 2009

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Dear Lord and Master:
It often comes to pass, for Christ’s sake, that I endure suffering in some way for getting the gospel to others. Help me rejoice in the honor thus conferred by your providence. I thank you for every time you count me worthy to suffer with my Lord, for this is “the way of the Master.”
I also joy in this: my sufferings, my losses and crosses, my persecutions and afflictions, all make a platform from which I can more believably and with greater power witness for Jesus Christ. They are a divine set-up. Help me study carefully my great example, the Lord Jesus, and be filled with his Spirit this day.
I need much teaching on this, Lord. I need much beholding of Jesus in his humility and suffering. I need much grace, more than I have previously sought your face for, to get the gospel to __________ and to __________.
Lord, send your power on my pleas! Send your Spirit with my supplication. There is no power in prayer without your presence as I pray, because unless I am really and truly addressing you, who else will hear and who else can answer? Lord, can you teach me to intercede for souls?
Hebrews 5:7-8 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Dear God, make me a witness like Jesus was! Not the cheap kind, that passes out tracts but takes a pass on trials. If I would know the full measure of fruitfulness I must know the full measure of pruning. Give me such grace. Amen.

TUESDAY—FOCUS ON CHRIST’S MIRACLES

Chronological Reading: Genesis 49-50 + Matthew 13:1-29
Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Mark 5:28  For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

Heal us, Emmanuel!
Here I am, needing your healing. Good Physician, here is work for you; come and show your healing power. I looked unto Jesus and was lightened, but even my faith was a gift from you. I would never have looked on the cross with my bleary eyes unless first your heavenly light had shined, and the finger of your Spirit took the blindness away from me. I trace my faith to you O God, and ask now that others I know may also have it!
Maintain the faith you created inside me. Stabilize it, strengthen it, and at the same time let it be more childlike and simple. Deliver me from any kind of reliance on myself, whatever shape that confidence might take, and let my faith grow every day that I live, because there is yet room for the greatest faith to be exercised in our ministries and in our opportunities.
Give me a great confidence in you. Give me full faith in the Holy Spirit’s operation. Work it in me now, while I at the same time I confess afresh that I am ashamed that I do not have it. I make no excuse for my unbelief, but detest the fact that I ever doubted the truth of the mighty and faithful God whose I am. Yet Lord, I will fall into the same sin of faithlessness again unless the grace that makes me know it also helps me to avoid it.
I bring my heart to you, full of love for what you have done, full of gratitude, full of faith, full of hope, and full of joy. Make me glad in the Lord when I am sad in everything else. I do confess that if there is anything acceptable in what I have done it is only because you worked it in me. I want to lay at your feet the fruits that have been grown in the garden of my life, which you own. Help me be a blessing to you today, for I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WEDNESDAY—REVIVAL PRAYING

Chronological Reading: Exodus 1-3 + Matthew 13:30-58
Wednesday, January 21, 2009

1 Timothy 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Blessed God and Gracious Father:
Thank you for this promise! If I give my whole mind and concentration to your worship, your word, and your work, I will have success that all can see. Whether or not I am promoted, I will be progressive.
I repent of my hasty reading of your word. It is only by deep meditation that I really profit from your precepts—not by doing a large amount of service in a sloppy way, but by giving my best thoughts to everything I attempt for you.
Proverbs 14:23  In all labour there is profit:
But not in fuss and hurry without true spiritual energy. Not in striving, straining and struggle without true spirituality. When I divide myself between God and Mammon or self and Christ I cannot develop and grow. Help me give myself wholly to holy things. I don’t want to be a “day trader” in heavenly business, going bankrupt in my soul. I want dividends from my spiritual stock, and a profit to be shown on my eternal investments.
Do I minister for you in some aspect of our church or my class? Let me minister whole-heartedly and not spin-out on secondary stuff. What have I to do with empty entertainment and wasting of time?
Help every Christian in our fellowship make the service of Jesus their real occupation, their life’s work, their one pursuit. Let’s be all-in with Jesus so we can go all-out for Jesus. I want to profit in holiness and progress in grace, so both the church and the world can feel my impact. Give me the same forceful influence over others that the Lord Jesus had in his life, because that is true spiritual leadership! Do this for his sake I ask. Amen.

