MONDAY—EVANGELISTIC PRAYER
Chronological Reading: 1Samuel 4-6 + Luke 7:1-25
Monday, April 6, 2009
Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Supreme God and Loving Father:
Some call this season leading to Easter Lent. Prayer and fasting is your prescription and mechanism to hook me up to greater power than I can possess in myself. How much stronger would I be in wrestling with this ungodly age if I were more given to using these methods? Prayer links me to heaven while fasting separates me from earth. Prayer takes me to God’s banquet and fasting delivers my soul from being laden by fullness from bread that perishes.
If I would only bring myself to the highest possibility of spiritual fitness, then I would be able—by the Spirit of God working in me—to get a witness to people like __________, who would otherwise laugh me to scorn. But for all that Lord, there will still remain those difficult people who have to be directly brought, like this boy, to you. I need your personal power to help me today.
You are still alive, and as simple as that truth is, I need to be reminded of it. I often estimate the power of my church by looking at its ministers and members, but the real power of my church lies in the Holy Spirit of God and an ever-living Savior.
Sometimes anxious people bring their dysfunctional demonized situations to me. I have power to work neither natural miracles nor spiritual ones. Only Christ can work a wonder. Thank you Lord, for remaining willing and able to do so. I rejoice in a living Christ to whom I can bring every problem and every problematic person. All hell confesses your majesty and power. There cannot be a case that is too hard for you. You are greater than anything I can possibly face today, so I fall into your arms for mercy. In Jesus’ name I ask it all. Amen.
TUESDAY—40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE KURDS
Chronological Reading: 1Samuel 7-9 + Luke 7:26-50
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Heavenly Father and Glorious Lord:
Let me pray about prayer. Nothing pays like prevailing prayer. If I have power in prayer, I will have everything at me beck and call. I can ask for whatever I need to complete your mission.
Lord, I ask for what Adam lost by the fall, and what I have lost by my own neglect, backsliding, and lack of prayer.
Lord, I seek for the grace that I need this week before Easter.
Lord, when I seem to be cut off from blessing, from knowledge that I need, even from hope itself, then I knock.
Lord, I plead: you have promised your own intervention. I can receive when I ask. I can find when I seek. But I cannot open when I knock. Only you can, or else I am shut out forever.
I thank you Lord, that since the death of Jesus there is no cherub with a fiery sword guarding this gate and driving me away (Gen. 3:24). Indeed and on the contrary, Jesus himself opens to me and no one can shut (Rev. 3:8)
Sometimes I fear that my failures have barred the way. My own lack of faith fastens the door from the inside. But it is not so in spiritual reality. The gate is neither bolted nor barred. It is only closed in the sense that I kept my mouth shut and did not pray.
Can all receive this teaching? Will I believe you are glad to open the gate to my knocking cries? How else can I complete the mission? Your blessing is only closed in my perception, but not in matter of fact. Give me and my brethren the courage to enter in to all that Jesus has and is! Amen.
WEDNESDAY—REVIVAL PRAYING
Chronological Reading: 1Samuel 10-12 + Luke 8:1-28
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Isaiah 56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
O Lord God My Creator:
Have a desire toward the work of your hands (Job 14:15). You have made me and fashioned me; do not let me be destroyed (Job 10:8). You are my Governor and my King. The haters of your honor and of my soul have surrounded me. To whom should I fly for protection but you? Are you not my Father? Have you not called me one of your children?
Why should I look like someone cast out of your sight, or like someone who belongs to the family of Satan? Do you not have the mercies of a father with tender compassions for me? Not one of your poor, helpless and weak children can be forgotten. You are my God in the covenant, and the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, by whom that covenant is ratified. Under all those relationships I plead with you for all necessary mercies for revival.
Enlighten me Lord, and pardon me. Sanctify my soul and bestow grace and glory on me according to the word of your promise, on which you have caused me to hope. Remember that your word is already fulfilled in heaven; it is recorded among the articles of your decrees. It says I have to receive light and love, strength and joy—and you are not an unfaithful God. What if heaven and earth pass away? Yet your covenant stands on two unmovable pillars: your promise and your oath. So now I flee for refuge to lay hold on the altar-horns of this hope; let me have strong comfort from it. Remember the covenant made with your Son in eternity past, and let the promised mercies be bestowed on me according to my needs. This I ask so that Jesus might be glorified more. And more. Amen.
A DAILY PATTERN FOR PRAYER & BIBLE READING
Chronological Reading: 1Samuel 13-15 + Luke 8:29-56
Thursday, April 9, 2009
1 Chronicles 14:17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
WE will seek Your face Almighty God
Turn and pray for You to heal our land
Father let revival start in us
Then every heart will know Your kingdom come
Never looking back we’ll run the race
Giving You our lives we’ll gain the prize
We will take the harvest given us
Though we sow in tears, we’ll reap in joy
Lifting up the name of the Lord
In power and in unity
We will see the nations turn
Touching heaven changing earth
Touching heaven changing earth
Send revival (send revival)
Send revival (send revival)
Send revival to us
FRIDAY—FOCUS ON CHRIST’S SEVEN SAYINGS ON THE CROSS
Chronological Reading: 1Samuel 16-18 + Luke 9:1-31
Friday, April 10, 2009
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Here I see you as my Mediator interceding. Thank you for standing before the Father to plead for the guilty.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Here you are in regal power, opening a door that no man can shut, and letting through the gates of heaven a poor soul who confessed you as he died. Hail eternal King!
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Now I see the gentleness of a son caring for a bereaved mother. Your last thoughts were not for yourself.
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
What a soul in anguish! Your innermost heart overwhelmed, not by my sin, but by the withdrawal of your Father’s face from you at the appearance of my sin.
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
I watch as the humanity responds in your body. Even your mortal flesh trembled as it shared in the anguish of spirit.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:
The Captain of my salvation completes his mission and made an end of sin.
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
In your death you bring all believers near to God. If my spirit is in your hand, no one can pluck me out of it. I love you, Lord! Amen.
SATURDAY—IN THE PSALMS
Chronological Reading: 1Samuel 19-21 + Luke 9:32-62
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Psalm 9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.
LORD, Father and Creator God:
Sometimes it requires every bit of determination I have to face the foe and bless the Lord. Today I vow that whoever else may remain silent, I will praise your name! I am grateful to servants of yours who help me sing, but my thanksgiving has long wings, and mounts the sides of heaven up to you.
Something I’ve discovered is that gratitude for one blessing enables me to remember a hundred more. One silver link draws up a long chain of memories. Truly, there can be no end of telling the deeds of your love. Make daily rejoicing an ornament of my character.
Psalm 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble
Your presence and your praise is always sufficient for the defeat of my enemies. Their ruin is so complete that when you overtake them, even flight cannot save them. Make me careful, like David, to give you all the glory. In light of the past my future is not doubtful. Obstacles will come to an end, but you and your throne will endure and complete your purpose forever. There!
Psalm 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD…declare among the people his doings.
Make my spirit of praise contagious; I want to excite others to also praise you, Lord. In all the revivals of history there has been a sudden outburst of gospel songs—like how the singing of birds always accompanies Spring. So have mercy on me, Lord. The ladder of prayer seems short sometimes, but I know it reaches all the way to heaven. In sickness, sin, despair and temptation, I have been minished and brought low. Underneath, put your everlasting arms and magnify my praise for Jesus’ name and glory. Amen.