May Daily Prayers

 

May 1

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great Father,

 

You are the God of the heavens. The first heaven is our atmosphere, the second outer space, but the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2) – to which Paul was caught up – is where Your throne room is. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so great is Your compassion toward those who fear You. You are above all when it comes to quality, depth of character, power and privilege. You are the God of the heavens.

 

Thank You, my God, that You care about the widow and the orphan, the divorced, the abused, the impoverished, the persecuted, the lonely, the abandoned and the unhappily married. You feel compassion upon the sick and injured, the handicapped and the distressed. You empathize with the depressed, and You offer a special blessing to the poor in Spirit. Lord, I encounter some of these people throughout my weekly routine. Perhaps I am one of these people. Lord, may these and others experience Your love. Thank You that in Christ our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.

 

Lord, help me to bear up under the trials, disappointments, fears and tribulations of life including: __________.

 

Let me remember that You are developing my faith and that You often use difficult times to make me stronger in You. Though I admit that I usually hate such trials, I do appreciate what You have done in my life through them. My choice is to go through them with You or without You. I will go through them either way. I choose to go through them hand in hand with You.

 

Lord, help me to be a good steward of the funds with which You provide me. Proverbs 17:18 reads, "Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom." O, Lord, may I be a wise person. Help me be wise in all areas, including money management.

 

Father, the nation of Iran is in my prayers today. Although we have heard a lot about this nation in the news, we pray for the people of Iran, that they might be saved. Lord, we cannot get reliable figures, but there are probably only a few thousand believers in Iran if that, less than one tenth of one percent. With Iran being over 99% Muslim and noted for intolerance, five million Iranians live outside the nation. Thank You for their seventy congregations. We pray, Lord, that freedom would reign in Iran, and that the Gospel would spread and multiply. The Magi came from Iran (Persia) to see the Christ child and we pray that the people of Iran would likewise come to Christ.

 

Father, thank You for the ministry of World Harvest Mission, "a missions sending agency that...has over 130 missionaries in 13 countries." Their vision is to "see people and communities everywhere being made new by the gospel." They "serve the church by sending people who are being changed by the gospel to begin new churches and strengthen existing churches." O Father, bless their efforts, grant them harmony, provide for them and empower their work by the Holy Spirit.

 

Now help me find my joy in You, I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 2

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,

 

You are the One true God. The world claims many gods and many who do not know You claim that there is One God – but not necessarily You, Yahweh, the God of the Bible. You are the true God, as defined and described in Scripture. Although we cannot understand all the mysteries of Your Tri-unity, we know that it is accurate to say that You are One; Yahweh our God is One Lord. And to the degree that we understand the teachings of Your Word, we believe in the true God. Help us to sharpen our understanding of Who You are so that we will "know Whom we have believed."

 

Lord, all around me are men, women and young people struggling with destructive substance abuses or other harmful addictions. Although it is great to be free from all addictions, some are definitely worse than others. And modern society with its dysfunctional families and high stress pressure makes a great hotbed to nurture these addictions. Help friends, family and possibly myself to learn to cope with life by walking more closely to You. Help them to believe that life can still be meaningful and livable, even without the addiction. Help us to know what to do to help our addicted friends and to recognize what we cannot do as well.

 

I pray for parents everywhere. Lord, parents are so important to those little ones entrusted to their care. May parents everywhere protect and train their children in humane and balanced ways. Help them to love their children, not to spoil them and to encourage them toward positive directions. We pray that Christian parents would prove to be consistent role models for their young ones. Help parents to give thought to childrearing in light of modern times; keep them from just repeating what previous generations did during simpler times. Please, Lord, help parents to get their heads out of the sand.

