dailytalkswithgod

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D A I L Y T A L K S

w i t h

god

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D A I L Y T A L K S

w i t h

god

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Daily Talks with God

Published by Guideposts16 East 34th StreetNew York, New York 10016www.guideposts.org

Copyright © 2011 by Guideposts. All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

AcknowledgmentsEvery attempt has been made to credit the sources of copyrighted material used in this book. If any such acknowledgment has been inadvertently omitted or miscredited, receipt of such information would be appreciated.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (nas) are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (nkjv) are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright © 1997, 1990, 1985, 1983 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

“Prayer Starter ”and “Prayer Closer” were written by Lucile Allen.

“Praying with Jesus” was written by Karen Barber.

Cover design by Georgia MorrisseyCover photo by Corbis Images Interior design by Gretchen Schuler-DandridgeTypeset by Aptara

Printed and bound in the United States of America10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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http://www.guideposts.org

CONTENTS

Introduction ............................................................................. vii

Week 1: Prelude to Praying with Jesus ........................................1

Week 2: Praying an Aff irmation of Love .....................................7

Week 3: Led by the Spirit in Prayer ..........................................13

Week 4: Human Reasoning and Prayer ....................................19

Week 5: Intimately Known in Prayer ........................................25

Week 6: Prayer and God’s Good Planning ................................31

Week 7: Prayer and Rejection ..................................................37

Week 8: Prayer Authority ..........................................................43

Week 9: Praying in a Solitary Place .........................................49

Week 10: The Testimony of Prayer’s Power ...............................55

Week 11: Praying for Helpers ...................................................61

Week 12: Praying for Enemies .................................................67

Week 13: The Secret of the Prayer Closet .................................73

Week 14: Words in Prayer ........................................................79

Week 15: Our Model Prayer ....................................................85

Week 16: Prayer and Fasting ....................................................91

Week 17: The Rewards of Prayer ..............................................97

Week 18: Belief and Prayer ....................................................103

Week 19: Prayer and Trust .....................................................109

Week 20: Prayer As Worship ..................................................115

Week 21: Praying in Spirit and in Truth ................................121

Week 22: Prayer and Opportunity ..........................................128

Week 23: Voicing Our Desires ...............................................134

Week 24: The Multiplying Power of Thanksgiving .................140

Week 25: Talking to God Symbolically ...................................147

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Week 26: The Alternatives to Prayer .......................................154

Week 27: The Satisfying Nature of Prayer ..............................161

Week 28: Self-Examination and Prayer ..................................166

Week 29: Touching Jesus in Prayer ........................................171

Week 30: Prayers of Joy ..........................................................177

Week 31: Carrying Our Cross via Prayer ................................183

Week 32: The Transf iguring Power of Prayer ..........................189

Week 33: Prayer Failures .......................................................195

Week 34: Prayer Hospitality ...................................................201

Week 35: Persistence in Prayer ...............................................206

Week 36: Prayer and Humility ...............................................212

Week 37: Prayers of Blessing ..................................................218

Week 38: Delayed Answers to Prayer ......................................223

Week 39: Prayer As a Witness ................................................229

Week 40: Prayer and Anger ....................................................235

Week 41: Lending Creation Our Voice in Prayer ....................241

Week 42: God’s House of Prayer .............................................247

Week 43: Jesus with Us in Prayer ...........................................253

Week 44: Praying in the Name of Jesus ..................................259

Week 45: Praying with the Power of the Holy Spirit ...............265

Week 46: Travailing in Prayer ................................................271

Week 47: Prayers of Unity .....................................................277

Week 48: Gethsemane Praying ..............................................283

Week 49: Praying against Temptation ....................................288

Week 50: Praying When We Feel Abandoned by God .............294

Week 51: Recognizing the Divine through Prayer ...................300

Week 52: Declaring Love through Prayer ...............................306

Scripture Reference Index .....................................................311

Subjects Index .......................................................................318

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INTRODUCTION

One of the themes that runs through the Bible like a golden thread is that of prayer. “Call upon me in the day of trouble,” God tells us through the psalmist (Psalm 50:15). “Call to me and I will answer you,” God says through Jeremiah (33:3). “Jesus,” Luke relates, “told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not to give up” (Luke 18:1). “In everything,” says Paul, “by pray-er and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Guideposts has been committed to putting those biblical teach-ings into practice by praying for and with its readers and by helping people everywhere to f ind richer, deeper and more disciplined prayer lives. The book you are holding in your hands has been specially de-signed and written to help you f ind more fulf illment in your faith walk.

Daily Talks with God is designed to be used over the course of a year. The weeks are numbered so that you can begin your year whenever you like. Each week features “Praying with Jesus” (a lesson by Karen Barber, author of Surprised by Prayer), which explores the riches of Jesus’ teaching on prayer with

• a Scripture reading;• Key Verses for ref lection;• an invitation to enter the Bible story and discover its deeper

meaning; and• a practical, simple suggestion for putting the Scriptures to

work in your own prayer.Each weekly theme is opened up for daily prayer with

• an additional Scripture;• a brief Prayer Starter to help you begin your prayer; and

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• a Prayer Closer to help you sum up your ref lections and bring your prayer time to a close.

Whether you have f ive minutes or a whole hour, it is our prayer that Daily Talks with God will help make your own daily prayer time even sweeter, a true conversation with the One Who loves you more than you can ever know.

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D A I L Y T A L K S

w i t h

god

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PRAYING WITH JESUS: Week 1

Prelude to Praying with Jesus

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:1 –8

KEY VERSES: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” —mark 1:7–8

ENTERING THE SCRIPTURES

Before we embark on our journey learning to pray with Jesus, we need to start at the very beginning, in those strange and anxious moments of Mark 1 before Jesus steps into our world to revolutionize prayer. We all once lived in our own personal “Before Christ” worlds where we didn’t pray with regularity because we rarely felt the need to pray or we weren’t really sure how to go about it. Perhaps we did quite well for many years, running on our own personal steam of determination and willpower, relying on our talents, and depending on our network of family and friends. And then out of nowhere came an unexpected detour into the wilderness—a life situation we couldn’t remedy, like a job loss, a serious diagnosis, a personal habit that threatened to ruin us, a marriage diff iculty, the death of a loved one or a loved one in trouble. Suddenly we found ourselves emotionally drained and spirit-ually empty and very much in need of power beyond our own.

In this Scripture passage we come face to face with a f iery, pas-sionate man named John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness along the lonely banks of the Jordan River. His words aren’t always pretty or easy to hear, but he speaks with a power and authority that we secretly wish we had. He proclaims uncomfortable truths about the not-so-healthy ways we’ve been living. This makes us squirm, but it also feels refreshing and freeing. Then John cries again, “Repent! Confess your sins! Be baptized!” And somehow we f ind the courage to wade into the water, our hearts pounding.

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As we wait our turn, our desperate need to change overcomes a thousand misgivings. We hold our breath and go underwater. We come up and gasp for air and wipe the water out of our eyes. As we f ight our way back to the shore against the weight of the water, we wonder, “Will it work?”

We shiver on the riverbank, wringing out our robes, disappointed to f ind our old familiar emptiness is still there. It crosses our mind that maybe we didn’t get the ritual right. Maybe we didn’t stay under the water long enough. Or maybe we didn’t confess everything we should have. John reads the deep worry lines on our forehead and booms out, “I baptize you with water but the one who’s coming after me—the one whose shoes I’m not worthy to untie—he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit! We now have a way to express that indelible quality of power that John displays, the ability to look life straight in the eye without f linching. We want his kind of conf idence, his kind of power. But John says there’s another One Who will have the au-thority and power to do it. Who is He and where is He?

John’s strange and glorious proclamation about repenting is not only a prelude to the ministry of Christ but also def ines our own personal preludes to prayer. Before we begin to pray we f irst must experience hunger and need, that empty, helpless feeling down in-side our stomach that tells us we can’t possibly manage our lives on our own. Without knowing it, life’s complexities prepare us to meet Christ in prayer every time something goes haywire, every time we feel discouraged, every time we are about to give up, every time we’re sorry for our thoughtless words, every time we feel totally unworthy of anything good.

Prayer acknowledges that there is an unseen spiritual side to life that we are ill-equipped to navigate on our own without help. We need Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit to learn how to pray. We hesitantly voice our need and as we do, we take our f irst step in our transforming prayer journey with “the one who comes after me who will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”


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PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES

This week, linger on the banks of the Jordan River by asking God to help you become aware of the ways in which your life diff iculties, personal mistakes and shortcomings have turned you into a spiritual seeker. Ask Jesus to show you how to use these negative parts of your life as preludes to prayer. Then f ind a personal way to symbolically offer them as unlikely tools into the outstretched hands of Christ so you can start on your way in your prayer journey, on which you may be f illed with the unmistakable power of the Holy Spirit.


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Week 1: Holy Spirit

Sunday: Receive the Holy Spirit

Scripture: And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” —john 20:22

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I come to You today as Your disciple, ready to receive from You. Breathe on me, Lord. Fill me not just in adequate measure, but until I’m overf lowing with Your Holy Spirit.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your life within me by Your Holy Spirit. Please continue to f low into me, through me and out to those around me with Your love.

Monday: Power of the Holy Spirit

Scripture: May the God of hope f ill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overf low with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. —romans 15:13

Prayer Starter: It’s so easy to be discouraged by the pain and heart-ache in this world, Lord. Come, Holy Spirit, and give me hope so that I can bring hope to those around me who are discouraged too.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, God, for helping me see You at work in my life and in my loved ones’ lives. At the end of each day, help me to be grateful and hopeful about what You are doing.

Tuesday: Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

Scripture: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—2 corinthians 13:14

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I receive Your grace today; God, I re-ceive Your love; Holy Spirit, thank You that I can walk in fellowship with You today and every day.


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Prayer Closer: I don’t even want to imagine what my day would have looked like without You, Lord. Thank You for walking with me through _________________________________ today. Be with __________________________ and let him/her feel Your presence as he/she _________________________.

Wednesday: Taught by the Holy Spirit

Scripture: “Do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” —luke 12:11–12

Prayer Starter: Lord, how often I’ve walked away from conversa-tions knowing I missed an opportunity to speak life-giving words to acquaintances and friends. Give me Your words today, Holy Spirit. Say what You want to say through me.

Prayer Closer: You teach me so much more than just what to say, Lord. Through the Holy Spirit, thank You for giving me kindness and gentleness and wisdom when I need it.

Thursday: Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit

Scripture: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drink-ing, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit....

—romans 14:17

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, those who walked the earth with You thought You were going to conquer their enemies and set up Your kingdom here. I’m so grateful that Your kingdom has come to my heart and lives within me by Your Holy Spirit.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I’m not the most spiritually discerning child of Yours, but even I can see that ______________________________needs Your kingdom to come to him/her. Fill _________________ ______________ today with Your righteousness, peace and joy.


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Friday: Temple of the Holy Spirit

Scripture: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?


Prayer Starter: Father, I do know, but I forget sometimes that my heart and body are the building You live in. Help me to keep it clean and strong and f it for You to f ill and use as You desire for Your kingdom.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I left the door to Your temple open today and some dust and dirt got in through my self ishness. The foundation got a little shaky, too, because I neglected to pray and strengthen myself in Your Word. I love You, Lord. Help me to protect Your temple in a way that’s honoring to You.

Saturday: Pray in the Holy Spirit

Scripture: But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit keep yourselves in God’s love…. —jude 1:20–21

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, my prayers feel so dry and ineffective without You. Please come and f ill me up; give me words; allow me to pray what is on Your heart today to cause Your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer Closer: Lord, thank You for the prayers prayed all over the world today that You have heard and will lovingly answer in Your per-fect time and Your perfect way.


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Praying an Aff irmation of Love

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:13–17

KEY VERSE: And a voice from heaven said, “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” —matthew 3:17


After hearing the preaching of John the Baptist we are longing to meet the One Who can help us learn to pray with power. But we have so many unanswered questions and misgivings. How can we, weak and wayward as we are, ever be worthy of whispering even the smallest, tiniest prayer to the kind of mighty savior John proclaims?

Suddenly the crowd parts on the riverbank and there stands a traveler in dusty clothes. Someone whispers that the man’s name is Jesus of Nazareth.

“I’ve come from Galilee to be baptized,” Jesus says. John’s jaw drops, and he falls to his knees on the river rocks and

stares at the strap of Jesus’ sandal. “No, I can’t possibly do that!” he says. “I’m so unworthy. I’m the one who needs to be baptized by you!”

Jesus extends his hand and pulls John to his feet, saying, “Let it be so for now. I want to fulf ill all righteousness.”

John nods his head like a man in a trance, and the only sound in the hushed crowd is the slosh of water as the two men step out into the river. Jesus leans back onto the strong arm of John. The Nazarene disappears for a moment, and then he reappears, drenched.

Although the sky is cloudless, its cobalt-blue depths seem to di-vide to allow a light more focused than a sunbeam to descend toward the water. The light moves with the grace and sureness of a bird with outstretched wings riding an unseen current down toward the riverbank. The wide-eyed child next to us asks, “Mommy, why did that pretty dove f ly down onto that man and where did it go?” Before the woman can issue a “shush,” an unmistakable voice peals across


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the river valley. “This is my Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”

Our astonished eyes are glued to Jesus, radiant as He walks out of the water, following this supernatural aff irmation. Oh, how we long for the same sort of aff irmation! Suddenly we freeze, realizing that Jesus will pass right by us as He climbs the rocks onto the shore. We begin to panic, afraid to let our eyes meet His lest He see how unworthy we are and turn away from us in disgust. But before we can bury our gaze on the rocks, His eyes f ind ours and beam with a warm, loving acceptance. As He passes by, we are overwhelmed, thinking, How can this be? Could He really accept me as I am?

It is the gospel truth to declare that Jesus loves each of us in the same def initive-voice-from-heaven way that the Father loves Him. Jesus spells this out in no uncertain terms in John 15:9 when he be-stows this personal aff irmation on us: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

By putting these two verses together—Matthew 3:17—“This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”—and John 15:9—“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you”—Jesus creates for us the empowerment we need for prayer. If our prelude to pray-er is our unworthiness, our entry point into prayer must be God’s love and acceptance. Love spectacularly changes the entire atmos-phere of prayer. If we revisit the unworthiness we f irst felt in the presence of Jesus, we understand that although we aren’t deserving of the affection of Jesus, we need not fear. We can pray not because we love Him, but rather because He f irst loved us. (I John 4:19) And perfect love casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18)

The love of Jesus not only makes prayer possible but makes it safe, healing and life-giving as well. There is not a single state of life, mind or spirit in which we can enter prayer that can override this love. We can enter prayer battered by wounds, scars, anguish, oppression, bitterness and utter disappointment. We can crawl into prayer with embarrassment and sorrow after having fallen into temp-tation and wandering off our own way for years on end. We can even peek into the doorway of prayer feeling we have done something so


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horrible that it’s totally unforgiveable. But this fact remains immov-able forever: We are enabled to pray in all personal circumstances simply because Jesus loves us.


A friend of mine who was suffering from depression told me that she could believe on a factual level that God loved her because it says in the Bible that God loves the whole world. But she grasped this in a very general, far-off way, seeing herself more like a face in the crowd rather than as an individual worthy of love. As you pray this week, use Matthew 3:17 to ask Jesus to help you understand down in the depths of your soul how these words of loving accept-ance specif ically apply to you. Do you dare to believe that God calls you His own child? Can you allow yourself to know that He loves you? Will you be open to the possibility that He is pleased with you? Pray today to receive His aff irmation of love.


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Week 2: Love

Sunday: Abounding in Love

Scripture: You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. —psalm 86:5

Prayer Starter: Father, I call to You, knowing that You love our time together even more than I do. Help me be content to talk less and listen more, to rest in Your presence and soak up Your inexhaustible love.

Prayer Closer: Father, my friend _____________________ desper-ately needs to understand Your amazing love for him/her. Remind me of that every day and show me how to reveal that love through my words and actions.

Monday: Unfailing Love

Scripture: Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfail-ing love. —psalm 6:4

Prayer Starter: God, thank You for the security of life lived in You. Your love is a fortress that protects me from the pain of unkind words, of rejection, of my own self ish mistakes. Help me to hide in Your un-failing love as I walk through the hustle and bustle of life today. Help me be a safe and steady hiding place for others.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for all those who are doubting You today and just aren’t sure You really care. I pray that You would reveal Your-self to them with a sweet demonstration of Your faithful love that cannot be denied.

Tuesday: Redeeming Love

Scripture: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

—galatians 3:13


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Prayer Starter: Jesus, it is unthinkable that You, the perfect Lamb of God, became a curse to redeem undeserving mankind, undeserv-ing me. Thank You for taking my life, for changing it from what it was and keeping it from becoming what it would have been without You. I love You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I lift all those who follow after You and yet still seem powerless to overcome temptations. Strengthen them with Your Word and give them power to break the chains of sin and darkness in their lives.

Wednesday: Covenant Love

Scripture: Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

—deuteronomy 7:9

Prayer Starter: Sometimes, Lord, I’m guilty of following You out of a sense of obligation, of following the rules to avoid punishment. Help me to understand what it means to walk in covenant love like You do, Lord. Help me choose to obey You because I love You and want to please You, not just to get it right.

Prayer Closer: Father, so many people are desperately looking for love, and so many are looking in all the wrong places. I pray that even in those places they would f ind You, the One for Whom their hearts are longing.

Thursday: Abiding Love

Scripture: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

—john 15:10 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: What is it, Lord, about our human hearts that are prone to wander as the old hymn says? In the busyness of my day today, bind my heart to You, Jesus.


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Prayer Closer: When I think of someone who abides in You, Lord, I think of ___________________. Bless him/her with a sense of Your nearness today, Lord. Let the peace and humility that f lows from him/her draw others to You.

Friday: Enduring Love

Scripture: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. —1 chronicles 16:34

Prayer Starter: Forever is a long time, Lord, yet that’s how long Your love endures. Be with those of us who fear doing something that will cause You to withdraw Your love. Help us rest in the fact that Your love will never end.

Prayer Closer: I have to confess, Lord, that I’m so not like You. For-give me, Lord, for being so quick to withdraw my love or to put up walls when others hurt or disappoint me. I want to be like You, Lord. I want others to know my love is unconditional, not based on their performance.

Saturday: Sacrif icial Love

Scripture: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrif ice for our sins. —1 john 4:10

Prayer Starter: Jesus, I owed a debt for my sins, but You paid it on the Cross with Your life. Help me to realize that the few times I give up my time or money or possessions for others isn’t a sacrif ice at all compared to what You gave up for me. Let me give of myself to others today without holding back.

Prayer Closer: Lord, looking back on this week and all the as-pects of Your love, how could I ever doubt that You truly are love? Thank You for showing so clearly in Your Word the reality of Who You are. Let all who know You freely give the love we so freely receive from You.


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Led by the Spirit in Prayer

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:1–2; Luke 4:1–2

KEY VERSE: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert. . . . —luke 4:1


The day begins pleasantly enough as we follow Jesus on a caravan route down the eastern side of the Jordan Valley, where there are shade trees to cool us and pools of water to quench our thirst.

Then things change rapidly as Jesus veers off the well-traveled roadway onto a faint path that looks more like a ram’s trail than a footpath. Soon, even the indistinct animal pathway vanishes as the landscape abruptly changes to the rocky terrain of the wilderness. We think we might be heading into the bleak Valley of Shittim, but it’s hard to get our bearings where our only landmarks are f lat plateaus of rock that look like tall stacks of unleavened bread. The only way to tell the time of day is by looking at the direction of the inky shadows cast by the ankle-size rocks littering the ground.

Why on earth is Jesus traveling to this godforsaken place im-mediately after being proclaimed God’s beloved Son with such sky-splitting drama? If a voice had blessed us by thundering down from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), we would have lingered as long as possible, feeling empowered and energized and basking in the joy and wonder of it all. And yet Jesus has left behind every adoring eyewitness on the banks of the Jordan; Jesus has turned His back on a huge opportunity, and we’re eager to learn what greater power could have set Him off on this strange excursion to nowhere.

At last Jesus stops. He surveys the vacant horizon in all directions, seeing only the razor edge of f lat rocks meeting dry blue sky. Then He sits down and adjusts His head scarf over His sweaty forehead and


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closes His eyes to pray. The unrelenting sun lowers and then sets, yet Jesus makes no move to end His prayers. He takes no notice of His empty stomach or His thirst. Morning and evening, day after day, Jesus remains there praying—for forty days and nights.

During the long empty hours we have time to wonder why Jesus would need even a single hour of prayer before launching out on His mission. After all, Jesus has already spent thirty years of His life in ob-scurity preparing for His ministry. Does He really need another forty days to pray over His calling? We know very little about what Jesus did during those years. The only real glimpse we’ve had of Him is as a twelve-year-old boy journeying to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. It’s reported that young Jesus showed such amazing understanding of God and the Scriptures that He astounded the rabbis teaching in the temple courts. (See Luke 2:46–49.)

We can guess that as He grew into adulthood Jesus spent many a day observing the best and the worst of what religious leaders do. And as a carpenter Jesus had the daily opportunity to meditate, pray and think for hours on end while His hands were busy cutting and honing boards. And we might even go so far as to suppose that Jesus knew without a shadow of a doubt Who He was and why He had been sent into the world, based on the way He conf idently opens the scroll in the syna-gogue in Nazareth and reads Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” (Isaiah 61:1–2; See also Luke 4:18–19.)

We squirm realizing that we f ind spending a mere thirty minutes in prayerful preparation quite daunting. We compare this to the thirty years that Jesus has spent, and we imagine that Jesus is the most “prayed up” person Who ever lived. Yet Jesus withdraws into the de-sert because He still needs more prayer!

Jesus prays audibly, and we overhear him say, “Thank You, Holy Spirit, for leading me out here into the wilderness to pray.” We are perplexed. Apparently Jesus didn’t decide to come out for this mara-thon prayer session; Jesus was led out here to pray by the Holy Spirit!

From Jesus’ astonishing example we learn our f irst formal prayer lesson—the importance of following calls to pray under the leadership


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of God’s Holy Spirit. How often have we entered and left prayer led only by our needs, fears and problems? Of course, God cares about the things we need, like food and safety, but if we pray only about these temporary things, we could be missing what is truly needful.

Jesus didn’t rely on human reason, which would have assured Him that thirty years of prayer was more than enough. Jesus was not only full of the Holy Spirit, but He was also led by the Holy Spirit. He obeyed the Spirit’s call. To pray with Jesus today we must simply decide that when and where the Spirit leads us to pray, we will follow.


Meditate on the ways you can use the leadership of the Holy Spirit in prayer. Identify how you might have been attempting to be your own leader. Then examine something you’ve been praying about for a long time and ask Jesus for the leadership of the Holy Spirit on how, when, where and what to pray about it today.


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Week 3: You Lead Me

Sunday: Lead Me to You

Scripture: In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. —exodus 15:13

Prayer Starter: Lord God, I thank You so much that I am among those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb to enjoy a relationship with You. Lead me to the place of Your holy presence today and every day.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, my friend _____________________ is really struggling. He/she needs Your strength and needs to be reminded of Your commitment to lead and guide through this diff icult situation. Please show Yourself to him/her in new, unmistakable ways.

Monday: Lead Me in Righteousness

Scripture: I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. —proverbs 4:11

Prayer Starter: Father, life can be so overwhelming and confusing. It’s hard to know what to do about so many things. Today, for every situation and every decision, I choose to trust and rest in Your prom-ise to guide and give me wisdom.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray that You would be with all who are para-lyzed by fear and confusion and don’t know which way to go. Lead them along straight paths and give them peace.

Tuesday: Lead Me to Love

Scripture: “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.” —hosea 2:14

Prayer Starter: Lord, lead me out of the busyness and noise of daily life to listen to Your loving voice. Increase my longing for You. I come


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to You to hear the words of love that You speak in the quietness of my heart.

Prayer Closer: God, my friend ______________________ is so busy and distracted he/she can’t hear You calling him/her to Yourself. In Your kindness, Lord, speak just a little louder than the things that compete for his/her attention, so he/she can respond to Your tender, loving words.

Wednesday: Lead Me to Purity

Scripture: Lead us not into temptation. —luke 11:4

Prayer Starter: God, Your heart is so big for each of us to be strong in You, to make right choices, to resist sin and its temptations. Strengthen all who are tempted to f ind satisfaction today in ways that are destructive to themselves and those they love. Help them to f ind their satisfaction in You.

Prayer Closer: I thank You, God, that You aren’t a Father Who tests His children to see how we measure up to some unattainable stan-dard. Thank You for Your commitment to help Your children walk in righteousness and purity. We can’t do it without You, Father.

Thursday: Lead Me to Your Comfort

Scripture: “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shep-herd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” —revelation 7:17

Prayer Starter: So often, Lord, we take our heartaches and tears to others who can offer only temporary comfort. But someday, all who are Yours will stand before Your throne and You’ll wipe away every tear from every eye for all eternity. Lord, I’m so looking forward to that day.

Prayer Closer: Lord, give me words to comfort someone who is hurting today. But more importantly, remind me to share the hope I have of eternal comfort in Your presence.


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Friday: Lead Me to Your Light

Scripture: I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. —isaiah 42:16

Prayer Starter: Oh, God, the future seems so uncertain for so many people in so many areas of life. I thank You, Father, that we can be certain there is no uncertainty in You. Today, I choose to trust You with my present and my future.

Prayer Closer: Father, even family and friends Who know You are f inding themselves afraid of the unknowns they are facing. Fill them with faith, God, that You will light their way in the darkness.

Saturday: Lead Me in Weakness

Scripture: From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. —psalm 61:2

Prayer Starter: As I call to You, God—reminding myself that You are my rock, my strength, my stability—my heart no longer feels faint. Thank You for turning my fear into conf idence.

Prayer Closer: Strengthen those who have called out to You today, God.


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Human Reasoning and Prayer

SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:1–13

KEY VERSE: He (Jesus) ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” —luke 4:2–3


We’ve been with Jesus for forty days and forty nights out here in the desert, observing him fast and pray, and we’re sure He must be starving. We rub our tired, gritty eyes, and when we open them we are startled to see a f igure standing over Jesus. We can’t fathom how this stranger could have arrived without our seeing him approach because we can see for miles in every direction in this uninhabited moonscape.

At f irst we mistake the stranger for a Roman warrior because of his haughty, intimidating stance. His arms are bare and f lexed, show-ing off his bulging muscles. His face looks like chiseled stone, and the shadow he casts is immense. The stranger picks up a boulder the size of a man’s head with one hand and easily tosses it down to Jesus as if it were a wad of wool left over from sheep shearing.

“If you are the Son of God,” the stranger says, “tell this stone to become bread.” (Luke 4:3) The questioning inf lection of the word If makes our hearts freeze. Could this be the devil himself?

We’re confused because the stranger’s point makes sense. We stare at the rock lying in front of Jesus, trying hard not to imagine the rough dry exterior as the crisp crust on bread. Over the last week we’ve been worried about Jesus’ physical well-being; you can’t begin a ministry if you’re run down from starvation. But Jesus answers f irmly, “Man does not live by bread alone.” (Luke 4:4)

Although we haven’t moved a muscle, we f ind ourselves on a mountaintop overlooking a magnif icent city that stretches beyond


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the horizon. We see marble palaces and streets that are bustling with merchants’ carts f illed with exotic goods. Legions of soldiers thun-der by in chariots as their bronze armor gleams in the sunlight. The stranger says, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:6–7)

The beautiful city is mesmerizing, and it certainly doesn’t look evil. In fact, it looks like the kind of life we’ve always wanted. We’ve learned that if we want success, status and money, we’ll need to work with “the powers that be.” We wouldn’t exactly call it “worshipping” those powers; it’s simply doing what it takes to get ahead. Jesus, how-ever, uses a very different set of eyes than ours and answers, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ” (Luke 4:8)

In a twinkling of an eye, we’re standing with Jesus and the stran-ger on the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem. Our stomach feels a bit queasy because of the height. The stranger says, “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” (Luke 4:9–11)

The idea of jumping off the parapet so angels will catch Him seems a little extreme, but it might not be a bad idea to perform some sort of def initive sign that will impress the religious leaders. Starting Jesus’ ministry here in the temple would be the obvious choice because this is the center of worship for all the faithful. And besides, there’s actually a Scripture that seems to back up the idea. But Jesus disregards all this and rebukes the stranger by saying, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” (Luke 4:12) As soon as Jesus says this, the stranger disappears.

This Scripture passage offers us a rare glimpse into the thinking process of Jesus as He prayed through His mission in the desert. The stranger’s suggestions, on the other hand, give us a chilling glimpse into the devil’s intimate knowledge of how our minds work. The devil knows all the palate-pleasing combinations of independ-ence, self-reliance, human reasoning, logic and rationalization our


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minds can cook up. Interestingly enough, the devil himself was thrown out of heaven for declaring his independence from God. (See Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12 –15) Perhaps it isn’t the devil who is so good at thinking like us; maybe we are very good at thinking like the devil.

Every time we pray, a battle goes on in our minds between two ways of thinking—human logic and spiritual discernment. Isaiah tells us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) During each step of our journey with Jesus we’ll learn how essential prayer is in renewing our minds and strengthening our ability to see the spiritual world more clearly.


Consider a personal prayer request that’s very important to you to-day and meditate on whether you are using human logic or allowing God to grant you deeper spiritual knowledge and discernment as you pray. Are you holding too tightly to a specif ic way you think things will work out? Or are you allowing yourself to lose hope because there doesn’t seem to be a logical solution? Acknowledge your de-pendence on God and ask for His wisdom in prayer as you continue to seek His help.


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Week 4: Wisdom

Sunday: Ask for Wisdom

Scripture: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without f inding fault, and it will be given to you.

—james 1:5

Prayer Starter: Father God, I have ________________ on my mind and in my heart today, but I don’t know how to pray for him/her. You know his/her deepest need and I ask that You would give me the right words to pray.

Prayer Closer: It is so satisfying to know, Lord, that my prayers don’t have to be scattered and random, but that You give them direc-tion and purpose. Thank You for giving me prayers to pray today, and for answering each one.

Monday: Spirit of Wisdom

Scripture: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. —ephesians 1:17

Prayer Starter: Lord, receiving a revelation from You is exciting; having wisdom to know what to do and say in every situation would be wonderful, but to know You better, that is my ultimate goal. How wonderful to know that is Your desire as well, Father.

Prayer Closer: Mighty God, please show Yourself to all who are seeking to know You better today. Please be real, be powerful, be all we need.

Tuesday: Treasure of Wisdom

Scripture: He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. —isaiah 33:6


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Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, give me this treasure of fearing You today. Help me live to do what You love and not to do the things You hate, which only hurt myself and others.

Prayer Closer: Lord, be ___________________________’s sure foundation as he/she walks in uncertainty today.

Wednesday: Wisdom from Heaven

Scripture: But the wisdom that comes from heaven is f irst of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. —james 3:17

Prayer Starter: Father, I know that the conf licts and unforgiveness that are dividing our family hurt Your heart. Help us all seek wisdom that comes from heaven. Help us be willing to do whatever it takes to restore the love and unity to our family.

Prayer Closer: Lord, the main source of this conf lict in our fam-ily seems to be _______________________________. I pray that You will bring healing to his/her heart. Help him/her see the dam-age being done and strengthen him/her to lead the way to unity among us.

Thursday: Beginning of Wisdom

Scripture: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowl-edge of the Holy One is understanding. —proverbs 9:10

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray today for those who have lost their way and are struggling through life without You. Teach them to fear You, God. Make them hungry to know You. Answer quickly when they call to You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Father, getting to know You seems like an unattain-able goal. Yet I believe that You long to be known by all people. Would You please teach me something new about Yourself today?


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Friday: Wisdom Within

Scripture: Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. —psalm 51:6

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, please come. Show me the truth about the things I hold inside. Purify my heart with Your Word and Your truth.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I asked You to show me my heart today, but then I realized that I never sat still and listened long enough for You to do that. Speak to me now, Lord, as I wait on You. Set me free with Your truth.

Saturday: Wisdom Is God’s

Scripture: “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and under-standing are his.” —job 12:13

Prayer Starter: Lord, I often run to others for advice and wisdom. Why do I do that, Lord, when You are the source of all wisdom and understanding? Help me always come to You f irst and then others if that’s how You lead.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I need wisdom for what to do about ________________________. My attempts to f ix that situation haven’t worked. Show me the key to unlocking this problem, Lord, and give me the courage to use it.


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Intimately Known in Prayer

SCRIPTURE: John 1:44–51

KEY VERSE: “You believe because I told you I saw you under the f ig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” —john 1:50


We’re sitting under a f ig tree in Galilee with a man named Nathaniel. Sitting idly in the shade is certainly not typical behavior in this ancient agrarian area, where every minute of daylight means food on the table. There are f ields that need plowing, planting and harvesting several times a year for the wheat and barley crops made possible by the mild climate. There is manure to haul from the pas-ture to dig around the roots of the f ig and olive trees to increase the fruit harvest. There are repairs to be made in the tile roof before the next rainy season, and the plowshare needs sharpening.

Yet Nathaniel sits under the f ig tree with a far-off look in his eye. Everyone likes Nathaniel because he’s a genuinely good per-son. He’s very intelligent, and it shows in his bumper crop of f igs and barley. Everyone says that Nathaniel is set for life on his well-kept plot of land. That’s why every father in the village would love to see his daughter married to a man of such impeccable charac-ter—he’s religious, dutiful, courteous, kind, and his word is as good as the gold in the temple treasury.

Nathaniel seems to be lost in thought. He sighs, and there’s something in his sigh that sounds as if he’s feeling restless and un-fulf illed. It’s hard to f ind anyone around here who’s interested in the kinds of challenging issues Nathaniel likes to discuss, such as what Isaiah meant when he said, “This is the one I esteem: he who is hum-ble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2) Is Nathaniel too much of an idealist and a dreamer for anyone to really appreciate him?


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At last, Nathaniel reluctantly leaves the shade of the f ig tree and heads toward the plowshare he left in the nearby f ield. As he in-spects the plowshare, someone hurries up to greet him; it’s his friend Philip. Philip is usually a very practical person who thinks things out in detail. But today he acts very much out of character by grabbing Nathaniel by the tunic and blurting out, “We have found the One Moses talked about! He is Jesus of Nazareth.”

At f irst Nathaniel thinks it’s a joke, and a bad one at that. He shakes his head and says, “Philip, you’ve got to be kidding. No great teacher has ever come out of that little place in the middle of nowhere.”

Philip doesn’t give up. “No, I’m not kidding. Jesus is real. He’s the kind of person you’d really like to talk to. At least come and see for yourself.”

Nathaniel pretends to humor Philip as they take off down the dusty pathway toward the village. Finally they come upon a small crowd of people encircling this fellow Jesus. The minute Nathaniel steps into the presence of Jesus, their eyes lock and Jesus stops in the middle of the story he’s telling. Then Jesus says, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false.”

Nathaniel is confused. He glances at Philip to see if this is a setup. Has Philip told Jesus something about him? But Philip’s face shows utter astonishment. Confused, Nathaniel stammers, “How do you know me?”

Jesus answers, “I saw you while you were still under the f ig tree before Philip called you.”

Sweat breaks out on the back of Nathaniel’s neck because he is absolutely sure that not a soul saw him under the f ig tree earlier. Surely there is only One Who knows men’s inner thoughts.

In utter astonishment, Nathaniel declares to this ordinary- looking man standing in front of him, “You are the Son of God and the King of Israel!”

Jesus smiles and says, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the f ig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” (John 1:50)

Jesus doesn’t have to heal the blind or walk on water for Nathaniel to believe. Without a shadow of a doubt, he declares on the spot that


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Jesus is the Son of God. And what proved this to Nathaniel with such split-second certainty? Jesus knew him—personally, intimately— before they’d even met. Jesus knew his past. He knew his heart. He knew his strengths and weaknesses—everything, right away, before Nathaniel said a single word.

This incident sets Christian prayer above all other religious experiences because during prayer we are meeting the One Who knows our hearts and f ilters what He sees through the eyes of love. Jesus didn’t display His intimate knowledge of Nathaniel by ex-posing his secret sins. On the contrary, Jesus spoke a loving and compelling word to Nathaniel by commending the most beautiful quality of his heart.

And there’s more! Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51) Jesus tells us that this intimate relationship is a two-way street. As deeply as Jesus knows us, so we in turn can begin to know Him. Eventually we will be privileged to see Jesus in His glory with angels ascending and descending on Him! And in the meantime, we can enjoy the intimacy of the heavenly feeling of being known thoroughly right here on earth.


Think about how wonderful it is that prayer is based on a very intim-ate, personal relationship with God. Choose one thing about you that no one else knows about and talk with God about it. Then accept God’s gracious ability to see past it because He has known about it all along.


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Week 5: Prayer

Sunday: Seeking Prayer

Scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and f ind me when you seek me with all your heart.”

—jeremiah 29:11–13

Prayer Starter: Father, I confess that my seeking You cannot be described as seeking You with all my heart. Would You increase my desire for You? Father, please help me long for You above so many other longings in my heart.

Prayer Closer: Lord, the more I think about seeking You with all my heart, the more I realize that I’m not really sure what that looks like. Does that mean spending more time in prayer? Or reading the Bible? Or reading books about You? Show me how to seek You with my whole heart.

Monday: Pray with Favor

Scripture: But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

—psalm 69:13

Prayer Starter: God, Your love is the foundation for my every prayer because I’m so sure of Your love for me and all people; I know You will answer.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I’ve been praying for ____________________ for so long, I’m sometimes tempted to stop and give up hope that You will answer. But I choose today to pray for him/her again, believing that You hear my prayers.

Tuesday: Pray in Secret

Scripture: But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. —matthew 6:6


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Prayer Starter: Father in heaven, show me my heart and my mo-tives. Do I pray to be heard by others and seen as a spiritual giant? Please remove any trace of that in me, Lord, and let my prayers come straight from Your heart to mine.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I lift before You praying Christians everywhere. Help them to pray the right prayers for the right reasons and let those prayers bear much fruit for Your kingdom.

Wednesday: The Spirit Prays for You

Scripture: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. —romans 8:26

Prayer Starter: Lord, it’s reassuring to know that when we can’t f ind the right words, groans are prayers too. My heart is groaning for __________________________ today, Lord. Answer that prayer that is too deep for words.

Prayer Closer: I heard some good news today, God, that makes me know You moved on ________________________’s behalf. Thank You so much.

Thursday: Pray for Your Enemies

Scripture: “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” —luke 6:27–28

Prayer Starter: Father, I don’t think I have a long list of enemies or peo-ple who hate me, but I do know that _____________________ doesn’t care for me that much. I ask Your blessing and favor on him/her today, God. I even ask that, with Your help, we could become good friends.

Prayer Closer: I just want to sit with You, Jesus, and think about what it must feel like to be truly hated and have enemies who want to kill me. I’m sure I can’t even imagine it. I can’t imagine, either, that You chose to leave heaven and came to earth knowing that is


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what awaited You. I’ll never understand love like that, Jesus. All I can do is thank You.

Friday: Pray for the Sick

Scripture: Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. —james 5:14

Prayer Starter: Father, my prayer list suddenly seems full of people with serious health issues. I pray for each one today, Lord. You know who they are. Please let Your healing love and power f low over them to meet every emotional, physical and spiritual need.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray today especially for children who are facing life-threatening illnesses. Draw them to Yourself, Father, to receive comfort, healing and saving faith in You.

Saturday: Pray for Nations

Scripture: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” —2 chronicles 7:14

Prayer Starter: Oh, God, forgive our nation for our failure to live up to the best that is in us and cling to Your Word. Heal our land.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Lord, that You would bless men and women of faith who are in positions of leadership in our nation. Give them wisdom, resources and favor.


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Prayer and God’s Good Planning


KEY VERSE: His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” —john 2:5


We’re in Cana at a wedding feast, and everyone in the village has been celebrating with the bride’s family for several days now. The master of the feast makes his way over to shake our hands and asks if we’d like more raisin cakes. We decline but tell him we could use a little more wine. His face f lushes and he hastily says that he’ll have a servant at-tend to us. Thirty minutes pass and the servant never appears. We think this odd until we overhear another guest, Mary, the mother of Jesus, tell her son, “They have no more wine.” Our eyes travel to the young groom, dressed for the wedding like a king in a colorful silken sash. Because the bride and groom’s families are of modest means, there’s a garland of f lowers around his head instead of a more costly metal crown, but his face is anointed with oil and shining with happiness. How will he feel when he f inds out about this?

Adding to the trouble is the fact that wine isn’t something we can whip up at a moment’s notice like another batch of raisin cakes. Mak-ing wine is an arduous process that takes time, persistence, patience and planning. Even if the servants started right now, there wouldn’t be more wine until the bride and groom were welcoming their f irst child into the world! This is mortifying, a total social embarrassment. Soon the whole community will know that the hosts haven’t planned well enough for the wedding feast.

We step a little closer to Mary and Jesus, hoping Jesus will be able to do something to remedy the situation. Jesus replies, “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” (John 2:4)


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Jesus believes that God has a very precisely planned timetable for His ministry. He is apparently determined to follow God’s plan step-by-step.

Based on Jesus’ reply, we’re surprised to see Mary pulling the servants aside and whispering, “Do whatever Jesus tells you.” We im-agine that her mother’s intuition is telling her that Jesus has some-thing in mind, even though she’s not sure what it is.

Suddenly Jesus instructs the servants to f ill the six huge stone jars to the brim with water. Although this seems to have no connec-tion to the problem at hand, the servants obey. Bucket after bucket, footstep after footstep, to the well and back, they slowly f ill up the jars. When they’re done, Jesus tells them to draw some water out of the jars and take it to the master of the feast. They silently draw the water from the jar without questioning. When the master of the feast tastes the water he proclaims it to be much f iner wine than what was originally served to the guests.

Very few guests at the wedding know that Jesus has performed the miracle of compressing the yearlong, step-by-step process of winemaking into the time it takes to carry a dipper of water from one end of a courtyard to the other! Because the servants obey Jesus’ in-structions, the wedding feast goes on with uninterrupted merriment and joy.

Without availing ourselves of the grace of prayer, we all are des-tined to be the embarrassed hosts who fail to adequately plan ahead. Fortunately, prayer gives us the opportunity to become the servants who do what Jesus says, believing that whatever He has planned is good and that it will work if only we take the step we’re told to take today.

One of the great gifts of human intellect is our ability to plan ahead. When we offer this ability to God through prayer, God is able to empower us to accomplish things we couldn’t possibly achieve on our own. However, God usually unfolds His biggest and most glori-ous plans one simple step at a time over a long period, something like the winemaking process. More often than not, we don’t receive further instructions until we take the step in front of us, as with the servants when they obediently f illed the stone jars with water. There’s


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an old saying, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.” But in faith, we can change that saying into a formula for success that will take us to new heights: “Failure to pray for the next step in God’s plan is planning to fail in advancing God’s kingdom.”


Consider something signif icant that you’ve been planning for quite some time. If you f ind an embarrassing failure to plan ahead, admit your lack of planning to God. Just as Jesus accelerated the wine-making process, ask Him to apply His restoring power to speed up the process of getting back on the right track.

On the other hand, you may feel discouraged because working toward your goal is a long, tedious process. Pray for supernatural per-sistence to await the seasons like winemakers.

