Lent 2009

Our church is working through the prayer devotional titled "Seek God for the City 2009" It started Ash Wednesday and it is a devotional through Palm Sunday. You can find more information about it at www.waymakers.org

While I understand that not all Baptist celebrate lent, I want to share the daily insights of this little devotional.

Since I am starting 4 days into it, I will post the last four days today...:tongue3:

 

Week 1 day 1 February 25, 2009

SEEKING GOD… to bring lasting revival

…go on before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us Luke 1:76-78 NASB

Pray:

For God to bring a tender but powerful conviction of sin, exposing sin in the hope that we will be set free from its power.

For God to send His people as forerunners, bringing hope that God will visit entire communities in reviving power.

For YOUTH For people in their teens to radically commit their lives to Christ; to make wise choices; for older mentors; for solid friendships with their peers who are following Jesus; for open communication with parents; for God’s intentions for their generation to come forth in fullest measure.

PRAYERWALK: Pray with your eyes open for people in their teens. Envision them following Christ five or ten yrs from now

 

Week 1 Day 2 February 26, 2009

SEEKING GOD...to break through our complacecy and pride

Come to Me...Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
-Matthew 11:18-29

Pray:
*for Christ to call many to Himself.

*for God to interecpt our runaway lives so that we can be trained in the way of Christ's heart.

*for Christ's humility to replace deeply-rooted arrogance.

......for Marriages

Marriage should be honored by all...-Hebrews 13:4

Thank God for solid marriages that reflect His faithfulness and beauty. Pray especially for marriages thata are strained to a breaking point; for those that are failing; that God will bring both hope and help; that He will heal broken hearts and restore intimacy; for every marriage, that God will refresh and recenter homes in Christ.

PRAYERWALK: Pray (with your spouse if married) near the homes that may need a special touch of God's healing upon marriages.

 

Day 3



SEEKING GOD...to rescue us from sin's power

Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
" -Mark 2:17



Pray:

*for the people you know who are spiritually sickened by sinful patterns in their lives.
*for Christ to call sinners and to transform them by His mercy.




....for UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE

That God will meet the needs of those without work in a way that they can clearly thank God for His provision; that they will soon find meaningful employment and glorify God for it; that God will open the way for righteous trade so that the entire city prospers in God's provision.

PRAYERWALK: Pray for those in your neighborhood who have recently lost their job or have struggled to find one.




...everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God.
-Ecclesiastes 3:13

 

Day 4

SEEKING GOD...to purify our hearts
A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," He said.
"Be clean!" -Mark 1: 40-41
Pray
*for God to give us, and many throughout our city, a deep desperation to be free from sin.

*for Jesus to be revealed as one who is filled with compassion, approachable by anyone.

Pray for PASTORS.....and church leaders will be filled with wisdom; that they be honored by those they serve; that God will pour His Spirit upon them in power and humility, giving fresh intimacy with Jesus; for proteciton from the plots of the evil one against their families; that deep friendships with other pastors will grow.

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care...Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you...-1 Peter 5: 2, 7

PRAYERWALK: Pray outside a church building for the pastor who serves that church.

 

Day 5

Jesus Stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37-39

Pray:
For many to hear the voice of Jesus calling them to Himself.

For great spiritual thirst throughout our community and nation.

For streams of living water to flow throu believers and churches.

... For families
For solid, God centered relationships among family members; that parents would be bold to instruct their children in God's way of living and lead their families to pray together; for families dismantled by divorce to be healed; that Christ's forgiveness would dissolve long-held anger

Prayerwalk: Prayerwalk as a family through your own neighborhood. Ask God to give you family-to-family prayers of blessing for another specific family.

 

Day 6 Monday March 2, 2009-

Body: SEEKING GOD...to stir us to persistent, united prayer

...that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart... -Luke 18:1 (NASB)

Pray:

*for Christ to encourage our hearts to pray with persistence.

*for God to inspire new movements of prayer in our cities, churches and families.

...for SICK PEOPLE
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. -Matthew 14:14



That God will touch those who are sick in your community with healing and comfort; that they will grow in character as God walks with them throughout their ordeal; that God will provide for their financial needs; for their caregivers and families; that many will renew their trust in Christ and follow Him boldly, even in affliction.




PRAYERWALK: Consider those who may be struggling with chronic illness or pain in your neighborhood. Pray for their healing.

 

Day 7, March 3, 2009


Body: SEEKING GOD...to reveal His glory amidst His people

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
-Isaiah 60: 1-3 (NASB)

Pray:
*for Christians in your city to reflect Christ's character in the marketplace.

*for tangible unity to be on display so that Christians of different churches would befriend, support and honor each other.

*for the justice, holiness and mercy of God to be seen in the lives of believers.


