National Day of Prayer

Greetings,

The first Thursday of every May is the National Day of Prayer, and this year marks the 66th anniversary of this wonderful and necessary event.  It even has a dedicated website, which states, in part, "Our hope is that individuals, churches, and spiritual leaders in America, will humble themselves and unify in prayer for the next great move of God in America.  We can come together in clear agreement that this is our greatest need"(http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/theme_and_verse).

I certainly agree that my greatest need is for God to move in my life, in the lives of those I love, and even in the lives of those I don't know personally, like our politicians.  

Let's join our voices to the others praying today with a supplication straight out of the Bible in Psalm 33.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We sing for joy, and we praise You. Your Word holds true, and we can trust everything You do.  Your unfailing love fills the earth. You spoke and the heavens were created. You breathed a word, and the stars were born. Speak and breathe new life into us today.  Speak and breathe new life into our country today. Give us wisdom to lead our families, and give our leaders wisdom to lead this country. Frustrate any scheme against our nation; protect us from our enemies. Thank You that Your intentions can never be shaken. Your good plans stand forever. What joy for this amazing United States of America whose God is the Lord.  You look down from heaven and observe all who live on the earth.  You made our hearts, so You understand just how much we need You.  Only You can save us. Thank You that You watch over us and rescue us. You are our shield. We rejoice in You and trust Your holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for ultimately, our hope is in You alone. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Live Well, Live Blessed!

A week ago today was the National Day of Prayer, and I am still thinking about it.  Locally here in the Miami area several municipalities held official events where collectively they openly prayed for God to bless our cities and guide our leaders.  I don’t know about you, but this makes me very happy!  I will always have more peace knowing that whoever is in a decision-making position that will affect my life is seeking God in the process. 

And the reason the nation came together to pray and the reason we all regularly pray is that we are seeking protection, wisdom, provision, and health for ourselves, our families, and our great nation.

Does Jesus want all these things for us?

The woman with the bleeding problem from Tuesday’s DEVO serves as a powerful testimony that Jesus does in fact want us to “live well, live blessed!” (Mark 5:34).

After she muscled her way through the crowd to touch our Lord, she received an on-the-spot healing, and then Jesus spoke into her life.  When we become willing to seek Him, even when we are weak, tired, down, uncertain – if we just muscle our way through all the distractions – we will find Him and He will change our lives!

What the one thing that really has you feeling like you just can’t take it anymore?  That problem where nothing or no one has been able to help you?  Enough is enough; let’s all take a step of faith toward Christ.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, The very first thing I need to do everyday is make my way to You.  When I reach out in faith, my circumstances change, my attitudes change, and I am well on my way to living well and living blessed!  Today, I specifically need Your powerful touch in this area ____________________. Thank You, in Christ’s name I pray. AMEN~

Prayer Buddy~

Greetings!

 

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and the theme verse for this year’s event is, “Pay attention to these my prayers, both intercessory and personal, O God, my God. Listen to my prayers, energetic and devout, that I’m setting before you right now 1 Kings 8:28 (The Message Version).”

 

Imagine us asking the Almighty God to “pay attention” to little ole specks of dust us – to listen to the prayers we make for ourselves and prayers we make on behalf of others. And yet, that is exactly what He invites us to do.  And the only thing better than asking Him is asking Him together with a buddy.

Matthew 18:20 “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action (The Message Version).”

Last Tuesday we were encouraged by God’s promise that when we work together on a project, we will get a good return for our labor.  This verse kicks it up a notch because God promises that when we get together to pray, He goes into action.

I need Him to go into action for me today.  I need His blessings, guidance, deliverance, wisdom, joy, peace, hope, protection, provision, healing, and then some right this very minute.  And I have prayed for these things for me and my family over and over again.  Sometimes, however, God has seen fit to form a holy alliance between me and a prayer pal, and it has been amazing!

Whenever I pray with someone else, I feel a deeper sense of His presence.  I have an immediate sense of peace and joy and more confidence that He has heard.  I also feel, as the above-verse says, that my prayers are more “energetic and devout.”

Maybe that’s why He takes the time to tell us in His Word that praying together with someone else is also an important part of our prayer lives.  Sometimes we need that boost we get from being with another soul who hungers for God’s goodness and power as much as we do.  I have often said that my faith is always stronger when it joins the faith of another in seeking God for answers.

So, today, on this National Day of Prayer, I invite you to join your voices to the millions who will seek Him today.  And I also invite you to be bold and ask God to lead you to another person who will agree to be your prayer buddy.  It can be a spouse, neighbor, friend, colleague, child, or cousin.  It does not matter; as we all take a step of faith and do this, we have the promise that He will go into action for us!

PRAYER: Dear Lord Today is a special day because a call has gone out to the nation as a whole to seek You.  We join our voices to the rest who desperately need You.  Help us find a prayer buddy.  We have so many needs, and we can be confident that when we pray together You will do something about it.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Live Well, Live Blessed~

Today is the National Day of Prayer!  It blesses my soul that each of us will be joining millions across America raising our voices to the most High God seeking protection, wisdom, and health for ourselves, our families, and our great nation.

In fact, the woman with the bleeding problem from Monday’s DEVO serves as a testimony that this is exactly what Jesus wants for each of us.

Mark 5:34 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague.”

After she muscled her way through the crowd to touch our Lord, she received an on-the-spot healing, and then Jesus Himself spoke into her life.  Could it be that the first step in living well and living blessed is to make contact with Christ?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

PRAYER: (Today’s prayer is from http://nationaldayofprayer.org/about/national-prayer-by-anne-graham-lotz/

Lord of our hearts, On this National Day of Prayer, we look to You.
In the darkness, You are our Light.  In the storm, You are our Anchor.

In our weakness, You are our Strength. In our grief, You are our Comfort.
In our despair, You are our Hope.  In our confusion, You are our Wisdom.  In times of uncertainty, You are the Rock on which we stand. Amen amen amen!