 

Lord, the nation of Iraq is a complicated one. Headlines every day demonstrate that this nation is having a challenge to rebuild itself. But thank You, Lord, for the flow of the Gospel into this land. Before the war, about one-tenth of one percent claimed to be born-again evangelicals. That seems to have grown since ministries have been allowed into the country. I pray that the Gospel would take a deep root there and I ask that You would help the believers to have unusual wisdom, boldness and be under the control of Your Spirit. O Lord, please do a mighty work in Iraq!

 

Thank You, Father, for the ministry of World Help, a mission that "was founded in 1991 as a...nondenominational Christian organization to help as many desperate people as possible through humanitarian aid, child sponsorship, Bible distribution and church planting." Lord, help them to be effective in fulfilling what You have called them to do. Give them wisdom, harmony amongst themselves, provide for their needs, protect them and empower them by Your Holy Spirit.

 

Help me walk with You today, I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 3

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord,

 

You are the Most High God. You are not merely above us nor do You share Your status. You are truly above all; none are higher than You. No one outranks You; no one matches Your rank. You alone, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are the Most High God. Although the evil one is powerful, he is far from at parity with You. As the hymnist put it, “one little word will fell him.” There is no competition. The difference between a single cell creature and a mortal man is great, but the difference between You, O Lord, and any created being is greater! Indeed, how can anyone who is finite be compared with You Who are infinite!

 

Father, as a sinful human being, I sometimes need to apologize to others. Help me not excuse my wrongs, or predicate my apologies based upon how others wronged me. Help me to ask for forgiveness by taking full responsibility for my actions and isolating them from the behavior of others. Help me utter those words, “I was wrong; please forgive me.”

 

Lord, I know that I have not because I ask not. Please, Lord meet the following needs and requests according to Your perfect will: __________.

 

Lord, troubled marriages are all around me. Often I am not aware of that. A friend at work, a neighbor, a relative. A mom with young children feels trapped and the couple could use some time away with her husband, but no family is near or there are no trusted friends to watch the children; finances are tight and the tensions high. A man or woman was reared in a messed up family and the baggage they bring into their marriage is destroying it. Long work hours, addictions, anger, violence and immorality – people all around us are struggling. Help us to be supportive in every way and help the marriages around me to get stronger especially within my church family.

 

I pray for the nation of the Ivory Coast. Once considered a safe base for missions, the Ivory Coast has become more turbulent. Lord, grant stability and continued religious freedom in this land. Help the Christians there to take charge of the church, to be strong and to multiply the number of believers in that land. Use the trauma of war and disunity to drive people to You and as things settle down may the church be more mature and stronger than ever.

 

I pray for World Relief, an organization that “works with local evangelical churches to bring relief to suffering people in the name of Christ. Together, World Relief and partner churches are saving lives and restoring hope through ministries that address poverty, disease, hunger, persecution and the effects of war and disasters.” Thank You that they seek to “meet suffering people's physical, emotional and spiritual needs, showing them that the Church cares because Jesus loves them.” O, God, provide for this ministry. Give them what they need to get the job done, the wisdom to do the job and the power of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit. Help them get along with one another and bless this work, I ask.

 

Now, Lord, help me be active for You today, I ask in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

May 4

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord,

 

Your Word compares You to a Potter and us to the clay. Just as the potter has the “…right to make out the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use” (Romans 9:21), so we acknowledge that we have no grounds to talk back to you (Romans 9:20). We may not like where Your Sovereign hand has led us and our lot in life might be other than we would wish, but ultimately our main choice is whether to take Your hand or to kick against the thorns in protest. We choose to walk with You. We thank You that You understand exactly what You are doing, even though things are sometimes not as we think they should be. We confess that You are doing a much better job at running the universe than we could. So we submit ourselves to You, the potter. We remember that we are clay in Your hands.

 

Father, help me to keep my spiritual eyes open, and to join You where You are working. Perhaps a friend or associate is going through trials and You are using this to draw him or her to Yourself. Help me be alert and to minister accordingly.

 

Lord, thank You for blessing me so abundantly. Today I am thankful for: __________.