And f inally, if you f ind that you’ve planned well but have left prayer and God’s direction out of the process, ask God to show you the next small step in His direction that you need to take today. Then take that next step, using the simple, unquestioning faith with which the servants obeyed Jesus.


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Week 6: Faith

Sunday: Faith with Joy

Scripture: And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, f ixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —hebrews 12:1–2

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I’ll admit my eyes are too often f ixed on the struggles of life or on what I’m afraid will happen, rather than on You. Remind me daily of the joy that is to come with You in heaven, and help me endure each cross you call me to carry until then.

Prayer Closer: God, this verse reminds me that You started my re-lationship with You and, in spite of how often I know I fall short, You will perfect it. I so look forward to that day, Father!

Monday: Healing Faith

Scripture: Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

—matthew 9:22

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I can imagine that the moment You turn and look at me would be even more wonderful and life-changing than being healed. Let me always seek Your gaze, Lord.

Prayer Closer: I don’t understand, Jesus. Some people seem to have faith for healing and are healed, but others seem to have faith and aren’t healed. Help us all trust You and Your goodness, God, even when we don’t understand.

Tuesday: Lack of Faith

Scripture: He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. —matthew 13:58


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Prayer Starter: It is such a sobering thought, Lord Jesus, that our lack of faith can tie Your powerful hands. Please God, wake up our faith and help believers everywhere believe and expect You to do mighty things for Your kingdom’s sake.

Prayer Closer: Father, I rejoice with ___________________ today for the miracles You’ve done.

Wednesday: Saving Faith

Scripture: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. —ephesians 2:8–9

Prayer Starter: Forgive me, Lord, if I’ve ever thought I could earn my salvation, after You’ve paid with Your life to give it by faith as a gift. I receive it gratefully, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, only You know the believers who are working to earn their salvation. I pray You will deliver all Your children from the exhaustion of trying to earn favor with You.

Thursday: Full of Faith

Scripture: And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. —acts 6:8 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Dear God, sometimes I don’t feel full of faith or power. In spite of how I feel, Lord, I pray that by Your Holy Spirit, You would do great signs and wonders through me.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray You will f ill believers with Your faith and power so that unbelievers will see and believe.

Friday: Faith by Hearing

Scripture: Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. —romans 10:17


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Prayer Starter: Father, I pray today for all missionaries who have committed their lives to taking Your Word to the world. Give each one the exact life-giving words he/she needs the moment he/she needs it.

Prayer Closer: Lord, my friends ____________________________ have sacrif iced so much to serve You in _______________________. Please provide everything they need, physically and spiritually, to continue serving where You’ve called.

Saturday: Shield of Faith

Scripture: In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the f laming arrows of the evil one.

—ephesians 6:16

Prayer Starter: Thank You, God, for reminding me with this Scripture that when my faith is weak, I am vulnerable spiritually. Please, Lord, keep my faith strong and help me to def lect the de-structive lies of the enemy of my soul that I believe all too easily.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for Your protection over __________ today. He/she is so downcast and believing the thoughts sent from the enemy that he/she is a failure. Give me words to help strengthen his/her faith to extinguish those lies.


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Prayer and Rejection


KEY VERSE: “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown….” —luke 4:24


Jesus’ ministry has been gathering steam, and He’s becoming well known around the region as an amazing teacher Who can work mir-acles. Word has gotten back to Nazareth, and all of the townsfolk are pleased they’re f inally getting their due.

But the barley harvest passes and so does the grape harvest, and we start to hear villagers complaining that Jesus ought to come back to town and do a few miracles and healings here too. At last the day comes when Jesus f inally visits His boyhood synagogue. We have a hard time f inding a seat because the place is so packed with people. We’ve heard plenty of speculation about the remarkable things Jesus might do here in Nazareth. After all, these are His friends, neighbors and kin. If Jesus is doing such great things for strangers, surely He’ll do much more for us! The rabbi hands Jesus the scroll of Isaiah to read.

Jesus f inds Isaiah 61 and reads, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor….” (Isaiah 61:1–2) Instead of going on to teach, Jesus sits down and says, “Today this scripture is fulf illed in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)

At f irst, everyone is impressed because Jesus has read the Scripture with such ardor. Then someone whispers, “Wait a minute. Who on earth does he think he is? Isn’t he the son of Joseph the carpenter? How could someone like him fulf ill Isaiah’s prophecy?”


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Although the criticism was whispered, Jesus perceives it and says, “I suppose you’re going to say, ‘Physician, heal thyself.’ ” A twitter of nervous laughter f lutters through the crowd. Jesus goes on, “I also imagine you’re expecting me to do the kinds of healings you heard I did in Capernaum. Unfortunately, no prophet is ever accepted in his own hometown.”

A tense silence settles around the room. The older residents set their jaws tightly and cross their arms in disapproval. Someone com-plains in a stage whisper, “Here we’ve invited this kid to speak at the synagogue, and now he’s calling himself a prophet and insulting us all at the same time!”

As Jesus’ eyes scan the familiar faces in the crowd, He tries to open our minds to the fact that God’s healing power is not some-thing that’s just for insiders who believe they’re owed special favors from God. He recounts how the ancient prophets were often sent far from home to offer God’s provision and healing. And not everyone got healed or helped, only those whom God chose for his own rea-sons. (See 1 Kings 17:7–16.) Elisha even healed a Syrian of leprosy! (See 2 Kings 5:1–14.)

Catcalls begin at the thought that Syrians might get healed or blessed instead of Nazarenes. People start yelling and soon pande-monium breaks out. We’re shocked when several men grab Jesus by the collar of His tunic and hustle Him out of the synagogue. The rabbi hastily rolls up the scroll of Isaiah to keep it from being damaged as the crowd rises to its feet to follow the men dragging out Jesus.

Our hearts are hammering as we follow the mob up a nearby hill. In horror we try to tell ourselves that surely they’re not planning to shove Jesus off the steep cliff at the top! Then confusion comes over the crowd, and people start bumping into each other. The men sud-denly lose their grip on Jesus. We see Him turn around and slowly but surely walk right back through the crowd and down the hill with-out anyone from His hometown realizing it. Then Jesus simply keeps walking until Nazareth disappears behind Him on the dusty road.

We’re glad that Jesus has gotten away alive, but He certainly isn’t leaving with His reputation intact. Rejection is a horrible experience,


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especially when it comes from those we thought were our friends, our brothers and our sisters. The hurt, horror and disbelief don’t go away easily, sometimes not for years—if ever.

Because rejection attacks our spirit, prayer is one of the best ways to overcome it. All of the heavenly graces we have discovered so far in prayer—the knowledge that we are loved, accepted, forgiven and known intimately—give us the ability to prayerfully pass through the crowd and walk away from rejection. We have the strength to do this because prayer enables us not only to walk away from rejection but also to walk toward something of much greater value—God’s clearly def ined pathway of purpose for our lives.

We’re realists, and we certainly aren’t saying that overcoming rejection is a short, simple prayer process. Maybe Jesus is recalling this experience in Nazareth when He sends out His disciples, tell-ing them, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” (Matthew 10:14) Shaking the dust off of sandals is a physical means of expressing an inner prayer resolve through a symbolic action. Per-haps we won’t have physical dust to shake off our shoes, but we can dust our hands together during prayer to show that we are asking for God’s grace to brush off this experience and go forward.


Choose an instance from your life when you’ve felt rejected. Think deeply about the fact that God loves you and accepts you. Then f ind some small symbolic act you can do to help you separate yourself from the pain and move forward on God’s positive path for your life.


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Week 7: You Belong

Sunday: To the Truth

Scripture: Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us…. —1 john 3:18–20

Prayer Starter: Father, my friend ________________________ is so disappointed in his/her recent wrong choices. I pray that You would set his/her heart at rest in You today.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me not just talk about loving people. Help me to do it.

Monday: To God

Scripture: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

—1 peter 2:9

Prayer Starter: Father God, it is a joy to be among those You call Your own. I thank You and praise You for saving me from the darkness and destructiveness of my own choices.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray that all Who belong to You would be a light in the darkness of self ishness in this world. Use that light, Lord, to draw others to Yourself like moths to a f lame.

Tuesday: To the Lord

Scripture: If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

—romans 14:8

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You that nothing, in life or in death, can separate from You those who are yours.


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Prayer Closer: As You know so well, Jesus, rejection hurts. I pray that every wound of rejection to myself and others would be healed by the one thing that really matters: being accepted by You.

Wednesday: To the Body of Christ

Scripture: If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not be-long to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.


Prayer Starter: Father, even when I’m active and involved in a church, I sometimes feel so disconnected from the body of Christ. I pray that people in local congregations would feel connected, not just by their activities, but in heart and purpose.

Prayer Closer: Help those, Lord, who are looking for their place in the body of Christ. Reveal Your purposes and give them opportunities to use their gifts and talents to minister to others.

Thursday: To the Day

Scripture: For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salva-tion through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 thessalonians 5:7–9

Prayer Starter: Lord God, I pray that my choices and actions would ref lect Your light today.

Prayer Closer: God, pour out self-control, hope and faith over ________________ today. Give him/her all he/she needs to walk out of the darkness into Your salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Friday: To the Lamb

Scripture: All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. —revelation 13:8


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Prayer Starter: Jesus, Lamb of God, I have a lot to rejoice about, but in this one thing I rejoice the most: that I belong to You, that my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. I’m so looking forward to spending eternity with You.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray that You would open eyes to the very real spiritual battle that is still raging for the souls of men. Give people a revelation of truth about eternity with You—or without You.

Saturday: To Christ

Scripture: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucif ied the f lesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —galatians 5:24–25

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, help me each and every day to walk in the Spirit, to love the things You love and hate the things You hate.

Prayer Closer: Lord, believers everywhere are struggling today to crucify their f lesh and walk in the Spirit. Strengthen them and help them to walk in the freedom You died to give us all.


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Prayer Authority

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:21–28

KEY VERSE: The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” —mark 1:27


Jesus has moved on to Capernaum, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It’s the Sabbath, and we’re sitting in the synagogue eager to hear Him speak. We can tell by the attentive expressions that people are spellbound by Jesus’ teaching. It’s no wonder. They’re used to hearing itinerant rabbis quoting other rabbis and teachers of the law to back up every point they make.

The last visiting rabbi told us that on the Sabbath we can’t take a lid off a clay jar. But if the lid is already off, it’s okay to drink what’s in the jar. Only don’t pick up the jar and pour—that would be forbid-den work! Afterward, we were happy to get out into the fresh air of normal life.

But today Jesus, a radically different sort of rabbi, is speaking in the synagogue. He teaches a simpler, more direct approach to faith where there are no teachers of the law with rule books standing between us and God. Jesus speaks with a deep, personal, intimate knowledge of God. Jesus declares with conviction, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Luke 12:7) As we listen, chills run down our backs.

The power of the teaching of Jesus is so profound that even the craziest fellow in the village is stirred up and yells out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24)

Jesus peers deeply into the eyes of the bedeviled man. When Jesus parts His lips to speak, He doesn’t quote a rule or a law.


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Instead Jesus issues an authoritative command: “Be quiet. Come out of him!”

The deranged man convulses and shrieks so loudly that the hens across the street squawk and f lap their wings and scurry blindly for the bushes. After the shriek, dead silence falls in the synagogue. Over the course of several minutes the man’s whole body relaxes, one muscle group at a time, and a peaceful, childlike look settles on to his face, as if he’s just crawled out from hiding under the covers. The evil spirit is gone!

None of us has ever seen authority like this! As we listen to Jesus teach, our hearts beat with the hope that what He was saying is true. Now we have rock-solid proof that Jesus operates with an authority far beyond anything we’ve ever known. Soon the whole region has heard the remarkable news.

Jesus has proven his authority. Our prayers in turn have author-ity because Jesus personally vests us with it. (See Luke 9:1–2.) Of course, ours is not blanket, absolute authority in the sense that every-thing is going to happen exactly as we word it just because we’ve prayed. Although Jesus has absolute authority, even He is very cir-cumspect in making sure He uses it wisely and in accordance with His Father’s greater plan. Remember back when Jesus wouldn’t turn stones into bread even though He was starving and had the power to do so? (See Matthew 4:3–4.) Nor does Jesus use His absolute power to win over disgruntled neighbors in Nazareth. (See Luke 4:25–27.) He never uses His absolute authority to please Himself or others. He only uses His absolute authority to please God.

On the other hand, Jesus constantly exercises spiritual authority in his teachings. A careful reading of today’s Scripture reveals that many people were awed, helped, set free and transformed by Jesus’ spiritual authority in the same life-changing way that absolute au-thority can exorcise an evil spirit.

Amazing as it seems, Jesus gives us the spiritual authority to pray God’s truth, words, love, connection, strength, provision and power over people, over ourselves, over life situations and over our greater world. And through the avenue of prayer, Jesus grants us the spiritual


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authority to take stands against evil, injustice, greed and sin, and the authority to reclaim the lost. And that’s something worth declaring all over the countryside.


Choose a specif ic spiritual stand you feel strongly about today. Thank God that through prayer in union with Jesus you have the authority to take this stand. Then pray as the Spirit leads, believing that your prayers have spiritual authority and are making a difference.


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Week 8: Authority

Sunday: Authority of Jesus

Scripture: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” —matthew 28:18–20

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, we can’t begin to make disciples until we ourselves are truly Your disciples. Help Your followers live to know and obey You.

Prayer Closer: I pray for teachers, pastors and missionaries whose lives are devoted to making disciples in Your name. Bless them with authority and anointing from heaven that cannot be denied.

Monday: Authority over Evil Spirits

Scripture: All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. —luke 4:36–37

Prayer Starter: God, help us be prepared spiritually to recognize and take authority, in Jesus’ name, over evil spirits.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, help me be sensitive to opportunities to spread the news about freedom in Christ. Help me not leave it for others to do.

Tuesday: Authority of the Righteous

Scripture: When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. —proverbs 29:2


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Prayer Starter: Father God, Your heart hurts for those who are hurting and oppressed. I pray that You would move on behalf of ev-ery nation in the world to put good men and women in positions of leadership.

Prayer Closer: Lord, bring down every wicked leader who oppresses his/her own people and who rules to bring glory to themselves.

Wednesday: Authority to Forgive Sins

Scripture: “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has author-ity on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

—luke 5:23–25

Prayer Starter: Father, there is no greater joy than knowing You’ve forgiven our sins, not even the joy of being healed by You. Give me that joy anew today, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, for all people who are paralyzed not just physi-cally but spiritually as well, I pray for healing. Heal them to get up and walk physically and spiritually toward You.

Thursday: God-given Authority

Scripture: “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” —john 12:49–50

Prayer Starter: Father, I know that too often my words are not Your words. Be a guard over my thoughts and what comes out of my mouth, Lord, that it may be a blessing to others.


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Prayer Closer: Your Word is going out every day by so many who love You. I pray those words would lead to everlasting life for those who hear them.

Friday: Governing Authority

Scripture: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The au-thorities that exist have been established by God. —romans 13:1

Prayer Starter: Father, an understanding and respect for authority is something that is greatly lacking in our culture and the results are scary, Lord. I can’t change others, but I choose today to do my part to restore a respect for authority by honoring, supporting and praying for those in authority over me.

Prayer Closer: So, Lord, I admit I struggle with some people in au-thority over me, especially _______________________. I pray today that You would protect him/her, give him/her favor with others under his/her authority, and help him/her to use the position You’ve placed him/her in with wisdom and kindness.

Saturday: Fear of Authority

Scripture: Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. —romans 13:3 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: God, I lift up young people today who are running from authority. Reach down and turn their lives around until they are running into Your arms.

Prayer Closer: I pray for the protection of our country’s police off ic-ers and all those who risk their lives for our safety. Please bless them, Lord, and surround them with Your angels.


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Praying in a Solitary Place


KEY VERSE: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. —mark 1:35


We are sleeping on a mat on the f loor in a small divided room in the home of Peter and Andrew along with Jesus and a group of disciples. Here in the ancient village of Capernaum, sleeping is a group activity. Because everyone sleeps together in such a small space, when one of us rises we all awaken, usually to the sound of the village rooster or the squall of the newest baby on the block.

We’ve had a very late night and everyone—including Jesus—is desperately in need of sleep. Yesterday was the Sabbath, and the villagers waited until after sundown to come here so they wouldn’t break the Sabbath laws about travel. The moment night fell, people came over in droves. They crowded at the doorway begging for heal-ing and relief from demons. Jesus cured them all. It has been a re-markable yet very exhausting day—and night—for all of us.

We turn over on our mats and notice that Jesus is wide awake. We’re surprised because Jesus seems very much at peace right now. The warm welcome in Capernaum has been tonic for His soul after the horrible rejection He experienced in Nazareth. Here in Peter’s house Jesus has laughed and smiled like He’s among his own broth-ers. And more importantly, there are countless people here in the village who are beginning to believe in Him!

Jesus carefully crawls out of the dark room so as not to awaken anyone. He ties His cloak around His shoulders against the cool night air and quietly steps out onto the small porch near the cis-tern. His bare feet step into the dirt courtyard because He’s carrying


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His sandals in His hand lest the crunch of the soles against the gravel set the dogs barking and awaken the neighbors. We wonder where on earth Jesus could be heading.

Jesus silently passes the f ishing boats and the stables, the thresh-ing grounds and the vineyards where people will be stirring in a few hours to begin the day’s work. He travels farther on, feeling His way along an isolated pathway by the light of the moon until He reaches a spot where there is no evidence of human habitation. At last He sinks to the ground and begins to pray.

We wonder what subject of prayer is of such crucial importance that God would plant a “get up and go pray” command in His mind in the middle of the night. And why did Jesus go to such great lengths to get so far away from the village? Couldn’t He have prayed just as well in the stable or out by the cistern?

Jesus continues in prayer as the stars begin to fade. We hear the faraway crow of a rooster. The sky turns pink. The sun rises, bringing color to the landscape. Jesus continues to pray. By now everyone is up back at Peter’s house, yet Jesus makes no move to head back to the village. Another hour passes and we hear a familiar voice calling Jesus’ name. Peter spots Jesus praying on the hillside and runs to Him and says, “Master, everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus doesn’t seem to be surprised. But His reply startles us all: “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38)

Peter answers, “Why are we going so soon? Things are going so well here right now. You have everything you need here—a home to stay in, food to eat. We all love you like you’re part of our own family. And the people in the village are already gathering at my house in droves, eager to hear you teach again.”

Jesus responds, “It’s time to move on to another place.” Peter rubs sweat off his forehead. He didn’t expect to have to

choose so soon between supporting his family and going off with Jesus. We can see a mental battle going on. Then Peter f inally nods to Jesus, and they set off together for a nearby village.


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This Scripture teaches us the absolute importance of creating per-sonal space for prayer. From Jesus’ example we learn the necessity of good personal prayer habits, which include f inding time even if it means getting up early, becoming more intentional, being more disciplined and using more determination to f it quality prayer time into our busy days.

But Jesus’ example isn’t simply about carving out time. It is also about carving out physical and mental space, which is much harder to do. In order to bring decisions before God in prayer, we need to draw apart from everything else. Intense, uninterrupted prayer is often the only way to move on toward something new at the expense of leaving behind dearly loved parts of our lives.

Picture yourself in the place of Jesus, lying there in the house where you feel safe, comforted, loved and accepted. Imagine how much harder the decision to leave would have been if Jesus had ig-nored that restless “Get up and go out to pray” calling. What if Jesus had rationalized that He could pray just as well lying there amongst His sleeping friends? The strong emotions tying Him to the comfortable, protected surroundings would have been a stumbling block to prayer.

Serious prayer for guidance always calls us out. We must inten-tionally set out on a mental and physical journey to an empty, neutral zone, a “lonely place” that’s not full of the precious, hard-to-ignore details of our lives. We must step out of our little worlds into a setting where we can be totally alone with God, where we can more actively pray and set our whole attention on God. Jesus retreated to the holy detachment of a solitary place. Solitary places are not always easy to f ind. But once we’re there, it’s much easier to f ind God.


Think about some sort of change that you have been considering making in your life. Instead of praying about it in a comfortable, fam-iliar setting, intentionally set off to f ind a physically and emotionally solitary place where God’s Spirit and the inner voice can more easily help you sort out the next step in your life.


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Week 9: Alone

Sunday: To Pray

Scripture: After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. —matthew 14:23

Prayer Starter: Dear God, forgive me for minimizing the importance of time alone with You. Draw me, Lord, into Your sweet presence every day.

Prayer Closer: Father, at this moment people everywhere are seek-ing a place and time to get away and pray. Clear a path to You in the busyness of their schedules and responsibilities. Meet with them, Lord, and bless them.

Monday: Alone, but Not Alone

Scripture: “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” —john 16:32

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for Your constant presence. When friends turn away and I’m feeling alone, I pray that I would be quick to remember that with You in my heart, I’m never alone.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I lift up __________________________ to You today. He/she is feeling abandoned and alone. I pray that you would meet him/her in his/her pain with Your love and comfort.

Tuesday: A Companion for Man

Scripture: The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” —genesis 2:18

Prayer Starter: Lover of our souls, be an intimate companion to all, married or single, who are suffering today in their aloneness.

Prayer Closer: As their wedding day approaches, God, bless and prepare ______________________ and _____________________ to be lifelong companions.


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Wednesday: Left Alone

Scripture: The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. —1 timothy 5:5

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, according to this Scripture, some-times it takes a long time to see answers to our prayers. But even a widow in desperate need doesn’t give up and continues to put her hope in You. Thank You for her example. Help me never give up hope in You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, several family members and good friends are looking for jobs. Some are putting their hope in You; some are just hop-ing in hope, I guess. I pray that You would answer the prayers of both.

Thursday: With a Vision

Scripture: I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they f led and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.

—daniel 10:7–8

Prayer Starter: Dear God, I’ve committed to something that scares me half to death, yet I believe it is something You want me to do. I can’t do this without You. Today I put my conf idence in Your enabling grace and not my own abilities.

Prayer Closer: Lord, bring support and encouragement to those who are struggling to move in the direction You’ve given them. I pray especially for those who feel inadequate and alone. Give them cour-age, faith and wisdom to take the next step.

Friday: With the Lord

Scripture: It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. —lamentations 3:27–29


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Prayer Starter: I sit alone in silence and humility before You today, Lord. As hopeless as the situation about ______________________ looks, today I choose to take my hands off of it and hope in You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, in our busy lives and culture today, sitting qui-etly alone can feel like wasted time. Slow us down, Lord. Convince each of us of all that is accomplished in the quiet time we spend with You.

Saturday: With Friends

Scripture: The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. —john 6:22

Prayer Starter: Alone with You, Jesus, to soak up Your love and sweetness. Nothing could be more wonderful.

Prayer Closer: Lord, here are some things that keep me from being alone with You: my cell phone, my computer, the Internet, televi-sion, coffee with friends, family commitments—all good things un-less they take priority over You. Be my top priority today and every day, Lord Jesus.


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The Testimony of Prayer’s Power


KEY VERSE: Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were f illed with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” —luke 5:26


By the time we return with Jesus to His adopted hometown of Capernaum after His successful mission trip to the nearby villages, people are arriving from as far off as Jerusalem! We’re amazed to see among them representatives of the religious elite—a Pharisee and a teacher of the law dressed in f inely embroidered linen robes. We’re hoping that Jesus will impress them. But our optimism vanish-es when we overhear them talking. The Pharisee complains, “What a bother being sent out to the middle of nowhere to monitor this country teacher named Jesus of Nazareth.” The teacher of the law wags his head, “We’ll soon f inish our task of refuting him. Refuting an uneducated carpenter like him will be as easy as cracking an egg.”

Fortunately, it turns out to be a bad day for refutations, be-cause “the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.” (Luke 5:17) You can argue all of the philosophy you want, but there’s no way you can convince people who have experienced a miraculous healing that they’re just imagining being cured because, according to your rule book, the person who healed them is a fraud.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law get the best seats in the small house, right in front of Jesus. As the crowd packs tighter and tighter around them, they hold their prayer shawls over their noses at the odor of the sea of humanity.

Just when we’re about to melt from the heat of the crowd, we hear a sound on the rooftop. Jesus stops talking and all eyes fasten on the low ceiling as the cloudless sky appears in a f lurry of hands


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f linging aside clay roof tiles. Then the sky is blotted out by a sturdily woven mat.

The teacher of the law frantically brushes a fallen spider from his shoulder as the mat is lowered into the room by ropes tied at each end. A cry emanates from the mat, and the crowd manages to squeeze aside to allow the unusual cargo to settle onto the hard dirt f loor. On the mat lies a paralyzed man!

While everyone gawks at the withered man, Jesus lifts His face up to the hole in the roof and stares transf ixed. We crane our necks to follow His gaze, and we see the faces of four men all red and blustery and dripping with sweat after tearing up a roof and lowering a man down with ropes. As the men grin down, Jesus holds their faces in a remarkable gaze of admiration as if each one is a masterful work of art. What love, determination and belief Jesus beholds in those ruddy faces!

Energized, Jesus crouches down and says to the paralyzed man, “What great faith your friends up on the roof have!”

The man’s head moves slightly, but he doesn’t make eye con-tact with Jesus. Jesus puts His hand on the tangled hair and sees a troubled soul paralyzed just as much by regret as he is by disease. Jesus says, “Don’t worry, friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisee’s eyes narrow, and anger rises silently in him. Only God can forgive sins! This deluded Nazarene should be expelled from the synagogue for such heresy.

Jesus quickly straightens, looks in the direction of the Pharisee and says, “Why are you thinking these things in your heart?” Just as abruptly Jesus turns toward us and asks, “Which is easier: to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” (Luke 5:23–24) Jesus doesn’t even f inish the sentence. Instead He commands the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

We watch intently as the paralyzed man manages to roll to his side. Silence falls as he awkwardly gets on his hands and knees, and then slowly pulls himself into a crouch. With newfound conf idence


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he stands up. We gasp. Others clap and cheer. Some break down and cry. Someone hands the mat to the man. The crowd parts like the Red Sea, and the man puts one foot forward and then another. He cries, “Praise God! Praise God!” as he walks out of the house carrying his mat! We can’t help but praise God along with the crowd.

Today, as then, prayer skeptics abound. If prayer works, they ask, why do good people suffer and why do wars continue and why are babies born with birth defects? How can we explain such things to ourselves, much less to skeptics?

The truth is, prayer is not a theological or intellectual concept that can be proven or disproven through discussions and argu-ments. Nor is it a scientif ic principle like gravity that behaves the same way every single time without variation. The way to defend the power of prayer is to simply experience prayer. We pray, we listen, we observe, we grow, we watch things slowly change. We experience new hope when we’ve lost all reason to hope, we gain strength and courage to go on during diff icult circumstances, we see relationships restored and lasting love develop out of heart-break. And against such experiences, no one can argue. Today, too, can be a very bad day for prayer skeptics if we take the time to experience the healing power of prayer.


Find something in the past or present that has caused you to feel skeptical about prayer. Ask God to show you in your own experience the difference prayer has made in you, in your family or in your life. Then ask God for an opportunity to say a few short words to someone within the next week that credit prayer for some positive change in your life.


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Week 10: Answer

Sunday: When I Call

Scripture: Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

—psalm 4:1

Prayer Starter: Sometimes when I start to pray, Lord, all I can think about are the times you haven’t answered. Help me pray with faith today that You will hear and answer, even if I don’t understand or like the answer.

Prayer Closer: I pray now for _____________________________, Lord. You see his/her distress. You’ve heard the cry of his/her heart. I pray you would give him/her the assurance that You have heard his/her prayer.

Monday: Before I Call

Scripture: Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. —isaiah 65:24

Prayer Starter: Such an amazing thought, God, that You answer be-fore we call, yet You still want us to speak to You. Thank You, Father, for desiring a relationship with each of us.

Prayer Closer: Purify our motives, Father. Help us come to You because we love You, not to get things we want or to get our prayers answered. Let the desire of our hearts be simply to con-verse with You.

Tuesday: Prepared to Answer

Scripture: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

—colossians 4:6


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Prayer Starter: Lord, how I wish my speech was always seasoned with grace! Usually it’s seasoned with my opinions and frustrations and, sometimes, rudeness. Give me grace, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Father, You heard my recent conversation with ______________________________. It was not seasoned with grace. Show me what to do to undo the damage caused by that conversation.

Wednesday: God Will Answer

Scripture: “They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”

—zechariah 13:9

Prayer Starter: I call on Your name today, Lord, and I will walk conf idently into every situation because I know You are my God.

Prayer Closer: God, what an amazing thought that it pleases You so much to call us Your people. And that it pleases You so much when we call on Your name. How simple and sweet. Help us not to make You so complicated, Father.

Thursday: A Gentle Answer

Scripture: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. —proverbs 15:1

Prayer Starter: God, I especially think of parents when I read this Scripture. It’s easy to get in the habit of using harsh words and forget-ting the pain and damage they can cause. Help all parents be gentle with their words, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, it isn’t realistic to think that every person I relate to will be kind and gentle. So I’m grateful that a soft, gentle touch from You can heal the wounds in my heart caused by others’ harsh words.


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Friday: Call on God

Scripture: I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. —psalm 17:6

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray for all people who don’t know You or believe that You answer prayers. Surprise them, today, God, with an answer to a prayer they have yet to pray.

Prayer Closer: On lonely days, Lord, I don’t even need an answer to my prayers; all I need is to know that You are near and You hear my every thought.

Saturday: Great Things

Scripture: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” —jeremiah 33:3

Prayer Starter: Father, open my eyes today and every day to see just a glimpse of Your greatness.

Prayer Closer: I pray for all who are calling to You today, Lord, espe-cially _________________________. Show him/her something new about Yourself that will f ill him/her with wonder.


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Praying for Helpers

SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:27, Luke 6:16

KEY VERSE: One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them whom he also designated apostles. —luke 6:12–13


After healing the paralyzed man, Jesus continues to do things that either amaze or shock us depending on whether we believe in Him or not. We’re surprised when Jesus calls a tax collector named Matthew. Everyone loathes tax collectors because Rome sets the amount they expect to be collected and then the collectors charge us whatever they think they can get out of us to line their pockets with gold. Yet the next thing we know we’re tagging along with Jesus to a feast at Matthew’s house, rubbing elbows with all of his tax-collector friends and an assortment of other “sinners.” (See Luke 5:27–31.)

Later, when Jesus is eating with a good religious family, the teach-ers of the law criticize Him. “Why aren’t you and your disciples fast-ing like we do?” they say. (See Luke 5:33–34.)

Then there’s the Sabbath. No one in the village has the common decency to invite Jesus and the rest of us to eat with them. Everyone knows that on the Sabbath we can’t purchase even a handful of green f igs. So we go with the disciples through a grain f ield, picking ripe wheat, hulling it with our sore f ingers and grinding our teeth on the raw grain to get a little nourishment. The Pharisees go into a tirade, saying that by picking the grain and hulling it, we were working on the Sabbath! (See Luke 6:1–5.)

Next comes another Sabbath showdown. A poor fellow with a withered hand is ushered to a prominent seat in the synagogue, and the Pharisees lie in wait to see if Jesus will take the bait and heal on


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the Sabbath. Jesus sees what they’re up to and says, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” (Luke 6:9) And then Jesus heals the man. The Pharisees become furious, and we hear rumors that they’re discussing what to do about this dangerous rebel.

After all of this troubling criticism, we’re not surprised when Jesus heads up a mountainside one evening and says He’s going to pray. Jesus hasn’t told us exactly what He’s praying about, but we know that we’d be pouring our hearts out to God about how we’d been criticized for doing something as normal as eating. We’d be begging God to either silence our opponents or get rid of them. Hours pass and Jesus doesn’t return. We f inally fall asleep waiting.

We awaken as the sun moves over the crest of the mountain. Has Jesus spent all night praying? Soon we see Him coming down the mountain. There are dark circles under His eyes that tell us that He hasn’t slept. We hold our breath, hoping Jesus’ prayers have been rewarded with a plan to silence His opponents.

Jesus calls out, “Everyone, come gather round.” We all obey and Jesus says, “I’m choosing twelve of you to be apostles.”

Our mouths fall open. We turn the word apostle over in our minds. All of us are already disciples, meaning we’re students of Jesus’ teachings. An apostle is a designated messenger who will be sent in the name of the teacher. This is an incredible honor—and an enormous challenge. We look around at the group gathered here, and we suddenly realize that the pool of candidates is not impres-sive. Most of us have barely learned to read. We have no prior min-istry experience. We have ideological and political hang-ups. We harbor secret ambitions. Some of us have meddling mothers. None of us is wealthy. We aren’t orators. A few of us are hot-headed and get angry as quickly as dry straw bursts into f lame. Others get into trouble for saying and doing things before thinking. The only thing any of us really have to our credit is our openness to consider the truth of what Jesus says.

No wonder Jesus has spent all night in prayer! we think. He was asking God to peer into our hearts so He’d know whom to pick.


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Prayer was essential because Jesus is obviously choosing based on our potential, not based on what we’ve accomplished so far in our lives.

Jesus begins calling out the names of His chosen apostles, “Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip…Matthew…Judas.” (See Luke 6:14–16.)

The example Jesus gives us in this passage shows the crucial im-portance of putting serious prayer into our decisions. It further zeroes in on how important it is to pray not only for God’s help but also for the helpers God has chosen for us. Jesus was facing growing opposition and instead of expecting God to miraculously remove His enemies, He prayed for more good friends. Spiritual partnerships are the bedrock of faith. In the very beginning of time God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

If we continually try to go it alone without allowing someone to come into our inner circle to help us, we are destined to struggle against overwhelming odds. If Jesus Christ Himself needed help-ers, how much more do we? We will certainly fail to f ind the right helpers if we depend on our own reasoning power. Only God knows everyone’s heart. And we can only know the intentions of God’s heart through prayer.


Choose something in your past or present for which you have re-sisted asking for anyone’s help. Spend time in prayer asking God if you need a helper. Then ask God to show you who might be able to help you, allowing Him to suggest those you’ve been overlooking be-cause you’ve been looking without praying.


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Week 11: Help

Sunday: Serving Others

Scripture: God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. —hebrews 6:10

Prayer Starter: Father God, I lift up all the people in my city who pour out in service to others because of their love for You. Provide for their every need, Lord. I pray that their efforts would bear fruit for Your kingdom.

Prayer Closer: God, I pray today for Your precious servant . Encour-

age him/her through the pleasure and privilege of leading others to You.

Monday: The Weak

Scripture: And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. —1 thessalonians 5:14

Prayer Starter: Father, this is a tall order and one that we hesi-tate to do for fear of offending others. Please give me opportunities and the courage to speak truth and encouragement to those who need it.

Prayer Closer: I ask now, Lord, that You would motivate those who are idle, give courage to the timid and strengthen the weak. Help me to be patient with everyone, Lord, as I need others to be patient with me.

Tuesday: Quick to Help

Scripture: Be not far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me... —psalm 71:12


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Prayer Starter: Lord God, I need You to come quickly to help with __________________________. On my own, I’m powerless to ac-complish this thing You’ve given me to do.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Father, for being near today, and for the small but productive steps we took together to complete a big job.

Wednesday: Of Friends

Scripture: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

—ecclesiastes 4:10

Prayer Starter: I’m thinking, God, about the friends who helped me __________________________. Would you repay them for their kindness in a way I never could? Meet their deepest needs and the deepest longing of their hearts.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for all who are feeling friendless today. I pray that You would give them courage to reach out, courage to be a friend rather than waiting for friends to come to them.

Thursday: Teamwork

Scripture: So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and f illed both boats so full that they began to sink.

—luke 5:7

Prayer Starter: Lord, I can be guilty of waiting and wishing someone would come help with a big project instead of asking for help myself. Thank You for this example of the disciples asking their friends for help and the joy their success brought to all of them.

Prayer Closer: Father, whose load can I lighten today?

Friday: With Hard Work

Scripture: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” —acts 20:35


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Prayer Starter: Lord God, I pray especially that this generation of young people would learn this lesson about the blessing it is to give. Help all parents encourage and f ind opportunities for their children to give and to serve others.

Prayer Closer: Forgive me, God, for too often looking for the bless-ing in receiving rather than giving.

Saturday: With Speaking

Scripture: “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”—exodus 4:12

Prayer Starter: Lord God, so many people in our nation are seeking jobs and I pray that You would help prepare each person for each job interview. Give them the right words to say to get the right job in the right place at the right time. Thank You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: I remember times, Lord, when You have untied my tongue and given me words to say to accomplish Your purposes. I praise You, Lord, for equipping me to do what You call me to do.


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Praying for Enemies

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:43–48, Luke 6:27–36

KEY VERSE: “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” —luke 6:28


We leave Capernaum on foot and follow a crowd to a nearby ridge. There aren’t any off icial mountains around Capernaum, but the locals think of this gentle ridge as their mountain. Here the ridge stretches down to a level, grassy area where hundreds of us can sit comfortably and still hear Jesus speak in this natural amphitheatre.

Today there are no sick people pushing forward to be healed, no mothers bringing babies for blessings, no Pharisees or teachers of the law trying to lay verbal traps. Finally Jesus has the chance to speak without interruption, and He takes full advantage of it.

Up until now, everything we have learned about praying with Jesus we have learned through carefully watching Him and applying what He does to our own life situations. Things are about to change dramatically, and we’re about to hear more explicit—and sometimes incredibly surprising—instructions on how to pray.

Jesus starts out by telling us the opposite of what we’ve always assumed about life. He tells us how blessed we are in our prob-lems and deprivations. Are we feeling poor and needy in our spirits? A perfect trait for entering the kingdom of heaven! Are we mourn-ing? An excellent opportunity to be comforted! We are spellbound as Jesus describes all of our trials and tribulations and makes them sound like an avenue that leads us straight into the presence of God. (See Matthew 5:3–11.)

Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world, and we’re meant to shine. Then He delves deeply into what life is like when it’s lived


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on the principles of love for God and our fellow human beings. This kind of life is very different from the one we’ve been living, behaving according to the letter of the law while giving our hearts permission to be bitter and angry and hold grudges. Jesus says that behaving the right way while having a hard heart is sinful, because stubborn hearts defy the purpose of the law, which is to transform us into bet-ter people. The teachings rush on, exposing layers and layers of our self-righteous pretenses. Then Jesus says something very shocking about prayer.

Jesus declares, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27–28) Matthew reports it this way: “Pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Up until now we have never even dreamed of praying for our enemies. Instead we have prayed against them as hard as we can. And ask God to bless our enemies? We want to raise our hands and ask, “But didn’t the psalmists wish bad things on their enemies some-times?” We picture ourselves opening the scroll to Psalm 109 and reading its delicious maledictions out loud: “May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children.” (Psalm 109:11–12)

But unfortunately this teaching is part and parcel of the whole premise of Jesus’ brilliant sermon on how we need to develop loving attitudes that control our behavior rather than simply controlling our behavior to cover up our naturally self ish motives. In commanding us to pray for our enemies, Jesus is setting the bar for prayer so high that it’s over the moon!

Praying for our enemies sounds more like the job description for a saint or a martyr. It doesn’t sound remotely doable for us at this point in our prayer lives—if ever. Yet Jesus drives the nail in far-ther—don’t even the pagans treat their friends well? If they are that decent, we have to rise way beyond that to a whole new level of love. Jesus strikes the f inal blow by saying, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)


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And so Jesus delivers a surprising lesson on prayer by command-ing, “Pray for your enemies.” This command is so impossible that it shakes enough sense into us to grasp a very profound and mysterious lesson about prayer: We can’t even pray without God’s help! Although we may feel that we’re starting the prayer process ourselves, we’re ac-tually responding to God’s prior movement toward us. As Jesus later says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Apart from Him, we cannot even begin to pray.

And in attempting to pray for our enemies, we learn that our own perceptions of our situations are as narrow and f lawed as our know-ledge of who our enemies really are. The miracle of prayer begins at our point of utter need. God takes our imperfections and weaknesses and uses them as the perfect ingredients for entering prayer.


Think of someone who has mistreated you, betrayed you, lied about you or has put you down. Capture any thoughts that you may have entertained of them “getting their due” and bring them to God. Confess the impossibility of being able to pray blessings upon this person without God’s help. Then thank God for this op-portunity to teach you how to pray supernaturally, using His power and not your own.


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Week 12: Enemies

Sunday: Treating with Mercy

Scripture: The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

—1 samuel 24:4

Prayer Starter: What an amazing story from Your Word, Lord. King David had it in his power to kill a man who had been trying to kill him, and he would not. Lord, may we all be so slow to get even and quick to forgive those who sin against us.

Prayer Closer: Father God, when I think of someone who is strug-gling to forgive an enemy, I think of ___________________________. I lift him/her up to You today and ask that You would enable him/her to forgive as he/she would like to be forgiven.

Monday: Power over the Enemy

Scripture: I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpi-ons and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

—luke 10:19

Prayer Starter: I thank and praise You, Lord Jesus, that Your death on the Cross defeated the power of the enemy of our souls. Help me to walk, talk and live today like I believe that.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, lately the enemy has been beating up my friend ________________________________. I pray that You would help him/her see the enemy coming. Help him/her to hear and rec-ognize the lies that play in his/her head, and help him/her refuse to cooperate in any way with the enemy’s life-stealing attacks.

Tuesday: Love Your Enemy

Scripture: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for


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those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” —matthew 5:43–45

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, thank You for the example You gave us of forgiving Your enemies as You hung on the Cross where they nailed You.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, You didn’t just forgive Your enemies; You loved them. Show us how to move beyond forgiveness to sincerely loving our enemies.

Wednesday: Humility When Enemy Falls

Scripture: Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice. —proverbs 24:17

Prayer Starter: It’s amazing how well You know us, Lord. Thank You for understanding our inclination to enjoy bad things happening to our enemies. Please forgive us when we do.

Prayer Closer: God, in spite of the conf lict I’ve had for years with ____________________, I pray that You would tear down the wall that separates us and bless him/her with success in all they do.

Thursday: Friend of the World

Scripture: Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. —james 4:4

Prayer Starter: How many people are choosing the world over You, God, who don’t even know they are choosing. Open our eyes and show us all the ways we’re befriending the world.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I see my friend _______________________ f lipping back and forth between embracing the things of the world and the things of God. He/she is such an inf luencer of people; make his/her heart steadfast for You, God.


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Friday: Rescued From

Scripture: He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. —2 samuel 22:18

Prayer Starter: Father, I’m powerless without You. Protect me from the enemies of fear, pride, self-pity...anything that keeps my eyes on me instead of You and causes me to walk in defeat.

Prayer Closer: All praise belongs to You, Jesus, for Your power over the enemy. Thank You for setting ___________________________free from the power of addiction and giving him/her new life in You!

Saturday: Wrestling with Enemies

Scripture: How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

—psalm 13:2

Prayer Starter: Today, God, I will f ill my thoughts with thanksgiv-ing and praise for You! I put away regrets of what was, that can’t be changed, or what will be, that I have no control over. I will put my thoughts on You alone today, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I try to be upbeat and unburdened, but some days my heart is just heavy. Thank You for taking this weight off of me when You took it on Yourself on the Cross. I love You, Jesus, and I’m so grateful.


