DAY 9

Monday, October 9

SCRIPTURE: “So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient.” -Romans 5:1-3

OBSERVATION: Several years ago, at a time when I was struggling, a co-worker asked me, “You’re not praying for patience are you? If so, stop it! Ask God for grace and mercy.” You see the point. Praying for patience only begets the trials that cause you to grow in patience. (Rom. 5:1-3) Definitely doesn’t sound like the way to go. On the other hand, patience is promoted as something good in the Bible. It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), something to be clothed in (Col. 3:12) what love is (1 Cor. 13:4) and something to grasp onto during trials (Rom. 12:12). Patience signifies maturity. Therefore, only those seeking maturity should pray for it. Fortunately, grace and mercy are there while we wait. God is patiently waiting on us even when we can’t find the patience for Him.

PRAYER: Merciful Father, today allow us time to thank you for grace, and for time as we learn the many lessons you provide. Thank you for making it a life-long process and not a one-time event. Give us patience. We ask this because we know you are faithful and we know we will not be given more than we can handle. Bless us today and everyday as we seek You, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DAY 8

Sunday, October 8

According to Matthew 6:12 Jesus taught us to pray in this manner, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”  The apostle Paul penned these words, “Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” -Ephesians 4:32

OBSERVATION:  The great reality about forgiveness is this; Jesus measures us by the yardstick we use on others.  Jesus didn’t say, “Forgive us because we have forgiven others.” But “Forgive us as we have forgiven others.”

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for extending your forgiveness to me, help me to share and show forgiveness to those who need it. Amen.

DAY 7

Saturday, October 7

SCRIPTURE:  “Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me and all that is mine is yours.”  -Luke 15:31

OBSERVATION:  To the eldest son, the party for his younger brother who squandered his inheritance in dissolute living was not only wrong given the circumstances, it was a slap in the face to his years of loyalty and faithfulness to their father.  But we, too, rarely accept the word of the father, that “all that is mine is yours.”  Despising the thought that the younger son would in any way be rewarded for his poor choices and bad behavior, we too often stand with the eldest son, decrying bad behavior and refusing the generosity and grace of the father by not attending the party.  In calling out the youngest for his bad behavior, we make the example of God’s love only for those who we think “deserve it,” rather than God’s radical love described by, “all that is mine is yours.”  Rather than calling us OUT, God invites us IN.  “All that is mine is yours.”  Let that sink in before you relegate yourself to standing outside the celebration of grace and love.  This is an invitation to live in new ways.

PRAYER:  Generous God, rather than deciding what we have and what we have not, help us to trust that “all that you have is ours,” to not only believe it, but to act like it.  That we may adopt a spirit of welcoming one another into your joy—for the sake of all that is good for our community, our country, and the world.  AMEN.

DAY 6

Friday, October 6

SCRIPTURE: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

OBSERVATION: This gift righteousness is often called “The Great Exchange”.  When we have “faith alone in Christ alone”, Jesus absorbs the wrath of God for our sins on the cross, and as we trust in the finished work of Jesus in the cross and resurrection, we get credited with His perfect life. How sad that the vast majority of the world, including people in our churches, try to add works to this glorious Good News, which is our only hope.  If you have trusted in anything else for your salvation instead of the finished work of Jesus, let today be the day of your salvation. Trust in nothing you can do, but only in what He has done.

PRAYER: God, forgive us for trusting in government, or works, or even church, instead of the rescue plan of our all-powerful God which was completed in the finished work of Christ?  O God, we pray that Union County, and the world, would recognize how awesome You are, and live a life that recognizes that You alone are worthy of ALL of our time, possessions, and passion and affection. Turn people’s hearts to the truth of The Gospel, and away from the silly pursuits this world offers.  God, I want to make this very personal and ask You to change me. Continue to transform my heart, make me to walk like the new creature in Christ I am, and empower me to live my life on mission for You. Thank You for The Great Exchange and for Gift Righteousness.

DAY 5

Thursday, October 5

SCRIPTURE:  “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.  For he hath founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods.  Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?  Or who shall stand in his holy place.  He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.” – Psalm 24:1-6

OBSERVATION:  Many people really and literally don’t fear God in respect of His obedience.  The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom — wisdom is having knowledge of Godly fear.  Should people first fear God by acknowledging that He’s the only one who has the fullness of all power in His hands, is Creator of all things, and bow in humbleness of heart to this fact, the world would change drastically.  Should people understand that by God world powers are shaken and brought to nothing, spiritual powers are shaken, and they eventually bow to Him because He is the beginning and ending of all things.