 

Father, I release the control of my life to You so that the Holy Spirit can control me. I remember that it is, “not by might, nor by power, but by Your Spirit,” that I can overcome (Zechariah 4:6).

 

Lord, help my church be harmonious. May the leaders be firm when it comes to the clear teachings of Scripture and gracious about the not-so-clear matters. Keep antagonists, troublemakers and those who resent authority away from our congregation. Help my church to be effective in evangelism, discipleship, loving one another and world missions.

 

Today I pray for the nation of Ireland. Lord, this land has a wonderful history. Yet there are so few born-again evangelical Christians there, only 3.3%. Thank You though that the evangelical church does seem to be growing, even as other forms of Christianity are rapidly declining. Thank You that there is an evangelical work in each county. O, Father, may more and more Irish people come to a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. May Your Spirit draw many to Him.

 

Thank You for the great heritage and wonderful ministry of World Vision “a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty.” Thank You for their work in over 48 countries. As they minister to the poor, we pray that many would find the Savior. Provide for their needs, bless them by empowering them with Your Spirit and help them to work in harmony.

 

Now, Lord, help me to live in harmony with Your will today, I request in the Name of the Savior, Amen.

 

May 5

by Ed Vasicek

 

O God,

 

You are the Ancient of Days. You, O Lord, not only go back to the beginning of all things, but You go back before all things. There was a time when there was no time, yet You were there. As we learned in geometry, we are like a ray; we have a starting point and go on eternally, but You are like a line, eternal in both directions. You are the Ancient of Days and this implies You have an eternal wisdom, too.

 

Yes, my past carries some negative memories, but it carries some pleasant ones as well. I can be tempted to live in the past. My past carries some pleasant memories as well. Help me not to glamorize the past (Ecclesiastes 7:16), but to remember that You are always active in my life. Although there are things about the past that I love to remember, help me to press forward to the goal You have set for me (Philippians 3:13). The best days are ahead (1 Corinthians 2:9).

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me those sins, and You will purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I accept responsibility for my sins and freely bring the sins Your Spirit brings to my mind now: __________.

 

Help me, Lord, to be assertive – to be able to ask for what I want – but to avoid being demanding. Help me obey the Golden Rule when it comes to making requests, to do unto others as I would have them do unto me.

 

Lord, today I remember that nation that is especially near and dear to Your heart, the nation of Israel. Your Word reveals that Your determination to bless Israel remains firm (Jeremiah 31:36-37, Romans 11:29). Yet few of the children of Israel know Jesus, Yeshua, as Messiah. Thank You that the number of believing Jews (Messianic Jews) has increased from 200 to 7,000 with Israel, yet only two-tenths of one percent of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals. I look forward to the time when the nation of Israel will turn to Christ in droves (Zechariah 12:10), but I pray that many would come to know You before those times. I also pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

 

Father, praise Your Name for Wycliffe Bible Translators and the great work they do! Over "5000 active members from 46 countries...help build the church around the world and give people access to the words of life." Wycliffe seeks to translate the Scriptures into the mother tongue of every language group: "Already Wycliffe workers have helped to complete 611 translations, making God's Word available to more than 76 million people." Over 380 million people cannot read a Bible in their native language because it is yet to be translated into that language. Wycliffe's goal is to have a translation project started in each one of these languages by 2025. O Lord, help them reach this lofty goal to Your glory. Provide for them, grant them safety, harmony and empower them by Your Spirit. Raise up Christians to help complete the task.

 

Now use me today, I pray in the Messiah's Name, Amen.

 

May 6

by Ed Vasicek

 

Helper of the helpless,

 

Thank You, Jesus Christ, that You are God. You are the Son, the Word and the exact representation of the Father. You are also a sinless man. You are the God-man, the Savior of the World. Your divinity had no beginning, but is eternal. As God the Son, You have always existed. Your humanity had a beginning within the virgin's womb. But even Your humanity is special, for Your human nature is the firstborn of all creation – it has the preeminence. And from the time Your human nature was conceived, Your two natures are united in one Person. We cannot understand the mystery of it all; we can merely define the boundaries Your Word gives us!