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The Secret of the Prayer Closet


KEY VERSE: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” —matthew 6:6


We lean back in the soft grass on the hillside of Capernaum as the sun moves down from its zenith in the sky. Sitting out here with the breeze coming off the lake, we listen as Jesus paints a vivid picture of a hypocrite who’s making a big show of donating money. We picture a homeless beggar who’s always sitting at the same place outside the synagogue. Our hypocrite friend has passed by this un-fortunate fellow for months, turning up his nose each time. How-ever, today our friend needs to ask a favor of God, so he’s going to give alms. And he’s going to make a big production of his commend-able charity. Never mind that the rest of us have kept the poor beggar from starving by quietly slipping a slice of goat cheese or a home-baked f ig cake to the hungry man whenever we pass by.

Our hypocrite friend decides to use a trumpet to make sure no one misses his grand display of charity. Tum-diddy-dum! the trum-pet sounds, just as if the governor of Judea were arriving. Our friend raises his hand for silence. Then he pulls a tied-up handkerchief full of coins out of his bosom and raises it aloft, shaking it vigorously so it clangs and jingles. We suspect it’s full of pennies—certainly not minas nor talents—but our hypocrite friend acts as if it’s a small for-tune as he brings the handkerchief to his mouth and kisses it fare-well. Then he bends and gives the small packet of coins to the beggar, saying, “God has blessed you today through my generosity!”

Jesus pronounces His verdict on such ostentatious givers: “The hypocrite who acts like that has already received his reward by being


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honored by men. But when you give, give in secret. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Jesus immediately applies the same principle to prayer. He de-scribes how hypocrites love to show off by praying in public using loud, lofty, eloquent words. They take center stage in the syna-gogue, thundering out religious phrases and commending them-selves to God and others. They station themselves in the public square, praying at the top of their voices so people can see and hear them. “Oh, what a pious, righteous person he is!” the little old ladies twitter. The potter looks down at his dirty f ingernails and sighs, “I could never pray with such beautiful words in all my life.”

Jesus will have none of this nonsense. He says, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

We sit on the grass mentally treasuring all of the principles of prayer gleaming like diamonds in this one simple sentence. We’ve been with Jesus long enough to be acquainted with His habit of going off to deserted places to pray before sunrise and sometimes praying alone all night. This is Jesus’ f irst public teaching about the need for all of us to f ind a sacred space where prayer can take place away from the cares and interruptions of life. If Jesus Himself needed to step away from the craziness of daily life to pray, how much more do the rest of us?

But Jesus isn’t just talking about getting away from others for the sake of modesty; He is talking about eagerly going toward Someone. Once in His discourse on secret giving, and now twice in this short sentence on prayer, Jesus calls God “your Father.” We repeat it to our-selves as an amazed question, “God is my Father?” What astounding news! When we pray in our humble closet, we’re not just getting away by ourselves; we’re getting away to enjoy a private meeting with the great God of the universe who is my Father. What an incredible notion!

And heaped on top of all of these already too-good-to-be-true declarations about prayer, Jesus tells us that although we can’t see


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our Father, He always sees us. God is intimately aware of the circum-stances of our lives. He is there.

And f inally, Jesus says that our Father, who sees what we do in secret, will reward us! But exactly what sort of reward is Jesus talk-ing about? We notice that when Jesus speaks about the hypocrites, He uses the word reward as a noun or a thing. The hypocrites got the thing they wanted out of prayer. Their incentive for praying was to get attention, and that’s exactly what they received and nothing more. However, when Jesus speaks of prayer, He uses reward as a verb. He tells us that God will reward us. God will initiate actions that will feel very gratifying and rewarding to us. For now, Jesus doesn’t specify exactly what these actions might be. That’s because as we continue our prayer journey with Jesus, we will build an amazing collection of the fruits of prayer—such as the ability to bless our enemies.

In this teaching on prayer, Jesus encapsulates its simplicity. Prayer is a one-on-one meeting between ourselves and our Father. We might not be able to see God, but He sees and hears us. And He will send us a reward.


Think about the difference it makes to you personally that God is your Father rather than simply “the” Father or “our” Father. Then ask your Father to show you one specif ic reward or benef it you have received from Him.


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Week 13: Secrets

Sunday: Secret Sins

Scripture: You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. —psalm 90:8

Prayer Starter: Lord God, show me sins that I don’t even know are hidden deep in my heart so that I can walk in the light of Your presence. I pray that light would draw others to You as I go through each day.

Prayer Closer: There is so much darkness all around, Lord. The headlines are full of it. Expose sin and darkness in our government, in our schools, in our businesses, in our families; let Your light expose sin and replace it with righteousness over all the earth.

Monday: A Trustworthy Man

Scripture: A gossip betrays a conf idence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. —proverbs 11:13

Prayer Starter: Lord, because of gossip, a precious relationship has been destroyed. I pray for _________________________ and ______________________, that each of them would be quick to ask forgiveness, quick to take the f irst step toward reconciliation.

Prayer Closer: Father, please put a guard on my mouth to keep conf idences from slipping out either intentionally or unintentionally. Protect secrets that have been entrusted to me by dear friends.

Tuesday: Things of God

Scripture: This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.



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Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray for pastors, missionaries and church workers everywhere, that they would receive the honor and respect due them.

Prayer Closer: Father, make me trustworthy with secret, spiritual things on Your heart.

Wednesday: Secret of Contentment

Scripture: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situ-ation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

—philippians 4:12

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank you for Your every provision. Make me content in You alone.

Prayer Closer: In all my giving, Lord, help me remember to give what I know of You to others, in my words and actions, that they might f ind contentment in You too.

Thursday: Secret Places

Scripture: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body. —psalm 139:15–16

Prayer Starter: Father, Your eyes actually saw my unformed body? What a wonderful thought. You saw, knew, understood each of us before we even came into being. God, for this one thing, among many that I can’t comprehend about You, I worship You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, let me imagine what isn’t yet, but what You intend to bring into being through me. Let me participate in Your creativity, Lord.

Friday: Of the Disobedient

Scripture: It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. —ephesians 5:12


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Prayer Starter: Holy God, I’m sorry for the shameful activities soci-ety considers normal and acceptable these days. Please God, restore our understanding of what’s holy, pure and sacred.

Prayer Closer: I pray especially for those who have known You and turned away to pursue their own desires. Convict them of sin, Father, and restore a longing for purity before You.

Saturday: Hiding from God

Scripture: “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do not I f ill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

—jeremiah 23:24

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for Your loving presence everywhere—especially the secret places in my heart that aren’t so secret to You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, reveal Yourself in the ways we are most blind to You.


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Words in Prayer

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:7–8; I Kings 18:22–40

KEY VERSE: “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask.” —matthew 6:8


Even though it’s afternoon and Jesus has been talking since midmor-ning, all of us in the crowd on the sloping grass hillside are listening with rapt attention. Jesus has already entertained us with “what not to do” examples of those who pray in public only to be heard by others. Now Jesus turns our attention to another “what not to do” example from the pagan world.

Jesus says, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pa-gans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)

We remember that somewhere in the Bible a prophet had a contest with the pagans to see which god—the God of Abraham or the pagan god Baal—would hear and answer. The story is found in I Kings 18. The test is simple. Both the prophets of Baal and Elijah, the prophet of the Lord, will prepare a sacrif icial bull as usual and lay it on the altar. However, instead of lighting the f ire, they are to ask their god to send f ire as a sign that the god has heard. Whichever god answers is the true god. Since there are 450 prophets of Baal and only one prophet of the Lord, Elijah tells them to go f irst.

The Bible says, “Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. ‘O Baal, answer us!’ they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered.” (I Kings 18:26) Elijah then taunts them. “ ‘Shout louder!’ he said, ‘Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.’ So they shouted louder and slashed themselves….”


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(1 Kings 18:27–28) The prophets continue to call out to Baal until the evening. But there is no response.

If we take the 450 “intercessors” and multiply by eight hours, that equals 3,600 hours of pagan prayer. If it takes three seconds to say, “Hear us, Baal,” it can be chanted twenty times in one minute or 1,200 times in an hour. Multiply that by 3,600 hours and we have 4,320,000 repetitions of the same words. What an incredible prayer effort! They shouted. And even drew blood! And yet absolutely noth-ing happened.

Then Elijah stepped forward and offered a twenty-three second prayer. It consists of two sentences and totals sixty words. “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turn-ing their hearts back again.” (1 Kings 18:36–37) Although Elijah’s sacrif ice and wood had been drenched with twelve large jars of water, God answered by immediately sending f ire down on Elijah’s altar in such intensity that it consumed not only the sacrif ice and the wood, but the altar stones as well.

Sitting there on the grassy hillside we feel as if we’ve been set free. We don’t need to say a lot of words in prayer for God to hear us. We don’t have to continually repeat the same ritualistic phrases and chants to gain God’s attention. Then Jesus tells us why we don’t need to say a lot of words: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8) Jesus has packed all of heaven into half a sentence on prayer.

Jesus starts out with the words that have already f illed us with such joy. “Your Father,” Jesus tells us. This is the fourth time these marvelous words have fallen from Jesus’ lips in His discourse on prayer. We marvel anew, thinking, My Father, the One Who had a hand in my creation, Who loves me as His child, Who wants the best for me. My Father, Who sees what I do in secret. My Father Who re-wards me. And now Jesus has added, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”


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God knows that we need all of the basics—food, shelter, cloth-ing, family, love, healthy bodies and meaningful work. God is able to differentiate between what we truly need and the unnecessary, things that we want because we think they’ll make us happy. And Jesus seems to imply that God grasps our future needs, things we don’t yet know we lack because we haven’t yet faced the challenges that will point out to us how much we’re in need.

But most gloriously, this phrase is a declaration of God’s thor-ough and intimate knowledge of us. It means that our Father is intimately acquainted with our personalities, our pasts, our cur-rent life situations and what’s weighing most heavily on our minds at this very moment. The psalmist says it so eloquently, “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:1–6)


Think about what you see as one of your greatest unmet needs right now. Speak with your Father about it, beginning with your thankfulness that He already knows what you need even better than you do. Then claim the following in prayer: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek f irst his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31–33)


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Week 14: Words

Sunday: Of God

Scripture: From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great f ire, and you heard his words from out of the f ire. —deuteronomy 4:36

Prayer Starter: Loving Father, help me to hear Your voice and words of discipline, whoever You choose to speak through.

Prayer Closer: I pray today, Lord, for a friend who is seeking Your word of direction. Please speak to ____________________________ in Your clear, unmistakable voice.

Monday: Pleasing to God

Scripture: May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

—psalm 19:14

Prayer Starter: Please, God, let the things I think about and the things I say today be pleasing to You and helpful to others.

Prayer Closer: Forgive me, Lord, for my words to ___________ that were def initely not pleasing to You. Give me the courage and the words to undo the damage I’ve done, Lord.

Tuesday: Jesus, the Word

Scripture: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. —john 1:1–3

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, You don’t just speak the Word; You are the Word through which all things were created, and I worship You in amazement.


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Prayer Closer: Lord, give me words to communicate Who You are to others.

Wednesday: Spiritual Truth

Scripture: This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. —1 corinthians 2:13

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, help us move beyond mere words to a deep spiritual understanding of Your life-giving truths.

Prayer Closer: I pray for those who have put down their Bibles because they f ind Your words too hard to understand. Open spiritual eyes to truth, Lord.

Thursday: Jesus’ Words

Scripture: After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. —john 2:22

Prayer Starter: Father, when my faith in Your ability to answer my prayers is lacking, remind me of the many You’ve answered in the past.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, help me to believe You and what You say is going to happen—before it happens.

Friday: Putting into Practice

Scripture: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

—matthew 7:24

Prayer Starter: Father, when I think of people who are building their lives on You, I think of _________________________ and


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__________________________. Lord, they are being attacked by the winds of adversity and I pray You would help them to stand strong.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, I pray for people who have recently come to believe in Jesus. Protect Your word in their hearts from the enemy who would like to snatch it away.

Saturday: Fixed in Mind and Heart

Scripture: Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

—deuteronomy 11:18

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray You would teach believers everywhere to know the God of Scripture—the God Who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Prayer Closer: Father, for strength, for wisdom, for courage, for everything I need to live for You, I choose to make Your Word a priority in my life.


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Our Model Prayer


KEY VERSE: “ ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ ” —matthew 6:10


After Jesus tells us that prayer doesn’t require reams of words, we f ind ourselves hungry to know what the few meaningful words might be that are most worth praying. We remember that once, after Jesus had f inished praying, one of His disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1) At the time it seemed strange to us that even these lucky ones who had already been taught to pray by the greatest living prophet in Israel found themselves needing more instruction on how to go about praying.

Here on the hillside in Capernaum, Jesus tells the crowd, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” As Jesus continues, we try to memorize and treasure the words. “Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9–13)

As we turn over the phrases in our minds one by one, we’re cap-tivated by the two opening words—“Our Father…” Before now, when discussing prayer, Jesus has called God “your Father.” By changing “your” to “our,” Jesus has taken us on a giant leap, setting prayer loose from the solitary prayer closet. This new communal dimension of prayer has suddenly multiplied it by a thousandfold here on the hillside, because now in addition to the vertical dimension of prayer between myself and my Father, there is also a horizontal dimension among those who pray to the same Father. The words “Our Father” suddenly make us into brothers and sisters, not an odd collection of


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isolated individuals. And what’s even more amazing is that when we hear “our Father” coming from the lips of Jesus, it makes Jesus our brother.

Since we’ve been journeying in prayer with Jesus for a number of weeks now, we recognize themes in this prayer that we’ve already seen lived out by Jesus and have heard in his teachings. “Give us to-day our daily bread.” Jesus has already told us that our Father knows what we need before we ask.

“Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive when He healed the paralyzed man. And Jesus has challenged us to exercise active forgiveness by praying for our enemies and blessing instead of cursing them. How-ever, Jesus adds something new here: Forgive us as we have forgiven our debtors! Because God is merciful to us, we are obligated to be merciful to those who wrong us! And putting this phrase f irmly in the model prayer causes us to come face to face with our failures and to let go of our quarrels with others.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Jesus has already modeled the power of prayer to defend against evil through His triumph over the temptations in the wil-derness. And Jesus has displayed His authority over demons in the exorcism of the demon-possessed man in the synagogue. A few weeks ago these works might have sounded theoretical to us, but now they sound like lifelines. We’re much more aware of the omnipresence of evil as we see the growing opposition to Jesus.

Then we’re stopped in our tracks by a remarkable new phrase: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” All along Jesus has been proclaiming, “The kingdom of God is at hand!” Could He really be giving us the awesome authority to pray His kingdom into being? We are swallowed in the mystery of prayer by these words. Why would God need our prayers to bring about the kingdom? And how can we adequately pray for something we don’t fully understand?

All we have to know is that God wants us to pray for the coming of His kingdom. He doesn’t ask us to understand it or to f igure out why


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He desires or needs such prayers. We pray and abandon ourselves to trust that somehow, in ways we will never fully understand, prayer makes a difference and changes the spiritual and physical atmos-phere here on earth until it more closely resembles that of heaven.

The Lord’s Prayer is often called the “prayer of the Church.” It unites us and it challenges us. It feels very personal, yet it makes us brothers and sisters. It helps us sweat out our lack of mercy to others and then snatches us up to heaven. It protects us and sets us free. No wonder the Lord’s Prayer is the most often repeated prayer in the world. Because when we truly pray it, we become new people.


Today’s challenge is to personally pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Prayerfully ask yourself if you’ve had reservations about praying about things when you can’t know whether your prayers are having any effect. Examples might be pray-ing about social justice, widespread conversions, deliverance from evil, national healing, world leadership, restoration of moral values, civil rights, poverty and God’s f inal plan for history. Then dare to pray for something gigantic today in order to develop your faith that prayer mysteriously makes a difference.


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Week 15: Heaven

Sunday: Great God in Heaven or Earth

Scripture: “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?”

—deuteronomy 3:24

Prayer Starter: Lord, forgive me for putting my hope and trust in others. None can do the mighty deeds You can do.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Father, that You would show Yourself powerful on the earth. Heal the sick, provide jobs, provide for the homeless. Do it for Your glory, Lord.

Monday: God Watching from Heaven

Scripture: The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. —psalm 14:2

Prayer Starter: What an amazing thought, Lord, that You, the creator of all the universe, are looking for people who want to know and under-stand You. Thank You, Father, for seeking intimacy with each of us.

Prayer Closer: O Lord, I pray for those who feel empty and love-starved today. Help them to seek You, the only One Who can truly satisfy their hunger.

Tuesday: Source of God’s Provision

Scripture: Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.” —exodus 16:4

Prayer Starter: Lord, instead of worrying about tomorrow, let me trust in Your promise of provision for today.

Prayer Closer: I notice, Lord, that the people didn’t sit in their re-cliners all day while You brought someone to come in and put food in


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their mouths. Help us, Lord, to do our part to receive Your provision each day.

Wednesday: Jesus Left Heaven

Scripture: For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. —john 6:38

Prayer Starter: Jesus, I thank You for young people today who are seeking You. I especially lift ________________________________ to You. Make Your will for his/her life clear and open the way for him/her to walk in it.

Prayer Closer: Father, reveal Your will to all who long to know it and do it, Lord.

Thursday: His Blessings

Scripture: “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and f ills your hearts with joy.”

—acts 14:17

Prayer Starter: Lord God, thank You so much for Your daily provi-sion, especially of joy in my heart.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for Your provision of a job for _______________________. Open doors on his/her behalf, Lord, and give him/her favor.

Friday: Giving Thanks

Scripture: Taking the f ive loaves and the two f ish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the dis-ciples to distribute to the people. —luke 9:16

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Jesus, for your example of not taking our Father’s provision for granted, but giving thanks for even a few loaves of bread and a few f ish.


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Prayer Closer: Father, I pray that all Your children would reveal Your character through our generosity to others.

Saturday: God’s Dwelling

Scripture: Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. —ecclesiastes 5:2

Prayer Starter: Father, remind me to be slow to speak—to You, to my family, to friends and co-workers. I can’t do this without Your help, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, help me to be quiet, to stop talking or thinking or telling You how to answer prayers or solve my problems. Help me to just listen.


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Prayer and Fasting

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:16–18, Matthew 9:14–15

KEY VERSE: “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen….” —matthew 6:17–18


Have we really been sitting on the hillside in Capernaum nearly all day now? Our stomachs growl, and we start thinking about a nice warm wheat cake sprinkled with almond slivers and raisins and drizzled with cream curds and honey. It seems like more than an odd coincidence that Jesus begins talking about fasting:

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disf igure their faces to show men they are fasting.” (Matthew 6:16)

We recall that the prophets of old warned against fasting without using it for its intended purpose: to humble ourselves to seriously seek God. Isaiah says, “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked f ists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” (Isaiah 58:3–4)

We remember Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness that left Him so famished the devil showed up. We haven’t really observed Jesus fasting since then, and the Pharisees have criticized Jesus for not requiring His disciples to fast. We took it with a grain of salt because the Pharisees have been picking apart everything Jesus says and does. But we began to wonder when John’s disciples came up and asked the same question: “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14)

Jesus gave a strange answer: “The friends of the bridegroom can’t mourn when he’s with them. The time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; then they will fast.” (See Matthew 9:15.)


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It delights us to picture Jesus as a groom on His wedding day. It’s dusk and He’s surrounded by His attendants carrying torches in a grand processional through the village streets to the home of the bride’s parents. The bridegroom wears a metal crown on His head and an enormous, brightly dyed silk sash around His waist. His garments are scented with frankincense and myrrh, and His attendants treat Him with the respect and honor due true royalty. His wedding day is the most important day of His life, and everyone rejoices with the bridegroom as He brings His veiled bride back to His father’s house, where their union is blessed under the wedding canopy and the feast goes on for a week. Wedding guests at such a joyous celebration wouldn’t dream of refusing to eat or drink because it would be an insult to the host’s generous hospitality.

There are parts of the analogy that are still fuzzy to us. We under-stand that having Jesus with us isn’t a time to mourn. We’re in a torchlight wedding procession from village to village, reaching as many people as possible with God’s love. But what does Jesus mean when He says the time is coming when the bridegroom will be taken away from us and then we’ll mourn and fast?

We take note of every word Jesus is saying. He says, “When you fast…” He doesn’t say, “If you fast…” as if it were an optional discipline. We hate to admit it, but we’ve never been that big on fasting. We sus-pect that some people fast in an attempt to earn points with God so He’ll be more likely to give them what they want. We also know that disconnecting fasting from prayer defeats its purpose, as Isaiah said. But we’ve never really gotten the purpose of fasting.

Jesus tells us that when we fast we shouldn’t look the part. He says to f ix our hair and to keep our face sparkling clean so no one will guess that we aren’t eating. Then only our Father will know. Jesus has drawn us back to the place of intimate relationship with God, where there are no spectators. Instead, there are two active participants—ourselves and God. We don’t fast to please others, to show how pious we are or to earn favor with God. Fasting is a way to help clear our minds and gain better control over our wills so we can better serve our Father.


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Fasting sharpens our ability to see beyond our physical needs and comforts. It hones our self-discipline and helps us to understand our bodies, minds and spirits in the context of the truth that Jesus de-clares, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Jesus tells us that we’ll know the time has come to fast any time we start feeling the absence of the bridegroom in our lives. There will be times of celebration when we feel as if God is there with us. We’ll feel close to Jesus, as if He is standing right here with us saying, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (See John 8.) Other times, we f ind ourselves mourning, defeated, discouraged and feeling that the bridegroom is gone away. This is the time to fast and pray. And the bridegroom will meet us there in secret.


Ask God to show you a practical way of fasting that’s right for you. Look for something that you can temporarily refrain from eating or doing that’s part of your daily routine. Then use the absence of this routine to remind you to draw closer to seek to become closer to the bridegroom.


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Week 16: Fasting

Sunday: For Nations

Scripture: “I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” —esther 4:16

Prayer Starter: Grow me up, Lord, into someone who is prepared spiritually, by prayer and fasting, to walk in Your power and anointing on this earth.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Father, that like Esther, I would be willing to obey You, even to the point of death.

Monday: As a Discipline

Scripture: “But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” —luke 5:35

Prayer Starter: Jesus, fasting isn’t something I’ve been taught much about. Help me to know when and how to fast in obedience to You.

Prayer Closer: I lift up all Your saints who are fasting right now. Give them the grace to deny themselves. I pray their fasting would reap powerful spiritual results for Your glory.

Tuesday: With Right Motives

Scripture: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disf igure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” —matthew 6:16

Prayer Starter: Father, purify the motives of Your people in all areas. Let us each live and serve to be rewarded by You, not with the recog-nition of man.

Prayer Closer: Forgive me, Father, for questioning the motives of others. Help me leave that to You Who alone sees our hearts and motives.


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Wednesday: Before God

Scripture: So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. —nehemiah 1:4 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Be with all who are mourning today, God. I pray es-pecially for ____________________________ that You would bring friends and family to gather around him/her.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray that You would see the tears of those who are weeping. Bring divine peace and comfort to each one.

Thursday: For Deliverance

Scripture: So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” —mark 9:29 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Forgive me, Lord, for being so unprepared spiritu-ally to be used by You.

Prayer Closer: Show me, Jesus, which of my prayers aren’t be-ing answered because of my lack of prayer and fasting. Help me be willing to do what it takes to walk in greater spiritual power and effectiveness.

Friday: In Decision-making

Scripture: Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. —acts 14:23

Prayer Starter: Lord, my friends are in the process of making a big decision. Give _________________________________ and ______________________ wisdom and direction and help them to put their trust in You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I’m so sorry for the big decisions I’ve made so casually in life. Convince me of the importance of prayer and fasting and committing my decisions to You.


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Saturday: In Community

Scripture: Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. —joel 1:14

Prayer Starter: Father, answer the prayers of Your church today, prayers for unity and provision and a powerful move of Your spirit.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Lord, that believers everywhere would be willing to deny themselves in fasting and that You would accomplish Your purposes in each one who does.


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The Rewards of Prayer


KEY VERSE: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” —luke 11:13


As Jesus has been speaking to us near Capernaum, He has done quite a bit of talking about being rewarded by our Father Who is unseen. In fact, Jesus has talked about rewards today at least eight times. (See Matthew 5:46, 6:1, 6:2, 6:4, 6:5, 6:6, 6:16, 6:18.) He has repeatedly contrasted earthly rewards with spiritual rewards. We continue to listen closely, trying to discover more about what kind of rewards Jesus promises when we pray.

Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will f ind; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) Our minds spin out of control for a moment, imagining asking for and getting everything we’ve always wanted—a son to carry on the family name, a new f ishing boat that doesn’t leak, that gem of a vineyard on the east side of the hill with the stone wall around it, roast rosemary mutton instead of smoked f ish to eat, a string of pearls knotted on a scarlet thread like the merchant’s wife wears, a position as a judge at the village gate.

After we’ve allowed ourselves to fantasize for a moment, the real-ity of where we are and Who is speaking sinks in. We’re not sitting in the temple in Jerusalem where the treasury is stacked with copper, bronze and silver; we’re in the middle of an empty f ield! And there are thousands of other people sitting around us who most likely want the same things, probably even the same vineyard on the east side of the hill. We blush in shame realizing that the widow sitting next to us isn’t pining for roast mutton every day. She’s dreaming of the morning


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she won’t wake up with her stomach growling, wondering where her next meal is coming from.

Right after Jesus spoke to us about fasting, He talked about treas-uring things. He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21) We begin to wonder, What do we value the most? And what exactly are heavenly treasures?

We’re trying not to miss what Jesus is saying. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will f ind; knock and the door will be opened.” Apparently every action we initiate in prayer brings an ap-propriate answering action from God.

Jesus sees how hard we’re trying to understand this, so He uses the analogy of a child asking parents for food. Jesus says that if your son asks for bread, you don’t give him something inedible, like a rock. If he asks you for a f ish, you don’t give him some-thing poisonous like a snake. We’re suddenly struck that in this illus-tration Jesus asks us to turn our thinking upside down in order to understand God’s desire to give to us when we pray. Every statement that has been made so far has been about “our Father,” and we have been picturing ourselves as the dependent children on the receiving end. Jesus asks us to step back and mentally become the parent for a moment. We make personal sacrif ices for our children. We protect them. We challenge them. We’d rather suffer than watch them suffer. But most of all, we love them and want the best for them. As long as we’re with them, they have a protector and a provider.

Finally, we understand the truth that Jesus is trying to convey. Jesus never says we will get exactly what we want. Instead He con-cludes in Matthew’s version that “your Father in heaven” will give “good gifts” in response to our request. (Matthew 7:11) Good means something that is excellent, appropriate, useful, wholesome or suit-able to meet the underlying need of the moment. And what is the underlying need of every moment? It is our need for God’s helping presence. Perhaps that is why Luke reports nearly the same sentence


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in a different way: “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

Finally, we understand that the reward of prayer is more valuable than all of the gold and silver in the temple. The reward of prayer is God Himself! Isaiah says, “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense ac-companies him.’ ” (Isaiah 62:11) When an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream before the birth of Jesus, the angel quoted Isaiah 7:14: “They will call him Immanuel.” (See Matthew 1:23.) Jesus is Immanuel. Immanuel means “God with us.” Prayer brings us to Jesus, and Jesus brings God to us. And there is no greater reward to be found in the universe.


Think about a heavenly treasure that you’d like to seek and ask for today. Some heavenly treasures to consider include God’s wisdom (see James 1:5–6), the Holy Spirit, the desire to please God (see I John 3:22), the ability to do God’s will (see I John 5:14–15), the knowledge that God has a plan for your life (see Jeremiah 29:12–13), the spiritual gifts, the gift of faith and the ability to sense God’s pres-ence. Once you have decided on a heavenly treasure to request, pray in a determined, active way that has elements of knocking, asking and seeking to it.


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Week 17: Reward

Sunday: From the Lord

Scripture: “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” —ruth 2:12

Prayer Starter: Dear God, I pray that the only reward I would live for is the reward of pleasing You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, please honor and reward those who are serving You and others so self lessly, especially _______________________.

Monday: For Faithfulness

Scripture: The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs. —proverbs 14:14

Prayer Starter: Father God, I ask that You would have mercy and give faith to the faithless today. Show each one how desperately he/she needs You.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, give me an eye today for opportunities to share my faith with others in kind and loving ways.

Tuesday: From Your Father

Scripture: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” —matthew 6:1

Prayer Starter: Lord, as I sit in silence now before You, purify my heart and motives. Show me ways I serve to impress man rather than You.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Father, for those who work tirelessly for You with pure motives. Reward them today with a strong sense of Your pleasure with their service and hearts.


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Wednesday: Fully Rewarded

Scripture: Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. —2 john 1:8

Prayer Starter: Lord, I’m truly concerned about my friend’s abil-ity to continue serving You under the stressful circumstances he/she is in. Bless ________________________ today with the grace to endure.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, protect the call You have on _________ _______________’s life. Don’t let the enemy put doubts in his/her mind today about the value of serving You.

Thursday: Safe Reward

Scripture: Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. —mark 9:41

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Jesus, for the generosity of all people who contribute to those serving You. Reward them in great measure from Your generous heart.

Prayer Closer: Lord, there is no shortage of opportunities to give to believers in need. Who would You have me share my abundant blessings with?

Friday: For Righteousness

Scripture: The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. —1 samuel 26:23

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for being a God Who sees those who walk in righteousness and are faithful to You. Knowing that You see is reward enough, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Help me, Lord, to be quick to reward others, es-pecially children, with words of praise for their choices to walk in righteousness.


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Saturday: For Seekers

Scripture: Without faith it is impossible to please God, because any-one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. —hebrews 11:6

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I pray that You would encourage those who are new in their search for You. Help ___________________ f ind You in Your Word, in prayer and in a continual sense of Your pres-ence.

Prayer Closer: Help me, Lord, not to just seek You, but to seek You earnestly.


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Belief and Prayer

SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:1–10; Matthew 8:5–13

KEY VERSE: Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. —matthew 8:13


As Jesus enters the village of Capernaum after His amazing sermon, He is met by a small committee of Jewish elders. “Sir, there is some-one in need of healing,” one of them begins, making a slight bow to Jesus. “He’s near death. Would you go to heal him?”

“Who is it?” Jesus asks. “The servant…” the elder nervously answers, staring at Jesus’ san-

dals, “…of a centurion.” Then he quickly adds, “But this centurion is a very deserving man. He loves our nation and he has built our synagogue. And he highly values his servant.”

We watch closely to see how Jesus will react. Our feelings toward centurions run the gamut from utter hatred to grudging admiration. Typically the mention of centurions stirs up feelings against Rome, our conquerors. Our Roman rulers are brutal and dishonest and they have no regard for the culture, the faith or the God of Israel. We’re commanded not to marry them, not to eat with them, not even to set foot in their homes lest their heathen ways contaminate us.

We’re surprised when Jesus agrees to go to the centurion’s house. Our odd procession winds up a wide road rutted by chariot wheels and horses’ hooves toward the Roman outpost. But when Jesus is within sight of the sentry post, several men come running toward us. “Lord,” one of them says. “The centurion says, ‘Don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the


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word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ ” (Luke 7:6–8)

A look of joy and amazement spreads over the face of Jesus and He turns to us and says, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” (Luke 7:9) Then He tells the messengers, “Go, it will be done as the centurion believed it would.”

Without so much as raising His hand in blessing to indicate the sending forth of healing power, Jesus turns and we head back toward town as the messengers race back to the centurion’s compound. By the time we reach the outskirts of town a mounted man catches up with us and exclaims, “The centurion’s servant was healed this very hour!”

We have learned much about prayer from Jesus, and now we learn one of its most necessary ingredients—belief—from a highly unlikely source. The centurion’s faith was not in his own worthiness, even though he was a kind man of upstanding character. He knew he didn’t deserve anything, yet belief prompted him to ask because he was trusting in Christ’s authority, not his own.

Belief is an interesting word and very much suits the centurion. Belief means to have conf idence in the reliability or effectiveness of something even though we don’t have absolute proof that we are right in our trust and conf idence. The centurion couldn’t do his job without a strong ability to believe. It would be impossible to go onto the battlef ield without believing that his legionaries were capable of f ighting. In the heat of battle the centurion must continually believe in his soldiers’ loyalty, their commitment to serve and their willing-ness to obey commands. Soldiers put their lives on the line for each other because they believe that they will back each other up.

Belief is not so much an emotion as it is the will to trust in the benevolence, goodness and reliability of God. It is much more than holding the opinion that God exists. It is also a very different sort of belief than that of the Pharisees, who believe in their own worthiness.


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It takes very little rewording to make the centurion’s entreaty into a prayer. As a prayer it might sound like this: “Lord, I don’t deserve even to be asking this. I know I’m not worthy of coming to You at all. But I believe that You have the power and authority to heal my servant.” Faith takes our eyes off of who we are and focuses our full attention on Who Jesus is. Suddenly prayer is no longer about what we want but rather about trusting Christ to use His authority how-ever the Father commands. And we, being under the authority of Jesus, trust Him to make better decisions than we would on our own were Jesus not our commander.


Choose a prayer request that hasn’t yet had a positive outcome. Instead of trying to manufacture or maintain the positive mental atti-tude that you’ve been calling faith, try focusing instead on your belief in the authority of Jesus. Model a personal prayer like the request the centurion made. Then ask God to show you more about what it means to believe in Him when you pray.


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Week 18: Believe

Sunday: In God’s Commands

Scripture: Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust in your commands. —psalm 119:66

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray that I would never grow stagnant in learning about You. Help me to be more eager about knowing You than the day I f irst believed.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, give me opportunities to teach others who have yet to believe in You.

Monday: The Good News

Scripture: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” —mark 1:15

Prayer Starter: Jesus, repent is not a popular word these days, but oh, how our world needs it. Let this be the time for a widespread turning away from sin and turning to You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Father, I believe the time is near for my friend to believe in You. Please,

Lord, open his/her eyes to see You and open his/her heart to invite You in.

Tuesday: In Him

Scripture: Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. —john 3:18

Prayer Starter: Father, according to Your Word, the truth is that without a Savior, we all stand condemned to spend eternity without You and Your love. In Your mercy, Father, convince all people of their need to believe in Your Son.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me to live every day like I believe this.


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Wednesday: He Is Able

Scripture: When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. —matthew 9:28

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, before You healed these blind men, You wanted to know that they believed You could heal. For those who need healing today, Lord, help them believe.

Prayer Closer: Father, for Your glory, let Your healing power be seen over all the earth.

Thursday: By Hearing

Scripture: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

—romans 10:14

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, show me who I can share You with today.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray that You would water seeds of truth about Jesus that have been planted in hearts today. Help them to grow into a mighty harvest for Your kingdom.

Friday: Without Fear

Scripture: Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just be-lieve, and she will be healed.” —luke 8:50

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help my friend ________________ ___________________ believe and trust that You can heal.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Lord, that You would replace fear with faith in those who need Your healing touch today.

Saturday: Overcoming Unbelief

Scripture: Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” —mark 9:24


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Prayer Starter: Lord, the boy’s father in this passage believed for his son’s healing. I’m believing for _____________________________’s.

Prayer Closer: I believe, Lord, that You can heal our unbelief as well as our diseases. Thank You!


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Prayer and Trust

SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:35–41; Matthew 8:23–27

KEY VERSE: He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. —mark 4:39


It’s been a long day and, in order to teach, Jesus has climbed into the stern of a f ishing boat and pushed out a short distance onto the lake so the crowds won’t keep pressing forward, trying to receive a healing touch. When evening approaches Jesus tells us, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” We move aside so the disciples who are experi-enced f ishermen can hoist the sail and turn the rudder away from the rocky shore. Jesus is so exhausted that He doesn’t have the energy to move from the cushion He has been sitting on all day.

By the time the small boat has cleared the shore, Jesus has fallen asleep on the cushion. We’re nervous about this night voyage because the lake is known for its sudden tempests. We tell ourselves that the disciples must be the best sailors on the lake or Jesus wouldn’t be sound asleep. The Sea of Galilee sits seven hundred feet below sea level, making it the lowest freshwater lake in the world. And it’s shallow—maybe two hundred feet deep at its greatest depth. We love the pleasant countryside surrounding the lake. It’s warm and temper-ate year round, with enough humidity and rainfall to support semi- tropical vegetation.

But to the east, the hills soar up to two thousand feet, creating a much different climate of cool dry air. When that colder air meets the warm, moist air from the lake, violent winds descend without warn-ing into the middle of the lake. In a matter of moments the once calm surface can be churned by strong waves many feet high.


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When we’re about two miles out on the lake, the dreaded winds descend with fury. Within moments our boat is climbing and falling over gigantic waves. Andrew, John and James are cling-ing to the rudder, exerting enormous effort to steer. Crash. A wave slaps the starboard side and crests over the boat, leaving us an-kle deep in water. Crash. Crash. Crash. One after another, waves break over the boat. Our hands are numb around the wooden bucket as we frantically bail water.

This is the worst storm in living memory, and we try hard not to think of the names we know of dead men whose small boats have been swallowed up by the lake. As we throw a bucketful of water into the wind, the wind slaps it violently back into our faces. We suddenly realize we’ve lost track of Jesus. We turn toward the cushion; Jesus is still on the cushion, fast asleep, even though waves are crashing over Him.

Just when we think we couldn’t be more afraid, we hear the f ish-ermen screaming that we’re so swamped we’ll soon sink. Surely it can’t all end this way for Jesus and the disciples! As another monster wave hits, several disciples f ight their way through the water in the listing boat to the stern and shake Jesus awake. We can barely hear them shouting over the tumult, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus slowly rouses Himself and sits up on the cushion. Then Jesus stands in the knee-deep water in the tossing boat and says in a mighty voice that somehow f inds our ears over the horrif ic howl, “Quiet! Be still!”

Suddenly the wind stops, as if an enormous invisible door has been slammed. The waves stop churning and dance down into an eerie calmness. One by one, stars f licker back into the sky. Then the moon appears, bathing us with light.

As we cough and spit and shiver and wipe our faces, we hear the voice of Jesus that has just now caused the wind and waves to obey, asking us, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) Our bodies quake even harder as we ask one another, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41)


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In the previous lesson we learned about belief in prayer from the centurion. In this passage, Jesus teaches us about trust. Al-though belief is diff icult, it’s easier to learn than trust. Belief is a matter of the mind and the will and can become stronger by listen-ing to teachers, studying the Scriptures and hearing testimonies. Trust, on the other hand, is fraught with emotion. Trust can only be developed when we are thrown into situations where we must totally depend on God’s strength and wisdom and not on our own.

Jesus sleeping during the storm at sea is a perfect example of trust. Jesus trusted that God would take care of Him, no matter what the outcome. When we attempt to trust, it’s liable to be condi-tional. We’ll trust as long as we can continue expecting that events will turn out well for us. Jesus didn’t approach trust with an un-spoken stipulation that God would never let anything bad happen to Him. Jesus trusted God all the way to His dying breath on the Cross. (See Luke 23:46.) His was a trust of total abandonment to God’s care and will.

Trusting in prayer is much harder than believing that God hears and has the power to act. Trusting God is scary because it requires the relinquishing of our control over everything we have. We let go and surrender all to God. Although belief can come in a sudden blinding light, trust develops slowly as we learn to depend daily on God, one new prayer of surrender at a time.


Choose a fearful circumstance from your life. Develop a way of pray-ing that acknowledges that the situation is beyond your control. Then offer the situation to God as your gift of daily trust that He is with you, no matter what.


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Week 19: Trust

Sunday: In His Love

Scripture: Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. —psalm 143:8

Prayer Starter: Faithful God, in every circumstance I’ll face today, I trust in Your unfailing love.

Prayer Closer: I pray for clear direction today, Lord, for everyone seeking it from You.

Monday: In the Light

Scripture: “Believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” —john 12:36

Prayer Starter: Lord, I know several people who are in a dark place right now. Pour out Your light on each one, Lord.

Prayer Closer: I pray that I wouldn’t just think or talk about Your light, Lord, but that I would bring Your light into my friends’ dark situations with my words and loving actions.

Tuesday: During Dark Times

Scripture: Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. —isaiah 50:10

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help those who take a few steps toward You but then shrink back into their darkness. Draw them irresistibly to Your light, Lord.

Prayer Closer: I’ve been praying for _________________________ for so long, Lord, I’ve given up trusting that You can turn his/her life around. Forgive me, Lord. Help him/her to trust in You in spite of my doubts.


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Wednesday: In His Guidance

Scripture: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your vindica-tion like the noonday sun. —psalm 37:5–6

Prayer Starter: Beautiful Jesus, be glorif ied in the choices of Your saints to walk in righteousness.

Prayer Closer: I commit my way to You, Lord Jesus, and trust that You will have Your way in it—for Your glory, Lord.

Thursday: With All Your Heart

Scripture: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. —proverbs 3:5–6

Prayer Starter: Lord, I don’t understand what’s happening in this _____________________________ situation, but I trust You in it with all my heart.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, when I feel off-track, help me to trust that You will lead me back to the right one.

Friday: In God

Scripture: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” —john 14:1

Prayer Starter: How can my heart not be troubled, Father, when I think about _____________________________? It looks to me like there are no good answers. Help me to trust You anyway, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Father, show me how to encourage ____________ that he/she can trust You in this hopeless situation.

Saturday: When Afraid

Scripture: When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. —psalm 56:3


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Prayer Starter: Lord, I’ll admit I’m a little afraid about...well, pretty much about the whole world situation. But I choose to turn my eyes to You and trust in You today. Help me also do that tomorrow and every day.

Prayer Closer: I’m amazed sometimes, Lord, at my friend who seems to have no trouble trusting in You. Help _______________’s trust to be contagious, Lord, and help me to catch it.


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Prayer As Worship

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 14:22 –34

KEY VERSE: But Jesus immediately said to them; “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” —matthew 14:27


After the terrible storm at sea, we arrive on the uninhabited side of the lake sorely needing rest. Unfortunately we only enjoy about an hour of peace before people who have hiked on foot around the lake to f ind us start showing up. Thousands come. Jesus spends several days teaching. Afterward, He tells us to get into the boat and head back to the other side of the lake while He dismisses the crowds. Then Jesus goes up onto the mountainside to pray.

Meanwhile, we’re having another very bad night on the lake. The relentless winds are against us, and every time we make an inch of headway it seems as if we’re pushed back by the waves. Finally we pull the sail and start rowing. It’s backbreaking work and it takes us half the night to get four miles out to the middle of the lake. And then the wind starts to howl and pick up.

This squall isn’t as intense as the last one, but it’s tenacious. It seems as if it’s going to last all night. By around 3 am we’re groggy and not thinking straight from the lack of sleep. Our brains are shaken and muddled by the tossing waves, and our muscles ache.

We think our eyes are playing tricks on us when see a strange object where the dark silvery waves meet the black sky. We rub our eyes, wondering what it is. It’s too small to be another boat, yet we’re too far out for it to be anything else. Others see the shape, too, and soon we’re all hanging on to the starboard edge of the boat, straining our eyes to see what it is. The shape becomes a phantomlike f igure trailing wind-whipped robes behind it like grave clothes. It appears to be gliding along on the surface of the water—directly toward our


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boat! Terrif ied screams mix with the sound of the pounding wind and waves.

Suddenly a familiar voice calls out to us. It seems to be com-ing from the direction of the phantom. The words reach our wind-battered ears, “Take courage! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

Peter calls back, “If it’s you, Lord, command me to come to you on the water.”