A DAILY PATTERN FOR PRAYER & BIBLE READING

Chronological Reading: Exodus 4-6 + Matthew 14
Thursday, January 22, 2009

John 11:11 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

CHURCH of Christ, thy Lord is calling; ope thine eyes, behold and see,
Precious souls, in chains of bondage, pleading now for aid from thee.
Up and work for those that perish, haste, the time will soon be o’er;
Fold thy arms of love around them, church of Christ, O sleep no more.

Lo, again thy Lord is calling; preach the Word, its truth proclaim;
Lift thy voice and, like a trumpet, sound aloud Jehovah’s Name.
Boding clouds are in the distance, billows foam, and surges roar,
Dark and wild the night is coming, church of Christ, O sleep no more.

Still again thy Lord is calling; take the lamp that once He gave;
Let its beams of peerless glory shine afar the lost to save.
Do His will and do it quickly, for the time will soon be o’er;
He may come when least expected, church of Christ, O sleep no more.

—Fanny Crosby, 1905

FRIDAY—LIVING THE GREAT COMMISSION

Chronological Reading: Exodus 7-9 + Matthew 15:1-20
Friday, January 23, 2009

Psalm 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Dear Lord, we lift up our souls to you:
Now as we pray, let not any room within us be closed-off to keep you out. Let there be no secret purpose of evil formed in our minds that awaits an opportunity to be fulfilled.
Ephesians 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Give us the grace to follow after that which is good, and bless all of our undertakings for you, Lord. Give us all strength in the inner man, but also give us boldness outwardly for your cause and for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:14  For the love of Christ constraineth us;
NOW, AS WE PRAY THIS PRAYER, let us not say to ourselves secretly, You can get involved someday, but not yet, or, Get involved a little, but not too much.
Lord, give us zeal for your mission, our ministry
NOW, AS WE PRAY THIS PRAYER, let us not harbor in our hearts any wrong feelings of jealousy, bitterness, anger or revenge.
Lord, bless our enemies and those who have despitefully used us
NOW, AS WE PRAY THIS PRAYER, let us not still be intending to use the best hours and years of our lives for ourselves.
Lord, save us from being a slave to lesser purposes than your own
Holy Spirit of God, as we rise from this act of devotion, let us not return to wicked thoughts and worldly ways, but lead me in the way everlasting. This is what we have to ask you for. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Do it for Jesus’ sake as we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SATURDAY—IN THE PSALMS

Chronological Reading: Exodus 10-12 + Matthew 15:21-39
Saturday, January 24, 2009

Psalm 37:23-24  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Almighty and Everlasting God:
You author peace and you love unity. It is only in knowing you that anyone has eternal life. It is only in serving you that I know perfect freedom. Use me today to assault the adversary by freeing his slaves! Trusting in your sure defense, I will not fear the power of any circumstance or adverse situation. Many times Satan counterattacks while clothed in certain events. I need your peace through the might of the Lord Jesus Christ to be a testimony to others today.
You have providentially brought me to the job and friends I have. Do not let me fall into any sin today. Oh, that I could put even a week together without disappointing you! I need the fellowship of your mighty grace as I walk into temptation and danger. Make all my steps ordered by your providence. Let me do all day that which is righteous in your sight through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Corinthians 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
All my heart is open to you; all my desires are known. From you I can hide no secrets and no secret places. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by your word and your Spirit, so I can lead others to that cleansing stream! Make my love to you show itself in further fulfilling my consecration. I want to worthily magnify your holy name. Give me revival so others may be revived. Amen.
Ezra 9:8  And now for a little space grace hath been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.