 

But Lord Jesus, You experienced all this for a reason, to be our Redeemer and Savior – as part of a plan to glorify the Father, Son and Spirit. You were the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. All was created around Your sacrifice and resurrection to Your glory.

 

Lord, use my mouth to bless others. Help me remember that, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24). Help me remember that it is easier to damage others with my words than it is to build them up!

 

Lord, sometimes I have not because I ask not, so I am asking. Please meet the following needs, requests and desires as You see fit: __________.

 

Help me with my thought life today. Help me think positive and pleasant thoughts today, thoughts that please You.

 

Lord, I pray that You would strengthen the marriages in my family, among my friends and within my church family. Put a hedge of protection around them and help these folks to be determined to make their marriage work. Send help to them and may they avail themselves of books, seminars and counseling. Help them build their marriages upon You.

 

I remember the nation of Japan in my prayers. O Father, this nation seems to be so resistant to the Gospel. Cults like Moonies and Mormons are growing faster than the evangelical church! Only four-tenths of one percent of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals, despite religious freedom. Only 10% of the population believes in a Personal God. The church has not really grown since 1960, but has barely held its own. O Father, break through with the power of Your Spirit, I pray!

 

Thank you for the ministry of Gideons International whose "sole purpose is to win men, women, boys and girls to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.... Members of The Gideons International place and distribute scriptures in 181 countries in 82 languages.... Annually, The Gideons International is placing and distributing more than 63,000,000 Scriptures worldwide." Indeed, hotels, prison, military, universities, domestic violence shelters, fire departments...are places stocked with Gideon Bibles. Lord, provide for this ministry, give harmony to the members and empower their work by Your Spirit!

 

Now help me reflect Your character to others today, I ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 7

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord Jesus,

 

You are the Root and Offspring of David. David was a type of You. He was a man after God's own heart and he ruled with integrity and honesty. But He was an imperfect type. David was a sinner who sometimes failed miserably. You never fail and You are the spotless Lamb of God, One Who was tempted in all points as we are, yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). David was of the tribe of Judah, of the nation of Israel. According to the flesh, Lord Jesus, You were genetically connected to David through Mary who descended from David's son, Nathan. Legally, You had the right to rule because Joseph was a descendent of David through Solomon. Even though this line was later cursed, You were actually connected physically to David through Mary, but only legally through the cursed line, thus avoiding the curse (Jeremiah 22:30).

 

You did this, Lord, not so we could produce genealogical charts for our walls, but You determined these things so Your people could identify the Messiah: of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Judah, the House of David but not the line of Coniah, born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) as the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) who was a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Yet many of Your own nation and family did not receive Him. But for those of us who have received Him, He has made us the children of God (John 1:11-12).

 

Help me to resist temptation and the lures of the Satan today.

 

[for the married]

 

Lord, thank You for what marriage has done for our society and this world. Help my marriage to be a blessing. Guard it, put a hedge around it, and help us to be determined to work out our differences with an unswerving commitment. Help us to respect one another, to talk to one another, to compromise with one another and to enjoy one another's company. Help us to work at our marriage, to nurture it, to go out together, to occasionally read a book to help us renew our marriage and to really understand one another. When I do not understand, help me to know this. Do not allow me to think that I understand my spouse when I do not. Never let an attitude of contempt or sarcasm master me.

[for the single, divorced, separated, or widowed]

 

Lord, I have to admit that sometimes life is lonely. Although friends and family enrich my life, sometimes I regret that I am alone. At other times, I appreciate it! Help me to appreciate the blessings of the single life: time to focus upon You, freedom to come and go as I please and a simplicity of life. Help me to participate in church and community. If I am left out, help me to become tough to that. Help me dive in and include myself. Help me remember that this is usually not intentional. Many couples have no idea I want to be included and their minds blind them to pick up on my desire to be included. Help me express to them in no uncertain terms that I want to be included. Keep me from taking the stance of a victim and help me to celebrate the single life.