“Come!” the voice calls back. Peter throws off his tunic and f lings one of his legs over the side

of the boat. Before Andrew can stop him, Peter swings the other leg over the side of the boat and lets go. We hang over the side to see what will become of Peter in the whitecapped waves. It makes abso-lutely no sense, but Peter appears to be somehow standing on top of the water. Peter f ixes his gaze on the f igure of Jesus out on the waves and moves his legs in Jesus’ direction. But suddenly Peter’s beard falls toward his chest, and we know that he’s looking at his feet. A wave smacks up against Peter’s knees and the physical impossibility of what he’s trying to do immediately overwhelms him. We stare in terror as Peter disappears and then f lails back up in a trough between waves, crying for dear life, “Lord, save me!”

At that instant Jesus somehow breaches the distance between Peter and Himself. We see the strong hand of Jesus grabbing on to Peter’s, pulling him out from under the waves. “You of little faith,” Jesus tells his sputtering disciple, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)

As soon as the master and his hapless follower climb into the boat, crying, the wind dies down. In that strange new oasis of calm a fervent worship service breaks out. Voices that were crying out in fear a few moments earlier now proclaim with certainty, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Out in the middle of the lake, far from any synagogue or the temple in Jerusalem, we have learned to worship in a very new and spontaneous way. We have always associated worship with a physical sacred place, with elaborate rites and rituals. However, here in the boat we have now become worshippers of Jesus. And out of all of the pageantry normally associated with worship, we


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employ only one basic religious act: We pray, addressing Jesus as the Son of God.

Worship means taking the huge risk of joining ourselves to what we worship. Once we begin to worship someone or something, it owns our hearts, which are no longer ours.

Worship is a vital part of prayer. Unfortunately, prayerful wor-ship can lose its freshness of heart. Often our prayers of worship mix together stale concepts about who Jesus is. Our minds engage, but not our hearts.

The key to fresh, prayerful worship is active participation, using whatever life circumstances we f ind ourselves encountering. As the disciples discovered, sometimes the best worship opportunities start when we’re tossing and turning sleeplessly in our beds in what feels like a sea of worries and fears. At those times, what if we again im-agine ourselves in the boat with the disciples that night, with worship incredibly nearby—not in spite of but rather because of the dreadful moments when we think we will surely drown? Jesus issues our call to worship: “Courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”


Think back to a recent night when you had trouble sleeping be-cause you were worried or fearful. Pray Matthew 14:27 (“Take cour-age! It is I. Don’t be afraid”) over the worry or fear. Then continue to pray it until the words help you to realize that Jesus is powerfully and fully there with you in the darkness.


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Week 20: Worship

Sunday: In Spirit and Truth

Scripture: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true wor-shipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. —john 4:23

Prayer Starter: And, Father, those are the kind of worshippers You deserve. I pray for the world to be full of them.

Prayer Closer: Father, help me seek to know what it means to wor-ship You in spirit and truth.

Monday: Before God

Scripture: “Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” —revelation 15:4

Prayer Starter: O Lord, reveal Your righteous acts in all nations.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Father, You will put the fear of the Lord on all who don’t fear You or live to bring glory to your name.

Tuesday: With Reverence and Awe

Scripture: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with rever-ence and awe, for our “God is a consuming f ire.”

—hebrews 12:28–29

Prayer Starter: Thank You so much, Father, for the security that comes from knowing Your kingdom cannot be shaken.

Prayer Closer: I stand in awe of You.


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Wednesday: With Gladness

Scripture: Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joy-ful songs. —psalm 100:2

Prayer Starter: Lord, sometimes believers seem so serious it’s enough to make people not want to be one. Help me to let my joy in You show today, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I know people with many reasons to be sad, yet they are full of the joy of the Lord. I pray for _________ ___________________ today, that nothing would be able to snuff out his/her joy.

Thursday: The Glory Due His Name

Scripture: Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. —1 chronicles 16:28–29

Prayer Starter: Lord God, You are beautiful beyond description. I offer my praise and thanks to You today.

Prayer Closer: Plenty of people are trying to strip You of Your glory in these times. Holy God, let Your glory shine more brightly than ever through the prayers, praises and obedience of Your people.

Friday: The Maker of All Things

Scripture: You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. —nehemiah 9:6

Prayer Starter: And I worship You, God.

Prayer Closer: Lord, for those who are indifferent to You, I pray that You would open their eyes to see Your glory in all You’ve created.


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Saturday: As Living Sacrif ices

Scripture: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrif ices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. —romans 12:1

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray for the many who are pouring out their lives in service to others, literally sacrif icing their bodies to the point of exhaustion. Strengthen each one, Lord, and speak to them of Your pleasure with their service.

Prayer Closer: Father God, let me look at all of life “in view of Your mercy” that I so don’t deserve. Help me to offer my love and obedi-ence as an act of worship each day.


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Praying in Spirit and in Truth


KEY VERSE: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” —john 4:24


Today we arrive at an ancient well outside a Samaritan village called Sychar. It had been a pleasant journey on foot from Jerusalem, pass-ing through lush barley f ields, knee-high grass and herds of grazing cows. Samaria’s gentle slopes make it a prime travel route. Yet we’re the only citizens of other regions of Israel who are traveling through. Everyone else who’s been to Jerusalem to the temple to worship takes the long way around through the dry rugged land on the eastern side of the Jordan. Why? The Samaritans are considered religious outsiders.

We know that long ago this particular well where Jesus sits was the property of Jacob, the venerated patriarch from whom both clans have descended. However, religious differences have divided the Samaritans from the rest of Israel for countless generations. Unfortu-nately, the Samaritans practice a form of pseudo-religion that mixes in pagan practices with the worship of the Lord. (See 2 Kings 17:27–41.) This has led to their own offshoot brand of religion that claims that God’s chosen center of worship is on Mount Gerizim in their terri-tory. And they’ve fragmented the Scriptures as well, recognizing only the f irst f ive books of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The disciples continue on foot into the village to buy food, and we remain with Jesus as He sits alone by the well. Soon a Samaritan woman comes to draw water. Jesus doesn’t have a bucket or a jar to get water from the depths so He asks the woman, “Will you give me a drink?”


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The woman is f labbergasted. Jews don’t associate with Samaritans, much less drink out of the same bucket. And men—especially im-portant rabbis—don’t speak to women in public. “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman,” she says. “How can you ask me for a drink?” (John 4:9)

We are surprised when Jesus launches into a spiritual conversa-tion with the woman by saying, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)

The woman tests the meaning of this strange statement by talk-ing about the literal water in the well and the famous hands that dug it. She asks Jesus point blank if He is greater than “our father Jacob.”

Jesus tells her that everyone who drinks normal well water will get thirsty again. But those who drink of the waters of eternal life that Jesus offers will never thirst again.

The woman says, “Give me this water so I won’t have to come to this well ever again.”

Abruptly Jesus changes the subject by saying, “Go call your husband.”

The woman nervously rolls the fringe of her scarf in her f ingers and admits, “I don’t have one.”

Jesus nods and says, “You’re right. You’ve had f ive husbands, and the man you’re with now isn’t your husband.”

The woman is amazed. This man knows her intimately without ever having met her before! “I can see you’re a prophet,” she begins. She brings up the religious differences between them about whether Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim is the true place to worship.

We’re wondering how Jesus is going to handle this issue, which has been so divisive for so long. Jesus doesn’t shrink back from the truth. He says that the Samaritans have an incomplete picture of the God they worship. Jesus respectfully stands f irm that Jerusalem is the place from which the word of the Lord will go forth, based on the prophecy of Isaiah, which is one of the scriptural books discredited by the Samaritans. (See Isaiah 2:3.) Then Jesus starts


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describing a type of religion that transcends geographical bound-aries, and says, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit….” (John 4:23, 24)

From this conversation, we learn that any religious practice— including prayer—must be based on a f irm foundation of truth. We can’t adopt an eclectic prayer menu of ideas from other religions and philosophies and then pick and choose which Scriptures we want to keep and which ones we want to ignore. Prayer is the process of seeking spiritual truth. We cannot know the ways of the Spirit without learning them from Jesus and we cannot know Jesus without becoming intimately acquainted with Him through the Scriptures. Jesus is our key because He not only teaches us the Scriptures but also fulf ills them. That’s because He is the Living Word. (John 1:1) And as the Living Word, Jesus makes the Scriptures so vividly real to us that they live in us, f ill us and overf low like streams of life-giving waters. (John 4:14)

Knowing the Scriptures is a lifetime journey that brings joy. The psalmist says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalm 19:7–8)

Thankfully, we don’t need to know a set amount of Scripture to begin our prayer journey. We simply need to know how crucial the Scriptures are, and we need to decide to avail ourselves of every opportunity to learn them. It’s comforting that Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that if she knew Who He was, she would ask Him for spiritual truth and He would give it to her. With her limited background in God’s Holy Word, Jesus invites her to begin where she is. Prayer cannot stand alone without the Bible. We have been given the radiant gift of the truth of the Scriptures. It is up to us to daily receive them.


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Think about whether you have a regular plan for using and studying the Scriptures as part of your prayer life. Then choose one of your favorite Scriptures that you use in prayer and thank God for providing it to help guide you into the unseen spiritual realm.


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Week 21: Truth

Sunday: Guide in Truth

Scripture: Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. —psalm 25:4–5

Prayer Starter: Show me, teach me, guide me in Your truth, Lord. My hope is in You.

Prayer Closer: For those who do not have You as their God and Sav-ior, I pray that You show, teach, guide them to the Cross.

Monday: Confessing Truth

Scripture: Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

—mark 5:33

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, let me never be afraid to draw near and touch You.

Prayer Closer: And I pray I would never try to hide anything from You, Jesus.

Tuesday: Rejoicing In

Scripture: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.—1 corinthians 13:6

Prayer Starter: Lord God, I rejoice in truth that sets people free.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me not delight when bad things happen to people I don’t like and help me to rejoice when they come to know You.

Wednesday: Speaking Truth

Scripture: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

—ephesians 4:15


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Prayer Starter: I often speak the truth, Lord, but I don’t always speak it in love. And if I can’t speak it in love, Lord, I will try not to speak it at all.

Prayer Closer: In all things, Lord, in every area of life, let me grow up in You.

Thursday: Live by Truth

Scripture: If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. —1 john 1:6

Prayer Starter: Show me, by the way I treat others, any darkness in my walk with You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Help me to know the truth of Your Word so I can walk in it, Lord.

Friday: Walking in Truth

Scripture: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walk-ing in the truth. —3 john 1:4

Prayer Starter: I love You, Father God, and I long to bring joy to Your heart.

Prayer Closer: I pray for parents whose hearts are grieving to-day, Lord, because their children have turned away from You. Answer the prayers of my friends and that their children would walk in truth.

Saturday: Full of Truth

Scripture: The Word became f lesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. —john 1:14


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Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I thank You that You still dwell among us by Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Help us to walk in grace and truth as You did, Jesus.

Prayer Closer: Thank You for coming in the f lesh to live among us, Jesus. It helps to know You understand what we’re going through.


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Prayer and Opportunity


KEY VERSE: “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the f ields! They are ripe for harvest.” —john 4:35


Jesus is f inishing up his discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar. We can see that the woman still can’t get over the deep and amazing way Jesus knows her. How is it that the moment they met, Jesus somehow knew about her f ive different husbands and her living arrangements with a man to whom she isn’t married? Surely Jesus has supernatural knowledge beyond any the woman has ever known. Afraid to ask the question that’s burning in her heart, the woman says carefully, “I know that the Messiah is coming and when he does, he will tell us everything.”

Jesus looks the woman straight in the eye and says, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:26) Her mouth drops open in astonishment. She doesn’t know that back in Israel Jesus has been avoiding revealing Himself so plainly as the Messiah to anyone except the chosen ones who are closest to Him. Even then it didn’t come from Jesus’ own mouth but was revealed to Peter by the Spirit. And after conf irming that He is the Messiah, Jesus told those closest to Him not to tell anyone that He is the Christ. (Matthew 16:13–20)

At this pivotal moment of the unprecedented revelation of who Jesus is to such an unexpected person, the disciples return with the food they set off to buy. We read question and surprise on their faces. Why would Jesus be talking with her and what on earth could He possibly be saying to someone like her? To deepen the mystery, the woman suddenly pulls up her tunic and runs off to town, com-pletely forgetting to take her water jar! Bewildered, the disciples


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turn to the food on hand. They say, “Jesus, let’s eat. I’m sure you’re starving.”

As we undo the knotted cloth wrapped around a loaf of bread and set out an earthen bowl of creamy Samaritan milk, Jesus says, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

We stare down at the warm bread, more perplexed than ever. “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to f inish his work,”

Jesus goes on. (John 4:34) Then He says, “You think that it’s not harvest time today. But open your eyes and look! The f ields are ripe for harvest!”

We understand immediately that Jesus is talking about harvesting souls. However, it makes no sense since we’re in the middle of Samaria right now. It’s been so refreshing not to have our journey interrupted by preaching and teaching and criticisms from the teachers of the law. Here in Samaria, we’ve been feeling like our old selves again—when life was simple and uncomplicated before we became disciples of a wildly popular rabbi. We’ve been enjoying “down time” with each other and with Jesus. Besides, there aren’t any good Jewish people to evangelize here because none will come near this godforsaken place full of people with offbeat, heretical beliefs.

All at once we hear a large crowd of people heading this way from the town, led by the woman who is pointing toward Jesus.

As the crowd draws nearer, Jesus tells us, “Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benef its of their labor.” (John 4:36 –38)

We indeed reap a good harvest in humble Sychar. Many of the villagers become believers because of the woman’s testimony. Jesus stays on for two whole days, teaching the people. “And because of his words many more became believers.” (John 4:41)

One of the wonderful graces of prayer is that it both creates and attunes us to spiritual opportunities. As praying people who help nurture and perceive spiritual opportunity, we also need to be willing to step in and bring in God’s harvest at a moment’s notice.


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Intercessors sow spiritual opportunities by praying for those who need to f ind God, or to discover healing paths for unhealthy life-styles or to receive strength and courage for diff icult journeys. This is a great work of prayer. However, we also need to be aware that we more easily see the opportunities that we’ve been working hard to cultivate ourselves. We sow plans, we prepare, we take steps for those we know and love. We expect that we’ll not only eventually see the harvest but be the ones doing the harvesting as well. We’re so busy tending our own carefully sown prayer crops that we sometimes miss the other opportunities with people in unlikely places that are ripe for the picking around us every day.

Jesus needs us because time is absolutely crucial when a harvest is ready. It must be done quickly at the optimal ripeness, before dam-aging rain or wind strike. Having workers on hand when the harvest comes in is absolutely crucial. When we f ind that God has placed someone in our pathway whose heart is ripe, we must be ready to roll up our sleeves and work.

Harvests can be big or small. Some are easily done by saying “God bless you” to someone having a bad day. Others are brought in by being courageous enough to ask someone if we might pray with them when they tell us about their problems. Adversity opens people to prayer. Prayer turns us into harvesters. And harvesters reap joy.


Ask God to show you a spiritual opportunity in your life today that you may have been overlooking because you weren’t aware that the conditions were right and the door was wide open. Then pray for God’s guidance on how to go about harvesting.


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Week 22: Harvest

Sunday: Increase of Harvest

Scripture: Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the har-vest of your righteousness. —2 corinthians 9:10

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for planting the seed of righ-teousness in my heart. And thank You for those You’ve put in my life through the years who have helped it grow.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I know believers who are a walking harvest of righteousness. Bless and increase that harvest, Lord. Nourish those who feed on Your goodness in them.

Monday: Of Righteousness

Scripture: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. —hebrews 12:11

Prayer Starter: Faithful Father, I remember a time of deep disciplin-ing You took me through and it was, indeed, painful. But I’m grateful today for the fruit it brought forth in my life. Thank You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, teach parents to discipline their children with grace and wisdom from Your Word.

Tuesday: Reap a Harvest

Scripture: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. —galatians 6:9

Prayer Starter: I know some of Your weary disciples, Lord. Strengthen and refresh each one with a touch that meets their deepest needs.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, it encourages me to imagine a harvest of souls that I will meet in heaven someday because I’ve chosen to


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believe in and serve You. An even greater encouragement is knowing it pleases You, Lord.

Wednesday: Blessing in Harvest

Scripture: For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.

—deuteronomy 16:15

Prayer Starter: Remind me of this promise, Lord, on days when I’m feeling discouraged.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, bless ___________________________ in all his/her harvest and in all the work of his/her hands, that his/her joy will be complete.

Thursday: Plow in Season

Scripture: Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but f ind nothing. —proverbs 20:4

Prayer Starter: I confess, Lord, that as busy as I am, I still have some sluggard tendencies. Show me that f ine line between relaxing and being a sluggard.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, motivate people to plow and plant in Your kingdom.

Friday: Sow in Peace

Scripture: Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.—james 3:18

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray a blessing on the peacemakers in fami-lies everywhere. Bless their efforts to tear down walls of division and bring unity to their families.

Prayer Closer: Father, bring a new harvest of righteousness in the body of Christ.


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Saturday: Pray for Workers

Scripture: Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest f ield.” —matthew 9:37–38

Prayer Starter: I pray Your protection and covering on all mission-aries working in the harvest f ield, Lord. Bless and honor their work for You.

Prayer Closer: Father, as Jesus asked His disciples to do: I pray that You would send workers into the harvest f ield—send workers who are excited and energetic and full of Your Holy Spirit.


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Voicing Our Desires


VERSE: When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” —john 5:6


Jerusalem is teeming with people gathered for a Jewish religious fes-tival. It’s the Sabbath, and we’re following Jesus as He winds His way through the throng near the Sheep Gate, where the unblem-ished lambs are herded into the temple for sacrif ice. A little farther on Jesus passes a small pool. People of every imaginable physical disability are lying and sitting on the edges under the colonnades. Each diseased, tortured soul is hoping that today he or she will be the lucky one healed by the waters. The pool is called Bethesda, which means “house of mercy.” We learn that the pool is surprisingly deep, at seven and a half feet, and anyone who jumps in it has to swim or tread water, making it unsuitable for use as the knee-deep Roman bath, where you sit and relax comfortably on the bottom of the pool.

As Jesus surveys the suffering souls with deep compassion, some-one points out to us a man lying on a mat with a debilitating muscle disorder that keeps him from sitting up. We’re informed, “See that man? He’s been an invalid for thirty-eight years!”

Jesus crouches down beside the man asking, “Do you want to get well?” The man stares at Jesus and says with a jaw that moves too far sideways, “I’m never going to get healed because every time I try to get down into the water somebody who’s more able-bodied gets in f irst. Nobody ever helps me. They’re always trying to get healed them-selves.” His words are weighed down with many years of bitterness.

Jesus abruptly says to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”


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Our eyes lock on the spastic man on the mat. One moment the man is helplessly lolling on the mat, all arms and legs going wrong directions, and the next minute he’s somehow gotten up on his knees. His hands and arms start to move with restored strength and vigor as the mat disappears into a neat roll. We stare as the man slowly stands. The man tucks the mat under his left arm. Then he takes a tentative step forward. Then he takes another. The crowd parts and the man no longer sees them at all because he’s so intent on watching the amaz-ing sight of his own feet treading on the uneven paving stones into the street. He’s walking!

People are running after the man, cheering, shouting and caus-ing such a commotion that the teachers of the law get up from their cushioned seats to see what’s going on. They are outraged when they see the man carrying the mat. “Stop!” they cry out. “The law forbids you to carry a mat on the Sabbath!”

The man stops and says, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” (John 5:11)

“Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” they demand.

“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me who he was.” The man looks around him, “I don’t see him now.”

We continue to trail after Jesus around the temple, but there’s some-thing nagging at the back of our minds about the miraculous healing we’ve just witnessed. About an hour later we suddenly encounter the formerly paralyzed man in the temple. Jesus immediately stops, and we have a suspicion that our mighty Jesus, the Son of God, might have been looking for the man, but the man wasn’t particularly looking for Jesus. We discover what’s been bothering us. During this second encounter with Jesus, the man doesn’t even have the common decency to mumble a sin-gle word of thanks! Jesus says slowly in a serious tone, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14)

We’re disappointed and angry when the man shrugs his healed shoulders in a dismissive sort of way. We realize that the man didn’t really ask Jesus to heal him in the f irst place. Jesus healed him without any formal request or any sort of admission of faith on the


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man’s part. Instead, Jesus healed out of the compassion and mercy of His own divine heart. Since the man didn’t ask for healing, he’s tak-ing it completely for granted, more like his turn f inally came around at the pool because it was long overdue. He doesn’t give a moment’s thought to f inding out from Jesus how to go about the more eternally crucial business of also being cured of his sins. Instead, the man heads off on his newly healed legs to tell the disgruntled rulers that it was Jesus who cured him and broke the Sabbath law.

As we witness this scene we are struck by the fact that most sick people come to Jesus begging, pleading, throwing themselves at His feet and crying out at the top of their lungs for His attention. (See Matthew 20:29–34.) Here the tables are oddly turned; here Jesus ap-proaches a person in need of healing and asks him if he wants to be healed. Oddly enough, the man never directly answers the questions and he never makes any sort of request for healing. In spite of this, God’s healing power is not withheld from the man. But something vitally important is missing in the man’s healing.

In our explorations of prayer we have learned that God knows our needs before we ask. However, this incident points out that the pro-cess of asking is itself an important component of prayer. Apparently, asking boosts our spiritual awareness and helps us see our great need for God. Prayer emblazons God’s name on our minds, and we know exactly who we’re asking. Prayer refreshes our memories about God’s powerful attributes. We experience the healthy humility of knowing that we are not the center of the universe. And because we’ve asked, we view the answering event as a direct gift from God. And that’s why we can’t stop saying, “Thank You!”


Think through whether you are missing out on knowing more about God because you are not regularly voicing your needs and desires to Him in prayer. Then ask God for something that you haven’t thought to voice as a request before because you always seem to have it any-way without asking.


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Week 23: A Voice

Sunday: In the Morning

Scripture: In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. —psalm 5:3

Prayer Starter: Heavenly Father, I lift up all who are waiting in ex-pectation before You today. Bring refreshment, answer prayers, touch in a personal way all who seek You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, for those who are now waiting without expec-tation, I pray You will increase their trust and faith in You.

Monday: Of Guidance

Scripture: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

—isaiah 30:21

Prayer Starter: Lord, my friend _____________________________ is waiting to hear Your voice telling him/her which way to go. I stand with him/her believing You will do that, Lord, in Your perfect time.

Prayer Closer: Father, thank You for walking so closely and lovingly with Your children.

Tuesday: From Heaven

Scripture: And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” —mark 1:11

Prayer Starter: Lord God, speak Your love and aff irmation over each of Your children in an unmistakable way.

Prayer Closer: Father, make me quick to see opportunities to aff irm others publicly.


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Wednesday: Of Angels

Scripture: In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” —revelation 5:12

Prayer Starter: Praise You, Lamb of God, Who alone is worthy of praise and glory.

Prayer Closer: Holy Spirit, quiet my heart and mind right now from every thought except the one that sings, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain....”

Thursday: Of Distress

Scripture: “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”

—2 samuel 22:7

Prayer Starter: Lord, I f ind such comfort in knowing Your ears hear my cry. Help me to rest in that comfort today.

Prayer Closer: Father, I call to You on behalf of ____________, my friend in distress. Calm his/her heart; speak truth to his/her mind; work in his/her circumstances for Your glory.

Friday: Of Praise

Scripture: One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, prais-ing God in a loud voice. —luke 17:15

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, how many times this week have I forgotten to thank You for Your touch? I thank You now, Jesus, for __________________________.

Prayer Closer: Lord, when I remember to thank You for Your special touches, it’s more likely to be in a quiet whisper. Help me to unasham-edly praise and thank You for Who You are and what You do in my life.


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Saturday: In Prayer

Scripture: God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.—psalm 66:19

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for being attentive to my voice. Tune my heart to hear Yours.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me be sensitive to the voices of my family and friends. Even more, help me hear the cry of their hearts that runs deeper than their words.


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The Multiplying Power of Thanksgiving


KEY VERSE: Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distrib-uted to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the f ish. —john 6:11


We’ve set anchor with Jesus and his disciples on what’s normally deserted shoreline along the Sea of Galilee. We wade ashore and go up on a mountainside seeking solitude. We sit down to rest, but before the hems of our robes dry, the narrow paths along the lake are swarming with people who have somehow found their way out here to the middle of nowhere to see Jesus.

Philip, who’s a very practical fellow, whispers to us, “I hope Jesus will tell them a few short parables and dismiss them.” How-ever, the day stretches on as Jesus teaches. One of the disciples says nervously, “It’s getting late. Tell the people they need to go to the nearby villages to get something to eat.” Philip nods emphatically. Then Jesus asks him, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” (John 6:5)

Philip knows that the notion of feeding what appears to be at least f ive thousand people is totally out of the question because of the cost. Well aware of the pitiful little in our collective coin pouch that Judas carries, Philip says, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (John 6:7)

Philip is sure that these facts and f igures will convince Jesus to dismiss the crowd. Then Andrew offers something crazy. “Here is a boy with f ive small barley loaves and two small f ish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9) We remember a story about Elisha feeding one hundred men with twenty barley loaves, but the mathematics of that story work for us because each man would get


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one f ifth of a loaf. (2 Kings 4:42–44) But as Andrew shows us the boy’s meal, we see that the barley loaves are, indeed, quite small. Splitting such a teeny loaf among one thousand people wouldn’t even yield a single grain of barley per person.

Without any further discussion Jesus tells us to have the people sit down in groups in the grass. Then Jesus takes the loaves to give thanks. We’re familiar with the tradition of saying different bless-ings over different categories of food. We mentally repeat the one for bread and grain products as Jesus picks up the bread. “Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.” And for the f ish—“Blessed are you, Lord”—and ends with “through Whose word everything comes into being.”

Jesus stands to pray. He inclines His head toward heaven as if seeing something above that no one else can see. As Jesus returns thanks and blesses God, we suddenly feel electrif ied like we’ve never felt before during a blessing of the bread. Then Jesus breaks the loaves and gives them to us to distribute to the people. Jesus says a second equally heartfelt blessing over the two smoked sardines and gives each of us a small piece to distribute.

We stumble forward carrying a very light basket with a small piece of barley bread in it and an even more minuscule piece of f ish. We decide to go to one of the farthest groups of people, so we’ll have more time to think of what kind of apology to offer them for our piti-ful lack.

Too soon we come to the farthest group and we tear off a piece of bread and give it to a small boy. We give a piece to his mother, not daring to look into the basket. We concentrate on looking kindly into everyone’s face as our hand reaches in and tears off another piece of bread. We come to the last person in the group of f ifty and there’s still bread left to break off in the basket! How did that happen? We move on to the next group of f ifty. More pieces of bread emerge from our basket. Now we’ve fed one hundred people on less than half a tiny loaf of barley bread. We step toward the next group of f ifty with more conf idence, realizing with awe that we’re taking part in a miracle.


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After all f ive thousand people are fed, Jesus tells us, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” (John 6:12) We go out among the crowd and gather the leftovers—and we come back with twelve full baskets!

As we continue on our journey learning to pray with Jesus, we might miss the lesson on prayer in this passage because the miracle of feeding f ive thousand is so astounding. However, the eyewitness-es felt that Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving was key to the experience because the prayer is specif ically mentioned in the other gospels. (See Matthew 14:19 and Mark 8:6.) In fact, John later refers to this geographical area as “where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.” (John 6:23) Apparently, the words or the manner of this prayer of thanks were extraordinary because after the crucif ixion, two disciples walking to Emmaus mistake the resurrected Lord for a stranger until they suddenly recognize Jesus when He gives thanks over bread. (Luke 24:30)

Giving thanks is much more than listing things for which we are grateful. We can guess that Jesus’ powerful prayers of thanks-giving were focused more on heaven than on earth, based on His meaningful upward gaze. The key to satisfying and f illing prayers of thanksgiving is losing sight of ourselves as we gaze on our gener-ous Father. Our Father continually and actively gives to the world through an enormous, intricate series of bounteous creative acts that work together to bring these gifts into existence. Isaiah says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and f lour-ish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth.” (Isaiah 55:10–11) Our Father is indeed the God Who brings bread forth from the earth. When we pray with hearts f illed with thanksgiving, our ability to see God is multiplied. And our appreciation of God’s greatness is magnif ied just as surely as the prayer of Jesus multiplied the loaves and f ishes.


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Choose one thing that you’re grateful for today and then backtrack by offering prayers of thanksgiving starting with the moment you received it back through the many previous, unseen processes that transported it, manufactured it, mined or grew it before the bounty of God’s creation provided it to you. Then create a personal prayer phrase to use that honors God’s active role behind everything that you receive.


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Week 24: Thanksgiving

Sunday: Among the Nations

Scripture: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. —1 chronicles 16:8

Prayer Starter: Thank You, God, for missionaries all over the world. Bless their work to make You known among the nations.

Prayer Closer: Lord, give me opportunities to share what You have done in my life with my next-door neighbors, fellow students, co-workers, my own family members.

Monday: In Every Circumstance

Scripture: Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. —1 thessalonians 5:18 (nlt)

Prayer Starter: Really, God? In all circumstances? Even in a diag-nosis of cancer? Even in a friend’s joblessness? Even in family strife? Okay, Lord. I thank You for working in each of these circumstances and being glorif ied in them.

Prayer Closer: Lord, let the gratitude in my heart spill out on those I meet each day.

Tuesday: To God

Scripture: Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. —psalm 136:26

Prayer Starter: Thank You, God, that we never have to fear losing Your love.

Prayer Closer: Lord, my friend fears that he/she has messed up too much. Protect __________________________ from believing this lie and draw him/her into Your loving arms.


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Wednesday: For Freedom

Scripture: But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. — romans 6:17

Prayer Starter: Jesus, thank You that I used to be a slave to sin. And thank You, Jesus, for teaching me that You died on the Cross so that I don’t have to be a slave to sin.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help all believers obey You wholeheartedly.

Thursday: And Praise

Scripture: Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. —psalm 100:4

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for showing us how to enter into Your presence. It is so simple; forgive me for sometimes making it so complicated.

Prayer Closer: I praise You, Lord, not just for what You do in my life, but for Who You are.

Friday: In Prayer

Scripture: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situa-tion, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —philippians 4:6

Prayer Starter: Lord, I give all my concerns to You today, especially ________________, _________________, __________________.

Prayer Closer: Thank You for the peace You gave me today, Father.

Saturday: Overf lowing

Scripture: All this is for your benef it, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overf low to the glory of God. —2 corinthians 4:15


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Prayer Starter: Lord God, bring more and more people to the knowledge of grace through the thanksgiving that f lows from Your children.

Prayer Closer: Father, f ill my heart to overf lowing with gratitude.


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Talking to God Symbolically


KEY VERSE: “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” —mark 7:28


We’re with Jesus near the prosperous seaside cities of Tyre and Sidon between Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea. When Jesus tells us we’re heading in this unexpected direction, out of the bound-aries of Israel, He says we’re “withdrawing” for a short time. We feel that’s a good word and a good plan because it’s a very smart idea to slip away for now. The Pharisees are on the warpath—and with cause—because Jesus recently dished up a long, withering condem-nation of their hypocritical practices. (See Matthew 15:12.)

The territory of the Phoenicians is situated on a pleasant fer-tile plain, and the area is quite prosperous. As we enter the large home with bright mosaic tile work on the walls where we’ve been offered hospitality, Jesus tells our host, “Please don’t tell anyone we’re here.” The host nods and shows us to the guest quarters off the main courtyard and hands us soft towels made of cotton. We’re not used to seeing this level of imported luxury in Galilee and we sit down and f inger the towel, afraid to use it and get it dirty.

Unfortunately, by the time a charcoal f ire is burning in the courtyard, knocks start coming at the gate. Soon a crowd has gath-ered outside the gate, and every time it opens we hear an insistent voice calling out over all others, “Lord, Son of David have mercy on me!” We f ind out from the servant girl that it’s a Greek woman with a young daughter who is possessed by an evil spirit. The woman is so loud and insistent we begin to wonder if the little girl might have inherited a strong-willed “evil spirit” from her mother. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” she shouts from the gate. And what


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does Jesus do? He totally ignores her. It’s as if He’s gone temporar-ily deaf.

We’re one hundred percent on the same page with Jesus if He doesn’t want to heal anybody or preach while we’re here amongst pagans who aren’t part of the chosen sons and daughters of Israel. These people would never understand Jesus anyway. They don’t have the slightest religious education about the ways of the one true God who delivered Israel from Egypt, Whose name is too holy and sacred to say except to address as Lord or Adonai. This Greek woman, who probably believes in the pagan god Zeus and a whole pantheon of gods and goddesses, is creating such a scene that soon the whole countryside will know that Jesus is here.

We urge Jesus, “Tell her to go away and stop bothering us!” Jesus tells us, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24) “You’re absolutely right,” we all agree. “So just tell this woman ‘no’ once and for all so we can have some peace.” Jesus doesn’t follow our advice. Instead he continues to ignore the woman.

Finally the woman barges her way into the courtyard, rushes into the presence of Jesus and kneels in front of him. The exquisitely formed gold chain around her neck trembles as she begs and cries, “Lord, help me!”

Jesus tells her, “First let the children eat all they want. It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” (Mark 7:27) We’re all relieved. At last, Jesus is f inally telling the annoying woman to go away!

Several of us step forward to escort her out of the courtyard, but the woman is not done yet. Although she knows very little Jewish Scripture, she does know how to communicate through symbolic analogy. Instead of rejecting the analogy and instead of being of-fended that Jesus seems to be calling her a pet dog, she joins Jesus in the analogy to f ind the broader truth of what He’s saying. As the woman ponders the mental picture, she imagines a local family din-ner table with a pet dog lying underneath. In this prosperous area dogs aren’t sent out on the streets to fend for their own food like


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they are in poor areas. Here dogs get fed scraps from the bountiful tables of their masters.

The woman answers Jesus, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (Mark 7:28)

We are dumbfounded when Jesus suddenly commends her, “Woman, you have great faith.” (Matthew 15:28) Jesus says, “For such a reply you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” (Mark 7:29)

The woman rushes home and sends word back that she found her daughter healed!

From observing the Greek woman, we see that there are many avenues we can use to communicate with God in prayer. When the woman was expressing her needs to Jesus, she used both nonverbal and verbal communication. We f irst meet her through her very loud verbal cries, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” However, her nonverbal actions speak just as clearly. She keeps trying to f ind a way to get in to see Jesus and won’t go away. When she f inally gets close enough to Jesus, she falls down on her knees at his feet.

Jesus engages in nonverbal communication as well. He doesn’t answer her. Silence itself speaks volumes. The woman reads the si-lence as a reason to hope: “At least he hasn’t said no. Therefore, I’m going to keep trying.”

However, the method of communication that f inally brings healing is analogy and symbolism. Jesus gives the woman a verbal picture. The woman takes this picture and meditates. Then she tells Jesus something she sees in the picture that gives her hope. Jesus conf irms that she has indeed grasped what he was saying.

Because prayer deals in the mysterious spiritual realm, we need to be open to a whole range of verbal and nonverbal avenues that help us communicate with God. Symbolism, analogy and word-pictures can be powerful ways of speaking to and hearing from God when we pray.


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Think of a complicated situation in your life that would take too long to explain in words. Then pray about it, using a symbolic word-picture that describes it by comparing it to some familiar, easy-to-grasp scene such as children feeding dogs under the table. Then listen closely to hear what God might say back to you through one of the details of your word-picture.


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Week 25: Parables

Sunday: Wisdom Of

Scripture: Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. —proverbs 1:5–6

Prayer Starter: Father, how can I add to my learning today?

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray You would give new believers wisdom and understanding. Open hearts and minds to understand Your Word.

Monday: Of Fathers

Scripture: I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. —psalm 78:2–3

Prayer Starter: Father, let believers never tire of searching out the hidden things of Your kingdom.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray that our children will pass on what they have learned of You to their children.

Tuesday: Explained to Disciples

Scripture: He did not say anything to them without using a par-able. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. —mark 4:34

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, bless my time alone with You right now. Teach me, Lord.

Prayer Closer: God, who can I teach the things You’ve taught me? Show me who is ready to hear and understand.


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Wednesday: Of Jesus

Scripture: When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ para-bles, they knew he was talking about them. —matthew 21:45

Prayer Starter: I pray today, Lord, for the men and women in lead-ership in churches around the world. Expose hidden sins, Lord, pu-rify hearts, anoint each one to lead in righteousness.

Prayer Closer: Father, help me to recognize myself in Your para-bles. Open my heart to hear and my mind to learn about You and about me.

Thursday: To encourage

Scripture: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. —luke 18:1

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, You’re so sweet to encourage us to not give up instead of condemning our tendency to do so. Thank You so much, Jesus, for helping us to hang on and keep praying.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray encouragement into ___________’s life today. Help him/her to not give up believing You will answer his/her prayer.

Friday: In the Mouth of a Fool

Scripture: Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. —proverbs 26:7

Prayer Starter: Lord, help me to use my words wisely.

Prayer Closer: Bless all those You’ve anointed to be preachers and teachers, God. Open ears and hearts to understand and receive Your message.


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Saturday: Of the Blind Man

Scripture: He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?” —luke 6:39

Prayer Starter: Lord God, show me any areas where I’m leading others in the wrong way because I’m blind to Your truth.

Prayer Closer: I want to increase my commitment to know You and Your Word better, Lord, so that I can lead others to You.


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The Alternatives to Prayer


KEY VERSE: Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” —john 6:68


We’re so glad to be back in Capernaum in familiar surroundings where people know so much more about God than the Samaritans and the Greeks do. In this spot Jesus has already delivered count-less sermons and teachings. He’s healed people. It’s gratifying to have Jesus standing up again in front of the synagogue, ready to deliver another of his famous teachings, which will have everyone dancing with tambourines about the kingdom of God being at hand.

Today’s discourse starts with a question from the audience: “What must we do to do the works God requires?” (John 6:28) Jesus answers, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29)

The questioner crosses his arms in front of his prayer shawl and scowls. He knows full well that Jesus is referring to Himself as “the one God has sent.” So the skeptical questioner volleys back, “And exactly what kind of miraculous sign are you going to do to make us believe in you? Are you going to top the one where Moses gave our forefathers manna to eat in the desert?”

Our neck muscles tense up as we realize that it’s preposterous to be asking for another sign! We could count a hundred healings that Jesus has done right here in Capernaum. Why, we have f ive thousand eyewitnesses of how Jesus multiplied the loaves and f ishes. Yet this questioner wants more proof!

Jesus says, “It wasn’t Moses who gave the manna. It was God.” Jesus says that God sends a different kind of bread from heaven to give life to the world. Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life. He who


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comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and who-ever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:35–37)

The questioner grumbles, “You’re the son of Joseph. You have a mother named Mary who gave birth to you. You didn’t come down from heaven!”

Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the f lesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my f lesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:53–54)

“How can you give us your f lesh to eat?” the questioner bursts out. “Not only is that impossible, it’s utterly repulsive, like the pagans sacrif icing their children to Molech. It’s detestable to God!” (See Leviticus 18:21.)

When Jesus f inishes His discourse there are mumblings and arguments. Groups of people leave the synagogue and turn their backs on those who are on different sides of the controversy over this teaching. We understand that Jesus is talking symbolically and meta-phorically like He did with the Greek woman, but there are many parts of what Jesus has just taught that we don’t understand at all.

We head for the cistern to try and refresh ourselves with a little water and a little perspective, but as we go our stomachs lurch be-cause of something we overhear. A follower of Jesus says, “This is really a hard teaching. Why would Jesus expect the Pharisees or the villagers to accept it? I can’t even accept it myself.”

Jesus senses everyone’s mood and calls His followers to gather around Him on the side of the road. He says, “Does what I said of-fend you? Do you need a sign too? Are you waiting to see me ascend up into heaven where I was before?”

No one in the group dares answer. Jesus doesn’t try to win back anyone by retracting or explaining Himself. He simply says, “The Spirit gives life; the f lesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” (John 6:63–64)


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There is an awful silence. Then many followers begin to leave—forever. Jesus turns to the few of us remaining with the twelve apos-tles and asks, “Don’t you want to leave too?”

Peter speaks up, “Where on earth would we go? You’re the only one who has the words of eternal life. We believe that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:69)

Those of us who have been praying for many years can relate to having so many confusing things about life and faith thrown at us that we feel like giving up on prayer like the departing disciples gave up on Jesus. We get weary. We get dragged down by rejection. We get de-pressed. We suffer through bad, unjust situations in our workplaces, our homes and our communities. We struggle to understand why all of this has happened and where God could possibly be in any of this. Is the way of suffering, sacrif ice and hard labor really God’s way? We begin to feel it’s time for God to send us some sort of sign that He’s there. It wouldn’t hurt to have a miracle to prove that prayer still works. After a while we even stop praying regularly, asking ourselves, “Is it really doing any good?”

Life often brings us to a point where circumstances ask us the same question Jesus posed to His disciples, “Do you want to leave Jesus and prayer behind because of how hard this is?” It’s not an easy question to grapple with, but it can be potentially redemptive if we don’t ignore or run away from it. The question requires an honest answer like Peter’s.

The question asks us to imagine what life would be like with-out prayer. Where on earth could we possibly go to f ind the same spiritual grace as prayer? What alternative things would we be doing instead? Throwing pennies into wishing wells? Sacrif icing bulls? Put-ting plates of food in front of statues? Drinking magic potions?

The question is good because the answer is clear: Prayer is our only true lifeline, the only way to remain in fellowship with Jesus, the only way to be perfectly content because we trust in the One we are talking with Who is the Giver of Life, the One Who Feeds Us with bread that truly satisf ies. What are the alternatives to prayer? There really are none.


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I’ve often heard people say, “I don’t know how other people sur-vive life problems like this who don’t believe in prayer.” Ask God to bring to your mind someone who needs help but who isn’t a person of prayer. Pray for that person. Then let him or her know you have.


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Week 26: To Whom...

Sunday: Will You Run?

Scripture: What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches? —isaiah 10:3

Prayer Starter: Forgive me, Lord, for often running to others before running to You for comfort or wisdom. Remind me to always turn to You f irst.

Prayer Closer: Lord, establish my friend ______________________ in Your Word. Take away the human crutches he/she often leans on.

Monday: Can I Speak?

Scripture: To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they f ind no pleasure in it. —jeremiah 6:10

Prayer Starter: Open my eyes today, Lord, to see and know who is ready to receive Your truth. Give me courage to speak it, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, my friend has a desire to know You, but he/she is so easily distracted from You. Draw ________________________ irresistibly to Yourself.

Tuesday: The Son Reveals the Father

Scripture: No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. —matthew 11:27

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for choosing me to see and know You. Help me to choose You to be my f irst priority in my life every day.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, please reveal the Father to _____________, __________________ and __________________.


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Wednesday: We Must Give Account

Scripture: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Every-thing is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. —hebrews 4:13

Prayer Starter: Shine Your light on my heart, Lord, so I can give ac-count today for my thoughts and actions. Set me free from anything that is displeasing to You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for all people who are willingly hid-ing sin in their hearts. Let them walk today in purity of heart before You.

Thursday: Little Is Forgiven

Scripture: Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are for-given, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” —luke 7:47 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Thank You so much, Father, that my many sins are forgiven.

Prayer Closer: Bless and protect the work You’ve done in the hearts of those who feel so unworthy of forgiveness, Lord. Help them to ac-cept Your forgiveness and to love You deeply.

