God wants us to share our faith with those we come in contact with in our daily lives. But he also wants us to have a global perspective for advancing his kingdom. From the beginning, God's plan has been to redeem the nations. He told Abraham when he choose him... "all
peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen. 12:3). And when
Jesus gave his marching orders to the church he said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matt. 28:19).
Spend 20 or 30 minutes today praying for a the Gospel to spread to every "tribe, people, language and nation." (Rev. 14:6) Ask God to give you a heart for the nations. Pray that God would use your church to have a global impact. Pray for any missionaries that you or your church are connected with... pray for them personally and pray for their effectiveness in spreading the gospel.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wisdom & Courage
Read Joshua 1 & James 1 - then spend at least 20 minutes praying for wisdom and courage. I ask God to give this to my sons almost everyday.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Seek & Save
Think of people you know who need Christ. Spend 10 minutes praying for them to be saved. Spend some of the time asking God for a heart for the lost. Ask him to open the door for you to share your faith with them. Look for an opportunity this week to speak to someone about Jesus. This will be the goal for the week.
I Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
I Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Lord's Prayer
Pray through the Lords Prayer, using it as a model for praise, surrender, provision, forgiveness,and protection.
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Contemplate
Spend 20 minutes today in silence and solitude. Contemplate only God’s character(faithful, kind, patient, holy, love, etc.). Redirect your mind at any moment it drifts away from this. Worship him for who He is. Let your mind be filled with all the fullness of God.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph. 3:18-19
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph. 3:18-19
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Pray for your church
Paul asked for prayer often…Today you pray for your church and its leaders. Pray for the leaders by name (Pastors, Elders, teachers, worship leaders, etc.) use verse below as an idea for ways to pray for them. Spend 15 minutes in focused specific prayer.
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Rom. 15:30-33
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Rom. 15:30-33
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
"Gratitude & Family"
Spend 10 minutes thanking God for anything and everything he has done in your life. Don't ask him for anything during this time.
Then spend the next 10 minutes praying for your spouse and kids.
Then spend the next 10 minutes praying for your spouse and kids.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Fervor
Fervor: James 5:16-18
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
The fervor is about developing power in prayer. Spend ten minutes today in what James referred to as "fervent" prayer. Make sure there is passion and intensity. Pray about whatever you want but be
fervent for ten solid minutes. Let me know how it goes.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
The fervor is about developing power in prayer. Spend ten minutes today in what James referred to as "fervent" prayer. Make sure there is passion and intensity. Pray about whatever you want but be
fervent for ten solid minutes. Let me know how it goes.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Being a good friend
"For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus" Phil. 1:8
I want everything in my relationships with my friends to reflect what Paul says in this verse. When I'm thinking about others, I don't want to be critical, judge them, and tear them down in my thoughts. I want to think of them and long for them with the love of Jesus. When I pray for them, I want to pray with the affection of Christ. When I spend time with them, I want to show Christ's affection for them.
When you read Paul’s letters, you can see the priority that he placed on his relationships. He valued them greatly and he built them over years and through the ups and downs. He longed for his friends when he was separated by miles or circumstances. I wonder if in today’s culture, Paul would be distracted by all of the current “entertainment allure” and devalue his relationships. Would he be able to keep his friendship focus? I confess that in the midst of daily pressures and temptations, my desire to love others with Christ's affection often wanes. I have often allowed my affections to be turned toward selfish interests instead of really loving like Jesus did.
In the future, I see myself choosing a better attitude. I want to take the initiative to stay in touch, even when others sometimes fail to do so with me. I want to ask friends what issues they are struggling with, and listen carefully as they respond. I’ll share my struggles with them and tell them how God is at work in the midst of them. I want to take off my own masks and be transparent and encourage others to do the same. If possible, I would like to feel as strongly about them as Christ does. I also want to pray for my friends more. To me this is the attitude of a good friend. It seems like the attitude that Jesus had as I read about his life in the Bible.
Have you thought much lately about how good a friend you are? Are you giving your best effort in your relationships? Are you allowing Jesus more influence in your heart? Can people sense more of Him coming through as you interact with them? Sit with God for a few moments even now and ask him to give you an incredible heart for your friends. May your heart come alive for your friends today.
Chris
I want everything in my relationships with my friends to reflect what Paul says in this verse. When I'm thinking about others, I don't want to be critical, judge them, and tear them down in my thoughts. I want to think of them and long for them with the love of Jesus. When I pray for them, I want to pray with the affection of Christ. When I spend time with them, I want to show Christ's affection for them.
When you read Paul’s letters, you can see the priority that he placed on his relationships. He valued them greatly and he built them over years and through the ups and downs. He longed for his friends when he was separated by miles or circumstances. I wonder if in today’s culture, Paul would be distracted by all of the current “entertainment allure” and devalue his relationships. Would he be able to keep his friendship focus? I confess that in the midst of daily pressures and temptations, my desire to love others with Christ's affection often wanes. I have often allowed my affections to be turned toward selfish interests instead of really loving like Jesus did.
In the future, I see myself choosing a better attitude. I want to take the initiative to stay in touch, even when others sometimes fail to do so with me. I want to ask friends what issues they are struggling with, and listen carefully as they respond. I’ll share my struggles with them and tell them how God is at work in the midst of them. I want to take off my own masks and be transparent and encourage others to do the same. If possible, I would like to feel as strongly about them as Christ does. I also want to pray for my friends more. To me this is the attitude of a good friend. It seems like the attitude that Jesus had as I read about his life in the Bible.
Have you thought much lately about how good a friend you are? Are you giving your best effort in your relationships? Are you allowing Jesus more influence in your heart? Can people sense more of Him coming through as you interact with them? Sit with God for a few moments even now and ask him to give you an incredible heart for your friends. May your heart come alive for your friends today.
Chris
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