Lord, I pray for my own town, city, or county. Help those of us who know Christ realize that we are to be Your witnesses. Keep me from thinking that this is my pastor's job; his job is to train me to be a good witness; I am to do the work of sharing Christ. Help me believe and practice this reality.

 

Lord, I pray for the missionaries from my denomination (or an evangelical denomination I respect). Father, fill them with Your Holy Spirit constantly. Help them walk closely with You and to share the love of Christ with heartfelt compassion. Help them walk in harmony with their fellow missionaries. Provide for their families and meet their physical, social and spiritual needs. Keep them true to Your Word, encourage them and give them fruit for their labors and wisdom for their decisions. Protect and direct them, I pray.

 

I surrender myself afresh to You in the Messiah's Name, Amen.

 

May 8

by Ed Vasicek

 

Savior,

 

You are the Last Adam. The first Adam made a sinful choice and he plunged the universe into a state of decay and death. He was our representative, our proxy. Since that time, all humans – except You, the virgin-born Jesus – have been born with a sin nature. You were born with a human nature for sure, but one that was not predisposed to sin, like Adam's before the Fall. Perhaps this was why it was necessary for You to be born of a virgin, so You did not inherit the sin nature.

 

Like the first Adam, You are the representative for others, the believer's proxy. In Your case, Lord, You chose to obey – even though You were repeatedly tempted. Romans 5:17 tells me, "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." Thank You, Lord Jesus.

 

Lord, I am thankful for many things three of which are: __________.

 

My God, I empty myself before You so that Your Spirit may fill me. I find my strength in His power, not my own. May Your Spirit control me today.

 

Lord, I know the church gathers so that believer can build one another up in their faith, the result of this is spiritual maturity as seen in faith, hope and love. I need to be part of the Body to mature properly. I need to socialize to be mentally healthy and I need Christian fellowship to be spiritually healthy. Although worship is part of church life, it's not just about worshipping You. Help me to become a more mature Christian. This does not happen in giant leaps, but by small baby steps. Help me make those steps. I also pray for the following, that they would grow a little more every week: __________.

 

Father, I pray for the Kingdom of Jordan. Thank You for the religious freedom there and I pray that it would continue. Although only two-tenths of one percent of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals, the evangelical church is growing. Although many Christians end up immigrating for other lands, help those who are committed to remaining multiply themselves by sharing Christ. May Your Spirit prepare more and more hearts for the good news of Jesus Christ. Bless the Jesus film and other outreach attempts. Help the church to train and retain good leaders, I pray.

 

Thank You for Missions to Military, a "Christian ministry that works through local churches and with Bible-believing Chaplains to help evangelize and to disciple military men and women for Jesus Christ." Thank You for the six Military Christian Centers on the east coast and the two centers located overseas. Use these centers and the staff to win men and women to Christ and disciple them. Fill them with Your Spirit, provide for them and grant them harmony.

 

I pray for city and town employees who help maintain, protect and plan for the needs of their citizens. Bless many of them with salvation and a sense of satisfaction from their work.

 

Now use me as Your servant today, I ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 9

by Ed Vasicek

 

God the Son,

 

In Scripture, we read that You are the Word, and the Word became flesh. You, God the Son, are the Living Word. When You return to conquer and reign, You will also be known by that title (Revelation 19:13). You communicate the character of God to us and when incarnated You helped us understand Who God is by Who You are. We marvel at the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

Lord, thank You that You have an agenda for me to become holier. You are in the process of sanctifying me, helping me to grow in spiritual maturity. This requires my cooperation; we are working on this together, though we do not work in the same ways or equally. The point is that You want me to nurture my walk by being involved with things like spending time in Your Word, prayer, building friendships with other believers, learning from others in the Body and serving You. You Spirit will then take these things and use them as part of the process of growing in You. Help me adopt Your agenda and surrender my own.