PRAYER:  Father our prayer today is for world repentance.  We ask that you would forgive us for all wrong we’ve done through thoughts and willful actions, that have contributed to the breakdown in our nation and society.  We ask that you forgive us for using your name in vain, through ignorance, according to our beliefs:  by the way that I/we were raised and trained, even as children, to view people who don’t look like me/us as unworthy; by thinking or believing that you are God of a few people and not God of all people; by not understanding that our positions in this earth are vital in world affairs in determining the outcome and prosperity of nations, states, cities, and neighboring communities.  According to the bible, your words and laws as first established by you and written by your servants, it is your wish for us, above all things, that we may prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.  Father, for all this and more, help your people to use with care and caution when praying, “In the Name of Jesus”.  The name of “Jesus” is a powerful name, and should be used to effect fervent prayers.  We all see through the lens of our own eyes, and are sometime blinded by our own hearts.  Father, we pray that our prayers be those of a righteous nature, not blinded by eyes of an unrighteous heart.  Finally, we sincerely ask that you restore our soul through the joy of revival after we have truly repented.  AMEN.

DAY 4

Wednesday, October 4

SCRIPTURE:  “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”   But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying.” -John 11:33–37

OBSERVATION:  In Ecclesiastes 7:1 we are told that the day of death is better than day of birth (Ecc. 7:1).  There are those who believe that we should not mourn when death has taken our loved ones.  Yet, Jesus (our perfect example) wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.  Death is hard on everyone touched by it, but we weep not for the departed but for ourselves as we ponder the precious memories of the person and see the sorrow of that person’s loved one.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as we ponder the passing of family and friends we know and love and even those we do not know who have lost loved ones, we pray that you will comfort them and show them an extra measure of you love as the cope with their loss. We confess that we do not understand death, but we do understand the power of it.  Grant you peace to all those who are suffering with the loss of loved ones at this time…Amen.

DAY 3

Tuesday, October 3

SCRIPTURE: “God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’” Acts 17:27-28

OBSERVATION: Are we seeking the very presence of God in our lives today? If you do, you may notice that Paul says ‘He is not far from any one of us’. God has left His autograph on every flower that grows, on every river that flows, on every star that glows and on every breeze that blows; He is not far from you. The Poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “God is closer than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet”. He is closer than the scarf you are wearing or even the shoes on your feet. And this God desires a personal relationship with you through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Seek Him today.

PRAYER: O God, I ask that You would make yourself real in my life. Make me sense Your very presence in my daily walk. Whether I am awake, or asleep. At my place of occupation or entertainment. Help me to sense Your Presence O Father in all of my daily activities and help me to glorify You. Let me sense Your Holy Presence in my daily life and to give glory and honor due to Your Name. It is in the Name of Jesus I pray these things, Amen.

DAY 2

Monday, October 2

SCRIPTURE: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.  Be attentive to him and obey him. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority is within him.  If you obey him and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.” (Exodus 23:20-22)

OBSERVATION:  Today we are thankful for the protection of God

PRAYER: O God, who in your unfathomable providence are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us, hear our supplication as we cry to you, that we may always be defended by their protection and rejoice eternally in their company.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

DAY 1

Sunday, October 1  (Optional Day of Fasting)

SCRIPTURE:  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5

OBSERVATION:  We praise God for the gift of prayer; for being able to talk to our Father at any time and be confident that He hears, He cares, and He is willing and able to answer our petitions. We give thanks for the mediation of Jesus, our High Priest, who speaks to the Father on our behalf when we approach God’s throne; and for the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us when we do not even know what we ought to pray for.

PRAYER:  Father, we boldly ask in the name of Jesus that you bless us in the next 40 days with the wisdom we need to face life’s challenges and bring about unity in our community; through our High Priest we claim your promise to draw near to us as we draw near to You; we ask that through your Spirit you will grant us a deeper sense of Your presence in our community in the days ahead.

El Dorado Prays Together

eldorado40_downtown

What difference could the power of 40 day of coordinated, concentrated prayer to God by hundreds of people in El Dorado and Union County make? You’re invited to be a part of this powerful movement beginning October 1, 2017.  

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” -James 5:16-18

Here’s what you need to know:

When and Who. Just think.  During October 1 – November 9, 2017, Hundreds of Christians across El Dorado and Union County will be praying the same prayer along with you each day for 40 days!

What and How. Spend at least 5 minutes a day for 40 days in prayer using the daily guides authored for you by over 20 ministry leaders in El Dorado and Union County.  Each day your prayer guide will include a message from the Bible, and observation and a prayer thought to serve as a focus for your prayer time. 

Consider Fasting. A new addition to this year’s initiative: The ministry leaders invite you to join us in committing to a day of fasting on the 1st, 20th, and 40th days of the prayer campaign. That’s:

  • Day 1 – Sunday, October 1
  • Day 20 – Friday, October 20
  • Day 40 – Thursday, November 9

Now… if you’re new to fasting, you’ll want to take a look at this helpful straight-forward advice about the practice of fasting, so you won’t need to apologize later for what you said in “hanger.”  😉

Sharing is Caring. Please help us get the word out there by sharing the daily prayer posts on your Facebook, Twitter or other social media feeds.  Wouldn’t it be great if every day there were posts and tweets letting people know about the Church in El Dorado rising up in prayer together?

Learn more about the community-wide 40 day prayer initiative here:
about #eldorado40

Let’s do this!