Friday: You Present Yourselves Slaves

Scripture: Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

—romans 6:16 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: I’m Yours, Lord. I choose to obey You and I refuse to be a slave to sin.

Prayer Closer: Father, show young believers the choice they have in Christ to choose to walk in righteousness and freedom.


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Saturday: God Will Speak

Scripture: Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”—but they would not listen. —isaiah 28:11–12

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You for Your loving desire to speak in a way we can understand. Help us to bring You pleasure by saying yes to what You ask us to do.

Prayer Closer: Father, make a way for each of your children to get away more often to a place of rest with You.


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The Satisfying Nature of Prayer


KEY VERSE: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of liv-ing water will f low from within him.” —john 7:37–38


On the eighth and f inal day of the Feast of Tabernacles we’re among thousands of worshippers following a procession led by the High Priest down from the Temple Mount to the pool of Siloam. The priest dips a golden pitcher into the water and then leads the procession back up toward the temple through the Water Gate with thousands of us following behind him, reciting a Scripture. In a thunderous, unif ied voice that vibrates off the city walls as if the stones them-selves are singing, we proclaim, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation!” (Isaiah 12:3)

When the priest reaches the temple, a prayer for the blessing of rain is recited, asking God to send the life-giving rains needed in October and November to ensure the spring crops. Then the priest goes through an elaborate ceremony, preparing to pour the water into a hidden pipe on the altar that runs out to the Kidron Brook. As the water is poured onto the altar, trumpets blast and a wine libation mingles with the water as it f lows unseen from the Temple Mount through the subterranean channel out into the brook.

It has been an exhilarating and spectacular religious ceremony but now that it’s come to an end we feel a little let down and de-pressed. If we only could somehow carry this feeling of God being with us home! We don’t seem to be able to keep the same sort of soul-satisfying feelings the rest of the year when we’re not here in the temple. We shrug our shoulders, assuming that’s the way our faith is supposed to feel. It runs in spurts, like the capricious trickle of a


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temporary stream in the desert. Sometimes there’s something satisfy-ing there for us. Most of the time, we feel dry and thirsty for some-thing more. But we don’t know what we’re looking for, and we have no idea how to get it. We’re resigned to the fact that we probably have to be a priest who’s in the temple day and night to feel spiritual vitality more than just occasionally.

As we’re making our way through the crowd trying to locate our traveling companions for the journey home, something electrifying happens that eclipses the golden pitcher and the trumpet blasts. Jesus of Nazareth stands up in the temple courtyard and says in a loud voice worthy of the great prophets of old, “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 f low from within him.” (John 7:37–38)

The religious fervor fanned up inside of us intensif ies by watch-ing the ceremonial water being poured from the golden pitcher. Our faces feel warm and radiant. We realize that Jesus has taken two dif-ferent quotations from the great prophet Isaiah and has made them his own. Isaiah 55:1 says, “Come, all of you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!” And it says in Isaiah 58:11, “The Lord will guide you…in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

A woman’s voice behind us cries out with emotion, “He is the Christ!” Our hearts almost jump out of our chests. If Jesus is the Christ, He is the One Who brings the Spirit, and this very moment Jesus has declared to us if we believe in Him, the Spirit will f low within us!

An older woman’s voice argues back, “How can this Jesus fellow be the Christ? He’s from Galilee. The Scripture says the Messiah will come from David’s family from the town of Bethlehem.” A man dressed in f ine robes to our right has his f ists clenched. We can see the taut muscles of his neck bulging as he hisses to his companion, “Why doesn’t some-body get up there and seize this blasphemer? Where are those worthless temple guards when you need them? This is an absolute outrage!”

Someone whispers, “Look at how Jesus speaks so boldly and publicly. I’m amazed they haven’t arrested Him. Could it be that the


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authorities have concluded that Jesus is the Christ?” (See John 7:26.) We stand frozen. Jesus is either a blasphemer or the Christ. Either He’s going to be arrested on the spot or leave the temple untouched because He is the Christ. If Jesus isn’t arrested we vow to do every-thing in our power to learn what it means to believe in Him. The tension in our lungs is unbearable as Jesus f inishes talking and steps down into the crowd. He slowly moves through the crowd and out of the temple courtyard alive and unchallenged.

Elation f loods us like spring sunshine. Jesus is the Christ. And we can come to Him and have life-giving water always inside of us.

Prayer is the way we get the life-giving waters f lowing within us. Prayer is something like the subterranean pipeline that carries the ceremonial water out to the Kidron Brook and on to the whole world. Prayer acts like a conduit, letting God’s Spirit f low freely into us. We f irst receive the Spirit from God through prayer. We re-welcome the Spirit again and again every time we begin to pray. Whenever we allow the power of the Holy Spirit to f low from us, we experience a deep feeling of joy and satisfaction that is real and unshakable. Daily and hourly prayer is how we keep the life-giving water welling up in us and f lowing outward to the thirsty. We’ll never feel spiritually thirsty again because from now on, we’ll always know exactly where to go when we need a refreshing drink.


During the next twenty-four hours, be on the lookout for times when you realize that you’re getting thirsty for spiritual refreshment and help. At those moments silently pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Then im-agine God’s life-giving water f lowing through you.


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Week 27: Thirst

Sunday: For Righteousness

Scripture: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be f illed. —matthew 5:6

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I love the word f illed here. Thank You for Your promise to fully satisfy those who hunger for righ teousness.

Prayer Closer: Lord, use the body of Christ to cause the world to hunger for Him.

Monday: God Satisf ies

Scripture: He satisf ies the thirsty and f ills the hungry with good things.—psalm 107:9

Prayer Starter: You satisfy me, Lord Jesus—when I take the time to let You. Help me do it more often, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Father, show the spiritually hungry in this world Who they are truly hungry for and Who alone can satisfy.

Tuesday: To Him Who Is Thirsty

Scripture: He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” —revelation 21:6

Prayer Starter: Dear Jesus, I desperately need a long, satisfying drink of the water of life.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me to recognize those who are thirsting for You.

Wednesday: Giving to the Lord

Scripture: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” —matthew 25:37


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Prayer Starter: Jesus, remind me each day that what I do to others, I’m doing to You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, thank You for making spiritual truths so understandable.

Thursday: Water on Thirsty Land

Scripture: For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. —isaiah 44:3

Prayer Starter: I praise and thank You, Father, for the provision and care of Your children through generations.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for my friend’s child, _________, who shows no interest in the things of God. Pour out Your Spirit on him/her, Father.

Friday: If Your Enemy Is Thirsty

Scripture: If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. —proverbs 25:21

Prayer Starter: Father, make me sensitive enough to know when my enemy is hungry or thirsty.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help us surprise and win our enemies over with kindness. I pray You would especially show me the key to ________________________’s heart.

Saturday: Never Thirst

Scripture: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. —john 6:35

Prayer Starter: Feed me, Bread of Life, and nourish me to do what You’ve created me to do.

Prayer Closer: Father, open the eyes and hearts of the hungry and thirsty who don’t believe.


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Self-Examination and Prayer


KEY VERSE: “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the f irst to throw a stone at her.” —john 8:7


At dawn the next morning we arrive with Jesus back at the temple. Crowds gather around, and we sit among them to listen to Jesus. Suddenly there’s shouting and shoving from the fringes of the crowd. A mob of strong men including dozens of Pharisees arrives, roughly pushing us aside. Two men violently f ling a woman whose hair is in immodest disarray toward Jesus. She has a dazed look in her eyes.

The Pharisees regard her disdainfully and say, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:4–5; see also Leviticus 20:10)

All eyes turn to Jesus. The Pharisees are laying an ironclad trap for Jesus that will damn Him if He says, “Stone her” and will just as surely damn Him if He says, “Don’t stone her”

We realize that Jesus can’t say “Stone her” because her blood will be on His hands. The Jews are under Roman rule and they have no legal authority whatsoever to execute anyone. Jesus would be a law-breaker and a murderer in the eyes of the governing Roman author-ities. Murderers are executed.

Worse still, Jesus will be in effect condemning Himself if He says, “Stone her,” because the Pharisees have a long list of religious laws that Jesus has blatantly broken, such as claiming to be the Bread of Life and healing people on the Sabbath. They can turn around and accuse Jesus of blasphemy and breaking the Sabbath laws and then point to instances in the Hebrew Scriptures where


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individuals were stoned to death for both of these transgressions. (See Leviticus 24:10 –23; Numbers 15:32–36.)

We’re also keenly aware that stoning is a barbaric means of execu-tion because it is a torturous death. If Jesus says, “Stone her,” He’ll be in controversial territory. Prominent teachers are uncomfortable with the morality of stoning. Torture breaks the command in Leviticus to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Leviticus 19:18)

On the other hand, Jesus will just as surely be condemned by say-ing, “Don’t stone her.” The Pharisees will then accuse Jesus of teach-ing that the Law of Moses is obsolete. Jesus can’t possibly condone a blatant sin such as adultery and continue to have any sort of credibility. He would be contradicting His own teachings, “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

Such a beautiful morning full of so much promise has turned into an utter nightmare. We hunch over in fear trying to protect ourselves from the terrible knowledge that the question the Pharisees has posed to Jesus is not a theoretical one. Someone will die depending on how Jesus answers.

Jesus, however, doesn’t say a word. Instead He bends down and begins writing with His f inger in the dust on the ground. How we wish we were close enough to read what He’s writing! At last Jesus straightens up and says to the mob, “If any of you is without sin, let him be the f irst to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7) Then he bends back down and starts writing in the dust again.

We push closer but we still can’t see what Jesus is writing. What-ever it is, it has an effect on his adversaries. The eldest man in the mob with the deeply wrinkled face strokes his long white beard nervously. Then he hobbles away. A man with a gray beard rubs his hands and licks his lips. Then he walks off too. Now the younger men slowly back away. Soon, all of the accusers are gone.

Jesus stands up, turns to the woman and says, “It looks like no one has condemned you. If they didn’t, then I don’t condemn you. Go now, but leave your life of sin.” Tears stain the woman’s face as she stoops low with contrition.


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From this incident with the woman caught in adultery we learn that prayer isn’t all thanksgiving and petition and entering a peaceful edge of heaven. A vital part of a balanced prayer life is self-examination. Otherwise we develop blind spots to our own faults and soon we have logs in our eyes. During prayer we must invite the Holy Spirit to plumb the depths of our motives and rationalizations that keep us from seeing our own faults, shortcomings and sins. Prayer must help us fearlessly become aware of and evaluate the dangers of our own worst secrets.

Prayerful self-examination is not a diff icult process. Jesus wouldn’t have had to look any further than the ancient basic laws of the Ten Commandments to stoop and write in the dust in front of the bloodthirsty mob, “You shall not murder.” When we prayer-fully sit down with the Ten Commandments, we will be surprised to read things about ourselves there every day. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife…or anything that belongs to your neighbor. You shall not bear false wit-ness against your neighbor. You shall have no other gods before me. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Honor your father and your mother.” (See Exodus 20:1 –17.)

Thankfully, instead of undoing us, prayerful self-examination re-news us. That’s because once we’ve gained the sort of self-knowledge we need to see our own faults, we hear Jesus whispering to us as He did to the woman caught in adultery, “Go in peace. Neither do I con-demn you. Leave your sins behind.”


Evaluate whether you need to develop a better system of using pray-er for self-examination. Ask God to show you the log in your eye that you keep overlooking and then spend ten minutes doing some soul-searching about what God wants you to do about it.


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Week 28: Pure in Heart

Sunday: As He Is

Scripture: We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify them-selves, just as he is pure. —1 john 3:2–3

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, You are pure and holy and worthy to be praised.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, purify me and make me ready for the day I get to see You face to face.

Monday: Search My Heart

Scripture: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. —psalm 139:23–24

Prayer Starter: Search my heart, Lord, and clean out any offensive way.

Prayer Closer: Lord, thank You for cleansing, not condemning, when you do f ind any offensive thing in our hearts.

Tuesday: Search Self

Scripture: First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

—matthew 7:5

Prayer Starter: Father, I can’t see the plank in my own eye; show it to me, please.

Prayer Closer: Lord, if You want to use a friend or family member to help me see the plank in my eye, give me the humility to hear and receive it from them.

Wednesday: New Heart and Spirit

Scripture: Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. —ezekiel 18:31


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Prayer Starter: Thank You, Jesus, for giving me a new heart through Your death on the Cross.

Prayer Closer: Father, draw others to righteousness through Your children walking in purity.

Thursday: Renew Me, God

Scripture: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. —psalm 51:10

Prayer Starter: Lord, purify the heart of the body of Christ, by pu-rifying each of our hearts individually.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for my friend _____________________ who would be the f irst to say he/she needs a steadfast heart.

Friday: Out of Reverence for God

Scripture: Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. —2 corinthians 7:1

Prayer Starter: Father God, I praise and thank You that with Your help we can purify ourselves.

Prayer Closer: Father, when it comes to purifying ourselves from things that contaminate the body, could You tell me where to start cut-ting back, Lord? Coffee? Butter? Chocolate? Thank You for Your help.

Saturday: See God

Scripture: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. —matthew 5:8

Prayer Starter: Thank You, God, that hearts can be made pure by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Closer: Loving Father, convince us all how desperately we need to see You.


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Touching Jesus in Prayer


KEY VERSE: She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” —matthew 9:21


When we arrive back home in Galilee after Jesus has escaped the deadly traps set by the religious leaders in Jerusalem, we’re relieved to see a throng of enthusiastic people running out to meet Him on the road. They pack tightly around us to hear what Jesus is saying. They momentarily step aside in deference to a ruler of the syna-gogue named Jairus, who falls at the feet of Jesus and pleads for help. Our hearts melt with pity as this prominent man tells Jesus that his twelve-year-old daughter is dying. “Come to my house as fast as you can! There’s not much time,” he cries.

So much attention is focused on the agonized father that no one notices a tired, pale woman in the throng who is slowly sliding her way toward Jesus one arm, foot and elbow at a time. We recognize her as a woman who misses nearly every religious holiday because she is always ceremonially “unclean” due to a chronic f low of blood. She’s been like this for twelve long years. The woman isn’t allowed to sit on the wooden benches in the synagogue because anything she sits on is considered unclean—and so is anyone who sits down after her. It goes to say that no one ever visits her house because none of us wants to sit on anything that will contaminate us until sundown and necessitate the bother of washing all our clothes and taking a bath. (See Leviticus 15:25–30.)

The woman has gone to every doctor in the region and even in Jerusalem as well, not to mention all of the exotic spice importers who are eager to take her money in exchange for their inf lated claims about the curative powers of their wares. To be honest, her problem


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is such old news that she gets very little sympathy from us anymore. Her problem hasn’t killed her yet, so she’ll probably get by in the foreseeable future.

We can see the wheels turning in the woman’s head as she’s trying to creep closer to Jesus by blending in with the crowd with her scarf pulled over her face. The woman f inally wedges her way within arm’s length of the back of Jesus. Before Jesus is able to take another step, the woman does something peculiar. She pretends to drop something on the ground and swiftly falls to her knees. What on earth could she be doing down there? We can’t tell because we’ve lost sight of her in the crowd. A moment later we see the woman’s head emerge in the sea of humanity as Jesus moves a few steps forward and the crowd moves with him. Whatever the woman’s mission, it seems to have been accomplished because she remains motionless with her hand resting gently on her abdomen, letting the crowd naturally f ill in be-tween herself and Jesus.

Suddenly Jesus halts and asks, “Who touched me?” Then He turns and gives questioning looks to those nearest to him.

Peter says, “Master, people can’t help but touch you in this crowd. Everybody is pressed together so tightly we’re breathing each other’s breath.”

Jesus shakes his head, still looking at the blank faces around him, “That’s not what I’m talking about. Someone touched me, and I felt power go out of me.”

The woman falls wretchedly at Jesus’ feet. Her frantic words tum-ble out, “Have mercy on me! I’ve been suffering from this bleeding for so long and I thought to myself that if I could just touch the hem of your cloak I would be healed.” The woman gulps for air and f inishes, “The moment I touched your hem, I felt the f low of blood stop. That exact instant.”

Silence falls over the crowd as the woman lies miserably on the ground, afraid to look up at Jesus. We expect Jesus to rebuke her or to at least tell her to get up and move out of the way so He can make haste to heal the critically ill daughter of Jairus. Jesus does neither. Instead He says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)


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This passage gives us courage when we feel totally unworthy of approaching God in prayer to intercede on our own behalf. It gives us a vivid prayer picture to mentally reenact when we feel our requests are not even meritorious enough to be put into the words of a formal request. We can imagine ourselves reaching out our hand and ever so gently grasping the smallest, lowest, dustiest hem of Christ’s garment with our unclean f ingertips as Jesus passes by on the road on His way to answering more important calls.

Symbolic mental or physical prayer acts that help us draw our-selves close enough to f inally touch Jesus help us act on our faith. It is faith that makes us well. And we go in peace.


Ask yourself if you’re ever afraid to “bother” Jesus with something you need because you think that Jesus has more important things to do or that you are unworthy of His attention. Choose a small sym-bolic prayer act you can do that is equivalent to the woman’s effort to get close enough to Jesus to touch the hem of His robe. And then act in prayer to reach out for Christ’s healing power.


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Week 29: Touched

Sunday: By His Power

Scripture: But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” —luke 8:46

Prayer Starter: O Lord, praise You for being available to all who need a touch from you—for healing, for comfort, for guidance, for anything.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray today for ________________________, who is in desperate need of Your touch.

Monday: By God

Scripture: Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.” —jeremiah 1:9

Prayer Starter: How many times I’ve wished the words that had come out of my mouth were Your words, Father. Please put Your words in my mouth today before I say something I regret.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, let all my words touch others with Your healing love and power.

Tuesday: According to Faith

Scripture: Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” —matthew 9:29

Prayer Starter: Lord, make us a generation of believers who believe nothing is impossible for You.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, turn my friend __________________’s hope that You will heal into believing faith that releases You to do so.

Wednesday: To Testify of Him

Scripture: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at


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and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. —1 john 1:1

Prayer Starter: Gracious Father, I pray that I would think to use everything You’ve done for me as an opportunity to proclaim Your greatness.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, prepare hearts to hear and respond to the Word of life.

Thursday: Touch No Unclean Thing

Scripture: Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” —2 corinthians 6:17–18

Prayer Starter: I pray for all new believers today, Lord, who still have a foot in their old life and a foot in Your kingdom. Strengthen each one to come out from their past and be separate.

Prayer Closer: Father God, I pray especially for my friend _____________________. Take his/her hand and lead him/her out of a life of sin and darkness into an understanding of Sonship with You.

Friday: Protected from Evil

Scripture: We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. —1 john 5:18 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, thank you for Your promise of protection from the wicked one, who would steal life from Your children. Help us live like we believe he is powerless against You.

Prayer Closer: I’m so grateful today, Father, that I am born of God and have Your power to keep myself from sin.


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Saturday: To Serve Him

Scripture: He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. —matthew 8:15

Prayer Starter: Jesus, You are so awesome in Your power to heal with a simple touch.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray that all who are touched by You will get up and serve You.


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Prayers of Joy


KEY VERSE: At this time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, be-cause you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” —luke 10:21


After Jesus commissions seventy-two of us as evangelists, he gives us the authority to heal and to proclaim the kingdom in His name. As we fan out over the surrounding countryside in pairs, incredible heal-ings and conversions happen. We hardly feel the dusty road under our sandals as we hurry back to home base—we can’t wait to tell Jesus how even the demons submit to us in His name!

As we give our breathless reports, Jesus’ spirit soars. He proclaims, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:18) Although this is the most unusual thing we’ve ever heard, we’re totally uncon-cerned that we don’t understand the details of this cosmic event even a small bit. Tonight it strangely feels real, as if we had seen this cata-clysmic sight ourselves. Jesus goes on, “I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19)

Then Jesus says something else that raises our spiritual fervor another notch. “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20) Now even the most self-conscious people in the room are standing with their hands and heads held up high, swept up nearly to heaven by overwhelming joy. Our names are written in God’s heavenly book! We’ve spent many extraordinary moments with Jesus so far, but this one makes us feel far beyond being happy.


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Jesus suddenly bursts into joyful prayer. One minute He is talk-ing to us and the next moment He’s addressing the Father as if the lines between heaven and earth and prayer and conversation have been blurred. “I praise you, Father,” Jesus prays. “Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (Luke 10:21)

Just when we thought we were seeing the whole amazing joy cycle, Jesus points our eyes toward our unseen Father. Jesus declares that this has been the Father’s good pleasure. God has planned all of this and has made it possible. Our joy has given the Father great pleasure!

We remember back on the banks of the Jordan when Jesus was baptized by John and we heard a voice from heaven saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) Back then we were on the outside wistfully looking in, not knowing how to please God. Now Jesus has invited us inside the circle with Him where God is pleased. We’ll treasure this moment for eternity.

Prayer and joy are very much related. Prayer helps us learn how to please God so that we might enter the amazing circle where we experience and share God’s pleasure. When Luke writes his account of the life of Jesus, he inserts great joy from beginning to end, men-tioning it more than ten times. Luke f irst strikes the theme when the angels announce the birth of Jesus as “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) Luke goes on to record the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son in which Jesus describes the heavenly joy of being found by God after we have been lost and far away. (Luke 15:1–31) Even at the end, the f inal chord Luke sounds in his gospel after the Resurrection rings with joy. “Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:52–53)

The joy we experience and express through prayer is much more than an emotion. First of all, joy has strengthening power, as Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks,


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and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Such joy also has the power to cancel out our past, present and future days of hardships. Psalm 126 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5–6) Jesus tells us, “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come, but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:21–22)

Rejoicing is literally a heavenly activity. Jesus tells us, “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents….” (Luke 15:7) “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) Prayer brings us closer to heaven and brings heaven closer to the earth.

Through prayer, the Spirit opens our eyes to the truth of the Gospel and teaches us how to know the thoughts and desire of Christ, and how to apply it to our specif ic time and place in the world. This guidance helps us do as Jesus does and act on His behalf. And as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, we step into the heavenly circle and share in Christ’s great joy.


Ask God to bring to your mind one specif ic thing about you that pleases Him. Then ask God one specif ic action you can take that will please Him today. After you complete the action, spend a minute or two in prayer, sharing in Christ’s joy and pleasure.


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Week 30: Joy

Sunday: In the Lord

Scripture: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. —psalm 28:7

Prayer Starter: Lord God, my heart leaps for joy at the thought of You.

Prayer Closer: God, I pray that overf lowing joy in Your children would be contagious.

Monday: In Restoration

Scripture: “That person can pray to God and f ind favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being. And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.’ ” —job 33:26–27

Prayer Starter: Lord God, yesterday, today and forever, your mercy is amazing.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray that _________________________ would f ind favor with You. He/she has fallen so far, but not so far that You can’t restore him/her in righteousness.

Tuesday: A Fruit of the Spirit

Scripture: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kind-ness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. —galatians 5:22–23

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit come, f ill me and bear fruit in my life that will nourish others in You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, bring a new inf illing of the fruits of Your Spirit in my friend ________________________.


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Wednesday: Shared with Others

Scripture: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. —luke 1:58

Prayer Starter: Lord God, how can our neighbors and relatives share our joy unless we tell them what You’ve done? Help me over-come my fear of pushing them away and give me the courage to share Your awesome deeds with joy.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I thank You for the way You are spreading joy in the midst of these scary and confusing times. Show Your powers to the whole world, Lord.

Thursday: Through Trials

Scripture: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. —james 1:2–3

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to be truly grateful for this most re-cent trial of _________________________________. Thank You for what You’re teaching me in it.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, give joy to those facing trials today that have pushed them to the brink of giving up on You. Help them not just to persevere, but to persevere with joy.

Friday: In Trusting

Scripture: He will yet f ill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. —job 8:21

Prayer Starter: I’m waiting, Lord, on behalf of ______________, for You to f ill his/her mouth with laughter. Restore the joy that’s been missing for a while, please Lord.

Prayer Closer: Father, I SHOUT with joy before You today. THANK YOU that my joy comes not from circumstances, but from knowing You!


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Saturday: From Good News

Scripture: Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. —proverbs 15:30

Prayer Starter: Lord, let the cheerful look on believers’ faces make others wonder where it comes from.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Father God, for the good news of _____________________________ today.


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Carrying Our Cross via Prayer


KEY VERSE: Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” —luke 9:23


Jesus is praying silently, and we’re quietly reclining on a rug on the f loor savoring the heavenly joy we recently shared with Him when we returned from our trip with the evangelists. Suddenly Jesus stops praying and asks abruptly, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

We sit up, and a disciple nearby speaks up, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” (Luke 9:19)

Jesus nods His head and probes, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

Peter breaks the pregnant silence, “You are the Messiah!”We dare not move a muscle as all eyes f ix intently on Jesus. Our

hearts race. Jesus replies f irmly, “I strictly warn you not to tell this to anyone.”

We should be jumping for joy like we were just a few days back when Jesus told us that we had been given the power to overcome evil in His name. But Jesus doesn’t sound joyful. His words are solemn, even cautionary. He’s told us the best news in the universe, but then He tells us not to tell anyone. Shouldn’t we be announcing that Jesus is the Messiah by proclaiming it with silver trumpets from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem?

We soon discover why Jesus is setting such a serious tone. Being Messiah is not all glory and adulation. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers


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of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (Luke 9:22)

The word killed stabs deep into our hearts. Back in the early glory days when Jesus was a rising religious superstar in Capernaum, we thought we were only a month or two away from Jesus taking the na-tion by storm. We imagined that before the next wheat harvest, Jesus would be sitting on David’s throne in the newly restored kingdom of Israel. Back then we couldn’t foresee the dangerous opposition. Al-ready Jesus has nearly been killed several times. (See Luke 4:28–30 and John 10:30–39.) Being killed, being raised up on the third day—what on earth could any of this possibly mean?

We mentally latch on to something the prophet Isaiah wrote that describes a unique type of spiritual leader—a suffering servant. Isaiah says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” (Isaiah 53:3) Isaiah goes on, “He took up our inf irmities and carried our sorrows” and was “pierced for our transgressions” so that we are healed by His wounds. (Isaiah 53:4–5) Isaiah further tells us, “After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisf ied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11) The prophecy ends, “For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)

We don’t pretend to understand what Jesus is saying about dying and rising on the third day. But we are beginning to grasp the concept of self-denial and shouldering rejection and suffering as part of the everyday territory of his great mission. The ministry Jesus was born to do comes at an incredible personal cost—total commitment to die over everything else. Jesus has left behind all personal desires of com-fort, security and family in exchange for being targeted, questioned, trapped, pursued, seized, misunderstood, overworked, maligned, ex-ploited and rejected.

Jesus’ eyes roam from face to face as He continues, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23–24)


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We sit back wide-eyed. Jesus must be speaking f iguratively because he can’t literally mean that every single one of us will be crucif ied. We consider the personal pronouns Jesus uses to describe “anyone who would come after me”—“He must deny himself, take up his cross daily.”

As praying people, every mission and every intercession we take on brings a mixture of honor and diff icult responsibility. Our calling will indeed bring heavenly joy but it will also bring daily challenges and will even cause us pain. Some days we will feel like Jeremiah, burdened with the sight of a world full of people gone absolutely mad, running straight toward the gates of hell while laughing all the way. We’ll want to walk away from our mission because of feeling like Jeremiah when he said, “So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a f ire, a f ire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:8, 9)

Without prayer we lose our vision and soon give up. Self-denial and self-discipline are nearly impossible without God’s help. We would become hopeless because we wouldn’t be able to see any posi-tive purpose for the suffering we are going through. We would have no way to gain an intimate personal assurance that we’re pleasing God and gaining our life even when losing the comfortable parts of our lives that have been so dear to us in the past. Sometimes prayer is serious work, baptized by our tears of deep suffering. And this, too, is a gift from God—and our gift back to Him.


Examine your current life situations to see which ones are causing you the most suffering. Which life situations are causing you to put aside your own needs and desires in order to bear them? Offer them to Jesus and ask Him to use them as your part in sharing in his re-demptive work.


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Week 31: Suffering

Sunday: Growth through Suffering

Scripture: In bringing many sons to glory, it was f itting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. —hebrews 2:10

Prayer Starter: Father, I try to avoid and pray away suffering, when it is Your tool to bring us to perfection. I don’t want to seek suffering, Lord, but help me to appreciate the good it accomplishes.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, You willingly suffered to bring many sons and daughters to glory. I’m so grateful to be one of them. Thank You, Lord.

Monday: After Jesus Suffered

Scripture: After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. —acts 1:3

Prayer Starter: Lord, there is life after suffering. This especially encourages me when I think of ____________________________, who has suffered physically for so long. Give him/her some relief today, please, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Speak to me today, Lord Jesus, about the kingdom of God.

Tuesday: To Be Expected

Scripture: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the f iery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. —1 peter 4:12

Prayer Starter: Father God, accomplish Your purposes through this painful trial my family is facing right now. Help us trust You to work in it for our good and for Your glory.


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Prayer Closer: Lord, help believers everywhere embrace the trials they are facing today. Give them grace to carry on and bring encour-agement in their trial, Lord.

Wednesday: Called to Suffer

Scripture: If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. —1 peter 2:20–21

Prayer Starter: Lord, how easily we say we want to follow You and be like You. Help us to mean it, not just when we’re praised and en-couraged for our faith, but when we suffer because of it.

Prayer Closer: Faithful Father, I pray You would protect and cover Your children everywhere who are being persecuted for their faith in You. Let them feel Your nearness and love in very real ways today.

Thursday: Delivered in Suffering

Scripture: But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their aff liction. —job 36:15

Prayer Starter: Father, I lift up those who are suffering in any way today. Speak encouragement to the discouraged; speak peace to the anxious; speak forgiveness to the unforgiving; speak contentment to the discontent.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me watch for opportunities to speak all of the above to those who need it.

Friday: Freed from Suffering

Scripture: He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” —mark 5:34


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Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for Your healing touch and Your power to set free those who are suffering.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray today for Your healing touch on _____. Let faith rise up in him/her to be healed.

Saturday: Rejoice in Suffering

Scripture: Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. —romans 5:3–4

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray for an inf illing of joy to those who are suffering. Produce perseverance, character and hope in their hearts.

Prayer Closer: Father, use the suffering You allow us to go through to encourage others in their suffering.


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The Transf iguring Power of Prayer


KEY VERSE: As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a f lash of lightning. —luke 9:29


About a week has gone by and it hasn’t been an easy one because we’re wrestling with Jesus’ troubling teaching on the Messiah be-ing a suffering servant rather than a conquering king. We have that depressed feeling we get when we’ve been told that someone near and dear to us is gravely ill and will soon die. We would do anything to spare Jesus—and all of us He came to save—from this sort of tragic destiny. We open our eyes every morning with a dark burden pressing down against our hearts. We have no choice but to get up and to put one foot in front of the other, carrying with us the burdensome knowledge that Jesus will be rejected and most likely killed.

Finally, one morning, Jesus picks up his walking staff and says, “I’m going to the mountainside to pray. I’d like Peter, James and John to come with me. The rest of you stay here and act on my behalf.” The three lace up their sandals and tie on their cloaks. As we follow along with them, we f ind ourselves walking up a steep mountain path. It’s afternoon before Jesus f inally chooses a spot high in the mountains that almost melts into the sky, and we settle down to watch Him as He prays. Evening approaches and we become incredibly sleepy.

Suddenly we’re roused by a very bright light. At f irst we think it might be morning, and the sun is blazing from behind the mountain. We see Jesus praying in the spot where He was stationed when we fell asleep. However, Jesus’ entire appearance has changed dramatic-ally. His robe is blazing white, and His face is full of lights.


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His countenance is glowing with such intensity that it stings our eyes. We remember how Moses’ face shone after being in the presence of God: “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” (Exodus 34:29)

Here we are thinking about Moses—and then suddenly we see him and the great prophet Elijah—here on the mountaintop with Jesus in glorious splendor! How could they be sitting here alive and well even though they’ve been dead for centuries? (Luke 9:31) We remember Jesus saying that when God spoke to Moses in the burning bush He said, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Jesus told us, “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Mark 12:26–27) All of our notions of past, present and future are shaken. Our incredulous ears smart as we hear these two giants of history speaking to Jesus about how His coming departure from Jerusalem will fulf ill God’s cosmic plan. And then a cloud sur-rounds us and a voice that could be none other than Our Father Him-self says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)

We instinctively fall face downward on the ground. We hear Jesus say, “Get up, don’t be afraid.” We spring up. Who wouldn’t obey im-mediately after just being commanded by the voice of God Himself to listen to Jesus? But once we’re on our feet, we f ind Jesus alone, look-ing like an ordinary man again.

We feel a compulsive need to worship Jesus but we have no idea how. In the boat when Jesus calmed the storm, we worshipped him as the Master of Nature. When we returned with the evangelists, we worshipped Jesus with the utmost gratefulness of those empowered to overcome evil and share in his joy. Now we are worshipping Jesus in a totally new way—as the Master of History and Destiny. We’re at such a loss as to how to respond that Peter starts babbling about building three altars. (Luke 9:33) Jesus simply says in reply, “Don’t tell anyone about this until the time is right.”

In our personal prayer experiences we may not receive a physical transf iguration where our faces give off a noticeable glow


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because we have been in the presence of God, conversing with Him. However, faces are mirrors to the soul, and prayer helps our spirits shine. The reason our spirits are full of light is because we don’t fear the future, nor do we need to run from the past because we pray to the God of all history who is also the great God of our personal histories.

God knows our life path from beginning to end. The psalmist says, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16) Not only does God have our lifespan planned, but He also has a long-term vision for our lives. Jeremiah says, “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Prayer shapes and changes history because it shapes and changes us. Through prayer we receive guidance for the daily steps that will lead to our future. We journey forward without fear and with much joy toward our Master of History. And our light shines and cannot be hidden.


Think about what it means to you that Jesus is the Master of all of history as well as the Master of your personal history. Set aside a spe-cial time of prayer to tell Jesus your regrets about your past and your greatest hopes and fears for the future.


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Week 32: Afraid

Sunday: Assurance from Jesus

Scripture: When they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” —john 6:19–20

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Jesus, for bringing peace by reminding us of Who You are.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, for all who have received bad news to-day—the death of a loved one, a diagnosis of cancer, the job they didn’t get—speak peace to his/her fearful heart.

Monday: Seeking Jesus

Scripture: The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucif ied.” —matthew 28:5

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, things often aren’t what they seem, yet we often believe the worst. I pray You would calm fearful hearts today, Lord, with Your presence.

Prayer Closer: Send angels today, Lord, to speak peace to Your chil-dren who are fearful.

Tuesday: Go in Safety

Scripture: My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

—proverbs 3:21–24

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for Your promises. Help me to live life seeking wisdom and understanding.

Prayer Closer: Father, make the sleep of Your children sweet tonight.


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Wednesday: Do Not Be Afraid

Scripture: He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. —matthew 8:26

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I pray that You can never say to me, “You of little faith.” Give me faith today and every day to believe that noth-ing is too diff icult for You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, rebuke the wind that is blowing and the waves that are crashing today around _____________________________. Calm the circumstances and calm his/her heart, Lord.

Thursday: Strengthened

Scripture: “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strength-ened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

—daniel 10:19

Prayer Starter: Lord God, when You speak to me, I am strength-ened. Speak to me today, please.

Prayer Closer: Father, I lift to You today loved ones who are feel-ing weak. I pray You would strengthen each one with an encouraging word that is clearly from You.

Friday: Of Man

Scripture: So we say with conf idence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” —hebrews 13:6

Prayer Starter: Lord God, because You are my helper, I will not be afraid—not of the thing I’ve committed to do that is too big for me; not of what people think of me; not of a lack of f inances; not of anything.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Jesus, for the conf idence we can have because You are with us.


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Saturday: Whom Shall I Fear?

Scripture: The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

—psalm 27:1

Prayer Starter: Lord God, You are my stronghold, the One I run to when I’m under attack by the enemy of our souls. In You, God, I am strong. In You, I have nothing to fear.

Prayer Closer: Father, protect those who are under attack today. Be their stronghold, Lord, and protect them in mind, body and spirit.


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Prayer Failures

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:37–43; Mark 9:14–29

KEY VERSE: Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” —mark 9:24


Jesus has been gone a very long time; He’s up in the mountains pray-ing with Peter, James and John. We’re still carrying our fears about what the future holds for Jesus. Unfortunately, the needy crowd knows nothing about our lagging spirits and they keep arriving in a steady stream, begging for help. They settle around the campf ire with us to wait.

As we throw another log on the f ire, our heart goes out to one particularly worried father with a thin, battered-looking son. The boy doesn’t return our smile as he huddles near the f ire, mechanically sipping goat’s milk from a hollow gourd. There’s a vacant, scary look to his eyes. Suddenly the boy convulses with such violence that the gourd f lies from his hand and drenches our sleeve with milk. The father jumps up. The boy lets out an awful, blood-curdling cry and tumbles sideways into the blazing f ire!

The father swoops into the f lames and grabs the boy out of the f ire. This boy desperately needs help immediately, and we can’t wait for Jesus to come back. It’s up to us to provide help, even though we’re not feeling particularly full of faith.

We take the boy aside, using a stern voice to declare, “Evil spirit, I command you to leave in the name of Jesus of Nazareth!” Nothing happens. The boy glares back at us. The father loses his composure and yells, “You’re all charlatans!” Someone lectures the father, “It’s not their fault the boy wasn’t healed. Maybe you need to confess your sins so your boy can be healed.” Bad theology starts f lying all around us as


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a heated argument breaks out. Suddenly the crowd divides and Jesus Himself is standing there asking, “What are you arguing about?”

The father jumps in with his side of the story, describing the boy’s horrible aff liction. He says, “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” (Mark 9:18)

Jesus replies, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” (Mark 9:19)

The father pulls the boy within three feet of Jesus, and the lad falls to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

“How long has the boy had this problem?” Jesus asks. “Since he was a young boy,” the father says. “He’s often fallen in

the f ire or the water. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” Jesus says. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

The father cries out, “I do believe; help me overcome my un-belief!” (Mark 9:24)

Jesus commands, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” (Mark 9:25)

Our ears are pierced with a horrendous shriek from the boy. The boy convulses. Then his whole body goes limp, pallid and motionless. A woman in the crowd gasps, “He’s dead!” Jesus reaches down and takes the boy’s limp hand and pulls him up to his feet. The boy’s legs hold f irm under him. Jesus beckons the father and says, “Here is your son.” And the two hug with a tight, emotional grip of joy.

Later, when we’re f inally indoors and out of the public glare, we ask Jesus, “Why couldn’t we drive out that demon?”

Jesus replies, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:29) Sometimes it takes a failure to pray like this one for us to real-

ize that using the authority of Jesus to confront and stand against evil, injustice, oppression and opposition is not about knowing good words to pray. The disciples assumed that what they were doing was effective prayer. Wasn’t telling an evil spirit to be gone in the name of Jesus exactly what they’d seen Jesus do hundreds of time? The truth


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is, there is no such thing as a failure of prayer, but there certainly is such a thing as a failure to pray.

Rock-solid prayer lives bring rock-solid results. That’s because prayer brings direct power to bear on the subjects we have specif ic-ally prayed over and general coverage over the unexpected things we will soon face that we can’t predict.

This passage rings with the theme of belief versus unbelief. Not taking the time to pray is in itself a form of unbelief because it shows that we do not believe the spiritual world is real and that we are des-perately in need of God’s power for every small step forward. Jesus aids us to develop our faith one day at a time. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”


Meditate on the specif ic kinds of negative forces that are operating in your life and oppressing you right now. For the next ten minutes, instead of trying to battle the negative forces head-on, ask God to show you how to increase your ability to pray and to strengthen your ability to believe in the areas where you f ind it diff icult to trust.


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Week 33: Oppression

Sunday: A Refuge From

Scripture: The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. —psalm 9:9

Prayer Starter: According to the headlines, Lord, these are times of trouble. Thank you for being our safe place, no matter what is hap-pening in the world around us.

Prayer Closer: Lord, let me be a refuge for the oppressed, a safe place where they can f ind comfort and security because You are in me.

Monday: Freedom in Christ

Scripture: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free….”

—luke 4:18

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I pray for the Spirit of the Lord to be on and in and around all believers to set captives free.

Prayer Closer: Too often, Lord, I miss opportunities to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and what You’ve done in my life. I ask for eyes and ears anointed to see and hear those opportuni-ties, and the right words to share.

Tuesday: Encourage the Oppressed

Scripture: Seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. —isaiah 1:17

Prayer Starter: Father God, I’m surrounded by people every day who are spiritually Fatherless. Help me help them enter into a rela-tionship with You through faith in Your Son.


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Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray that You would bless and strengthen today all who work in f ields that seek justice for children, the elderly and the homeless.

Wednesday: Better Than Pride

Scripture: Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. —proverbs 16:19

Prayer Starter: Jesus, thank You for the amazing people in cities everywhere who model Your servanthood by serving those oppressed by poverty. Bless them, Lord, and those they serve.

Prayer Closer: God, I pray that You would move powerfully to bring down people who oppress others. Expose corruption in government programs, defend abused children, provide safe nursing care for the elderly. Do it, Lord, for Your glory.

Thursday: Delivered by God

Scripture: He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free…. —psalm 146:7

Prayer Starter: Father God, I pray for a spirit of generosity on those who have in abundance, that they would give cheerfully to those who have not.

Prayer Closer: Lord, thank You for blessing and multiplying busi-ness owners who have a desire to be a blessing to others.

Friday: Don’t Oppress Each Other

Scripture: Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God; for I am the Lord your God. —leviticus 25:17

Prayer Starter: Lord, why is it so easy to oppress family members with our words and attitudes? Help us be kind and loving to all peo-ple, especially those we live with and love the most.


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Prayer Closer: Help me care the most, Lord, about what You care about. Help me to fear You and love like You love.

Saturday: Help the Oppressed

Scripture: If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. —isaiah 58:10

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Lord, for this promise and Your watchful care over the oppressed and those who help them.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray Your light would shine on the dark-ness around those who work on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the poor. Protect them, keep them safe and provide for their every need.


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Prayer Hospitality


KEY VERSE: She had a sister Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. —luke 10:39


Jesus is setting a challenging pace as we travel on foot in a long uphill climb on the road from Jericho up to Jerusalem. The ascent, the intense dry sun, our thirst and our apprehensions about what sort of murder-ous opposition Jesus will face from the religious rulers in Jerusalem are making us extremely worried for Jesus. The life of an itinerant rabbi is starting to show on Jesus’ worn-out sandals and His oft-laundered one-piece linen tunic, the only real possessions He has. We’re acutely aware of how vital the hospitality of strangers is to us—and how un-dependable and unpredictable it can be. Jesus rarely shows His weari-ness with this way of life. However, one cold windy night when no one had invited us into their home, we huddled around a pitiful f ire of dried brambles, f ighting the wind, and Jesus expressed the hardship of home-lessness: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)

In the morning, we round the bend in the road and come upon a pleasant village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. There, amidst a f ield of neatly spaced olive trees, sits the home of Martha and Mary.

Mary runs out and greets Jesus with great emotion and then at-taches herself to Him like a second shadow. But it’s Martha whom we love immediately because of the way she anticipates all of our needs like a mother hen. She is a f lurry of activity, showing us the jar of water where we can wash our feet, pulling out fresh, homespun towels that smell like lavender. We see a huge promising lump of dough on a board in the sun ready to be punched down for yeast rolls!