 

Lord, I have some specific requests to bring before You today. They are: __________.

 

Father, I have some personal health concerns including: __________. I also pray for the physical, mental, or spiritual health of others including: __________.

 

Father, I would like Your peace which passes all understanding to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I give You my stress, my cares, my worries, my heartaches and my fears. Help me realign my perspective and to remember that all I have to do is to do Your will for me. I do not have to please everybody, I do not have to carry the world's worries on my shoulders and I can do nothing to change the past. But I can go forward with You today.

 

I ask You to work within the nation of Kazakhstan, one of the former Soviet Republics. Thank You for the .6% of the population who claim to be born-again believers. I pray that this number will grow to 1% within the next 5 years and then double every five years. Lord, this nation is made up of over 65 people groups and I pray that every one of them would have a thriving church community within the next decade. Use the Jesus Film, literature and the testimony of believers to draw people to Jesus. Help the church produce strong leadership.

 

I pray for the ministry of UIM, formerly United Indian Missions. "The purpose of UIM shall be to establish indigenous churches among Native Indian, Mexican and Hispanic peoples of North America built on the Scriptures and functioning within their cultural orientation." Thank You for their work in Canada, the United States and New Mexico as they work to reach, nurture and disciple Native Americans. Give them the leading and power of Your Spirit, I pray. Grant them harmony and unity of spirit and provide for their needs. Bless them with an abundance of fruit!

 

Help me love You with all I am, I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 10

by Ed Vasicek

 

My gracious Master and My God,

 

The Savior is referred to in Your Word as “the Lamb of God.” Thank You, Jesus, that You laid down Your life for me as a sacrifice to the Father for my sins, as my sin offering. You did this freely of Your own will. You likewise took Your life up again through the resurrection.

 

Just as the angel of death “passed over” the homes of the Israelites and the believing Egyptians who applied the blood of the Passover lamb to their doorposts, so Your wrath passes over all those Who have accepted Jesus Christ and are washed in His blood by faith.

 

Lord, remind me to walk the extra mile in my dealings. Your teaching is a moderate one: You instruct me to make extra effort and be gracious, to walk the extra mile. But only an extra mile, not an extra twenty miles. So help me to extend a reasonable amount of grace to others, but at the same time help me to assert myself and not be taken advantage of after walking that extra mile.

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me those sins, and You will purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I accept responsibility for them and freely bring the sins Your Spirit brings to my mind now: __________.

 

Father, I pray for strained relationships. We read of the return of Elijah that “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6). Lord, there are many strained relationships between parents and children or in-laws. There are many other strains between family members or friends all around my community. Father, bring about repentance and reconciliation in my family – if this be Your will – or prevent these heartaches if all seems to be well now.

 

Lord, today I pray for the Spanish-speaking world. Most of these people reside in Latin America or in the European nation of Spain. Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, and there are more than 30 countries in which Spanish is widely spoken; it is the third most widely spoken language in the world with 250 million people claim Spanish as their mother tongue. Thank You for the Scriptures in this language and that good evangelical literature abounds in Spanish. Thank You that many Spanish-speaking people have come to know Christ, especially in Latin America. May these nations become pillars for future missionary efforts.

 

Thank You Lord, for Action International, “an evangelical, nondenominational, missionary-sending agency that works in major urban centers of Asia, Latin America and Africa.... ACTION missionaries reveal the Gospel and love of Christ to neglected and abused children and their families through practical ministries that specialize in reaching the urban poor.” Bless, empower, provide for, protect and use the “160 missionaries (and many other team members) in 13 countries.” Grant them harmony and the help of Your Spirit.

 

Now, Lord, help me follow You faithfully today and give me a thirst for You, I request in the Name of the Savior, Amen.

