The Week of August 9, 2009

MONDAY—EVANGELISTIC PRAYER

Chronological Reading: Psalm 82-84 + 1 Corinthians 4
Monday, August 10, 2009

1 Samuel 27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul:

Dearest Lord and Greatest Redeemer:
The thought in David’s heart was a false thought, but how many times does Satan tempt me to think that same way? I have no reason for believing that your anointing is an empty act, that your Holy Spirit is given to me in vain. Yet so often I am unbelieving about what you can do and intend to do.
Don’t believe everything you think, and certainly not everything you feel. Help me act with hope today, especially towards __________ and __________, who are lost. They need to see in me the kind of faith they could have in Christ, which would rescue them from the “Sauls” in their circumstances.
I have been put in perilous positions at times, but never once have you deserted me to my haters. The trials I am exposed to are varied and many, but with every trial you send a way of escape for me (1 Cor. 10:13). What grace! Today when I pray I want to argue from what you have done for me, not from what I do not have. You will be my defender still, so that I can be your effective witness still.
Every mistrust of you is without cause. You are good and you are God, and I acknowledge that. Your lovingkindness has been marvelous, and I need to start my week remembering that. You have never failed to justify my faith in you.
I have dark nights, but your star of love still shines. I have stiff battles, but when I am too weak to defend myself, you hold up the shield. I face many trials, but never to my detriment; somehow you always make them work out for good.
What a God and what a gospel! Help me throw down the Jezebel of unbelief and get that message to those who need it most this day. Amen.

TUESDAY— CORPORATE PRAYER MINISTRY

Chronological Reading: Psalm 85-87 + 1 Corinthians 5
Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Proverbs 4:4,21  He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Holy God and Righteous Lord:
Teach us to really love your word like Job did (Job 23:12), and like Jeremiah did (Jer 15:16). Then, our reading and our study will become a labor of love, and a joy we look forward to with delight.
Psalm 119:96-97  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
We plead with you to give us patience to study as well as to read; to meditate as well as to scan, and to openly contemplate throughout the day. Lord, help us take our Bible with us at all times in our hearts, and not leave it in our drawer after devotions. Make us have responsive hearts. Make us willing to pay any price necessary to be saturated with your words. Jesus is so worth it!
Come Holy Spirit, breathe light into our thoughts and life into our speech as we meditate and pray over your word. Thank you, Father for the unspeakable gift of the Lord Jesus. All the unknown joys he gives were bought with agonies immeasurable. How can we praise you enough for sending the Lord Jesus, who became a man of sorrows so we could know fullness of joy?
We bow down in grateful adoration before you, Lord Jesus; before you who bowed so low that you lifted us up to be with you forever. What are our shallow griefs compared to your infinite sorrows? You are chief among ten thousand to our souls. Teach us to live under the shadow of your cross as we walk through this life today. Our great Savior, these things we pray to your honor and glory, for the joy of your soul and the accomplishment of your mission. Amen.

WEDNESDAY—REVIVAL PRAYING

Chronological Reading: Psalm 88-90 + 1 Corinthians 6
Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Wonderful Savior:
I am saved, but I still need the Holy Spirit with me every day. I need him to do his work of convicting of sin. I need him to convince me of the evil and bitter sin of distrust, because this grieves the Spirit and prevents revival. Give me the ability to trust you in a more childlike way. Oh, convicting Spirit, dwell with me from day to day to convict me of sin, but especially make me feel the worst for questioning my faithful Friend.
The world’s guilt is proven beyond a shadow of doubt. Give me open doors of opportunity to speak up and show people how the gospel of grace frees them from guilt and delivers them from bondage to sin. Part of my unbelief is the silence that I wear around others, when all it would take is getting in a word for the gospel edgewise.
Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Spirit of God, make me sane and wise. I commit my way to you so you can guide and direct my path. Direct us as a church into revival, so you can cause it to spread into the community, so that Jesus Christ might be glorified by the working of your Spirit in our midst. We pray for his power so we can perform your plan.
I thank you that this is no vain request. Asking results in receiving. Seeking results in finding. Knocking will lead to opening. My request for revival is not lost in the wind, and there is a connection between your divine decree and my prayer that is raised for mercy. It is for mercy we plead. Send the showers of blessing that bear fruit for your glory. Amen.

A DAILY PATTERN FOR PRAYER & BIBLE READING

Chronological Reading: Psalm 91-93 + 1Corinthians 7
Thursday, August 13, 2009

2 Samuel 13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

AS the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after you
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you

You’re my friend and you are my brother
Even though you are a king
I love you more than any other
So much more than anything

I want you more than gold or silver,
Only you can satisfy.
You alone are the real joygiver
And the apple of my eye.

You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you

—Martin Nystrom

FRIDAY—FOCUS ON CHRIST’S LIFE

Chronological Reading: Psalm 94-96 + 1Corinthians 8
Friday, August 14, 2009

Luke 19:38  Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Lord God and Only Redeemer:
I praise you; I bless you; I worship you; I glorify you; I give thanks to you for your great glory as heavenly King and Almighty Father. You sent your Son to die for the sins of the world, but you have mercy personally, individually on me. Receive my prayer today whenever I give it. Since Jesus my High Priest sits on the right hand of the Father, he may show mercy to intercede for me (Rom 8:34).
You only are holy. You only are most high in glory. Give me the peace of God that passes all understanding, that my heart and mind can be kept in times of trial today. Keep me in your knowledge and love. Keep me in your blessing.
Romans 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Give me grace to throw away the works of darkness and put on my armor now—in the time of this mortal life—just like Jesus your Son who came to us in great humility. That way in the day of Christ, when he comes again for me in glorious majesty to take me to his judgment seat, I will not be ashamed at his presence. Let me rise to maturity through Jesus who lives and reigns above.
You wrote the Bible for my learning (Rom 15:4). Now grant that I can hear it, read it, mark it, learn it, and inwardly digest it in such a way that by patience and comfort of the Holy Ghost I will embrace it and hold fast the blood, the Book and the blessed hope. These are all things give me in my Savior Jesus Christ. I lean on them today as my daily food and as sustenance to my soul. Let it not be mere dead letter, but in a real sense my “armor of light.” In Jesus’ name I ask it and to his glory. Amen.

SATURDAY—IN THE PSALMS

Chronological Reading: Psalm 97-99 + 1 Corinthians 9
Saturday, August 15, 2009

Psalm 13:3  Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

LORD God and Life-Giver:
I know David must have prayed this more than once while in danger. And I have ever-returning trials just like he did. Verses one and two repeat the question, How Long? four times. Sometimes I mingle impatience with my desire for deliverance. Oh for grace that, while I wait on you, I can be kept back from a complaining spirit!
Psalm 13:2  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
How long the day seems, when my soul is cast down within me. Let me lift up the voice of faith, O LORD my God! It is a glorious blessing that my position in Christ is not destroyed by all my trials and sorrows.
Psalm 13:6  I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
My heart is more out of harmony than David’s harp, and I must tune it just as often. But prayer has now so refreshed me that I need to clear my throat for a song. My joy can be all the greater because I have wept.
Psalm 13:5  But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Because I am sure of my faith, my faith makes me sure. It is only when I doubt the reality of my own trust in you that the windows of heaven are blocked. So as the shipwrecked sailor clings to the mast, Lord let me cling to you, because I am truly trusting in your mercy alone.
Faith makes music to you. Let my tongue keep time with my soul and declare, I will sing unto the LORD. Thank you for always returning a song after sorrow. I praise you in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.