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Jesus moves inside the house. Mary settles down right at Jesus’ feet. Most homeowners give us the place of honor and choose a place on the outskirts of our group. Instead Mary sits right at Jesus’ feet in the customary position of a disciple.

Outside the window we hear a robust f ire crackling and the ex-aggerated thump, thump, thump of dough being pounded on a board. Martha f inally appears at the doorway with f lour on her chin, gives Mary a meaningful stare and bursts out, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40)

We look at Jesus thinking he’ll agree to her request. After all, Martha is being an absolute angel to take care of Jesus’ needs.

“Martha, Martha,” Jesus says, repeating her name tenderly. “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is need-ed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41–42)

Prayer is the process of making a hospitable place inside of our souls for God to spend time with us. Often we fall back on the human ideals of hospitality and try to approach prayer as a place where we do a f lurry of activities to serve God. We think we have served our Divine Guest and then He says, “I only wanted you to sit at my feet listening today. I simply wanted your company. I didn’t need you to go out and change your whole world today in prayer. I only needed you to come and sit in my world for a little while. Spending time at my feet can change your whole world.”


Set a timer and engage in a ten-minute prayer session that is free of your usual prayer activities. Concentrate on moving aside the to-do items that pop up in your mind today. Instead, ask God to move into your open heart. And then quietly listen as you spend quality time with your Heavenly Guest.


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Week 34: His Presence

Sunday: His Glory

Scripture: And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. —john 17:5

Prayer Starter: Father God, let Your glory be seen over all the earth through the glory of Your Holy Spirit in all believers.

Prayer Closer: I praise and honor You, Lord. Thank you for showing us the glory of our Father in heaven.

Monday: Joy in His Presence

Scripture: They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord that day. —1 chronicles 29:22

Prayer Starter: Father, in Your presence is fullness of joy. Let me live with a sense of Your presence always, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for people today who think You are a stern, harsh God. Show Yourself and open people’s eyes to see that You are love and that You take great pleasure in the presence of Your children.

Tuesday: Secure in His Presence

Scripture: Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. —psalm 51:11

Prayer Starter: At one time, Lord, I was oblivious to You or Your Holy Spirit and made choices that separated me from You. Today, I can’t imagine life without You.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Father, for not leaving me where I de-serve to be: separated from You. Thank You for Your mercy and Your presence.


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Wednesday: Refreshing in His Presence

Scripture: Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.... —acts 3:19 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for blotting out my sins—past, present and future—by the blood of the Lamb.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray for a wave of repentance and conver-sions all over the world. Turn hearts to You, Lord, in this day when people are defeated by sin and self.

Thursday: The Promise of His Presence

Scripture: The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” —exodus 33:14

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for the promise of Your presence.

Prayer Closer: Lord, be with believers everywhere who are tired and weary. Give them rest, Lord.

Friday: Blameless in His Presence

Scripture: May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. —1 thessalonians 3:13

Prayer Starter: Father, make all Your children blameless and holy, not just for the day when we stand before You, but every day we stand here on earth.

Prayer Closer: I pray for Your children whose hearts are weak; strength-en each one to be strong and continue to live lives pleasing to You.

Saturday: Guidance in His Presence

Scripture: You make known to me the path of life; you will f ill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

—psalm 16:11


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Prayer Starter: Father, lead and guide all who are seeking to follow You and do Your will. Make Your will known for each one.

Prayer Closer: Eternal, never-ending pleasures in Your presence, Father! How I look forward to that.


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Persistence in Prayer

SCRIPTURE: Luke 18:1 –8

KEY VERSE: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. —luke 18:1


We are enjoying a rare opportunity to sit down and hear Jesus talking privately with His disciples behind closed doors away from the crowds. These private teachings always push us to the limits of our understanding and often well beyond, into unchart-ed territory. Sometimes we’re over the top with joy. Most of the time we’re baff led. Thankfully, tonight Jesus begins by telling us the main idea he wants to get across. He tells us that this parable is about how we should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

Jesus starts out, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ ” (Luke 18:2–3)

We can easily imagine ourselves in this all-too-familiar scene. Unfortunately, in our society widows are perennial victims. It’s bad enough to lose your husband, who provided for you and protected you. While you’re still covered in black veils, crying your eyes out, op-portunists are f iguring out ways to grab up a share of your deceased husband’s property. Do they care that the fertile f ield so convenient for an oxcart down on the Roman road is all you have to live on for the rest of your life? They know the system much better than you do because, as a woman, you’ve always had to depend on your husband to take care of the property and legal matters. If you don’t have a male relative or a grown son who steps in to become your guardian, your property will be completely stripped away from you.


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Jesus emphasizes how the widow keeps coming back to the un-just judge relentlessly. We can imagine the soaking-wet widow out on a nasty day during the rainy season because she knows the judge is surely home. We hear her beating on the judge’s f ine cedar door and her shrill voice drilling through the barred entryway, “Give me justice against my adversary!” We can envision her rousing a chorus of yelping dogs at dawn as she passes the judge’s window on her way to draw water at the well chanting, “Justice! Justice!” We can smell the spilled wine when she elbows her way next to the judge at a wed-ding feast. We can feel the drama of the widow being thrown out of town-council meetings.

Jesus goes on, “For some time he refused. But f inally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she will quit troubling me!’”

We’re so relieved this story has a happy ending that we feel like standing up and cheering. Jesus continues, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off ? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” (Luke 18:6–8)

“How marvelous!” we think. And then Jesus concludes, “How-ever, when the Son of Man comes, will he f ind faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Now we’re confused.

How on earth can we apply a parable like this to our prayer lives if we barely understand it? Instead of trying to solve all its mysteries, we will simply claim the truths that are evident. Jesus says we should persist in prayer. Jesus would never compare God to an unjust, uncaring judge; therefore, we are not persisting against God. We are not being egged on to constantly ask God for what we need until we wear Him down. Jesus says God hears our cries. God’s heart is breaking with pity for us. He harbors righteous wrath toward those who oppress us. He is a God of justice. But He is also a God of mercy and patience. We have Jesus Christ Himself, the embodi-ment of God’s mercy and patience, right here in the room with us as we pray.


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Instead of wearing God down, persistent prayer builds us up. Such prayers enable us to persevere against adverse earthly circum-stances. To persist means we keep f irmly to a course of action de-spite opposition or challenges. Jesus is saying, “Pray and never give up praying.” Therefore, we never give up praying, even when it seems the whole world around us has gone mad with injustice. Jesus says to pray with the kind of faith that He’s hoping to f ind when He returns to the earth to bring f inal justice. Pray always—until the very end.


Decide which subject or need you’ve been praying about over the longest period. Ask God to give you the kind of faith in which you continue to believe that God is loving and just, even when nothing seems to improve. Then make a decision to keep praying without giv-ing up on God or on prayer.


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Week 35: In Need

Sunday: To Be Still

Scripture: “The Lord will f ight for you; you need only to be still.” —exodus 14:14

Prayer Starter: Lord, how many of my problems would be solved by being still in Your presence. Help me to do that, Lord, while You f ight my battles for me.

Prayer Closer: Father God, the people I know who can’t take the time to be still in Your presence desperately need You. Slow them down, Lord, and draw them to Yourself.

Monday: Your Father Knows

Scripture: When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

—matthew 6:7–8

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for knowing—You know every need in my life, every desire of my heart, everything concerning my life. Thank You for the security that knowing this brings.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I’m guilty of jumping around in prayer from one thing to the next, barely completing one thought before moving on to the next. Help me, Lord, to quit babbling and listen for Your thoughts to pray.

Tuesday: In Great Need

Scripture: The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. —psalm 116:6

Prayer Starter: Lord God, there is never a time when Your children are not in great need. For every breath we take, we need You.


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Prayer Closer: Precious Savior, save those who are in danger of dying today without the knowledge of You and salvation through the blood of Christ. Please, God, have mercy and reveal truth to each one before it’s too late.

Wednesday: All You Need

Scripture: And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. —2 corinthians 9:8

Prayer Starter: I praise and thank You, God, for Your grace that abounds to me in all things at all times.

Prayer Closer: You are able, God. That’s all we need to know.

Thursday: He Will Satisfy Your Needs

Scripture: The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

—isaiah 58:11

Prayer Starter: I pray, Lord, for those who are seeking guidance from You. Help them to rest and wait, knowing You will answer.

Prayer Closer: Father, thank You for Your promises that never fail.

Friday: Poor and Needy

Scripture: I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay. —psalm 40:17

Prayer Starter: Father, answer the cries of those who are desperate for You. Let them know You are thinking of them and will answer in Your perfect time.

Prayer Closer: I take great comfort, Lord, in King David’s example of praying for himself. Thank You for Your Word to draw from through all time.


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Saturday: Grace to Help

Scripture: Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with conf idence, so that we may receive mercy and f ind grace to help us in our time of need. —hebrews 4:16

Prayer Starter: I confess, Lord, that I often don’t approach Your throne with conf idence. Forgive me for being like a timid little mouse instead of a child of the King!

Prayer Closer: Lord God, because Your children can approach You with conf idence, we can approach all of life with conf idence. Help us to walk in that, God.


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Prayer and Humility


KEY VERSE: “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ” —luke 18:13


We are out in the public streets today, and it’s hard to miss the religious leaders and teachers of the law decked out in eye-catching religious garb, posturing for attention. As we pass by one particu-lar Pharisee we notice his forehead is bandaged with a huge phylac-tery or tef illin, which is a container holding a piece of parchment on which key paragraphs from the law are written. On the outside of the container are engraved letters that mean “Almighty.” We imagine that when he takes off the emblem at night there’s a huge white mark on his forehead on an otherwise suntanned face. And we also imagine that it pleases him immensely that his superior righteousness is im-printed on his skin.

On the Pharisee’s right arm is a second phylactery that can be unbound and read during morning prayers. And he never misses mor-ning prayers, or evening prayers for that matter. The tef illin is fas-tened on to his wrist by a leather thong two yards longer than neces-sary and the extra lashing forms an intricate laced pattern that goes all the way up to his elbow. It’s further bound by more sturdy leather.

And then there are the long tassels. We’re aware that Moses com-manded the wearing of tassels on the corners of our garments with a blue string in each. “You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.” (Numbers 15:39) This particular Pharisee has tassels that are as long as the distance from his knee to the ground!


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With such long tassels, the Pharisee is announcing to the world that he would never break a law because his tassels will always bring to his well-educated mind the 613 commandments of Moses.

We observe a roughly clothed farmhand who smells slightly of dung making a deferential bow toward the Pharisee. The laborer falls to one knee and murmurs, “The blessings of the morning to you, most learned rabbi.” The Pharisee gives a slight bow of acknowledgement, keeping his spotless hands tightly clasped in front of him to prevent them from touching the farmhand.

Jesus gathers us nearby and starts telling a parable. Fittingly, it’s about two men—a Pharisee and a tax collector—who went to the temple to pray. “The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself; ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ ” (Luke 18:11–12)

As he taught, Jesus demonstrated that prayer is not meant to be a public spectacle done for audience approval but rather should be an authentic private conversation between each individual and our unseen Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:5–6) But today there’s a new character in the story—a tax collector who’s come to pray.

Everything about the tax collector’s body language shows how unworthy he feels to even attempt to pray. He doesn’t deem himself good enough to stand within twenty feet of the Court of the Gentiles but rather takes up a position some distance away, behind the sheep stalls. The tax collector feels so low on worthiness that he doesn’t even dare look up to heaven. Instead he keeps his eyes fastened down on the worn stone pavement. He feels wretched. Ashamed. Grieved about his shortcomings. He thumps his hands against his chest and cries, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

Jesus concludes, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justif ied before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

Humility is a powerful ingredient of prayer. This parable illus-trates that in prayer, attitude counts tremendously. During prayer, the


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harder we try to sell God on our worthiness, the less room there is for God to pour His helping Spirit into a heart that’s heaped with arrogance, boasting, our own ideas of how deserving we are and our er-roneous miscalculations about our own goodness and righteousness.

Being humble is a byproduct of a healthy prayer life. Prayer puts us in touch with spiritual reality, and we know how short we come up on God’s scale of holiness. We respectfully approach God with a lowly, reverential role as a weak child in need of everything of sig-nif icance from our gracious Father in heaven. Through prayer, we clearly see our own faults in the light of the amazing perfection of Jesus. We revere, respect and honor God. We are submissive to Him. We are His servants. We are nothing without Him.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that every time we pray we must act like the tax collector, beating our chests and crying our eyes out over our sins. However, it does mean we enter with submissive re-spect for God’s holiness and not with notions of our own worthiness. When we do, we share in the beautiful reassurance of this Scripture lesson that when we humbly approach God, we leave our prayer times renewed and lifted up higher than we were when we arrived. Jesus tells us of our wonderful reward, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)


What sort of situations make you feel humble? Evaluate whether you either overcome humility with too much false bravado and self-conf idence or view humility as a personal weakness that you don’t like about yourself. Offer your inferiority and insignif icance to God in light of this Scripture as today’s good gift of prayer.


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Week 36: Humility

Sunday: In Wisdom

Scripture: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. —james 3:13

Prayer Starter: Lord God, thank You for those who are wise and understanding in this generation. Give them favor and bless them in positions of leadership in our families, schools, businesses and churches today.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray that You would raise up wise and un-derstanding people in all the governments of the world.

Monday: Before God

Scripture: In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

—2 chronicles 33:12

Prayer Starter: Father, many people are truly in distress today—physically, f inancially, emotionally, spiritually. Bring them to a place of freedom and humility before You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, You have moved miraculously to meet the needs of many people recently. I give You praise and thanks for that, and pray that they will as well.

Tuesday: Consider Others

Scripture: Do nothing out of self ish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…. —philippians 2:3

Prayer Starter: God, forgive me for the self ish ambition in my heart out of which I probably do many things. Help me to do things for You and Your glory, not myself.


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Prayer Closer: Lord, help me to value all people like You do—equally.

Wednesday: Guided by God

Scripture: He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. —psalm 25:9

Prayer Starter: Lord, I’m trying to help friends f igure out what to do in a certain situation. Help me to teach them Your way.

Prayer Closer: Lord, when we are having trouble getting guidance from You, help us consider the possibility that the reason could be a lack of humility.

Thursday: Esteemed by God

Scripture: “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” —isaiah 66:2

Prayer Starter: Precious Father, to be counted among those You esteem—what a wonderful privilege.

Prayer Closer: God, I pray for people who have no place in their lives for You, especially ____________________________, _________________________ and _________________________. Work in them, Lord, to make them people You esteem.

Friday: Wisdom from Humility

Scripture: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. —proverbs 11:2

Prayer Starter: I’ve disgraced myself with pride many times, Lord. Give me humility, please.

Prayer Closer: Father, help Your children see pride coming in time to avoid being disgraced by it.


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Saturday: Clothed with Humility

Scripture: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. —colossians 3:12

Prayer Starter: Father God, I choose to dress today in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. How do You like it?

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray that others would like what they see—and want to know where I got my new look.


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Prayers of Blessing


KEY VERSE: And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. —mark 10:16


We stand on the rocks on the shore of the Jordan River in Judea and cup our hands to scoop up some of the clear water that runs down from the Sea of Galilee. We splash the water on our faces, trying to freshen up after another exhausting day of ministry.

The Jordan has blessed this swath of land with tamarisk trees bend-ing gently over the water and birds singing are the thickets. Because of these hospitable surroundings there are an unusual number of chil-dren and babies in the crowd today. A mother plunks down a cherub-faced toddler in the water and swishes his bare bottom in the water. Children are a blessing from the Lord. And also a handful to raise.

When Jesus f inishes speaking, He’s told us we’ll be on the road again. Jesus has been teaching so long on such weighty subjects that we’re sure His throat feels like a grindstone. Saving His voice is all the more reason to get Him safely on His way and away from the demanding crowds.

Then we overhear a woman’s voice behind us saying, “I’m going to take little Zechariah over to Jesus so the master can bless him.” “Oh!” a second woman’s voice exclaims. “What a wonderful idea! Surely the hands that have healed so many and the voice that has taught with such authority could bless a child for a lifetime with a single touch!”

We hurry away from the riverbank intent on warning the disciples that a group of parents have been passing around the idea of asking Jesus to bless their children.

We certainly don’t fault the mothers for wanting Jesus to bless their children. The blessing of children is a time-honored practice:


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The patriarch Jacob mastered the art of blessing sons—and even grandsons. To this day, on the Sabbath eve, we often hear fathers blessing their children by saying, “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” (See Genesis 48:20.)

Yes, we completely understand why parents want Jesus to bless their children. But we have other practical objections. We can see blessing children who are old enough to understand, remember and appreciate what is being said. But asking Jesus to bless children who don’t know the difference between the Torah and a tortoise seems like a waste of valuable time and energy. Jesus has far more important things to do.

But come they do with their young in tow. “Sorry, ma’am,” a dis-ciple says. “Jesus is in the middle of some very important teachings. He doesn’t have time to play with children.”

Then we hear the familiar voice of Jesus calling out: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)

A four-year-old breaks loose from his mother’s hand and runs straight for Jesus. Jesus bends down into a crouching position and is ready to catch the lad. Jesus settles the giggling child onto His knee and says, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)

Jesus takes each and every one of the children in His arms, lays His hands on them and blesses them.

Prayers of blessing are some of the most powerful and effective prayers we can say. Yet we rarely think to add them to our daily prayer tool kit. A prayer of blessing is the act of voicing God’s goodness and His ability to provide and uphold. We don’t have to close our eyes or even say amen when we say prayers of blessing. We can tell a stranger on our travels, “God bless you.” We can say, “God’s peace be with you” when we greet others during worship. We can pray God’s peace and blessings upon people, unborn babies, homes, crops, marriages, mis-sion trips, nations and even animals.

Our prayers of blessing can conf irm God’s love, aff irm a person’s worth, declare the goodness of God’s bounty and f ill both the blessee and the blesser with courage and hope.


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Pick out someone close to you and say a special prayer of blessing for him or her during your private prayer time. The next time you see this person, talk about the blessing you prayed on his or her behalf.


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Week 37: Blessing

Sunday: Repay Evil with Blessing

Scripture: Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. —1 peter 3:9

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for calling and equipping us to walk at a higher standard than we may think we are able.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I often repay evil or insult for blessing with mouth, while I am doing anything but blessing in my head. Help my actions and my heart line up, Lord.

Monday: From His Grace

Scripture: Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. —john 1:16

Prayer Starter: Jesus, I’ve truly received one blessing after another. Thank You, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Let me never forget, Lord, that the blessings in my life f low out of Your grace, not because of anything I’ve done to de-serve them.

Tuesday: Of Tithing

Scripture: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the f loodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

—malachi 3:10

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to reward faithful givers.

Prayer Closer: God, throw open the f loodgates of heaven’s provi-sion on churches today.


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Wednesday: Spiritual Blessing

Scripture: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. —ephesians 1:3

Prayer Starter: All praise belongs to You, Lord, for the spiritual blessings You give us.

Prayer Closer: I look forward to seeing the heavenly realms with You someday, Father.

Thursday: Of Correction

Scripture: “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” —job 5:17

Prayer Starter: God, in the midst of Your correction, remind me of the blessing it is.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Father, for being the perfect parent and the example You show us for disciplining our children.

Friday: Of Forgiven Sins

Scripture: Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. —psalm 32:2

Prayer Starter: Lord, please show me any deceit hiding in my heart.

Prayer Closer: Father, I’m so grateful to have received the blessing of forgiveness of sins.

Saturday: Brings Wealth

Scripture: The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. —proverbs 10:22

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for a wealth of physical and spir-itual blessings.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, open our eyes to Your blessings, even as we walk through troubled times.


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Delayed Answers to Prayer


KEY VERSE: Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. —john 11:6


We’re working in the villages beyond the Jordan River when a mes-senger arrives from Bethany with an urgent plea from our dearly loved friends Martha and Mary. Their brother Lazarus is gravely ill. Jesus tells us, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorif ied through it.” (John 11:4) We dearly love Lazarus and his sisters but we’re extremely relieved that Jesus doesn’t rush to Bethany. Last time we were in Jerusalem the Jews were ready to stone Jesus to death.

Two days pass and then Jesus catches us off guard by announ-cing, “Let’s go to Bethany.” We try to talk Jesus out of it because it’s so dangerous. He says, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

“If he’s asleep, then he’ll get better,” one of the disciples rea-sons. Jesus shakes his head. “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (John 11:14, 15) Even though our stomachs are full of stones, we know Jesus can’t be dissuaded. Finally Thomas says, “We might as well go with Jesus, even if it means we have to die with him.”

When we’re on the outskirts of Bethany we receive the dreaded conf irmation that Lazarus is indeed dead. Since it’s customary to bury bodies on the day of death, his body has already been in the tomb for four days!

We see a f igure running down the road toward us. It’s Martha. She arrives sobbing, “Lord! If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”


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Jesus gives Martha a hug but makes no attempt to answer her question about why He didn’t arrive earlier.

Martha focuses her attention on Jesus and says, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:21–22)

Jesus responds to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” (John 11:23)

Martha bows her head slightly and says, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24) A chilly silence falls among us as we remember our personal shock and confusion the f irst time someone we dearly loved died. Where was their spirit now? Would we ever see them again? Oh, how we’ve searched all our lives for authentic answers to those questions.

We look at Jesus, hoping we’ll hear more clues about the big blank question of death. Jesus says to Martha, “I am the resurrec-tion and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26)

Martha squares her shoulders and says, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:27)

Although this passage doesn’t give us all the answers, it offers a wealth of clues into the mystery of delayed prayer answers because we are afforded a glimpse into the actions Jesus took when He re-ceived the request. Unbeknownst to Martha, things were happening. The f irst assurance is that Jesus indeed received Martha’s request. He heard it, understood it and evaluated what course of action to take. God always hears our prayers.

The second wonderful assurance is that Jesus knew in advance what was going to happen. He knew Lazarus was going to die. Jesus knows every situation we pray about from beginning to end, just as He is aware of events in our futures that are yet to transpire.

The third assurance is that Jesus viewed this illness and death not as a victory for the devil but rather as an opportunity to reveal God’s glory. Because we pray, heavenly possibilities exist for God’s greatness to be shown to the world.


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The fourth assurance is that Jesus personally made a courageous, sacrif icial journey to come to Martha, even though His own life was at stake in going to Bethany. When we pray, Jesus gladly pays the price, having literally given up His life on the Cross for the privilege of being our advocate with the Father.

The f ifth assurance is that Jesus eventually meets Martha on the road. He becomes tangibly present to her. In prayer, Christ sends His comforting, strengthening presence, even in our darkest circum-stances. The f inal assurance is that no matter what part of our lives seems to have died while we were awaiting an answer to prayer, Jesus has the mysterious ability to create new life out of old, resurrection out of death and beauty from ashes.

Delayed answers to prayer are not defeats. God hears us. Some-thing is happening, though we may not presently see it nor under-stand it. Instead we aff irm the truths we do understand. We aff irm, “You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One Who is to come into the world.”


Choose a situation that you have prayed about in which the answer seems to be delayed. Thank God that He has heard you. Ask for God to strengthen your belief that something is happening in the unseen realm. Then ask God to show you how to be ready to bring glory to Him when the answer arrives.


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Week 38: Glory

Sunday: Who Is Like God?

Scripture: “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

—exodus 15:11

Prayer Starter: No one compares with You, God. You are more than the human mind can imagine or comprehend.

Prayer Closer: Father God, You are beyond awesome and worthy of all praise and glory.

Monday: Joy in His Glory

Scripture: But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

—1 peter 4:13

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I so look forward to that day—being with You when Your glory is revealed. Help me remain faithful until then.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, I lift up those who are truly sharing in Your suffering. Give them a vision of the reward from You awaiting them.

Tuesday: Declared in the Heavens

Scripture: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. —psalm 19:1

Prayer Starter: Along with the heavens, I declare Your glory, God!

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray for all people who worship Your cre-ation. Please open their eyes to see the Creator of it all.

Wednesday: Give God Glory

Scripture: Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to


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God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. —romans 4:20–21

Prayer Starter: Father, strengthen the faith of people everywhere who are doubting Your power or, more importantly, Your love. Persuade them fully of Your ability to fulf ill Your promises.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I praise You right now and give You the glory due Your name.

Thursday: Light of His Glory

Scripture: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. —2 corinthians 4:6

Prayer Starter: Lord, for letting us see the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ, we owe You our all.

Prayer Closer: Father, let Your light shine in hearts darkened by pain and fear today.

Friday: Give God the Glory Due Him

Scripture: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. —psalm 29:2

Prayer Starter: Father God, today we ascribe the glory You deserve.

Prayer Closer: Father, the splendor of Your holiness is something we can’t begin to imagine, but we worship You for what we do see of You.

Saturday: Declare His Glory

Scripture: Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. —1 chronicles 16:24


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Prayer Starter: Lord, bless missionaries serving You in all the nations to fearlessly rise up and declare Your glory.

Prayer Closer: Father, let Your marvelous deeds be seen among all the nations represented in our nation.


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Prayer As a Witness


KEY VERSE: Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benef it of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” —john 11:41—42


We’re with Jesus outside of the village of Bethany after the death of Lazarus. After meeting Jesus on the road, Martha hurries back home to tell her sister Mary that He has arrived. Just as we’ve re-gained a little of our composure after witnessing Martha’s white-knuckled battle against grief, we see Mary hurrying toward us trailed by Martha and a mob of mourners. We know that this group has been fulf illing the custom of sitting shiva with the sisters during the seven days of mourning following the death of their dearly beloved brother. The group is so large and so stirred up with grief that the roadside echoes with their heartbreak.

As Mary gets closer, our eyes fasten on the enormous jagged tear on the right side of her best linen tunic, a mourning custom that signif ies the rending of her heart. This precious garment is shredded with such violence and unspeakable grief that after the mourning per-iod has ended, it will be completely beyond repair and only worthy of the rag pile. Mary prostrates herself at the feet of Jesus as if she hopes the earth will swallow her up. From the dust she cries out, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32)

Mary’s suffering is so evident that we pray Jesus will be able to mend her quickly. Jesus has healed lepers. Surely, He can heal grief. Yet Jesus offers not a single consoling word. Instead His eyes become pools of fathomless sorrow. He begins to tremble. His breath starts coming out in ragged bursts. Could this possibly be


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our powerful Jesus Who can command the wind and waves and walk on water?

“Where have you laid him?” Jesus manages to ask. “Come and see, Lord,” they say. (John 11:34) Then time seems to shatter and all of the air seems to have left the atmosphere as Jesus, the Lord of the Universe, weeps.

The crowd creeps toward the burial grounds. We hear a woman behind us whisper about Jesus’ sorrowful tears, “See how he loved him!” A man’s voice responds f latly, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37)

We arrive at a hillside where a huge limestone boulder has been rolled over the mouth of a cave where Lazarus has been entombed. Once more Jesus is overcome with intense sorrow. Finally Jesus says, “Take away the stone.”

Gasps escape from the crowd. A dead body sealed in a rock cave for four days in this hot climate, and Jesus wants the tomb opened? The smell of decay will be nauseating.

Martha voices the more practical objections of the crowd: “But Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” (John 11:39)

Jesus answers, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

The crowd can hardly believe that Martha motions for several strong men to put their backs into rolling aside the heavy rock. Jesus raises his tear-streaked face toward heaven and prays out loud so everyone can hear, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you al-ways hear me, but I said this for the benef it of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:41) We’re stunned. Jesus rarely prays out loud like this for the sake of those within earshot.

What follows next def ies all description. Jesus calls out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” A f igure stiff ly struggles out of the shad-ows of the cave with his hands and feet entwined in linen strips. We’re thankful his death-shrunken face is covered with a cloth. Jesus says, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:44) The sisters rush forward and pull the linen napkin off the f igure’s face and


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then weep and laugh for joy as they once again gaze into the beloved, healed face of their brother Lazarus. As a result of this unpreced-ented miracle, many people believe in Jesus.

As we meditate on the lesson on prayer from this Scripture, we are impressed with how Jesus used a verbal prayer for benef it of those around him to foster faith.

Jesus clearly states that He is praying for the benef it of His audi-ence, not for His own good. (John 11:42) Jesus has a deep longing for His listeners to enjoy a relationship with God. This public prayer lets them know that the deed they are about to witness is done by God’s sovereign power. The resurrection of Lazarus happens because God hears the prayer and answers on behalf of His beloved Son, Jesus.

We possess the same power to voice prayers that precede provi-dential turns of events. When we say prayers with others about specif ic situations while there still seems to be no earthly reason to believe that things will work out for the good, we are putting down a witness post. Our prayers stake a claim that the solutions and answers that eventually follow are undeniably acts of God. Our present prayers be-come future proof that God’s hand has moved and continues to move.

In order for this powerful principle to work, we must let others know what we’re praying. This can be done by voicing prayers for specif ic needs in the presence of others, whether with a prayer part-ner or in a prayer group. Later as events unfold and things begin to work out for the good, we remind each other, “This is a direct answer to prayer.” And others will see God at work and believe.


Think through the subjects of your current private prayers to identify any that might become witnesses to God’s power if others knew what you were praying. Make a plan to either pray on this matter with someone else as a witness or to tell someone about what you’re pray-ing so he or she can share in the eyewitness joy of seeing God’s hand at work when God intervenes.


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Week 39: Testify

Sunday: Of Him

Scripture: Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony: “He told me everything I ever did.”

—john 4:39

Prayer Starter: Father, let the testimonies of believers everywhere reach the ears of those ready to respond to You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray You would give new believers courage to speak up and tell others what You have done in their lives.

Monday: Without Shame

Scripture: So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

—2 timothy 1:8–9

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help believers testify of You, not just with our words, but with our actions.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I can’t honestly say I want to suffer for the gospel, but I want to be willing to, by the power of Your Holy Spirit.

Tuesday: Leading to Forgiveness

Scripture: “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who be-lieves in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

—acts 10:43

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I pray that believers who testify of You would bear much fruit for Your kingdom.

Prayer Closer: Father, forgive me for being casual about telling oth-ers about You. Give me courage, Lord, and the joy of leading others to forgiveness of sins in Christ.


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Wednesday: Of the Word

Scripture: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

—1 john 1:1–2

Prayer Starter: Lord God, bless all creative ways Your children are using to testify of You—words, music, movies, books. Let each reap a rich harvest of believers in Christ.

Prayer Closer: Father God, help me know when testifying of You will push people away instead of draw them to You.

Thursday: To Overcome

Scripture: They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. —revelation 12:11

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help all believers win the battle and overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb.

Prayer Closer: Father, be with those who are in danger of losing their lives for Your sake. Show Yourself to each one and strengthen each heart to stand strong to the death.

Friday: Of the Light

Scripture: There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. —john 1:6–8

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, be the light that shines through the ac-tions of believers in the darkest places.


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Prayer Closer: Father, Your desire is that all people would believe. I pray for an anointing on those in Your service committed to reaching the world for You.

Saturday: To the Gospel

Scripture: However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to f inish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the news of God’s grace. —acts 20:24

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, at the end of my life I pray to be able to say that I completed the task You gave me to do. Whatever else that is, Lord, I know it includes speaking to others of You.

Prayer Closer: Father, help me be prepared each day with a word or a hug or a gift that will touch a hurting heart with Your love.


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Prayer and Anger


KEY VERSE: But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of: for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” —luke 9:55–56 (nas)


We’re once again traveling on foot through Samaritan territory on our way south to Jerusalem. The sun is lowering in the west toward the Mediterranean Sea, and we’re famished by the time we see the rooftops of a village on a hill up ahead. Jesus sends several disciples ahead to f ind food and a good place to stay. Then we gratefully settle down in the shade of a f ig tree to rest.

All day we’ve felt like balky donkeys being dragged by a bridle in our gnashed teeth down the road toward Jerusalem. Jesus is dead-set on going. None of us thinks it’s a good idea. It’s too dangerous for Jesus with the religious leaders plotting against him. Last night dur-ing the second watch we heard the abrasive sound of metal being honed. It’s common knowledge that Peter has a sword, and we’re suspicious that he was secretly sharpening his weapon with a f lint rock.

The tension has given even shorter fuses to the tempers of James and John. They’re nicknamed “the sons of thunder” because of their legendary anger. When they get worked up, we’ve learned to lie low and let them blow off steam.

At last we see the disciples who were sent ahead return from the village. They’re not carrying so much as a jug of water. “Not even a dipper of water from the town?” Peter calls out. The two shake their heads. “Nobody was willing to do anything for us. Not a crust of bread. Not an offer to spend the night in a hay barn.”


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We can see James’ and John’s faces turning red. John raises his voice and says, “Jesus has been overly kind and generous to Samaritans and this is how they treat him!”

“They don’t want anything to do with us because Jesus is going to Jerusalem.”

Everyone is incensed! This entire village is rejecting Jesus be-cause of an ancient disagreement between Israel and Samaria about which is the true place to worship—the temple in Jerusalem or in Samaria on Mount Gerizim! John swings his f ist and hits the trunk of the f ig tree with such force that leaves fall on our heads. James is livid. They are both so worked up they allow their tongues to f low with their anger: “Lord, do you want us to call f ire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54)

Our eyes lock on Jesus in intense suspense. We know Elijah called down f ire on unbelievers back in the book of Kings. It says, “Elijah answered the captain, ‘If I am a man of God, may f ire come down from heaven and consume you and your f ifty men!’ Then f ire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.” (2 Kings 1:10) Our anger is already mentally calling down f ire on them—why not ask God to f inish them off with a real show of f irepower from heaven for rejecting Jesus this way?

Jesus turns and rebukes the two brothers. “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” (Luke 9:55–56, nas) Everyone falls into intense silence as we wearily leave the village and move on to the next village to f ind the provisions we need for the night.

This passage shows us that there are certain things for which we are not authorized to pray. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t leave us even the tiniest of toeholds to ever pray God’s wrath on anyone. Jesus tells us we don’t have the right to ask for eternal revenge and punishment. That’s because we don’t understand God’s spirit of mercy and patience. The overall mission we share with Jesus is to save stubborn lives, not destroy them.

This leaves us in a quandary because anger is natural, real, universal and one of the most destructive of all human emotions.


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Anger can be loud and explosive. It can also be silent, simmering in our thoughts and attitudes until we suddenly blow up over a small annoyance. It can cause us to withdraw and detach. It can be turned inward and lead to depression. Whatever form our anger takes, we must bring it to the light of prayer to keep it from ruling us and ruin-ing us. We must learn the difference between using anger to pray and bringing our anger to God in prayer.

There are three key prayer steps in dealing with anger. Step one is to bring our anger to God. Express it, vent it, get it out in the open with Him. Step two is giving our anger to God, letting Him examine the motives and then letting Him set the course of action that best fulf ills our mission of redeeming instead of destroying. Finally, step three is leaving our anger with God. In this Scripture, Jesus leads by example. He moves on to the next village. And as we follow along behind Jesus, still angry about rejection, we realize we’re taking part in one of the greatest miracles we’ve witnessed—leaving our anger behind.


Take time to identify something in your life that you’re angry about. Take it to God in prayer today, using the three steps of bringing it to God, giving it to God and then leaving it with God.


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Week 40: Anger

Sunday: Doesn’t Bring Righteousness

Scripture: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. —james 1:19–20

Prayer Starter: Lord, I wish I was slower to speak and quicker to listen. Guard my mouth and give me ears to hear from You.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray for those who struggle to control their anger. Help them to call on You and receive Your grace to live righ-teous lives that are pleasing to You.

Monday: Leads to Evil

Scripture: Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. —psalm 37:8

Prayer Starter: Father God, I pray that You would protect those who love others with anger hidden in their hearts.

Prayer Closer: Help those, God, who are trying in their own power to control anger. Turn their hearts to You and give them faith in Your power to bring change.

Tuesday: Love Isn’t Easily Angered

Scripture: [Love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.


Prayer Starter: Lord, forgive me for being rude to ___________. Give me the courage to apologize and undo the damage I may have done.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for not just showing us how to love, but for being love.


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Wednesday: Under Control

Scripture: Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. —proverbs 29:11

Prayer Starter: Father, I pray for ____________________ today. His/her anger has been out of control and I know he/she would be grateful for a touch from You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me learn how to give full vent to anger in a healthy, loving way.

Thursday: Pray without Anger

Scripture: I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. —1 timothy 2:8

Prayer Starter: Father, I pray that denominations would lay down their differences and be able to serve you together in unity.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, I pray that You would restore relation-ships where anger and strife have divided.

Friday: Slow to Anger

Scripture: A hot-tempered person stirs up conf lict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. —proverbs 15:18

Prayer Starter: Father God, bless peacemakers everywhere. Give them a special sense of Your pleasure in them today.

Prayer Closer: God, I thank You for the healing You’ve done in __________________’s life and the peace you’ve brought to his/her family. I share the joy it has brought to Your heart, Lord.

Saturday: Do Not Sin

Scripture: In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

—ephesians 4:26–27


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Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, show me any foothold the enemy has in my heart. I pray the conditions would never be conducive for it to grow.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, God, for this great word of wisdom. I pray that families who live by it would live in peace.


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Lending Creation Our Voice in Prayer

SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:28 –44

KEY VERSE: “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” —luke 19:40


Today could either be the very best day of our lives or the very worst. We have arrived with Jesus and the disciples on the Mount of Olives and we’ve been sent ahead to Bethpage near Bethany with strange instructions to f ind a donkey colt. We’ve been tee-tering between positive thoughts of Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem to begin His reign and the dread that Jesus might enter the city and walk right into a diabolical death trap set by the reli-gious leaders.

We’re eager to f ind the colt because this might be our sign as to which way the day will go. Jesus has given us very specif ic instruc-tions. He has told us that as we enter the village we’ll see a donkey colt tied there that’s never been ridden. We’re to untie it and bring it back to Him. If anyone asks what we’re doing, we’re to tell them, “The Lord needs it.”

We enter Bethpage and are overjoyed to see a donkey colt tied to a myrtle bush at the f irst house in the village. We waste no time in undoing the rope. A voice calls out from inside the doorway of the house, “Hey! You there! What are you doing untying my donkey?” “The Lord needs it,” we reply. The homeowner waves us on.

We’re so exuberant on the way back to Jesus that we start talk-ing to the donkey. “You’re a f ine colt, and today will be the day you remember forever.” We recall in Zechariah, the prophet says, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)


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Soon we’re back to Jesus. Several disciples throw their cloaks over the donkey’s back, and Jesus mounts the colt. When we reach the crest of the ridge on the Mount of Olives, our eyes are dazzled by the sight of Jerusalem encircled by the strong city wall and honeycombed with thousands of whitewashed homes that gleam against the blue sky. And there, on the Temple Mount, sits the dwelling place of God Himself! As the colt, carrying Jesus, begins to descend the Mount of Olives, we suddenly break out in joyful shouts. We take off our cloaks and lay them down in front of the donkey, paving a highway of honor for our Master and King. Soon throngs of people join us. They eagerly put their own cloaks on the road along with boughs pulled from nearby palm trees. We all shout out psalms of joy: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:26) “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38)

The joyous procession continues down the hillside. Just when we feel that our hearts are about to burst and the stones might actually be singing with us as our human voices echo on the hill-side, Jesus halts the donkey. His eyes roam from rooftop to rooftop and come to rest on the smoke of the burning sacrif ice rising from the temple. For a moment we assume His chest is heaving with joy-ous laughter. But we’re wrong. Jesus is weeping! We are stunned. Wiping tears, Jesus talks to the city as if it could hear Him: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:41–42) Jesus tells the unhearing city that soon their enemies will conquer the city and one stone won’t be left on top of another because they did not recognize their Savior’s coming. We stand staring at the city, still unsure if this has been the best day of our lives or whether it might still become our worst.

This passage illustrates yet another dynamic of prayer—speaking praise to God in concert with heaven and earth. Jesus tells us that if we keep silent the stones themselves will speak! In the Old Testament, stone memorials were used as lasting, immov-able witnesses to remind people of events and promises made in their presence. (See Joshua 24:26–27.) The psalmists often spoke


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of creation giving voice to God’s magnif icence, as in Psalm 148. And the prophet Isaiah says, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the f ield will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

Sometimes prayer calls for us to join in a jubilant parade of thanksgiving and praise. We are the lucky creatures who can articu-late what the rest of creation is silently crying out to say as it natur-ally displays intricate beauty and unerring obedience to our Creator’s will set forth in the laws of nature. We are the only creatures with all of the faculties needed to voice prayers of praise. We have ears to hear, minds to comprehend, hearts to feel, spirits to conf irm, voices to speak praises and bodies to move through the grateful world as a witness to what creation is longing to sing to our Creator. Clap your hands with the trees and pray and praise today with great joy!


Make a plan to spend time looking for the signature of God’s glory in nature. Visit a garden, forest or wilderness area. Or spend time with a pet or farm animal. Listen to birds. Gaze at the clouds or at the stars. Then form a prayer inspired by these elements of nature in praise of our Creator.


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Week 41: Creation

Sunday: Is Good

Scripture: So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, ac-cording to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. —genesis 1:21

Prayer Starter: God, everything You have made is good and ref lects Your goodness. You are awesome, God.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help me believe that You see me as good, even with all my faults and failures. And help me see others the way You do.

Monday: Man’s Own Creation

Scripture: “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own cre-ation; he makes idols that cannot speak.” —habakkuk 2:18

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that You are so much bigger than we are and that anything we could create for ourselves to worship is nothing next to You.

Prayer Closer: Lord God, show me if I put other things before You. I truly want You to be f irst in my life.

Tuesday: God Seen in Creation

Scripture: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. —romans 1:20

Prayer Starter: Gracious Creator, Your amazing attributes are visible in everything You have made. Help all people f ind You in them.


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Prayer Closer: Father, open blind eyes, especially those that don’t want to see You in Your creation.

Wednesday: You Are His Creation

Scripture: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. —psalm 139:13

Prayer Starter: Father God, You designed me perfectly, the way You wanted me to be. I choose to be content with the way You have made me, and to leave what needs to be changed to You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, continue to knit me together according to Your plans and Your desires for my life.

Thursday: In His Hand

Scripture: In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. —job 12:10

Prayer Starter: Thank You, God, for being a Father Who holds His sons and daughters in Your loving hands.

Prayer Closer: Please draw those who don’t know You into Your arms as well.

Friday: Created by God

Scripture: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” —revelation 4:11

Prayer Starter: Lord, You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and power. I praise You right now and always for Who You are.

Prayer Closer: Father, in You there is no secular or sacred. I pray man would see and honor You in all things You have made.

Saturday: Created for Him

Scripture: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or


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rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. —colossians 1:16

Prayer Starter: Lord, even those who deny most strongly that You exist were made by You and for You. I pray especially for __________________________, that he/she would come to know You and enjoy fellowship with You for eternity.

Prayer Closer: Father, You created all people for Yourself and value all people equally. Forgive me for not doing the same, Lord.


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God’s House of Prayer


KEY VERSE: “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?” —mark 11:17


After the triumphant entry into Jerusalem we follow Jesus up the south side of the temple and join a crowd gathering from every ter-ritory for the Passover as commanded in the Law of Moses. (See Deuteronomy 16:16.) As Moses dictates, none comes empty-handed. A few people in the crowd are bringing a sacrif icial animal offering with them. We see a man dripping with perspiration from the hot wool and body heat of the lamb he is carrying on his shoulders.

