Day 20 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: Proverbs 17:6 & Psalm 127

Meditation: An arrow allows a warrior to strike beyond his reach. When God gives us children, it allows our influence to extend beyond our own personal actions. Have you thanked God for your children (or the children of your local church family)? Are you preparing them to serve God beyond your house?

Prayer: Father, thank you for the children you've given me, and those who are part of our church family. Help me to do my part to prepare them for your service.

Day 19 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: James 1:26-27

Meditation: Every day most of us see people who are less fortunate than ourselves. The homeless and unemployed stand on corners asking for help. There are many others who aren't so visible or dramatic; widows, orphans, the elderly, sick, and even those in prison. We are challenged in God's word to show our religion through compassion and kindness. God has always been the champion of the disenfranchised of society. Being a part of his family should move us to reach out to those who are on the 'outside' looking in.

Prayer: God you have always been the champion of the powerless, you have used your great power to lift up and protect us in our weakness, and we praise your name for it. Help us Father to show our devotion by imitating you in regards to those we meet who are truly in need.

Day 18 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: Psalm 116:8-9

Meditation: A period of my life led me down a lonely road of depression years ago.

Loneliness. Depression. Fear. These are cruel taskmasters of the soul, slave-drivers that try to rob us of our hope and joy. They turn our focus inward, pulling a dark curtain over our eyes so we can’t see God’s love for us.

But there is good news today! God wants to break through the dark clouds and restore our sense of joy and purpose in life. How do we know this is true? In the Psalms we are given an intimate look into King David’s heart. He often faced loneliness, depression, and fear—but he also found God’s abundant victory:

For You, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death,

My eyes from tears,

My feet from stumbling,

That I may walk before the Lord

In the land of the living (Psalm 116:8-9).

God can deliver us as well! Hold on to the promises of His Word. I did and it brought me through some of the darkest storms in my life.

-Jack Patterson

Prayer: Father, you don't always protect me from harm, but help me to trust that you will always protect me in the midst of harm. Let me learn how to walk with you, even when the ground under me has fallen away.

Day 17 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:11

Meditation: Children are a gift from God, to be given back to God in His service.

Prayer: Father, remind us that 'our' children are really not ours, but your gifts to us, and we are really only stewards of that gift. Help us to raise them to love you and to serve you.

Day 16 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: Genesis 27

Meditation: In the ancient world, Fathers would give a blessing to their children. The blessing consisted of meaningful touch, words of affirmation, a positive future, and a commitment to their children. Today children need to be blessed by their parents in the same way. Many adults however have missed out on that blessing. But it is never too late to receive a blessing from our Heavenly Father. It is also never too late to give the blessing to your children.
(For a great resource, read Smalley's & Trent's "The Blessing")

Prayer: Father, I know that you have a plan for my life that is greater than anything I can imagine. Help me to trust in your love and desire for me. Help me to show my love to those around me so that I can be a blessing to them.

Day 15 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15

Meditation: Thanks, Mom and Dad

I will forever be grateful to my wonderful parents, Lex and Vera, for teaching me about God and His precious son Jesus. Not only did they take us to church and Bible classes, but their positive examples, through both words and actions, were constantly present. I remember many lessons I learned from them about faith and total dependence on God, but one that stands out in my mind occurred when I was eleven years old. I was young enough to be naive and insulated from the struggles of life, but old enough to comprehend reality. We lived in southern Illinois and my dad and his older brother had a very successful home improvement business. It was a great time to be alive. My family had a nice house in the country. I had a new bike, loving parents, a wonderful older sister, a new baby brother, and a dog I loved almost as much as my sister.

My parents would have many of their private talks early in the morning around the breakfast table while they thought their children were still fast asleep. Many mornings I would awaken early and just lie in bed listening to them. I never really tried to comprehend what they were saying; I just loved to hear them talk to each other. I always knew when something different was going on because there was much more conversation than normal. It seemed that Mom and Dad had been talking a lot lately, but I thought it might be because we had a new baby in the house.

It was October 1960. My dad and mom, who held my one month old baby brother, gathered my sister and me into the living room and said they had something to tell us. They shared that Dad’s business was not doing well because the local coal mines were shutting down. His business would be closing and we were going to move to Arkansas where Dad was going to work for a company where he had previously been employed. My sister and I were crushed. Our friends, our schools, our church—we’d be leaving them all! Over the next few weeks, I saw one of our cars and our house being sold. Every item of my mom’s furniture was auctioned to the highest bidder. When it was all said and done, we had a car, each other, and my parents’ trust and faith in God. We headed off to Arkansas where we would get a new start.

One of the first places we went was to church. Every time the doors were open, we were there. The next years were difficult for my parents, but my sister and I didn’t know it. Only when I became an adult with children of my own did I truly understand the great difficulties my parents had to contend with. Their love, commitment, and faith in God never wavered. During the good and the hard times, they made us feel safe and loved and gave us all they possibly could. Most of all, they instilled their love, commitment, and faith for God in us. I will forever be thankful and call my parents blessed for what they have done for me, my children, and my grandchildren.

Parents- teach your children about God and His precious Son; take your kids to church and Bible classes; teach them with words; be positive examples; and generations will be blessed by your faithfulness.............. Joshua 24:15

-Bill Dismang

Prayer: God of creation, you are a God of purpose, planning, and priorities. Teach us to give ourselves over to your purpose and to order our lives around your priorities. I want to understand you word and live by it. Help me to pass these on to my children and families.

Day 14 of 40 Days of Prayer

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-25

Meditation: Our earthly relationships will never be spiritually healthy until we understand that we have died to Christ and begin living a resurrected life in Christ.

Prayer: God, You are the resurrection and the life. I too often try to live life in the flesh, rather than through the spiritual resurrection that you have given me through your son.