Day 4: Peace in our World

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  -John 14:27

REFLECT | We as people long for peace. Although we may have peace at home or in the church, we see it absent in the world. Every avenue of news or social media is flooded with discord and hate. There is no peace in sight, however if we stop searching for peace in the world and look to the only source which is Christ Jesus, we will obtain just that. Once we have done this, then we can spread the peace of Christ unto the world. If you are struggling, please don’t lose hope. Trust in the Lord and receive His peace.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” -Revelation 21:4. At His return there shall be eternal peace.

PRAY | Father, today I humbly bow before you in prayer. I ask You to watch over us as a community; to lead us, guide us, and protect us. Lord I not only pray for peace here, but also peace in the world. That followers of Your Son Jesus would be a light in such a dark place. That we show love and peace like You show to us. I want to pray for the one reading this right now, pray they know You personally and their loved ones as well. Father God I pray all these things in Jesus Holy Name, Amen.

#eldorado40
facebook.com/eldorado40days
twitter.com/eldorado40days
eldorado40.com

 

DAY 3: Peace in our Nation

6C711A4A-FFB3-40FB-81E0-A43C9624161D

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance –Psalm 33:12 (KJV)

REFLECT |  “Peace” was defined by Bro. Noah Webster in his first publication of a dictionary for the American-English language in 1828, “a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.” The word has many applications, but so many apply it as meaning no wars of any kind. America is not at peace with itself. It has internal conflicts that are growing and growing. The only way America will have peace is by following the Word of the Lord, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165). (KJV) When our nation follows the Lord, we shall have peace, we shall be greatly blessed as a result. 

PRAY | Heavenly Father, we pray that America would stop turning its back on You. May Your people stand firmly upon Your Word and show others Your wonderful love and peace that only You can bring. May people have a desire of true peace, and may they find the willingness to come to You to receive it. Thank You for Your mercy and grace toward us. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

#eldorado40
facebook.com/eldorado40days
twitter.com/eldorado40days
eldorado40.com

 

DAY 2: Peace in our Community

 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  –Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

REFLECT | We are mindful of the need for peace throughout the world, but today we pray specifically for our community.  

PRAY | Dear Heavenly Father, we know you to be the Prince of Peace! We ask that you bless us with hearts of forgiveness when we deal with our brothers and sisters in our community! May we yearn to have a heart like yours to live peaceably with one another! We thank you for giving us the ability to forgive and ask that we are mindful of the many times we have needed you to forgive us as we seek to be forgiven and to forgive! May peace comfort us and may we bear one another’s burdens as true children of the living God! We are grateful to be peacemakers in times of trouble! This is your servant’s Prayer in the precious name of Jesus, we pray for peace in our community! Amen!

#eldorado40
facebook.com/eldorado40days
twitter.com/eldorado40days
eldorado40.com

 

DAY 1: Thankful for prayer

44B911FE-BBCE-4724-ADC0-654F9DACC6C8

He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” –Luke 11:1  

REFLECT | The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him. St. Augustine, De diversis quaestionibusoctoginta tribus 64,4:PL 40,56.

PRAY | Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.

#eldorado40
facebook.com/eldorado40days
twitter.com/eldorado40days
eldorado40.com

DAY 40: Local, specific concerns

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

OBSERVATION: As we end our 40 Days of Prayer and the elections are over, let us continue to pray every day for our community and its newly elected officials. Although we have different values and opinions, so much more can be accomplished when we are unified and look to God

for guidance.

PRAYER: Father, we thank You that we live in a nation where people can openly unite in prayer to You. We ask You to bless our community with unity and love while we work together to improve the quality of life for everyone here.

#eldorado40
facebook.com/eldorado40days
twitter.com/eldorado40days
eldorado40.com

DAY 39: Local work force/jobs

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” -Colossians 3:23-24

OBSERVATION: Today we are thankful for our jobs and are mindful of those who do not have jobs that are looking. May their efforts be fruitful.

PRAYER: Gracious God, I begin this new day seeking your help. When I lack energy, give me your spirit. When I lack discipline, give me your love. When I lack time, give me your patience. I have much to do. Let the patience and forgiveness I receive from others equal the patience I extend to them. Father, when I am confused guide me, and may the work that I do and the way I do it bring faith, joy, and a smile to all that I come in contact with today. The world around me seems to be spinning out of control. Be with us Lord. Keep my head on right, Father. Keep my eyes focused on Jesus. Keep my feet on the path. Walk with me. Make me aware of your presence today. I will give you the glory. Amen

DAY 38: Addicts and their families

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.” Psalm 107:13-14

OBSERVATION: Addiction is no respecter of persons. Anyone can become an addict to damaging behaviors. It feels like being in chains and darkness with no hope of escape. It also damages everyone around the person who is an addict; family, friends, co-workers, other drivers… We pray today for the active addict, recovering addicts and all those affected by addiction.

PRAYER: Father, hear our cry to you. There are many in our community chained by addiction. They do and say things they would never do sober. Please help them to turn toward you. Hold those who have loved ones who are practicing addicts. Give them freedom too. Restore all to your blessed peace and freedom. Grant them life. We pray in Jesus, who burst the bonds of death.

TODAY: The Community-Wide Prayer Walk begins at the El Dorado Police Department at 7pm.

DAY 37: Abused and abusive

Psalm 22:24- “For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and He has not hidden His face from him, but has heard, when he cried to Him.”

Psalm 9:9 “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

OBSERVATION: May we be ever mindful of those in our community who are victims of abuse and those who are abusive.

PRAYER: We pray for those who are, or have been, the victims of abuse. We pray that they will be made whole physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Heal their wounds and transform their brokenness. We pray that as a community we will not turn a deaf ear to the plight of those who are suffering but with listen and act just as Christ would have us to. Help us as disciples to live out our faith in tangible ways to make a Kingdom impact. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace, so that we may act with justice and find peace in you.

Father, work in the hearts of those who are abusive and turn their hearts to You.

We long for the day when there will be no more abuse, injustice, and crime. In the meantime, strengthen us for the journey and may we be salt and light in the community. We ask all this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

DAY 36: Upcoming elections

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – II Chronicles 7:14

OBSERVATION: As we enter into the elections tomorrow we are thankful for the election process and for those candidates who seek God’s Will in the decisions they make and the policies they champion.

PRAYER: Father, today we pray for our community and nation tomorrow as we head to the polls. May we elect those who hold the values found in scripture. We pray for those in leadership positions that they will seek Your Will in their daily lives and in the causes they champion.