Everywhere the temple is buzzing like a beehive with people busy with rituals. We pass by women unbraiding their hair so that every part of their body will be covered by the water of the stone pool, called a mikva, to make them ritually clean after childbirth. We bump into a woman in ragged clothes and her tightly held sack starts squawking. We realize that there’s a live dove inside, a costly sacrif ice for such a pauper as she.

We are surrounded by a cacophony of voices conversing in many languages as we pass through the Huldah Gate and climb the three-story staircase up to the temple itself. We emerge at the top of the stairs into the Court of the Gentiles and are introduced to a vast pavement of white marble teeming with people and livestock. We see the tall, tubular hats of priests bobbing throughout the crowd, dir-ecting people to all quadrants of the marketplace. Many weary travel-ers join the long lines in front of the tables of the money changers to exchange their Roman and foreign coins for Jewish money, which is the only coinage accepted by the treasury for the mandatory temple tax. Others join lines in front of stalls holding cattle, lambs and doves to buy an animal to offer as a sacrif ice.


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We follow Jesus as He slowly walks down the long portico formed by towering thirty-seven-foot marble columns. His keen eyes take in every detail of the temple market, as if memorizing the exact location of every sheep pen and vendor’s table. Finally, we reach the stone lattice wall beyond which Gentiles are forbidden to pass on the pen-alty of death because it marks the entryway to the sacred worship space set aside exclusively for the sons and daughters of Israel. Jesus pauses, seemingly the only one aware of the small clumps of Gentiles pressed up against the wall trying to pray in the middle of the activity and noise.

It’s late in the day, so we leave and return to Bethany for the night. The next morning as we journey back to Jerusalem down the Mount of Olives, the temple looks pure and serene, gleaming in the morning sun, compared with the dizzying experience of the noise and chaos of the marketplace in the Court of the Gentiles the day before.

When we arrive again in the Court of the Gentiles, Jesus strides purposefully over to the nearest table of the money changers. With a mighty heave Jesus turns the whole table on its side with a thunder-ous crash. Jesus moves quickly to the next table and the sound of col-lapsing tables and coins hitting the pavement adds to the din. Next, Jesus pulls down the ropes around the sheep and starts driving them toward the stairway. The sheep sellers run frantically after them, try-ing to save their expensive inventory. Thud, thud, thud. The benches of the dove vendors are pushed over, and doves escape with a f lap-ping of wings. Soon the entire courtyard is in an uproar as merchants frantically f lee, carrying their precious wares. Several yell as they go: “The temple priests allow us to sell here! By whose authority are you doing this?”

Once the courtyard is completely free of all commerce, Jesus moves toward the stone wall, where a number of wide-eyed Gentiles are standing. A strange hush has fallen over the entire area. The atmosphere has been transformed from marketplace to sanctuary. We suddenly feel wrapped up in the awe of being in this magnif icent antechamber to God’s holy house. Then Jesus begins to teach. “Is it not written; ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all


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nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ” (See Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.)

This passage contains one of the most ferocious lessons on prayer in the Bible. In fact, this incident precipitates Jesus’ death. Mark 11:18 says, “The chief priest and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him….” Why would someone like Jesus—Who personally prayed with incredible ef-fectiveness on lonely hillsides—put His life on the line to restore the temple into a place of prayer? The only explanation is the su-preme importance of both private and corporate prayer.

The world of prayer grows mightier when crowds are welcomed from every nation to meet on sacred ground at the altar of prayer. Our gatherings become a mirror image of heaven as described in Revelation. “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ ” (Revelation 5:13)

Corporate prayer requires cooperation, respect and determina-tion. Firm lines must be drawn by whatever means possible against the clamor of the marketplace of everyday life that always tries to disturb the sacred group meeting places between God and ourselves. As individuals we are called to join with others in prayer. As groups, we are called to create welcoming atmospheres in which all people may pray without distraction or exclusion. For we all thirst for the solemnity of God’s magnif icent house of prayer.


Identify the ways in which you currently take part in corporate prayer. Examine whether you fully enter into the spirit of prayer with others or whether you allow your mind to be distracted by daily business that comes to your mind. Then ask Jesus to help you have a greater appreciation and zeal for the purpose, power and places of corporate prayer.


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Week 42: Together

Sunday: Glorify the Lord

Scripture: Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. —psalm 34:3

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to exalt Your name at work, at church, in my neighborhood, especially to people who don’t know You.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Lord, for the joy and encouragement that comes when Your children worship together.

Monday: The Body of Christ

Scripture: From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. —ephesians 4:16

Prayer Starter: Lord God, I pray for the body of Christ that each part would do its job and work together with the other parts for Your glory.

Prayer Closer: Father, heal the parts of the body of Christ that aren’t working well together. Give them a vision of Yourself that would bring unity and wholeness to Your body.

Tuesday: In Love

Scripture: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. —colossians 3:14

Prayer Starter: Father, we can have unity, but it takes love to have perfect unity. Show us where love is lacking today in churches everywhere.

Prayer Closer: Lord, putting love on is a choice and I choose to put love for Your body on right now. Only by Your Holy Spirit can I keep it on for eternity, Lord.


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Wednesday: In Prayer

Scripture: They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

—acts 1:14

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, Your closest loved ones gathered to pray constantly. Help Your church to learn the value of prayer from their example.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray for those who lead prayer groups and gather believers in their homes to pray. Be with them by Your Spirit and guide them as they pray.

Thursday: Love and Faithfulness

Scripture: Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. —psalm 85:10

Prayer Starter: Father, it’s our love for You that will keep us faithful to You. Strengthen it each day, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, increase and strengthen the love and unity in families everywhere.

Friday: With Believers

Scripture: All believers were one in heart and mind....—acts 4:32

Prayer Starter: Father, make all believers protective of their rela-tionship with You.

Prayer Closer: Lord, give young believers a greater measure of Your wisdom and keep them safe.

Saturday: God’s Dwelling Place

Scripture: And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. —ephesians 2:22


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Prayer Starter: Father, what a wonderful picture: people’s hearts built together to be Your dwelling place. God, keep each of those hearts f illed with Your Spirit.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Lord, for leaders of churches and the body of Christ, that You would give them wisdom about how to keep those hearts—Your dwelling place—safe and secure.


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Jesus with Us in Prayer


KEY VERSE: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with you.” —matthew 18:19–20


Jesus has put His life on the line to defend the temple as a sacred house of corporate prayer for all nations by driving out the money changers and those who were selling sacrif icial animals in the Court of the Gentiles. In this newly quieted place we are ready to enter God’s presence for the daily amidah or morning prayers.

With our hearts f luttering in anticipation, we adjust our prayer shawls as we leave the Court of the Gentiles and mount fourteen steps up through the Beautiful Gate and pass through the Court of Women. We then proceed through the Gate of Nicanor and mount f ifteen more steps and enter into the Court of Israel. We f ind a place among the hundreds of others along the wall and plant our feet close-ly together to stand for the morning prayer service. Before us is the Altar of Sacrif ice, smoldering with the morning offering.

Behind the Altar of Sacrif ice is a doorway leading to the Altar of Incense, but the interior is blocked from our view by a large cur-tain intricately embroidered with the depiction of a huge map of the known world. Although we can’t see the Altar of Incense, we detect the holy smell of the sweet and spicy blend of onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense escaping out into the courtyard. We stare at the curtain thrilled by the knowledge that behind it is another heavy curtain shielding the most glorious and fearsome chamber only en-tered by the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. It is the Holy of Holies, where God Himself dwells.


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A priest leads the prayers as we all face the unseen Holy of Holies. “Blessed are you, O Lord our God and the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac….” These prayers have never been written down to avoid turning prayer into unthinking recitation, yet the words come easily from our lips helped by the presence of so many voices join-ing in their refrains. Our hearts swell thinking how God must love the large assembling of the faithful to pray here every day! The prayers con-tinue, praising the Lord as the God of History and Nature. We sanctify God. We pray for understanding, repentance, forgiveness, deliverance from aff liction and want, healing, the gathering of exiles, the righteous reign of God and for the destruction of apostates and enemies of God. As the f inal words of prayer vibrate through our hearts—“ Thou art good, for Thy mercies are endless”—we have an incredible feeling that God has been right here with us, hearing and responding to every word.

Unfortunately, a strange sense of disconnection comes over us as we leave the temple and journey back to Bethany. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could stay in the temple—so many people praying in joyous accord so close to God’s presence. Unfortunately, we only enjoy this prayer power a few times a year when we make the journey up to Jerusalem. Back home we could never possibly gather hundreds to pray in one accord. We count ourselves lucky to gather two or three others by the cistern for morning prayers.

Jesus turns and sees us cast a wistful look back over our shoulders toward the temple as we climb the Mount of Olives. Jesus waits for us to catch up. Then He takes His right arm and puts it around our shoul-ders and then takes His left arm and links it around another disciple as we walk together with our backs turned toward God’s dwelling place.

The warm secure feel of Jesus’ arm across our shoulders, linking us to our fellow disciple, suddenly brings to mind one of His teach-ings on prayer partnerships. Jesus told us, “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with you.” (Matthew 18:18-20)


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Throughout the ages this has been an absolutely pivotal prayer teaching for a number of reasons. First of all, two of us praying togeth-er with Jesus creates a quorum that brings legal and spiritual authority to testify and act on the truth. The Law of Moses says, “One witness is not enough to convict a man...A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)

Secondly, two of us praying together with Jesus creates strength that is much greater than our individual powers. We become a triple-braided cord. The Bible says, “Though one may be overpowered, two candefend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Underlying these amazing principles is an utterly astounding truth of why this prayer authority is so effective. Any time two or three come together in His name, Jesus is there with us! We have come to believe that Jesus is the Christ. He is all of the things that Israel prayed in the temple: the Lord of History, Nature, the Healer, the Forgiver and the Deliverer. If we refer back to Matthew 26, we re-member that Jesus refers to His own body as “the temple of God.” (See Matthew 26:61 and John 2:19–23.)

Adding these factors together enables Jesus to open the way for a radically new type of group prayer unheard of in days past. Christian prayer doesn’t require that thousands of us gather to pray. We don’t have to make long journeys to temples and special altars. Instead, wherever two or more of us get together to pray, the act of praying together itself creates a spiritual temple. We no longer need to journey to the Holy of Holies because we are praying with the Holy One—Jesus—Who is here with us. And we experience unbreakable power.


Think of something you have been praying about alone and consider praying about it with one or two others. When you pray with others, aff irm that Jesus is joining with you by quoting this Scripture, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with you.”


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Week 43: I Am with You

Sunday: Wherever You Go

Scripture: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” —genesis 28:15

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, thank You for this promise. Give people faith to believe You will fulf ill all Your promises.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Father, for Your constant presence and guidance.

Monday: To Give You Peace

Scripture: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. —john 14:27

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray for _______________________, who is afraid right now. Give him/her Your amazing peace and guidance today.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Lord, for Your peace during these trou-bled times. Help all believers be a source of Your peace wherever we go.

Tuesday: In Your Work

Scripture: “‘Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

—haggai 2:4

Prayer Starter: I pray, Lord, for all Your workers in lands all over the world. Be with them, protect them and bless the work of their hands.

Prayer Closer: Father, only You make me able to do the work You’ve called me to do. Thank You for Your enabling grace.


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Wednesday: To Uphold You

Scripture: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. —isaiah 41:10

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray that ___________________ will not have fear. Be with him/her today and uphold him/her with Your righ-teous right hand.

Prayer Closer: Father, encourage and uphold all who are discour-aged today.

Thursday: And Will Be in You

Scripture: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. —john 14:15–17

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for living in my heart and being part of me by Your Holy Spirit.

Prayer Closer: Lord, open the eyes of those in the world who are ready to see and accept You.

Friday: To Rescue You

Scripture: “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. —jeremiah 1:8

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for being with all believers and rescuing us from the enemy of our souls.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I confess that too often I am afraid. Forgive me, Lord, and help me to trust You and Your power to save.

Saturday: To Protect You

Scripture: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When


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you walk through the f ire, you will not be burned; the f lames will not set you ablaze. —isaiah 43:2

Prayer Starter: Jesus, I pray that You would be near to those who are passing through high waters right now. Give them peace and as-surance of Your protection.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray for _________________________. Hold his/her hand, be a shield around him/her, accomplish Your plans for his/her life.


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Praying in the Name of Jesus

SCRIPTURE: John 13:1–38; John 14:1–14, John 16:23

KEY VERSE: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorif ied in the Son. You may ask me for any-thing in my name, and I will do it.” —john 14:13–14


It is sundown and we are gathered with Jesus in a borrowed upper room in Jerusalem for the Passover Seder. The whole evening starts out very strangely. As the meal is being served, Jesus gets up, takes off His outer garments and ties a towel around His waist. Jesus pours water into a basin, takes it over to Andrew, and then kneels down on the f loor to wash Andrew’s feet!

We watch as Jesus f inishes and moves on to wash the feet of the disciple reclining next to Andrew. Our heads throb as Jesus works His way toward us. Jesus washes everyone’s feet and then we f ind Jesus kneeling at our place. We feel so unworthy. When Jesus is done He says, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)

Jesus then proceeds to tell us that someone in our group is about to betray Him! We feel panic rising in our chests, questioning who it might be. Peter rashly says, “Even if everyone else runs away, I’ll lay down my life for you.” Jesus shakes his head sadly and says, “I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (John 13:38)

By now we are completely shaken. Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1) And then Jesus begins talking about leaving us and going away. Then He tells us we know where He’s going!

Philip says, “We don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)


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Jesus answers, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6–7) Jesus tells us that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him and the words He is speaking aren’t simply His own. Neither is He doing the works He does with His own power, but through the Father living in Him.

Jesus continues, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorif ied in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12 –14)

An astonished hush falls over the room. How on earth could we possibly do what Jesus has been doing? And greater things? Absolutely impossible! Then, on top of all of this, Jesus issues an open-ended promise that we can ask anything in His name, and He will do it so the Son may bring glory to the Father!

We think with a pang of guilt about the self-centered kinds of things we’ve fantasized about asking Jesus to do for us, like James and John did when they asked Jesus if they could sit on his right and left sides when Jesus came into His glory. (See Mark 10:35–45.) Jesus tells us that any of us who wants to be great has to be a servant, and whoever wants to be f irst has to be a slave to all. Jesus tells us, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

We suddenly realize that Jesus is giving us unprecedented prayer authority because He is going away. We’re being left here to roll up our sleeves and continue working to build up the kingdom. Our abil-ity to ask in the name of Jesus will emanate from the service-oriented position and heart of a servant.

Today we cling to this incredible prayer promise whenever we are in great need of help. Based on this passage we often end our prayers, “We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.” Sitting with the disciples in the upper room helps refresh our minds about this promise. It


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obviously doesn’t mean that if we ask for anything we desire, such as our dream job, lifelong health or a big happy family, that we will necessarily get it. God certainly cares that we have satisfying lives, but this isn’t the true meaning of our existence. God wants us to ask for the things that will bring glory to Him and that will build His kingdom. He longs to give us things that will enable us to serve with greater freedom, resourceful-ness, wisdom, willpower, discernment, love and vigor. When we ask such things, we are indeed asking in the character, name and mission of Jesus. And whatever we ask in Jesus’ name, He will do it for us.


Think through the different ways you serve in God’s kingdom. These don’t all have to be off icial jobs, but might be caring for elderly rela-tives or listening to a co-worker’s woes. Identify one major way that you seem to be called to serve and then ask God for at least three things—in the name of Jesus—that will enable you to better serve.


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Week 44: Serve

Sunday: Serve Others

Scripture: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

—1 peter 4:10

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray today for this generation of young peo-ple. Help them learn the joy of serving.

Prayer Closer: God, help me appreciate the many forms of Your gifts in others.

Monday: Serve the Lord

Scripture: But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

—1 samuel 12:24

Prayer Starter: Faithful God, I’m overwhelmed when I think of all You’ve done for me. I can’t express my gratitude adequately, but I pray You see it in my service to You and others.

Prayer Closer: Father, bless those serving you all over the world. Let their hearts be full of gratitude and let them be fully committed to You.

Tuesday: Jesus Came to Serve

Scripture: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —mark 10:45

Prayer Starter: Jesus, thank You for Your example of laying down Your life, not just on the Cross, but in service to others. Let Your chil-dren desire to live as You lived.

Prayer Closer: I pray for servant-hearted people, Lord, that they would sense Your pleasure in their service.


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Wednesday: Different Ways to Serve

Scripture: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit dis-tributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. —1 corinthians 12:4–6

Prayer Starter: God, thank You for the variety of gifts You put in each person. Use each one for Your glory.

Prayer Closer: Father, we are made in Your image. Help me look for You in the gifts of others.

Thursday: Serve One Another in Love

Scripture: You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the f lesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. —galatians 5:13

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, You called me to be free, and You died to set me free. Please help me to walk in freedom.

Prayer Closer: Set free to serve others—that only makes sense in Your kingdom, Lord. Thank You for setting us all free to serve.

Friday: Expression of Thanks to God

Scripture: This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overf lowing in many expressions of thanks to God. —2 corinthians 9:12

Prayer Starter: Receive my thanks, God, not just of words, but in my actions as well.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, would You supply the needs of Your people through Your people? Give them satisfaction in that, Lord.

Saturday: Serve Wholeheartedly

Scripture: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.... —ephesians 6:7


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Prayer Starter: Forgive me, Father, if I serve to please men rather than You. Purify my motives, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Lord, help all parents teach their kids not to serve halfheartedly but wholeheartedly, because serving others is the same as serving You.


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Praying with the Power of the Holy Spirit

SCRIPTURE: John 14:15–31, John 16:1–16

KEY VERSE: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” —john 14:26


The candles on the table in the upper room are burning lower and the Passover moon is high in the sky, yet Jesus continues to keep us spell-bound with all He is telling us. He says, “If you love me, keep my com-mands. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world can-not accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15–17)

We lean closer to the table, trying to receive what we’ve come to recognize as the f ire of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ eyes. Jesus has never before spoken to us so openly about how we might receive the same strong Spirit that we sensed John the Baptist had, the same Spirit we know Jesus possesses in inf inite measure. We suddenly recall wading into the chilly waters of the Jordan desperately wanting to get rid of our old bad, powerless way of life. But as we sat on the bank after being baptized, we still felt disconnected and hopeless.

Then we met Jesus. At times over the past three years we have thought we might be getting closer to knowing something about the Spirit. There was the night when Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders of Israel, came secretly under the cover of darkness to meet Jesus. We heard Jesus tell Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to f lesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit….” (John 3:5) Nicodemus, a man of great learning, walked away that night just as puzzled about the Spirit as we were.


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On another occasion, when Jesus was teaching on prayer He told us, “Everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks f inds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:10) Jesus spoke of the Spirit as the good gift sent by God to us as a result of prayer. Jesus told us, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

We’re also almost sure that Jesus was talking about the Spirit when he stood up at the Feast of Tabernacles in the temple and pro-claimed in a loud voice that whoever believed in Him would have streams of life-giving water f lowing from within. (John 7:38) But un-fortunately all of these clues about the Spirit made us think of the Spirit as an “it.” A force. Like the wind. Like a spring of water. We pictured the Spirit as a power source that makes things happen in the spiritual world, something like f ire naturally giving off heat.

But tonight Jesus is not talking about a force. Jesus calls the Spirit Him, not It! Him? Like a person? Like a spiritual being Who is inf in-itely more intelligent and wise than we ever hope to be? Jesus names the Spirit “Counselor”—One Who’s called to another’s side, One Who speaks in our defense. Forces don’t stand beside us to help us. Forces don’t speak on our behalf. Jesus calls Him “the Spirit of truth.” Truth requires perception, perfect judgment, a thorough knowledge of the natural and spiritual laws as well as a supernatural ability to peer into a person’s private thoughts and motivations. And Jesus says the Spirit will “teach you all things” and “remind you of everything I have said to you.” (See John 14:26.)

We listen intently as Jesus continues, “I will not leave you as or-phans.” (John 14:18) Because Jesus has told us that He’s leaving us very soon, it’s obvious that spiritual orphans like us need good, loving guardians. Jesus promises to send us a Guardian Who will continue to help us grow to maturity, Who will act on our behalf when our skills and knowledge fall short, Who knows what Jesus and God are thinking and doing and communicates what He sees.

The Holy Spirit gives Christian prayer power beyond anything ever before known in the history of world religions. Every prayer skill


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we lack, the Holy Spirit can provide. He is with us forever. We know Him. He lives with us and is in us. He makes our hearts into good homes for Jesus and the Father. (See John 14:23.)

But how exactly do we pray using the power of the Holy Spirit? We only need to pray, “Come Holy Spirit” and give the Spirit permission to pray through us. As we pray with the power of the Holy Spirit, He brings things to our minds we have long forgotten, warns us of dangers we cannot foresee, opens our insights into Who Jesus is, applies super-natural healing to wounds we have forgotten we suffered, points out our need for confession of sins that we would rather not face and helps us pray for a future we cannot yet imagine.


Set aside quiet time when you allow the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind what you already know or have experienced in prayer with Him. Thank Him for being the guardian of your life and of your prayers. Then pray, “Come Holy Spirit” and wait for Him to speak new and wonderful prayers through you.


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Week 45: Power

Sunday: Power to the Weak

Scripture: He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. —isaiah 40:29 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Lord, strengthen all in You who have no strength today.

Prayer Closer: Give power to the weak, Lord, to continue walking with You.

Monday: Power to Heal

Scripture: Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.... —mark 3:14–15 (nkjv)

Prayer Starter: Jesus, equip all believers to preach, to cast out de-mons, to heal diseases, to demonstrate Your love and power through-out all the earth.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, according to this Scripture, it seems those who are with You have the power to do all You did. Help me make more time each day to be with You.

Tuesday: Power of God

Scripture: “I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal.” —job 27:11

Prayer Starter: I pray today, Lord, that You would teach those who are teaching others about You.

Prayer Closer: God, I pray to see each and every day a demonstra-tion of Your power and Your glory.

Wednesday: His Saving Power

Scripture: Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. —psalm 20:6


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Prayer Starter: Lord, answer prayers in a mighty way with the sav-ing power of Your right hand.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray for ___________________________, who has been waiting for a long time to hear Your answer from heaven. Help him/her continue to wait expectantly to see Your answer in Your perfect time.

Thursday: Show God’s Power

Scripture: I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. —exodus 9:16

Prayer Starter: God, let Your body, in all the earth, proclaim Your power so that all may see and know You.

Prayer Closer: Whatever the circumstances in my life, Lord, I pray that I would always remember You have raised me up to proclaim Your name wherever I am.

Friday: Power to Demolish Strongholds

Scripture: The weapons we f ight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.


Prayer Starter: Help me every day to be prepared spiritually to de-molish the strongholds of the enemy in my life.

Prayer Closer: Make believers aware of the ways of the enemy, but more importantly of Your power over him.

Saturday: Power to Act

Scripture: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. —proverbs 3:27


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Prayer Starter: Lord, I’ve had so many good intentions that were never followed through on. When it is in my power to bless others, Lord, help me to act.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, help believers to be generous with their time and money and service to help those in need.


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Travailing in Prayer


KEY VERSE: “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the an-guish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” —john 16:21–22


We’re still gathered around the Passover table in the upper room, and Jesus continues talking: “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me…because I am going to the Father.” (John 16:17)

One of the disciples asks Jesus, “What do you mean when you say ‘in a little while?’ Does that mean in a few hours, or a few days, or a few weeks?”

Jesus’ reply is devoid of mention of time. Instead Jesus tells us about what we can expect to experience during the “little while.” He says, “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” (John 16:20)

Grieve only for a little while? We can’t name a single instance in which grief was short. Grief feels like it will kill us in the early stages. We drag around with pulverized hearts and pangs of sadness over the absence of the person missing from our table. How can grief ever turn to joy?

Jesus goes on, “A woman giving birth to a child has pain be-cause her time has come; but when her baby is born she for-gets that anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:21–22)


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We remember how Psalm 126 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” (Psalm 126:5–6) This reminds us of another vivid experience in which grief was turned to joy. Six days ago we attended a huge feast given in Jesus’ honor at the house of Martha and Mary in Bethany. (See John 12:1–11.) At the dinner, Martha glowed as she bustled around serving everyone and Mary took a whole pint of pure nard and poured it on Jesus’ feet. The house smelled nearly as fragrant as the Altar of Incense in the temple.

Our hearts vibrated like harp strings plucked by David with such celestial beauty that they banished our depression as we watched Lazarus reclining at the table with us, stuff ing himself with Martha’s yeast rolls dripping with honey. (See 1 Samuel 16:23.) We laughed contagiously when Lazarus told his favorite old story about the day a stray cat fell down the well and when Mary went to pull up a bucket of water the frightened cat leapt right over the top of Mary’s head! We roared until our sides hurt and our faces turned red, overjoyed to once again hear that oft-told story from our dear friend’s lips, which not that long ago had been silenced by death in a stone cold tomb.

When Lazarus died we experienced incredible pain. Lazarus suf-fered the physical agony of death. Martha and Mary went through horrendous emotional pain. Jesus, the King of Heaven, wept. None of us imagined that the pain was part of a journey toward healing and restoration. But the pain turned out to be productive because out of it came an incredible rebirth. Lazarus was resurrected, Jesus was glorif ied and many believed.

Often intercessory prayer becomes travail because it is like the intense, painful feeling of giving birth to a baby. Travail means hard toil that requires vast amounts of physical and mental effort, and during it we sometimes feel agony and pain. Prayer of any kind is always productive work, even when it is diff icult to do, even when it is fraught with pain. Prayer pain brings birth. Afterward, the joy will be eternal.


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Sometimes when we intercede for others it’s in a matter-of-fact way that doesn’t require travail. However, on other occasions the Spirit may lead us to agonize with emotion over present or future circumstances, particularly for those in mortal or spiritual danger. During such prayer the Holy Spirit is our midwife, helping us feel the emotional pangs that compel us to pray. We never travail alone. Travail is generated by the Spirit and sustained by the Spirit. The Spirit tells us when we are done by sending an inexplicable feel-ing of peace. God doesn’t f ill in f inal due dates and times for us when we travail. He does, however, promise that when our time of intense, grieving prayer work is past, we will forget the agony because we are feeling the eternal joy of what has been born into the kingdom.


Contemplate a time when you prayed so intensely that it felt like toil, effort or even agony. Give your most diff icult prayer journeys to God and offer the pain you have poured out in prayer as your part in producing eventual joy in God’s kingdom.


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Week 46: Pain

Sunday: Signs of the Times

Scripture: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against king-dom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. —mark 13:8

Prayer Starter: Almighty Father, it sure feels like the world is hav-ing birth pains now. I pray for a fear of the Lord in those who haven’t paid much attention to You in the past.

Prayer Closer: Lord, raise up leaders among believers everywhere to prepare us spiritually for what is to come.

Monday: Severe Pain

Scripture: News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. —matthew 4:24

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Jesus, for relieving pain of all kinds—physical, emotional, spiritual.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray news about Your power to heal would spread over all the earth.

Tuesday: God’s Protection

Scripture: As for me, aff licted and in pain—may your salvation, God, protect me. —psalm 69:29

Prayer Starter: God, hear the cries of all who are calling to You today in pain and distress.

Prayer Closer: Use me, Father, to bring comfort and courage to those around me who are calling out to You.


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Wednesday: The Earth Groans

Scripture: We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. —romans 8:22

Prayer Starter: God, You hear the groans of individuals and of all creation. Be near and accomplish Your purposes in every situation, Lord.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Father, for accomplishing Your plans for the world. Make us ready to walk with You to the end.

Thursday: Joy in Pain

Scripture: Then I would still have this consolation—my joy in unre-lenting pain—that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

—job 6:10

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the encouragement that there can be joy in unrelenting pain.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray especially for __________________, who has suffered for so long and can’t see Your purpose in it. Give his/her heart joy in that pain.

Friday: Pain Within

Scripture: Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry.

—jeremiah 4:19

Prayer Starter: Father, I pray You would do battle in heavenly plac-es on behalf of those whose hearts are crying out in pain and agony to You.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, I pray You would be victorious today in the spiritual battles taking place against the powers of darkness for the souls of men.


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Saturday: Pain Will Pass Away

Scripture: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” —revelation 21:4

Prayer Starter: Father, I especially look forward to the day when the tears will be wiped away from ____________________________’s eyes. He/she has cried so many.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I so look forward to the day the old order of things will pass away. Make all believers ready, Lord.


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Prayers of Unity


KEY VERSE: “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” —john 17:20–21


The hour is late in the upper room, and Jesus concludes His f inal teaching session. We’ve been paying such close attention to so many diff icult subjects that our shoulders ache and our minds are numb.

Jesus suddenly stands and looks up toward heaven. We recognize this memorable prayer posture from other unforgettable moments—the giving thanks over the loaves and f ishes when feeding the f ive thousand and the raising of Lazarus from the dead. (Matthew 14:19, John 11:41) We all instinctively stand as Jesus prays.

Jesus surprises us by praying for Himself. He says, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you…I have brought you glory on earth by f inishing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:1–4) It feels as if each word is carefully chosen for our benef it so that we will know that whatever diff iculties lie ahead, Jesus is aware of them and they’re part of completing His mission.

Then Jesus prays for us, “For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them.” (John 17:8–9) We are humbled upon hearing Jesus commending us to God in prayer. Jesus knows that we’ve struggled to fully believe. Yet Jesus believes in us! Peace spreads over us like a warm wool cloak.

Jesus goes on, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me….” We feel encapsulated by an in-visible force mightier than the heaviest shield of hammered bronze.


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“So that they may be one as we are one.” (John 17:11) We feel dizzy at this prospect. Because Jesus has prayed it, we assume that such a thing is possible, but surely it will take a miracle to make those of us gathered in this room unif ied as one! We’re all so totally differ-ent. Peter is impetuous. James and John are hot-tempered. Nathaniel is a dreamer. Matthew is a mathematician. Philip is practical and skeptical. And we’re personally totally lacking in any strengths that distinguish us at all.

Besides our obvious differences, how could so many of us gain “oneness”? We’re not kin to each other. We didn’t grow up together. How could this odd assortment of people ever be close enough that we’d be able to work together as a team?

Despite all of our doubts that “oneness” will ever come about, Jesus continues to pray for us, saying that these things are for us to hear so we will have “the full measure of joy.” He declares in his prayer that we are not of this world, and that’s why the world hates us. He doesn’t ask God to take us out of the world, but rather to protect us from the evil one. Then Jesus says, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18)

We can hardly keep from swaying as this prayer creates a whirl-wind in our hearts. We try to grab on to all of these powerful, forward-looking, impossible prayers about us. Now Jesus is launching us into the world of ministry with prayer. His prayer is sending us in the same way that He was sent from God. Unfathomable!

Jesus prays some more: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” (John 17:20–21) How could Jesus be praying with perfect conf idence that there will be others who will believe in Him because of our mes-sage? And how could these new people, who haven’t seen Jesus walk on water and who didn’t witness Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead like we have, become one with us? This is all absolutely out of the realm of imagining.

We are stunned by this prayer. And then Jesus ends it all by pray-ing, “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you


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known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26) Now Jesus is promising us the same kind of love that God feels for Jesus! Can mortal bodies even contain that kind of love? As Jesus leads us down the stairs of the upper room and we f ind our way through the dark city and across Kidron Brook, we try to remember each word that has expressed all of heaven and our past, present and future in a single prayer.

This amazing Scripture on prayer gives us great encouragement because although Jesus walked this earth more than two thousand years ago, He actually prayed for us in the upper room because we are among “those who will believe in me through their message.” Through His prayer we receive divine prayers of commendation for our belief, protection, a personal call to service, assurance that we’ll succeed in bringing others to Christ and, last and by far the greatest, the fellowship of love with our Father.

Secondly, from Jesus’ example we learn that it’s necessary to pray for unity. If the ability to work together in harmony as Christians was guaranteed, Jesus wouldn’t have used so much valuable prayer time right before His death to intercede for unity. Obviously being one with each other does not come naturally. It only comes supernaturally. Prayers for unity ask for grace so we might develop one heart and one purpose so that together we might work as one to bring the joy of following Christ to many.


Ref lect on a time when you felt great unity with other Christians and also on a time when you felt divided from certain people or groups within the faith. Thank God for the unity that you experienced and then pray that God will work in the situations where unity seems to be lacking.


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Week 47: Unity

Sunday: The Body of Christ

Scripture: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. —1 corinthians 12:12

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, Your body is spread out all over the world. Would You heal division and bring true unity to Your church?

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, protect Your body, the church, from harm.

Monday: Live in Unity

Scripture: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! —psalm 133:1

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray that You would give divisive people an opportunity to repent, and if they won’t, remove them from positions of leadership and inf luence.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I know it would bring You pleasure to see fami-lies live in loving unity. I pray especially that You would bring healing and wholeness to my family.

Tuesday: Unity of the Spirit

Scripture: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. —ephesians 4:3

Prayer Starter: Lord, raise up and bless peacemakers in every area of society.

Prayer Closer: Father, give me a specif ic thing I can do today to keep peace in relationships and give me the courage to do it.

Wednesday: Unity of Mind

Scripture: Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his off icials had or-dered, following the word of the Lord. —2 chronicles 30:12


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Prayer Starter: Father God, put Your hand on believers everywhere and give us unity of mind to obey Your Word.

Prayer Closer: I pray especially for ________________________ today. He/she is in a special position to bring unity in this situation: _______________________________. I pray for Your favor and anointing to enable him/her to do that.

Thursday: Spirit of Unity

Scripture: May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. —romans 15:5, 6

Prayer Starter: May the God who gives endurance and encour-agement give ________________________________________ and _____________________________ a spirit of unity in their leader-ship roles.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, give husbands and wives one heart and mouth to glorify You in families today.

Friday: Bearing with One Another

Scripture: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life wor-thy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. —ephesians 4:1–2

Prayer Starter: Please, Father, help me to walk worthy of the calling with which I was tasked to promote peace and unity.

Prayer Closer: Lord, where there is strife in Your body, I pray You would bring encouragement to “bear with one another in love.”

Saturday: Complete Unity

Scripture: I in them and you in me—so that they be brought to com-plete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. —john 17:23


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Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I pray missionaries everywhere would demonstrate, by their unity, the love the Father has for all people, just as He loves You.

Prayer Closer: Father, f ill believers anew today with a sense of Your presence within them.


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Gethsemane Praying

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:36–45, Luke 22:39–46

KEY VERSE: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” —matthew 26:39


The hour is very late as we follow Jesus and the disciples out of Jerusalem through the eastern gate in the city wall. Our f igures cast faint moon shadows on the darkened landscape. We arrive at a small olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives. As we enter the tidy garden, our sandals crunch on the gravelly soil and we hear a gentle breeze breathing through the inky olive boughs. This spot feels like a little sanctuary tonight—quiet, peaceful and miles away from danger.

Near a small stone wall Jesus tells the group, “Sit here while I go over there and pray. Peter, James and John, come with me.”

The rest of the disciples arrange themselves on their cloaks on the ground in postures that show that they have frequently found their night’s rest on whatever piece of ground was dry and level. We proceed in silence with Jesus to a spot where the tree boughs cast f itful shadows. Jesus says with a ragged, cracked voice, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38)

We’re silent, afraid to ask questions for fear of the answers. We’ve never seen Jesus like this before, not even when He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. We obey blindly, all settling down around the same gnarly olive tree trunk, facing different directions with our shoulders slumped up against it for support. The trunk digs into our backs; its inhospitality is our only hope of staying awake tonight.

Jesus proceeds on a little farther within earshot, and then He falls to the ground in a puddle of moonlight between the olive trees. His forehead grinds in the dirt, and His hands form tight knots under


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His chin. He moves in tense, f itful rocking motions like someone try-ing to ease physical pain. Jesus prays with desperation, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

We see and sense Jesus’ profound agony and wonder what bitter cup He is praying about. Surely not poison! With this thread of thought dangling in our weary heads we seem to fall into a fog of nothingness.

Suddenly we are roused by a familiar voice and realize we have fallen asleep. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?... Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the f lesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40–41)

We rub our eyes, silently chastising ourselves for falling asleep. We undo the sash on our tunics, hoping to allow the cool night air to chill us awake. Jesus retreats once again to the puddle of moonlight. Jesus prays again the same, strange, agonized words. Even from a distance we can see sweat dripping down His hair as if someone had given Him a gushing head wound. A shiver runs down our spines, and we wonder why the Father would have a will that seems so in-credibly diff icult and harsh for our magnif icent and beloved Jesus. And then we drift off into the fog again.

Once more we are roused from sleep. “Could you not keep watch with me one hour?” The note of torment in Jesus’ voice hits us like a hard punch. We f ight to wake up as Jesus goes back to praying again, “Not my will, but thine be done.” As we listen to His prayer we remember how Jesus has said repeatedly that He came to do the will of His Father, how He only does what He sees His Father do-ing. (See John 6:38, John 5:19.) Suddenly, our tight stomachs tell us that God’s will is not a general set of cosmic guidelines but is very specif ic and tailor-made for each person. It is not for the halfheart-edly committed. It is a f ierce battle that takes discipline, courage, determination and self-denial to decide to do the Father’s will and then follow through and carry it out. We see that Jesus is laying down His whole life there in the moonlight, surrendering every power of body, mind, soul and spirit. “Such an incredible battle,” we think before the fog returns.


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We are awakened a f inal time by a familiar voice saying, “Are you still sleeping? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:45, 46) We jump to our feet, needles of adrenaline stinging every nerve in our legs. Our hearts feel like grain being pulverized into f lour with a stone pestle as we hear the awful sound of the footsteps of the betrayer falling heavily on the gravel pathway.

Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane is the ultimate one. Throughout His entire ministry Jesus has been slowly preparing us to hear and under-stand this prayer. This is the ultimate prayer because it is a total sur-render of our wills to that of God’s. We give God free reign and we hold nothing back. We abandon our own best plans and ideas; we relinquish all rights and rewards. We pay whatever price asked in service to God’s kingdom and we even accept suffering if it is useful as a means of redemption. The prayer in Gethsemane is the ultimate prayer of faith that trusts unconditionally and holds fast to the prom-ise that God has a plan even when we are staring death in its sharp, bloody teeth. In our quest to pray with Jesus, we f ind that we have never truly prayed with Him until we dare to pray, “Not my will but Thine be done.”


Recall a time in your life when you realized that you had no choice but to walk down a path of great suffering and hardship that you prayed to avoid at all costs. Ref lect on whether you had a moment of relinquishment where you gave the situation entirely over to God’s control. Then ask God to give you the grace to pray His will for one new part of your life today.


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Week 48: Obey

Sunday: As Jesus Did

Scripture: But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. —1 john 2:5–6

Prayer Starter: Father, I pray that Your love would be made com-plete in my life today.

Prayer Closer: I pray, Lord, that You would encourage all who are trying to walk as Jesus did. Help them to walk in the Holy Spirit’s power and not their own.

Monday: The Wind and Waves Obey

Scripture: The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” —matthew 8:27

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, You are truly amazing and I am in awe of You.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, in these turbulent times, help us see a dem-onstration of Your power every day.

Tuesday: In All His Ways

Scripture: But I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. —jeremiah 7:23

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the promise of a relationship when we obey You.

Prayer Closer: Teach all believers to truly know You, the God of Scripture, and how to walk in obedience to You.

Wednesday: Obey and Serve Him

Scripture: If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. —job 36:11


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Prayer Starter: Lord, I lift up those who have obeyed and served You for many years. Bring prosperity and contentment to all their days.

Prayer Closer: Lord, give us role models in the faith who will lead all believers in a walk of obedience to You.

Thursday: Love Will Obey

Scripture: Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” —john 14:23

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help me to hear Your voice today and quickly obey what You ask me to do.

Prayer Closer: Father, let the obedience of Your children draw others to You today.

Friday: They Did Not Obey

Scripture: They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord. —psalm 106:25

Prayer Starter: Father, I know how displeasing grumbling is to You. Turn my tendency to grumble into a tendency to be thankful.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray that You would convict us grumblers about how our attitude negatively affects those around us. Make us encouragers, Lord.

Saturday: Patient Endurance

Scripture: This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

—revelation 14:12

Prayer Starter: God, give all saints patient endurance.

Prayer Closer: Lord, at the end I pray that I will stand before You as one who remained faithful to Jesus.


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Praying against Temptation

SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:31–34, 47–62

KEY VERSE: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” —luke 22:32


We’re now wide awake late in the night in the Garden of Gethsemane. We’re terrif ied because while Jesus is still warning us that His time is at hand we hear footfalls crunching toward us on the pathway. The leader seems unusually familiar with the layout of the garden. It’s Judas, one of us! Judas steps forward and kisses Jesus on the cheek.

Jesus leaves no doubt in our minds about the horrid meaning of this gesture. Jesus says, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48) One of us calls out, “Should we f ight with our swords?” Since we only have two swords, it’s a scare tactic, but in the dark it might work. Before Jesus answers, someone lunges forward and cuts off the right ear of a servant in the mob. Jesus shouts, “No more of this!” Then Jesus restores the servant’s ear and heals him. Even this miraculous display of compassion and power has no effect on the mob. They seize Jesus and force Him into the darkness with them.

Everyone panics and scatters. We follow a lone disciple—Peter—as he secretly trails after the mob through the city streets to the home of the High Priest. Peter waits in the shadows, observing a group of servants building a f ire in the middle of the courtyard. Peter pulls his cloak up around his face, steals a piece of wood from a nearby courtyard and enters the High Priest’s compound pretending to be a servant gathering wood. Peter sits down beside the f ire hoping to overhear what they know.

A servant girl crawls up next to Peter, trying to see his face clearly in the f irelight, and says, “This man was with Jesus.”


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“Woman, I don’t know anybody by that name,” Peter answers gruff ly. He gets up and as he walks around to the other side of the circle someone throws in another log and the f ire blazes up brightly. A slave looks and says, “I know you’re one of them.”

“You’ve got to be crazy. I’m not one of them,” Peter says. Attention is taken off Peter as more members of the Sanhedrin

who have been roused from their beds arrive, attended by more servants who carry their cloaks and wash their feet for the customary ceremonial washings. An arriving servant strikes up a conversation with Peter. The servant next to him picks up Peter’s accent and says, “Certainly this fellow was with (Jesus), for he is a Galilean.” (Luke 22:59)

Peter replies, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “Erker, erker, oo!” A rooster crows. At that moment, the doorway

of the house is unbolted to admit another member of the Sanhedrin. In the blazing oil lamp, we see Jesus inside, standing with His hands tightly bound in front of Him. Jesus’ eyes peer out into the courtyard, bearing down on Peter and looking him straight in the heart. Peter freezes and we suddenly remember that Jesus predicted that before the rooster crowed Peter would three times deny he ever knew Jesus.

The door to the house slams shut. Peter hunches down into his cloak with his arms clutching his stomach like a man mortal-ly wounded with a sword to his gut. Peter stumbles through the gateway and out onto the road and then down a dark alleyway. He falls to the ground in a heap of sour hay. Peter is so devastated by remorse that he weeps bitterly.