 

May 11

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord of Mercies and God of Comfort,

 

You are the Light of the World. Although nature reflects many truths about You, such truths are muted and confused by the effects of the curse of the Fall into sin. Nature may expound Your glory, majesty, power and reveal Your wrath, but Your works are only echoes of Who You are. You are Light and in You is no darkness at all – not one bit. You dwell in inapproachable light, yet You enlighten those who come to know Christ and who seek Your face. Your light speaks of Your purity, Your spirituality and Your distinction as the uncreated and uncaused Creator Who is separate from His creation.

 

As my Mighty Fortress and Rock of Defense, You, O Lord, are out for my best interest. Sometimes I doubt this. I am more prone to believe this in theory than in practice. As I sit in my cushioned chair, it is easy to say that my trust is in You, but in the trenches of daily life, I am often fearful, worried and mistrusting. Help me, O God, to let my convictions affect the realities of my daily life. May I trust You not merely on paper or with lip service but in truth.

 

I pray for my lost friends and family members, including: __________. Father, please send Your Spirit to draw them to Yourself and grant them the repentance that leads to life.

 

Omnipotent One, I pray for the nation of Kenya. Thank You for the religious freedom that reigns there and for the great response to the Gospel: almost 36% of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals, yet only 12% of the population attends church regularly. The problem of "nominalism" is growing, so Lord, please revive Your children there! Alongside this poor church attendance is the AIDS epidemic which infects about 14% of the population leaving many orphans as a consequence. O Lord, if Your people would walk with You, how many miseries would be averted!

 

Lord, I pray for those who are suffering from AIDS and other like diseases. Although many have received these sexually-transmitted diseases through sinful behavior not all have done so. Innocent children, faithful spouses, or those receiving blood transfusions, etc. have all been struck with these diseases. But even among those who have become infected through practices which are against Your revealed will, we know that all of us have sinned in varying ways and to varying degrees; when we turn from our sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ all our sins are forgiven. We pray, Lord, that all who suffer from such diseases will come to know Jesus. We pray that You would heal them, according to Your will. If You choose not to heal them, give them better health and help them use their remaining days to serve You. Bless and guide those who serve these folks; thank You for their ministries of mercy and love. Help all Your children avoid immoral practices and help the rest of us to not look down upon those who have such a past.

 

Now, God use me to serve You this day, I ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 12

by Ed Vasicek

 

Almighty God,

 

My Lord Jesus Christ is my great High Priest. He does not qualify to be a priest after the order founded by Aaron. No, His priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, an order that preceded Aaron's. As a matter of fact, Aaron's forefather, Abraham, paid tithes to Melchizedek! As a sinless high priest, He did not have to offer a sacrifice for his own sins. No, He had and has direct access to You. And He did not offer sacrifices of bulls and goats to make us merely ritually clean so that we could participate in the religious life of Israel. No, His sacrifice cleansed our consciences and our souls. He offered Himself! He is both the priest and the sacrifice. And His sacrifice only needed to be offered once for all time since the infinite Son of God is joined to the human nature of Jesus so that an infinite price has been paid. The sacrifice of Jesus is more than adequate to save all.

 

Father, help me remember not to take my own revenge, but to leave space for You to do so. Although I can confront or claim the protection offered me by law or policies, many things fall inbetween those cracks. I am tempted to get even. But, Lord, by not getting even, I allow You to deal with matters thoroughly.

 

Lord, I have some specific requests to bring before You today. They are: __________.

 

Lord, I am thankful for many things, three of which are: __________.

 

Lord, I empty myself before You so that Your Spirit may fill me. I find my strength in His power not my own. May Your Spirit control me today.

 

Father, help me to be a person who thinks ahead. Help me learn the principle of counting the cost, redeeming the time, wisely making decisions and keeping the commitments I make. Keep me from procrastinating and help me to pace myself.