.....for the MILITARY
For the gospel to spread through the special relationships of military life; for courage and protection in the danger of battle; for wisdom and the fear of the Lord as military personnel are sometimes called upon to do the work of governing and enforcing law; for grace upon chaplains and other spiritual leaders; that God will fortify families stretched by numerous moves and separations.


...a centurion came to Him, asking for help...When Jesus heard this, He was astonished and said..."I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Isreal with such great faith.
"
-Matthew 8: 5-10

PRAYERWALK: Pray near a military base or establishment.

 

Day 8 Wednesday March 4-Forty Days to Palm Sunday

Just a reminder that these posts are from daily insights from the prayer devotional titled "Seek God for the City 2009" It started Ash Wednesday and it is a devotional through Palm Sunday. You can find more information about it at www.waymakers.org


SEEKING GOD....to renew our passion to worship

Remember to Pray today for:

• Christians to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to worship with joy.
• Believers who struggle with depression to be renewed with the joy that filled Jesus.
• God to be acknowledged and honored by government and marketplace leaders.

Also pray for ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT industry.

That God will inspire artists and those in the entertainment industry with creativity and wisdom that reflects God's beauty; that they will seek God themselves and come to follow Christ with courage; that their work will bring strength, goodness and hope to our communities.
...He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts...to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.
-Exodus 35: 31-33


PRAYERWALK: Visit a theater, art museum or place of entertainment for the purpose of praying for the artist and those working in support capacities.

 

A person doesn't..
But the same logic can be used to ask the following questions...

Why does a person have to wait to Dec. to focus on Christ's birth?
Why does a person wait till late November to be thankful?
(I know.. that's when deer season opens... hehe)
Why does a person have to wait until mid Feb. before giving roses to his wife?

The point of lent is not about giving up something.. but focusing on becoming closer to God. This of course should be done yr round...
But if you are like me, I need reminded every now an then to do something.
And hopefully, those that are not used to being close to God everyday may get a glimpse of what they are missing.... and incorporate it yr round.


So, in our church we are not focusing on giving up something.. but on prayer between now and Easter... hence the use of the prayer devotional that we are using..

I guess you can say it is the Baptist answer to Lent...

 

Forty Days To Palm Sunday-Day 9, Thursday March 5

Seeking God.... to renew our hearts to obey Him.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these.
-Mark 12: 30-31
Pray:
*for many to surprised by the love of their Christ-following neighbors.
*for the Holy Spirit to empower you to love people and to love God.

....for WOMEN

That women will be honored in their unique glory as those created by God; that injustice is every kind toward women will cease; for pornography to be stopped; for protection from sexual violence; that hope would be renewed for the beauty of marriage and children; that single women would lay hold of the hope of great joy purpose for God's glory.

PRAYERWALK: Breathe a quiet prayer of blessing for one of the women you will see today.

 

-Day 10, March 6, 2009

SEEKING GOD....to restore our families..

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.
-Malachi 4:6

Pray:
*for children who have grown up in broken homes to be embrased by healthy church families and guided by wise parent figures.

*for God to heal the wounded hearts of parents and children who are alienated and distant.

*for Jesus to reveal Himself as the Wonderful Counselor, bringing new peace in homes.

...MINISTRIES
That Christian ministries will be founded on God's truth, anointed by God's power and funded by God's people; for refreshed vision and encouragement upon the dedicated workers who labor in specialized service designed to increase the impact of local churches.

 

Day 12-Sunday March 8
SEEKING GOD...to call people to sincere repentance

For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see withtheir eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.
-Matthew 13:15

*for God's kindness to confront the people you know who are hardened to the gospel.


*for God to reveal His mercy anew to someone in your family.


Pray....for GOVERNMENT LEADERS
That they will be examples of righteousness to our society; that they will experience God's wisdom in their deliberations; that they will speak and carry out dealings with truth, free from any corruption. Pray that they may advance God's justice; that they will be divinely restrained from hindering the ervice and worship of Jesus Christ; that they will come to know, honor and follow Christ.


PRAYERWALK: Visit a center of city, state or federal government. Pray on or near the site. Leave a short note for a particular official which describes your prayers for God to bless him or her.

 

Day 11-Forty Days to Palm Sunday

SEEKING GOD...to manifest His presence and glory

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
-John 1:14
Pray:

*for Christ to preoccupy our attention and master our affections.

*for God to reveal Himself as holy and magnificent to people throughout your community.

Pray...for GANGS

That God will satisfy their deep desires for significance and belonging: for God to break spiritual and social powers holding them; for caring Christians to embrace them in the authentic love of God's family; for blessing upon the neighborhoods they claim.

PRAYERWALK: Pray at a place affected by gang activity. Speak God's Word as you walk to spiritually "tag" the territories with unseen but real declarations of His Lordship and love.

"Because of the devastation of the afficted, because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs.
" -Psalm 12:5 (NASB)