As we sit in utter defeat in the hay with Peter, we remem-ber the conversation between Jesus and Peter earlier this even-ing. Jesus used Peter’s name three times in three short sentences. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32)

Temptation is an absolutely crucial subject of prayer because we are perennial targets of Satan, who wants to “sift us like wheat”


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so we’ll be so shaken up by our failures and our lack of self-control that we’ll become ineffective and eventually give up on religion be-cause we think God should give up on us. Because temptation is such a strong force, Jesus offers a dual set of prayer approaches.

First, Jesus tells us to “watch and pray” for ourselves so we won’t fall into temptation because he knows that the human “spirit is will-ing but the f lesh is weak.” (See Matthew 26:41.) The word “watch” suggests prayerful vigilance, which involves knowing when we are likely to be at our weakest so that we will know when to pray the hardest. It also means listening very closely to inner prayer calls as to exactly when to pray and what to pray.

Secondly, we need to pray for each other in the face of tempta-tion. Others can sometimes spot our weaknesses better than we can, and they can see when we’re heading for trouble. We need to pray that the unhealthy and destructive things we give in to won’t do in our faith, that we won’t be overcome with so much guilt and shame that we will give up on ourselves and run away from God. Prayer wel-comes us back into God’s fold, sadder but wiser and now f illed with repentance, gratefulness for grace and greater empathy and sympa-thy for others who fall. And as we tell of how we fell and then are welcomed back by our loving Savior, it strengthens us and everyone.


Think through the kinds of situations that put you at your worst, when you’re not proud of the ways you behave. Make a plan to pray for yourself before the specif ic occasions when you seem likely to be tempted to make poor choices. If you have chronic problems with the same temptation, f ind one or two others who will pray for you that you won’t lose your faith in God as a result of your faithless behav-ior. Then return to God, confess your weaknesses and failures and strengthen others by honestly and openly telling them of how you fell and how Jesus welcomed you back.


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Week 49: Temptation

Sunday: As Jesus Was Tempted

Scripture: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. —matthew 4:1

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help Your disciples be prepared with a knowledge of Your Word to resist the temptations of the devil just as You did.

Prayer Closer: Holy Spirit, lead me where You would have me go and help me to willingly follow.

Monday: Suffering through Temptation

Scripture: Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. —hebrews 2:18

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Jesus, for the comfort of knowing You’ve been where we are and tempted by what tempts us.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray You would especially strengthen ______________________ today against temptation.

Tuesday: Common to Man

Scripture: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. —1 corinthians 10:13

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, thank You that we already know we can walk in victory through any and all temptations, because You promise not to give us more than we can resist.

Prayer Closer: Father God, I praise and thank You for Who You are: a loving Father Who knows and understands us and is always on our side.


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Wednesday: Restoration

Scripture: Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. —galatians 6:1

Prayer Starter: Father, watch over and protect in a powerful way those who are making disciples out of others.

Prayer Closer: O God, please help those who are caught in sin. Equip and bring others to help set them free.

Thursday: Season of Temptation

Scripture: When the devil had f inished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. —luke 4:13

Prayer Starter: What a relief, Lord, when seasons of temptation end. But help us to be wise to the ways of the enemy and always prepared for the next one.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us how to be vic-torious over the devil, the very real enemy of our souls.

Friday: Deliver Us from Evil

Scripture: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. —matthew 6:13

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that You don’t lead us into temptation. Help us to be careful to not lead others into temptation either.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, Your death on the Cross has already won my deliverance from the evil one. What freedom it is to walk every day in the freedom that knowledge brings.

Saturday: Willing Spirit

Scripture: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the f lesh is weak.” —mark 14:38


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Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, You know the areas where I’m weakest. I ask for Your strength and Your covering in those areas especially.

Prayer Closer: Lord, I pray for all vulnerable believers today. Give them wisdom to stay as far away from temptation as possible.


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Praying When We Feel Abandoned by God

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:32 –55, Luke 23:26–46

KEY VERSE: Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. —luke 23:46


At dawn Jesus is convicted of blasphemy by the Sanhedrin. A crust of ice forms over our hearts as we watch the priests spit on Jesus. They blindfold Jesus, hit Him and taunt, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” (See Mark 14:63–65.)

Because of Roman rule, the Sanhedrin lacks authority to exe-cute criminals. As the sun climbs, the whole Sanhedrin ascends the marble steps on the northwest side of the Temple Mount and stands behind a line on the pavement in a large quadrangle called the forum in front of the palace of the Roman governor Pilate. From there they summon Pilate. Pilate has no interest in their religious squabbles, especially since these self-righteous Jews consider Gentiles such as himself “unclean.” They stand stubbornly behind the line on the pavement that marks the spot where they’ll be “def iled” if they come any nearer his palace!

We feel guarded relief when Pilate pronounces that he f inds no basis under Roman law to punish Jesus. But the Sanhedrin is out for blood. They head for Herod, governor of Judea. Why doesn’t Jesus answer a single question and defend Himself? Herod, too, f inds no reason to charge Jesus, but he’s enraged that Jesus won’t answer him. He and his soldiers mock Jesus along with the religious leaders.

The overwrought mob returns to the forum marketplace where people are now crowding the vendors’ stands. Pilate sits in the judg-ment seat and declares again, “I have found no basis for your charges against him.” (Luke 23:14–15) The crowd has become a single- minded,


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vicious, wild beast with no moral compunction. An angry voice yells, “Crucify him!” The crowd takes up the blood-curdling chant.

In order to prevent a riot, Pilate gives in. He has water brought to him and symbolically washes his hands, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” (Matthew 27:24)

Roman soldiers publicly f log Jesus, turning His back into hash marks of blood. They embed a crown of thorns on His head and mock Him. Then the soldiers force Jesus from the plaza, carrying the heavy timbers of His own Cross to a rough barren hill called Golgotha.

As the hammer falls—thud, thud, thud—nailing Jesus’ wrists and feet to the Cross, we feel each blow. The soldiers hoist the Cross upright. Then they watch as Jesus slowly dies a torturous death of asphyxiation.

Our tongues turn to dust as our minds silently scream, “Jesus—just this one time—think about Yourself. Use Your miraculous power to come down from the Cross and punish Your tormentors!”

As His life is slowly trickling away, Jesus speaks, but He’s not addressing any of us. Jesus is praying to His Father as He dies. Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) We are stunned. Jesus is asking for the blessing of for-giveness for these demonic, unrepentant people!

Then Jesus prays, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) How could Jesus be experiencing the absence of God? Surely, God hasn’t disowned Jesus and abandoned Him! The Spirit tries to help us recall what John the Baptist said about Jesus: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) The Spirit makes us wonder if Jesus, the perfect One, might be suffering for our collective sins in our place, like a lamb sacrif iced on the temple altar.

Finally Jesus calls out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) Then His precious breath ceases after the f inal word of His dying prayer.

Today we tackle the ultimate prayer subject—praying when dark-ness swallows us up. During our lifetimes we will all f ind ourselves in a dark hour of f inal departure, when we are forever torn away from


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the people and lives we dearly love. The only way to get through it is to follow the prayer path blazed for us by Jesus on the Cross.

First, Jesus prays for forgiveness for His tormentors. The only path-way to peace is to use our last prayer opportunities to ask God to be merciful to our adversaries.

Second, Jesus is honest with God about His feelings of abandon-ment and desolation. Prayer is hardly prayer at all if we try to hide how we’re really feeling from God. If Jesus Himself used His last few moments on earth to express His feelings of utter despair that God had disowned Him, we must conclude that there is great redemptive power in such prayer.

And f inally, Jesus ends his earthly life by praying His spirit into God’s outstretched hands. In His parting prayer, Jesus gives us a won-derful prayer path. In our darkest hours words often fail us. We need a simple prayer picture locked into our minds that can be grasped in-stantly and symbolically as our prayer to God. Having thus prayed, we surrender and allow ourselves to fall into our personal abyss because Jesus has conf irmed in His dying prayer from the cross that “under-neath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)


Feelings of being cut off from God make prayer extremely diff icult. Deep depression, whether stemming from disastrous circumstances or from clinical causes, is a very real condition that makes us feel cut off from everyone and everything, including God. Jesus experienced these desolate feelings on the Cross. Today, pray that God will help you learn from Jesus how to survive the times when you feel God’s absence. Pray honestly, and then mentally picture yourself being placed into God’s outstretched hands.


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Week 50: Death

Sunday: From Death to Life

Scripture: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” —john 5:24

Prayer Starter: Gracious God, I can’t thank and praise You enough for allowing me to be among those who have heard Your Word and believe.

Prayer Closer: Lord, it’s an awesome thought that when we believe in You we have already passed from death to life.

Monday: Land of the Living

Scripture: For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. —psalm 116:8–9

Prayer Starter: God, what a joy it is to dwell in the land of the living, not the land of defeat or the land of barely surviving. Thank You, God.

Prayer Closer: Lord Jesus, help those who can’t seem to get from the land of barely surviving to the land of the living. Bring others to show them the way.

Tuesday: Power of the Tongue

Scripture: From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is f illed; with the harvest of their lips they are satisf ied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

—proverbs 18:20–21

Prayer Starter: Lord God, please be a guard over my tongue and help me to always speak life-giving words.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray that I would always be satisf ied with the fruit of righteousness.


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Wednesday: Reconciled to God

Scripture: For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been recon-ciled, shall we be saved through his life! —romans 5:10

Prayer Starter: What love, Father, that I didn’t have to make myself perfect before I could be reconciled to You.

Prayer Closer: Thank You, Lord, that I have an eternal relationship with You to look forward to.

Thursday: Without the Spirit

Scripture: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. —james 2:26

Prayer Starter: Lord, help believers everywhere to put their faith into action.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, I pray that the actions of believers would draw others into a relationship with You.

Friday: Shadow of Death

Scripture: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they com-fort me. —psalm 23:4

Prayer Starter: Lord, comfort all who are walking through the valley of the shadow of death right now.

Prayer Closer: Father, thank you that You walk with us always—through valleys and on mountaintops.

Saturday: Where Is Death’s Victory?

Scripture: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” —1 corinthians 15:55


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Prayer Starter: Hallelujah, Jesus, you killed death forever!

Prayer Closer: Thank You for Your power, Lord, to walk in victory each day because of Your victory over death.


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Recognizing the Divine through Prayer


KEY VERSE: “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” —luke 24:30–31


It’s been three nightmarish days since the crucif ixion and burial of Jesus. Since Friday we’ve lived a lifetime of misery. Some of the women seem to be suffering from hysteria. Because of the Sabbath laws, the women had to wait until daybreak today to carry spices to preserve Jesus’ body. When they arrived at the tomb, the Roman guards were gone, the heavy stone that sealed the tomb had been rolled away, and the tomb was completely empty except for the linen strips that had bound Jesus’ body. The women came running to tell us a bizarre story about seeing two men wearing clothes that glowed like lightning. The men said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucif ied and on the third day be raised again.’ ” (Luke 24:5–7)

Their story was so disturbing that we ran out to the hillside with Peter and saw the empty tomb f irsthand. We left more baff led than ever. We felt like we needed some time and space to think, so we joined Cleopas and another disciple who are walking over to Emmaus, a village about seven miles away.

About a mile outside of Jerusalem a stranger catches up with us and asks, “What are you discussing so seriously?”

Cleopas speaks up, “You must be the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know about the things that have happened there over the past few days.”


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“What things?” the stranger asks. The other disciple says, “About Jesus of Nazareth.” He tells the

whole story, and we’re surprised that he adds in the empty tomb and how the women reported this morning that angels told them that Jesus is alive. (Luke 24:23)

The stranger says, “How amazing that you’re so slow to f igure this all out! Don’t you understand and believe what the prophets have said about how the Christ has to suffer these things before entering into his glory?” As we walk we think the stranger might be a rabbi because he starts with Moses and goes through the Prophets, explaining how all the recent events were foretold in the Scriptures concerning the Christ. As each Scripture falls on our ears, we feel faint stirrings of hope in our hearts.

When we arrive at Emmaus, the disciples insist that the stranger be our guest for the evening. The stranger accepts our hospitality. We enter the house and are soon reclining at the table for the even-ing meal. Cleopas reaches for the dish to offer the customary bless-ing over the f lat unleavened bread, but the stranger extends his own hand toward the dish, indicating he’d like to do the honors.

The stranger picks up the bread and something in the way the stranger raises his head toward heaven to pray makes our heart stop. The stranger intones, “Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the World…” He speaks of the Father in the same intimate, breathless way Jesus always did! The stranger breaks the Passover bread just like Jesus broke the bread in the upper room. With sudden clarity we know the stranger is none other than Jesus Himself!

We are awestruck and dumbstruck. We didn’t recognize Jesus because we’d been so certain that we’d never see Jesus here on this earth again!

We jump up to hug Jesus but He has suddenly vanished. Instead, we hug each other like long-lost brothers back from a stormy winter sea journey. Then, even though night is falling, we hurry back up the road toward Jerusalem to tell the rest of the disciples the greatest news the world has ever known.

In this Scripture, it is the actual act of praying itself that opens up the eyes of the disciples to spiritual reality. It is only during prayer


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that their stubborn blind spots vanish and they at last see that they are in the presence of Jesus, our Risen Lord. Even more fascinat-ing is the fact that they weren’t particularly praying for discernment or enlightenment. The prayer was a simple blessing over bread. Yet that small act of prayer was enough to open their eyes to the obvious spiritual reality they’d been missing all day.

As people who always have planks in our eyes as far as the spirit-ual side of life is concerned, we often aren’t even aware that we’re in need of discernment. Thankfully, this passage seems to tell us that apparently any time spent in prayer, on any subject, makes it much easier for us to see God’s hand at work and God’s face smiling upon us.

Back when Jesus was a newborn baby being presented by his parents in the temple, an eighty-four-year-old woman named Anna immediately and enthusiastically recognized baby Jesus as God’s special gift to the world. She saw this so clearly because the Bible tells us that Anna “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (Luke 2:37) Anna recognized Jesus be-cause prayer had sharpened her spiritual perception. As praying people, we, too, have this heavenly gift. As we spend time in prayer, our ability to see the divine grows.


On a scale of one to ten, with one being the lowest, rank the current level of your spiritual perception skills. If you need improvement, make a plan to spend ten minutes in prayer on any subject prior to times when you will most need spiritual discernment. Such occa-sions might include the time prior to attending church or volunteer meetings, before interacting with someone with personal problems, before having a heart-to-heart talk with a family member or before making a decision about f inances, work or activities.


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Week 51: Eyes That See

Sunday: Blessed Are Eyes That See

Scripture: But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. —matthew 13:16

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, open eyes and ears everywhere to see and know You.

Prayer Closer: I pray today for ___________________________, who is so blind and uninterested in the things of Your kingdom. Bless him/her with eyes to see You.

Monday: Don’t Forget

Scripture: Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. —deuteronomy 4:9

Prayer Starter: Protect in my heart, Lord, the things You’ve done in my life. Help me to guard them as the treasures they are.

Prayer Closer: Lord, would You convince all parents of their re-sponsibility to not let the generations following them forget You and what You’ve done?

Tuesday: Tell What You Have Seen

Scripture: “How he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” —john 9:21

Prayer Starter: Father, I pray for opportunities to tell what You have done, especially to those who doubt You.


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Prayer Closer: Increase our faith, Lord, especially through the tes-timonies of those You’ve touched and healed.

Wednesday: Teach Your Children

Scripture: Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” —luke 10:23

Prayer Starter: Lord, like Your f irst disciples, we are so blessed to-day to be able to have private conversations with you, by your Holy Spirit.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, my prayer is that my eyes would always see what You see, especially the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of others.

Thursday: The Eternal

Scripture: So we f ix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is un-seen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


Prayer Starter: Lord, keep our eyes on the eternal rewards awaiting Your faithful children.

Prayer Closer: Father, I pray for all who have a love for things in this life. Work in their hearts, God, and give them a love for eternal, unseen things.

Friday: What God Is Doing

Scripture: “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!” —1 samuel 12:16

Prayer Starter: Lord, I pray that every day we would stand still and watch, expecting to see great and powerful things from You.

Prayer Closer: For me, Father, the hard part is being still. Come, Holy Spirit, and quiet my heart and mind.


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Saturday: Longing to See God

Scripture: I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! —job 19:27

Prayer Starter: Lord, increase the yearning in all hearts to see You.

Prayer Closer: Give me faith, Father, to believe I can see You every day.


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Declaring Love through Prayer


KEY VERSE: Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” —john 21:16


We’re near the shore in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, f ishing with a group of six disciples. The net has been hanging lifeless over the port side of the boat all night, and we haven’t caught a thing. Thomas, the practical one, said it would be great to have a decent catch tonight so we could have a little something for our families to live on when we launch out into the next phase of our kingdom work.

As we gaze at the fading stars, it seems incredible that we are the chosen ones who will somehow proclaim to the world that Jesus our risen Lord is the Messiah, Christ, Savior and the Son of God. Jesus has now appeared to us several times since His Resurrection. We are one hundred percent sure about Who Jesus is. Unfortunately, we’re not one hundred percent sure about ourselves. Doubts are creeping in. How can we catch men when we can’t even catch f ish? And every last one of us ran away and abandoned Jesus when He was arrested.

Suddenly someone on the shore calls out, “Hello! Have you caught any f ish?”

“No,” John calls back.“Throw your net on the other side of the boat,” the stranger

advises. It’s worth a try, so we throw the net over the starboard side of

the boat and suddenly every f ish within a furlong lunges right into it! John says, “It’s the Lord!”

Peter doesn’t waste a minute. He leaps into the water to swim to shore as fast as he can. The rest of us row behind Peter, straining at


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the oars because of the incredible catch. We see a charcoal f ire on the shore and smell f ish roasting. Jesus tells Peter, “Bring some of the f ish you’ve just caught.” Peter jumps back onboard and pulls his robe up into an apron and furiously begins gathering the f ish. As Jesus cooks, we help the disciples sort the f ish. Thomas says in amazement, “I can’t believe the net didn’t break. We have 153 large f ish here!”

Jesus calls out, “Come and have breakfast.” Peter is so painfully eager to please Jesus that he’s the f irst one seated on the ground by the campf ire. After breakfast, Jesus suddenly asks Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15) We hold our breath knowing that Peter has ached to tell Jesus he loves him after his terrible denial.

Peter’s voice is impassioned and emphatic. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus says something very strange. He says, “Feed my lambs.”Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him again. Peter repeats the same

impassioned reply. We are all stunned when Jesus asks the same question a third

time. A hurt look washes over Peter’s perspiring face as he says, this time with an agonized tone, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” (John 21:17)

Jesus answers, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus goes on to say puzzling things about how Peter was free to go where he wished when he was younger but when he is older he will be taken by others to places he doesn’t want to go. We have no idea what to make of this, but Peter seems glad to hear he has a future with Jesus. He seems honored that in the future he might be able to sacrif ice his freedom to bring glory to Jesus. It dawns on us that Jesus has allowed Peter to declare his love three times, the exact same number of times Peter denied Jesus. We’re suddenly conf ident Peter will indeed reach his potential as a strong leader because his past mistakes have been overpowered by the strong mutual love between him and Jesus.

When we began our journey praying with Jesus on the banks of the Jordan River, we arrived dissatisf ied with our unhealthy lives. We craved God’s love and aff irmation, but we felt unworthy. We set out


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on our prayer journey because we were very much in need of things we couldn’t provide for ourselves. As we have observed the deeds, ex-ample and teachings of Jesus on prayer, we have come to know Jesus more intimately. The gift of prayer has given us the ability to better examine our own hearts and lives in the light of God’s truth.

Now that we have experienced the incredible power of the Resurrection, we again f ind ourselves in desperate need of something totally different. We have a great need for a concrete way to express our love to Jesus and to our Father and the Counselor for giving us the prayer keys to the kingdom. Jesus asks, “Do you truly love me? Take care of my sheep.”

Sitting here by the lakeshore, we at last realize that we’re all brothers and sisters of Peter. The amazing spiritual growth we have experienced has transformed us from self ish individuals intent on meeting our own needs to those capable of helping others in need. Our newfound prayer power is not ours to keep. It is God’s gift of power to the world. Now that we have learned how to be spiritually fed by prayer, it is time for us to feed God’s sheep. We are over-whelmed by this incredible honor. We joyfully turn to prayer and use it as our means of saying with our whole hearts, “Jesus, thank You for loving me. I love You with all my heart. Always.” Amen.


Review your personal prayer journey through the Scriptures with Jesus and thank God for the ways prayer has made a difference in your life. Then enjoy a special prayer time, telling Jesus how much you love Him for all He’s done and for who He is.


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Week 52: Sheep

Sunday: Led to the Slaughter

Scripture: He was oppressed and aff licted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. —isaiah 53:7

Prayer Starter: Lord, help believers stand strong and, like You, not feel the need to defend ourselves or our faith in You.

Prayer Closer: Give us the security You have, Lord Jesus, in Who You are.

Monday: The Sheep of His Pasture

Scripture: Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. —psalm 100:3

Prayer Starter: Thank You, God, for the peace and comfort that comes each day from knowing I am Yours.

Prayer Closer: Father, praise You for Your tender care of all Your children, like a Shepherd watching over His sheep.

Tuesday: Without a Shepherd

Scripture: When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compas-sion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. —mark 6:34

Prayer Starter: Lord, give Your disciples everywhere compassion for all people.

Prayer Closer: Jesus, Your tender heart toward Your sheep is so pre-cious. Help my heart be just as tender toward all Your sheep.

Wednesday: Follow the Shepherd

Scripture: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. —john 10:27


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Prayer Starter: Help Your sheep learn and be sensitive to Your voice, Jesus.

Prayer Closer: Add sheep to Your fold today, Jesus. I pray especially for _______________________. He/she is so close to coming to You.

Thursday: One Lost Sheep

Scripture: “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” —matthew 18:12

Prayer Starter: Lord, I wandered off and You came and found me. I’m so grateful.

Prayer Closer: God, thank You for Your love and care of the ninety-nine faithful as well as the one who has gone astray.

Friday: Protected by the Shepherd

Scripture: As a shepherd looks after his scattered f lock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. —ezekiel 34:12

Prayer Starter: I pray today, Lord, for every shepherd You’ve called to look after Your sheep.

Prayer Closer: Lord, give Your shepherds wisdom and discernment to see, before it’s too late, when one of Your sheep is in danger spiritually.

Saturday: Equipped to Please God

Scripture: May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. —hebrews 13:20–21

Prayer Starter: Great Shepherd of the sheep, equip each of us for everything we need for doing Your will.

Prayer Closer: Lord, work in us what is pleasing to You and be glori-fi ed in each of Your children.


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Acts1:3, 1861:14, 2513:19, 2044:32, 2516:8, 3510:43, 23214:17, 8914:23, 9520:24, 23420:35, 65

1 Chronicles16:8, 14416:24, 22716:28–29, 11916:34, 1229:22, 203

2 Chronicles7:14, 3030:12, 28033:12, 215

Colossians1:16, 2463:12, 2173:14, 2504:6, 58

1 Corinthians2:13, 834:1, 766:19, 610:13, 29112:4–6, 26312:12, 28012:15, 4113:5, 23813:6, 125

15:55, 2982 Corinthians

4:6, 2274:15, 1454:18, 3046:17–18,

1757:1, 1709:8, 2109:10, 1319:12, 26310:4, 26913:14, 4

Daniel10:7–8, 5310:19, 193

Deuteronomy3:24, 884:9, 3034:36, 827:9, 1111:18, 8416:15, 13216:16, 24719:15, 25533:27, 296

Ecclesiastes4:10, 654:12, 2555:2, 90

Ephesians1:3, 2221:17, 222:8–9, 352:22, 251

4:1–2, 2814:3, 2804:15, 1254:16, 2504:26–27,

2395:12, 776:7, 2636:16, 36

Esther4:16, 94

Exodus4:12, 669:16, 26914:14, 20915:11, 22615:13, 1616:4, 8820:1–17, 16833:14, 20434:29, 190

Ezekiel18:31, 16934:12, 310

Galatians3:13, 105:13, 2635:22–23, 1805:24–25, 426:1, 2926:9, 131

Genesis1:21, 2442:18, 52, 6328:15, 25648:20, 219

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE INDEX


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Habakkuk2:18, 244

Haggai2:4, 256

Hebrews2:10, 1862:18, 2914:13, 1594:16, 2116:10, 6411:6, 10212:1–2, 3412:11, 13112:28–29, 11813:6, 19313:20–21, 310

Hosea2:14, 16

Isaiah1:17, 1982:3, 1227:14, 9910:3, 15812:3, 16114:12–15, 2128:11–12, 16030:21, 13733:6, 2240:29, 26841:10, 25742:16, 1843:2, 25844:3, 16550:10, 11253:3, 18453:4–5, 18453:7, 30953:11, 18453:12, 18455:1, 162

55:9, 2155:10–11, 14255:12, 24356:7, 24958:3–4, 9158:10, 20058:11, 162,

21061:1–2, 14, 3762:11, 9965:24, 5866:2, 25, 216

James1:2–3, 1811:5, 221:5–6, 991:19–20, 2382:26, 2983:13, 2153:17, 233:18, 1324:4, 715:14, 30

Jeremiah1:8, 2571:9, 1744:19, 2756:10, 1587:11, 2497:23, 28620:8–9, 18523:24, 7829:11, 19129:11–13, 2829:12–13, 9933:3, 60

Job5:17, 2226:10, 2758:21, 181

12:10, 24512:13, 2419:27, 30527:11, 26833:26–27, 18036:11, 28636:15, 187

Joel1:14, 96

John1:1, 1231:1–3, 821:6–8, 2331:14, 1261:16, 2211:29, 2951:44–51, 25–271:50, 25, 261:51, 272:1–11, 31–332:4, 312:5, 312:19–23, 2552:22, 833:5, 2653:18, 1064:1–24, 121–1244:9, 1224:10, 1224:14, 1234:23, 1184:23–24, 1234:24, 1214:25–42, 128–

1304:26, 1284:34, 1294:35, 1284:36–38, 1294:39, 2324:41, 129


313

5:1–15, 134–1365:6, 1345:11, 1355:14, 1355:19, 2845:24, 2976:1–15, 140–1436:5, 1406:7, 1406:9, 1406:11, 1406:12, 1426:19–20, 1926:22, 546:23, 1426:28, 1546:29, 1546:35, 1656:35–37, 1556:38, 89, 2846:53–54, 1556:60–70, 154–1576:63–64, 1556:68, 1546:69, 1567:8–11, 166–1687:26, 1637:37–38, 161, 1627:37–43, 161–1637:38, 2668, 938:4–5, 1668:7, 166, 1679:21, 30310:27, 30910:30–39, 18411:1–44, 223–22511:4, 22311:6, 22311:14–15, 22311:21–22, 224

11:23, 22411:24, 22411:25–26, 22411:27, 22411:28–44,

229–23111:32, 22911:34, 23011:37, 23011:39, 23011:40, 23011:41, 230, 27711:41–42, 22911:42, 23111:44, 23012:1–11, 27212:36, 11212:49–50, 4713:1–38,

259–26113:14, 25913:38, 25914:1, 113, 25914:1–14, 259–26114:5, 26014:6–7, 26014:12–14, 26014:13–14, 25914:15–17, 257,

26514:15–31,

265–26714:18, 26614:23, 267, 28714:26, 265, 26614:27, 25615:5, 6915:9, 815:10, 1116:1–16, 265–26716:17, 271

16:17–33, 271–273

16:20, 27116:21–22, 179,

27116:23, 259–26116:32, 5217:1–4, 27717:1–26, 277–27917:5, 20317:8–9, 27717:11, 27817:18, 27817:20–21, 277,

27817:23, 28117:26, 27920:22, 421:1–19, 306–30821:15, 30721:16, 30621:17, 307

1 John1:1, 1751:1–2, 2331:6, 1262:5–6, 2863:2–3, 1693:18–20, 403:22, 994:10, 124:18, 84:19, 85:14–15, 995:18, 175

2 John1:8, 101

3 John1:4, 126

Joshua24:26–27, 242


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Jude1:20–21, 6

1 Kings17:7–16, 3818:22–40,

79–8118:26, 7918:27–28, 8018:36–37, 80

2 Kings1:10, 2364:42–44, 1415:1–14, 3817:27–41, 121

Lamentations3:27–29, 54

Leviticus15:25–30, 17118:21, 15519:18, 16720:10, 16624:10–23, 16725:17, 199

Luke1:58, 1812:10, 1782:37, 3022:46–49, 143:22, 1784:1, 134:1–2, 13–154:1–13, 19–214:2–3, 194:3, 194:4, 194:6–7, 204:8, 204:9–11, 204:12, 20

4:13, 2924:14–30, 37–394:18, 1984:18–19, 144:21, 374:24, 374:25–27, 444:28–30, 1844:36–37, 465:7, 655:17, 555:17–26, 55–575:23–24, 565:23–25, 475:26, 555:27, 61–635:27–31, 615:33–34, 615:35, 946:1–5, 616:9, 626:12–13, 616:14–16, 636:16, 61–636:27–28, 29, 686:27–36, 67–696:28, 676:39, 1537:1–10, 103–1057:6–8, 1047:9, 1047:47, 1598:42–48, 171–1738:46, 1748:48, 1728:50, 1079:1–2, 449:16, 899:18–27, 183–1859:19, 1839:22, 184

9:23, 1839:23–24, 1849:28–36, 189–1919:29, 1899:31, 1909:33, 1909:37–43, 195–1979:51–56, 235–2379:54, 2369:55–56, 235, 23610:17–24,

177–17910:18, 21, 17710:19, 70, 17710:20, 17710:21, 177, 17810:23, 30410:38–42,

201–20210:39, 20110:40, 20210:41–42, 20211:1, 8511:1–4, 85–8711:4, 1711:5–13, 97–9911:10, 26611:13, 97, 99,

26612:7, 4312:11–12, 515:1–31, 17815:7, 17915:10, 17917:15, 13818:1, 152, 20618:1–8, 206–20818:2–3, 20618:6–8, 20718:8, 20718:9–14, 212–214


315

18:11–12, 21318:13, 212, 21318:14, 21319:28–44,

241–24319:38, 24219:40, 24119:41–42, 24222:31–32, 28922:31–34,

288–29022:32, 28822:39–46,

283–28522:47–62,

288–29022:48, 28822:59, 28923:14–15, 29423:26–46,

294–29623:34, 29523:46, 111, 294,

29524:5–7, 30024:13–35,

300–30224:23, 30124:30, 14224:30–31, 30024:52–53, 178

Malachi3:10, 221

Mark1:1–8, 1–31:7–8, 11:11, 1371:15, 1061:21–28, 43–451:24, 43

1:27, 431:29–39, 49–511:35, 491:38, 503:14–15, 2684:34, 1514:35–41, 109–1114:39, 1094:40, 1104:41, 1105:33, 1255:34, 1876:34, 3097:24–30, 147–1507:27, 1487:28, 147, 1497:29, 1498:6, 1429:14–29, 195–1979:18, 1969:19, 1969:23, 1969:24, 107, 1959:25, 1969:29, 95, 1969:41, 10110:13–16,

218–22010:14, 21910:15, 21910:16, 21810:35–45, 26010:45, 260, 26211:15–18,

247–24911:17, 24711:18, 24912:26–27, 19013:8, 27414:38, 29214:63–65, 294

Matthew1:23, 993:13–17, 7–93:17, 7, 8, 9, 134:1, 2914:1–2, 13–154:3–4, 444:4, 934:24, 2745:3–11, 675:5, 2145:6, 1645:8, 1705:19, 1675:43–45, 715:43–48, 67–695:44, 685:46, 975:48, 686:1, 97, 1006:1–8, 73–756:2, 976:4, 976:5, 976:5–6, 2136:6, 28, 73, 976:7, 796:7–8, 79–81, 2096:8, 79, 806:9–13, 85–876:10, 856:13, 2926:16, 91, 94, 976:16–18, 91–936:17–18, 916:18, 976:19–21, 986:31–33, 817:5, 1697:7, 977:7–12, 97–99


316

Matthew (cont.)7:11, 987:24, 838:5–13, 103–1058:13, 1038:15, 1768:20, 2018:23–27, 109–1118:26, 1938:27, 2869:14, 919:14–15, 91–939:15, 919:18–22, 171–1739:21, 1719:22, 349:28, 1079:29, 1749:37–38, 13310:14, 3911:27, 15813:16, 30313:58, 3414:19, 142, 27714:22–34,

115–11714:23, 5214:27, 115, 116,

11714:31, 11615:12, 14715:21–28,

147–15015:24, 14815:28, 14916:13–20, 12817:1–13, 189–19117:5, 19018:12, 31018:18–20,

253–255, 254

18:19–20, 25319:13–15,

218–22020:29–34, 13621:45, 15223:5–11,

212–21425:37, 16426:21, 25526:36–45,

283–28526:38, 28326:39, 283, 28426:40–41, 28426:41, 29026:45–46, 28526:61, 25527:24, 29527:32–55,

294–29627:46, 29528:5, 19228:18–20, 46

Nehemiah1:4, 958:10, 1789:6, 119

Numbers15:32–36, 16715:39, 212

1 Peter2:9, 402:20–21, 1873:9, 2214:10, 2624:12, 1864:13, 226

Philippians2:3, 215

4:6, 1454:12, 77

Proverbs1:5–6, 1513:5–6, 1133:21–24, 1923:27, 2694:11, 169:10, 2310:22, 22211:2, 21611:13, 7614:14, 10015:1, 5915:18, 23915:30, 18216:19, 19918:20–21, 29720:4, 13224:17, 7125:21, 16526:7, 15229:2, 4629:11, 239

Psalms4:1, 585:3, 1376:4, 109:9, 19813:2, 7214:2, 8816:11, 20417:6, 6019:1, 22619:7–8, 12319:14, 8220:6, 26823:4, 29825:4–5, 12525:9, 21627:1, 194

dailytalks.indd 316dailytalks.indd 316 3/1/11 1:50 AM3/1/11 1:50 AM

317

28:7, 18029:2, 22732:2, 22234:3, 25037:5–6, 11337:8, 23840:17, 21051:6, 2451:10, 17051:11, 20356:3, 113, 148,

24361:2, 1866:19, 13969:13, 2869:29, 27471:12, 6478:2–3, 15185:10, 25186:5, 1090:8, 76100:2, 119100:3, 309100:4, 145106:25, 287107:9, 164109:11–12, 68116:6, 209116:8–9, 297118:26, 242119:66, 106126:5–6, 179,

272

133:1, 280136:26, 144139:1–6, 81139:13, 245139:15–16, 77139:16, 191139:23–24, 169143:8, 112146:7, 199

Revelation4:11, 2455:12, 1385:13, 2497:17, 1712:11, 23313:8, 4114:12, 28715:4, 11821:4, 27621:6, 164

Romans1:20, 2444:20–21, 2275:3–4, 1885:10, 2986:16, 1596:17, 1458:22, 2758:26, 2910:14, 10710:17, 3512:1, 120

13:1, 4813:3, 4814:8, 4014:17, 515:5–6, 28115:13, 4

Ruth2:12, 100

1 Samuel12:16, 30412:24, 26216:23, 27224:4, 7026:23, 101

2 Samuel22:7, 13822:18, 72

1 Thessalonians3:13, 2045:7–9, 415:14, 645:18, 144

1 Timothy2:8, 2395:5, 53

2 Timothy1:8–9, 232

Zechariah9:9, 24113:9, 59


318

Note: Page numbers in italics indicate specif ic daily prayers.

abandonment, sense of, 294–296, 297–299

abiding love, 11abounding in love, 10aff irmation of love, 7–9, 10–12afraid. see fearaloneness. see solitudeanalogy, talking to God through,

147–150, 151–153angels, voices of, 138anger, 235–237, 238–240answered prayer, 55–57, 58–60

delayed, 223–225, 226–228assurances, delayed prayer answers

and, 223–225, 226–228authority. see spiritual authority

baptism, 1–3, 4–6belief, 103–105, 106–108

vs. unbelief, 195–197, 198–200belonging, 37–39, 40–42blessing, prayers of, 218–220,

221–222blind man, parable of, 153

complete unity, 281–282consideration of others, 215–216contentment, 77corporate prayer, 247–249,

250–252covenant love, 11Creation, 241–243, 244–246

death, 294–296, 297–299delayed answers, to prayer,

223–225, 226–228desires, giving voice to, 134–136,

137–139disobedience, 77–78, 287the divine, recognizing through

prayer, 300–302, 303–305

encouragement, parables for, 152endurance, patient, 287enduring love, 12enemies

power against, 269praying for, 67–69, 70–72,

165evil

anger leading to, 238authority over, 46delivery from, 292protection from, 175repaying with blessing, 221

expressing thanks, 263eyes that see, 300–302, 303–305

failure to pray, 195–197, 198–200

faith/faithfulness, 31–33, 34–36reaching Christ through, 174reward for, 100

fasting, 91–93, 94–96favor, praying with, 28fear

of authority, 48belief without, 107letting go of. see trust in God

SUBJECTS INDEX


319

fellowship, of Holy Spirit, 4–5forgiveness of sins, 47

blessing of, 222restoration and, 292

freedomin Christ, 198from suffering, 187–188thanksgiving for, 145

friend of world, 71full of faith, 35

Gethsemane praying, 283–285, 286–287

God-given authority, 47–48God’s Comfort, 17God’s Gift, 183–185, 186–188God’s Glory, 241–243, 244–246

rejoicing in, 226–228God’s Grace, 211

blessing and, 221God’s Guidance, 128–130,

131–133, 189–191, 192–194

humility and, 216God’s Hand, 245God’s Kingdom, 259–261,

262–264God’s Light, 18God’s Love, aff irmation of, 7–9,

10–12, 16–17God’s Mercy, 180God’s Mysteries, 76–77God’s Plan, 31–33, 34–36God’s Power, 268, 269God’s Presence, 201–202,

203–205, 256God’s Sheep, 306–308, 309–310God’s Voice, 137, 160God’s Wisdom, 23God’s Word, 82governing authority, 48

gratitude, 140–143, 144–146group prayer, 253–255, 256–258

harvest. see God’s Guidancehealing faith, 34healing power, of Christ, 171–173,

174–176, 265–267, 268–270

hearing, faith by, 35–36heaven, wisdom from, 23Heavenly Guest, 201–202,

203–205heavenly treasure, 97–99, 100–102help, praying for, 61–63, 64–66,

206–208, 209–211helping others, 200hiding, from God, 78Holy Spirit, 1–3, 4–6

fruit of the, 180maintaining unity of, 280praying with power of, 265–267,

268–270thirst for, 161–163, 164–165

hospitality, prayer, 201–202, 203–205

House of Prayer, 247–249, 250–252human reasoning. see wisdomhumility, 71, 212–214, 215–217

intercessionary prayer, 28intimacy with God, 25–27, 28–30

Jesusanswers from, 83authority of, 46healing by. see healing power, of

Christparables of, 152prayer at Gethsemane, 283–285praying in name of, 259–261,

262–264


320

Jesus (cont.)praying with, 253–255, 256–

258touching, through prayer,

171–173, 174–176as the Word, 82–83

joy. see also rejoicingfaith with, 34in Holy Spirit, 5in pain, 275prayers of, 177–179, 180–182

lack of faith, 34–35leadership, of Holy Spirit, 13–15,

16–18letting go

of anger, 235–237, 238–240of fear. see trust in God

living in unity, 280Lord’s Prayer, 85–87, 88–90love. see also God’s Love

anger and, 238declaring through prayer,

306–308, 309–310for enemy, 70–71obedience and, 287serving one another in, 263

mercy, 70mind, unity of, 281

nations, praying for, 30, 247–249, 250–252

natural worldglory of, 241–243, 244–246obedience and, 286

needs, unmet, 79–81, 82–84persistence of prayer and,

206–208, 209–211

obedience, 283–285, 286–287

opportunity, spiritual, 128–130, 131–133

oppression, 198–200

pain, 271–273, 274–276parables, 151–153patience, 287peace

in Holy Spirit, 5Jesus offering, 256

personal prayer(s), 85–87, 88–90declaring love through, 309–310of thanksgiving, 144–146

placessecret, 77solitary. see solitude

powerof Holy Spirit, 4over enemy, 70of prayer, 55–57, 58–60

praise, of natural world, 241–243, 244–246

prayer hospitality, 201–202, 203–205

prayer(s). see also specif ic types of prayer

alternatives to, 154–157, 158–160

answered. see answered prayerfailures in, 195–197, 198–200persistence in prayer and, 206–

208, 209–211rewards of, 97–99, 100–102satisfying nature of, 161–163,

164–165spiritual perception improved

through, 300–302, 303–305

as witness, 229–231, 232–234as worship, 115–117, 118–120

praying together


321

corporate prayer, 247–249, 250–252

with Jesus, 253–255, 256–258protection

from evil, 175, 257–258God’s, 274

providence, 229–231, 232–234purity of heart, 17

prayerful self-examination and, 166–168, 169–170

receiving the Holy Spirit, 4reconciliation, 298redeeming love, 10–11redemption, 183–185, 186–188rejection, 37–39, 40–42rejoicing

in God’s Glory, 226–228suffering as occasion for, 188

renewal, 170rescue, from enemy, 72, 257rewards of prayer, 97–99, 100–102righteousness

anger and, 238authority of, 46–47in Holy Spirit, 5leading toward, 16reward for, 101spiritual opportunity and, 131thirst for, 164

routine, departure from, 91–93, 94–96

sacrif icial love, 12saving faith, 35secrets/secrecy, 73–75, 76–78

praying in, 28–29self-examination, prayerful, 166–

168, 169–170service, 259–261, 262–264the Shepherd, 306–308, 309–310

shield of faith, 36sick, praying for the, 30sins

forgiveness of. see forgiveness of sins

secret, 76solitude, 49–51, 52–54soul-searching, 166–168, 169–170spirit of unity, 281spiritual authority, 43–45, 46–48spiritual blessing, 222spiritual opportunity, 128–130,

131–133spiritual perception, prayer

improving, 300–302, 303–305

spiritual thirst, 161–163, 164–165spiritual truth, 83, 121–124,

125–127suffering, 183–185, 186–188

through temptation, 291supernatural prayer, 67–69,

70–72symbolism

reaching Christ through, 171–173, 174–176

talking to God through, 147–150, 151–153

teaching, by Holy Spirit, 5temptation, praying against, 288–

290, 291–293testify. see witness, prayer asthanks, expressing, 263thanksgiving, 140–143, 144–146

for natural world, 241–243, 244–246

thirst. see spiritual thirsttithing, blessing of, 221together, in prayer. see praying

together


322

touching Jesus, through prayer, 171–173, 174–176

transf iguration, through prayer, 189–191, 192–194

travail, prayer as, 271–273, 274–276

trust in God, 109–111, 112–114joy and, 181transformative power of prayer

and, 189–191, 192–194trustworthiness, 76truth, spiritual, 83, 121–124,

125–127

unbelief, overcoming, 107–108unfailing love, 10unity, prayers of, 277–279, 280–

282

voicing desires, 134–136, 137–139

weak/weakness

Holy Spirit and, 18, 268temptation, praying against,

288–290, 291–293wealth, blessing bringing, 222willing spirit, 292–293wisdom, 19–21, 22–24

from humility, 216humility in, 215of parables, 151

witness, prayer as, 229–231, 232–234

the Word, 82–83word pictures, talking to God

through, 147–150, 151–153words, 79–81, 82–84

using wisely, 152work, 256worship, prayer as, 115–117,

118–120


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