The Week of February 16, 2009

MONDAY—EVANGELISTIC PRAYER

Chronological Reading: Leviticus 25-27 + Matthew 27:23-44
Monday, February 16, 2009

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Oh Father:
Give me a striking likeness to the Lord Jesus Christ. I read through the life of Christ in the gospels, but the best life of Christ is his living biography written in my reactions, my attitudes and my words. Make me be all that I profess to be. By your Holy Spirit, make me be all I am supposed to be! Make me such a picture of Christ that the world recognizes the image.
-Make __________ and __________ admit that I have been with Jesus. Make me “taught of him” so I can be like him. I want to catch the very idea and concept of the Man from Nazareth, and work him out in my everyday actions.
-Make me like Christ in my boldness. Why should I blush to own Christ? My testimony will never disgrace me; make it so I never disgrace my testimony! Make me very valiant for Christ. This is practical evangelism.
-Make me like Jesus in my love and in my spirit. Help me think kindly, speak gently, and do tenderly. Give me humility, for this is the tangible kingdom.
-Make me like Christ in his holiness. Time is too precious—keep me from wasting it. Jesus was self-denying, never looking out for himself. Make me the same. Jesus continually prayed even though he was the very Son of God. How much more do I need to be fervent in prayer? Jesus deferred to his Father’s will in all things. Let me submit myself to him. Since he was patient, teach me to endure. For the most accurate portrait, help me forgive my enemies. Returning good for evil is godlike. In all my ways and by any means necessary, make me more like Jesus, so others can see him (even in me) and be saved. Amen.

TUESDAY—FOCUS ON CHRIST’S PRAYER LIFE

Chronological Reading: Numbers 1-3 + Matthew 27:45-66
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

John 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Dear Lord Jesus:
We are more than a team, for we are twins. So prayer comes spontaneously when I abide in you, just because of my living union as a branch on the stem. Let prayer blossom and bud out of my soul today. Like stars shine, so let me abide and pray. I should not have to say to myself, “It is time to get on my knees.” No, let me pray like wise people eat: when the hunger hits!
I need not cry out as if under bondage. I should not feel it a wearying obligation. Instead, I get to run an errand at the mercy seat and rejoice to go there. I pray for others in our church today. Let our hearts abide in Christ and send out supplications like fires send up flames and sparks. Abiding in Christ, souls can open the day in prayer. Prayer can surround us as the atmosphere all day. Then at night, I can fall asleep in prayer. Let me joyfully be able to say,
Psalm 139:18 …when I awake, I am still with thee.
The fruit of my abiding includes freedom in prayer. Many times I have been on my knees to you Lord, without power to pray. I felt like I could not plead like I wanted. I desired to pray, but the waters were frozen and would not flow. The will was present, but not the way to present that will in prayer.
Lord, give me liberty in prayer so I can speak with you as a person speaks with their friend. Here is the way: if I abide in you and your words abide in me, I can ask whatever I wish. I do not want liberty as to mere fluency; I want weight of thought and depth of feeling—not to pray by the yard (as in length), but by the ton (as in weight). In that case Lord, some of my groans have more fullness than a fine oration. So be with me today as I desire, for I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WEDNESDAY—REVIVAL PRAYING

Chronological Reading: Numbers 4-6 + Matthew 28
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Zephaniah 3:14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

Oh My Loving Father:
I cry for revival, but I have to realize: you are completely content with the church because you know what we are yet to be. You see us as fair because you know what we will look like after the washing for the wedding. My sun goes down and I dread the darkness, but you see the morning. Help me better understand how the dews of the night refresh my garden for you. I measure by the hour, but you calculate by eternity. Help me correct my shortsighted judgment with your infallible knowledge, and rest in you.
There are three things for me to do.
MAKE ME BE HAPPY. Only the true Christian can sing while drinking a bitter cup. Whenever the enemy seems to prevail, teach me at that time to praise, because victory will come with my song of faith and trust in you. It must be puzzling to Satan to hear singing when he puts his foot down on me. Let me determine to be happier when the Devil thinks I am downcast. The more opposition, the more rejoicing. The more discouragement, the more confidence.
Make it fine to BE ALONE IN THE WARFARE. Why do I think not? If I am lonely there is more room for God. When the deserters have cleared out, then every corner can be filled with the Spirit.
MAKE ME FEARLESS OF EVERYONE BUT YOU, and tie that knot of faith around the throat of unbelief. When fear comes today, help me drive it away. There should be no room for it. I need to be zealous. I need to do more for God. Let me plan great things for the future. The Devil does not take a day off. Help me completely kill his falsehood and deception for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

A DAILY PATTERN FOR PRAYER & BIBLE READING

Chronological Reading: Numbers 7-9 + Mark 1:1-22
Thursday, February 19, 2009

1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

I HEARD an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory

I heard about His healing, of His cleansing pow’r revealing
How He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit”
And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory

I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory
And I heard about the streets of gold, beyond the crystal sea
About the angels singing and the old redemption story
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

—Eugene M. Bartlett

FRIDAY—LIVING THE GREAT COMMISSION

Chronological Reading: Numbers 10-12 + Mark 1:23-45
Friday, February 20, 2009

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Our Lord and Our Master:
In how many of our actions do we betray disbelief of you? Like the children of Israel in the wilderness, you might well say of us,
Numbers 14:11 How long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?
You have been very faithful to us. In no one instance has there been a breach of your promise. You have tried our faith by fire, but we still have to say,
† Psalm 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
You have brought us low sometimes, but underneath have still been the everlasting arms. You have brought us into the wilderness sometimes, but you have furnished a table for us there in the presence of our enemies. Your love has been perfected, even in our weakness!
You are goodness, truth, grace and lovingkindness; therefore we bless your name. Now blot out our sins. Let our unbelief be forgiven. Help us stand with no sin on our consciences, but be washed through Jesus’ blood. Give us the enjoyment of such confidence with you that we can lift up our faces without a cloud crossing over them, and can continue to grow in our trust of you.
Part of that Lord, will only come if you teach us to be resigned to your will. Teach us to delight in your word. Teach us to have no separate will from your own. Teach us to trust that everything your providence does is good, and the very best that could be for us. Help us leave our worries in your hands as we leave this time of prayer. This do that Jesus may be exalted in our midst and our ministry.

SATURDAY—IN THE PSALMS

Chronological Reading: Numbers 13-15 + Mark 2
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Psalm 139:7-8  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

God of Ages and Ageless God:
I worship you. Before your throne I bow my heart with joy. Make me sincerely say, I delight in God.
There was a time when I feared you Lord, with the fear of bondage. Now I reverence you with the fellowship of love. The thought of your omniscience used to scare me. I wanted to run from your oversight, but today Lord, I want to find you. My longing is to feel your presence throughout my day. It is heavenly if you are with me, and not just within me. My sick bed is soft and safe if you are there. The furnace of affliction grows cool when you are there. And my closet of prayer is the house of God when you are here.
Come near Lord, to all your children today. Some of us are very weak in body because of sickness, or faint in heart because of opposition. Soon Lord, lay your right hand on us and say, Fear not.
Maybe the world is attempting to tempt me today. Come near and kill the influence of sin with your superior presence! Even to worship does not seem easy sometimes. The Dragon pursues me, and the flood out of his mouth washes away my devotion. Give us wings like those of an eagle, so each of us—in our class and abroad on the mission field—can fly away into the place you have prepared for us. Give us closer fellowship with you there.
Job 39:27  Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
Help me rest in your presence today, because only then can I display your power. This do to the glory and honor of Jesus’ name. Amen.