DAY 20: Persecuted Christians

Read Daniel 9:1-19

Daniel prays for his nation being held captive. Is our nation any different than Daniel’s? Like Daniel, are Christians in a state of captivity and persecution?

All this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring this disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. Now, Lord our God… we have sinned, we have done wrong!

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DAY 19: Nonprofit Agencies in our Community

Work willingly in whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. – Colossians 3:23

The work that our local Non-Profit do is HARD. The balance of serving those most in need and continuing to raise funds for the work, can often be draining and traumatic. Many of our local community are unaware of the work they do and how important it is.

LORD, we pray for the organizations that are on the front line serving the least of these. These Non-Profits that work tirelessly to feed, clothe, support, and minister to those that need it the most. LORD, we pray our community sees the work that is being done and stands up to help. We pray for the leaders of these organizations. We pray for their individual strength and discernment. We pray they don’t grow weary in their work. We pray for the staff and volunteers. They are the ones that are seeing the trauma and pain in our community. LORD, give them peace. We pray for the unity of all the different organizations. Together, they can do a multitude of healing. LORD, we pray that you continue to be glorified in their work. Thank you for giving them a servant heart. We pray our community can continue to lift them up, they are so important, and we are thankful for them.

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DAY 18: Local Congregations and Unity Among Them

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in UNITY! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has COMMANDED the BLESSINGS, life forevermore.” – Psalm 133:1-3

What is unity? 1) Not the absence of difference, but the absence of division. Mark 3:25 tells us that a house divided against itself cannot stand. If we are divided, we are already defeated. 2) Unity is health and harmony in relationships. We are not in competition, but on the same team. We would see people differently if we saw them as the spiritual beings they are and the valuable people they are to God. 3) Unity is clear and common purpose. We will see our city and community changed when we come together for the common purpose of Christ.

God, today as we pray for unity in the congregations of our community, we are not asking for sameness but being on the same page. Father, help us to lay aside our selfish ambitions and contend for UNITY in our local church bodies. We ask all of this in the awesome name of Jesus. Amen!

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DAY 17: Godly Men to Lead Youth

Command these things. Teach them. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and by being sexually pure. Until I arrive, pay attention to public reading, preaching, and teaching. – 1 Timothy 4:11-13

The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Timothy to a young pastor, but his words are not only for pastors (or aspiring pastors). Every man of God should aspire to know and teach what is true about God. What you believe and say about God is one of the most important things about you. Men who speak well in the world are men who first listen well to God in His word. Strive to know Him as thoroughly and deeply as possible – to mediate on his law day and night – and to bear a faithful witness to who He truly is to others.

Father God, we pray that You instill in all men a desire to not only know but also teach what is good and true about You. Give us a hunger to arm ourselves with the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) and to be ready “whenever anyone asks us to speak of our hope” (1 Peter 3:15). Father, give us a willingness to boldly proclaim the goodness and faithfulness that You have revealed in Your word. Thank you for not only hearing the cry of our hearts but also for the answer that is sure to come. Amen!

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DAY 16: Praise of the Holy Spirit

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive; because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall also live.” John 14:16-19 KJV

When you have a need, you don’t have to go anywhere for Christ to come to you as a believer in Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in you and there is no distance between you and Jesus. God wants to hear from you today and everyday through prayer, bible reading and reflection. Call on God this very moment with the following prayer:

Most gracious and loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. We gratefully acknowledge your Spirit’s presence in us. We praise you for always knowing what we need and helping us pray. We desire to grow closer to you this very moment. We want to pray for others. “Lord, help me live from day to day In such a self forgetful way, That even when I kneel to pray, My prayer shall be for Others. Others, Lord, Yes others, Let this my motto be, Help me live for others, That I may live like Thee.” In the praise and power of the Holy Spirit we pray thy will be done. In Jesus name, Amen & Amen.

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DAY 15: Local Business Owners

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” –2 Corinthians 4:8–9, NLT

Small business owners have experienced all recently; grumpy customers, no customers, no employees, costly employees, new regulations, more regulations, high prices, low profit and no profit. Like a bag of chips knocked to the floor and stepped on, some are at the point of exploding while others already have. What to do? Watch out! A lot of stuff does not bring ‘real’ life. Life and light are Jesus. E. Stanley Jones says it this way. “In Him life experiences Life, out of Him life experiences death.”

Heavenly Father, be my friend. Be my guide to green pastures. Fill my spirit and drive out all fear through the indwelling of your Holy Spirit. I want to experience Life!

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DAY 14: Military

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.

As young men and Women enter the Military, they are fearful of leaving their family for extended periods, not knowing when they will be back to see them.

Lord, thank you for the men and women who have sacrificed leaving their family so we may continue to live and worship in a free Country. We pray for the ones far from home and pray they seek your guidance and your assurance that you are with them wherever they go. Amen.

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DAY 13: Those in Poverty

And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” –1 Ki 17:12

This single mother did not have enough of anything. She was almost out of food, totally out of hope, no faith in anything anymore, and no other adult is mentioned with which to share life. Life was gone and even existing not far behind. She had little left to be afraid of so she took a chance on God.

Gracious God, we are all needy. Poverty of health, food, friends, hope, self-esteem, or faith is experienced by all. Help us follow your guidance when our relationship with you is small and logic says why bother; that we may know you, your love and your provision to exceed our needs.

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DAY 12: Elderly and those in Nursing Homes

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. – Proverbs 20: 29

The splendor of gray hair in this verse is a symbol of the wisdom and experience that old age brings. In our fast paced and youth oriented culture, the elderly are often overlooked. At home or in care facilities, many senior adults face struggles and loneliness. Older members of our families and community need our presence and our prayers, and we can be richly blessed by the stories and wisdom they have to offer.

Gracious God, we thank you for the women and men in our community who have travelled far down life’s road. Open our hearts to truly see and hear our elderly, especially those who are lonely. May we learn and grow from the wisdom our senior adults can give us. We pray your rich blessings upon these special ones who have earned our honor.

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DAY 11: Hospitals and Health Care Professionals

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. – Psalm 103:1-5, NIV

“…Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…” I believe that God forgives. I believe that God still heals. But how? God may heal instantly or gradually over time. God may heal with medical means, using surgery, therapy or medicines. God may heal without medical means. And, I believe God may heal ultimately … through death. We may hope to influence the activity of God through prayer. But God is God, and we’re not!

Lord, we believe You still heal, how, when, and why, we leave to You alone! Amen.

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