 

Today I pray for the Andhra Pradesh state of India with its almost 80 million people. Although this area has seen growth over the decades, it has been in spiritual decline. Many Christians have a nominal faith and some have been converted back to Hinduism. This is the only state in India in which the Christian population has declined. Although 1.9% of the population claim some sort of Christianity, at one time it was up to 4.2% in 1971. Lord, reverse the negative trends with strong positive ones. Many areas have no Gospel outreach. Please, Lord, do a great work here.

 

Thank You, my God, for Ambassadors for Christ, whose mission is to “evangelize and disciple Chinese students and professionals in the United States and other parts of the world, to motivate and equip them to impact the culture for the Lord and to mobilize and channel them into the service of Christ as a vital force for God's Kingdom.” Bless their work, grant them harmony and the power of Your Spirit. Provide for the workers, and help them to develop many disciples for Jesus Christ.

 

Now, Lord, please send angels to guard me today, I ask in the Name of the Savior, Amen.

 

May 13

by Ed Vasicek

 

O Lord,

 

Jesus Christ is my sin offering. I do not present my good works to You, for they are as filthy rags. I do not present religion, good works, or rituals to You. No, Jesus Christ is my final offering. He paid for my sins so I do not need to. Indeed, I cannot do so. As the hymnist put it, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” As my sin offering, Jesus Christ is my complete Savior. He does not help to save me. No, he saves me completely. His blood atones for all my sins. He shed it once for all time for all people, including me. I have appropriated this sacrifice by simply believing, by faith. Faith affirms Your character and agrees that what You say is true. Disbelief rejects Your credibility and is a great insult to You. Lord, I believe.

 

Help me be a person of character. Let my “yes” really mean “yes.” Help me to speak honestly. Instead of saying what I should say, help me either speak my mind with tact or, if appropriate, hold my peace. But do not let my lips utter words I do not believe. Help me to love the truth.

 

Father, today I pray for the Bible-believing faithful pastors scattered in my country and around the world. Lord, their task is more difficult than ever. The modern challenges to the family, busier schedules, the high demands and expectations of church members and the stresses of ministry make pastoral work a high burnout calling. Additionally, troublemakers plague many churches and sometimes lay leaders with unhealthy attitudes control them. Pastors have to wear so many hats and be taught in so many areas: preaching, teaching, counseling, visiting, organization, keeping current on issues and ministry trends, administration, leadership, officiating weddings, funerals and baptisms...on and on it goes. Help pastors to stand up to attacks and not be passive, to pray and be alert and not try to make everyone happy. Help them do what is in the best interest of the church and the Kingdom of God. Help them train lay leaders to do the work of ministry and to put the ministry of the Word, their personal walk with You and their families above the expectations of others. Help them accept the reality that they will always have plenty of undone work, but help them not to be a slave to the “tyranny of the urgent.”

 

Today I pray for those who determine the missions’ policy in my home church. Lord, many churches are so into themselves that they do not put much emphasis on foreign missions. This is so contrary to Your Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), the church’s “job description.” It urges us to do our part to get the Gospel to the entire world. Our own nation and area will always have needs, but we must share Christ with those who have never heard. Please, Lord, deliver us from ethnocentrism and help us understand that You want us to reach people of every kindred, tribe and nation. Guide our church leaders so they recognize the importance of this task and help them seek to do a fair share of supporting missions.

 

Now, Lord, help me be a good witness for You today, I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

May 14

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Father in Heaven,

 

My Savior, the Lord Jesus, is the Christ, the Messiah. Whether I use the Greek term "Christ" or the Hebrew term "Messiah," He is the "Anointed One." His human nature is the "firstborn of all creation," above all created natures. His divine nature as the Son of God is eternal, uncreated and has always been. Both natures are united in one Person, Jesus Christ. His task was pinpointed "to save His people from their sins." As He said, He came "to give His life a ransom for many." He is the holy and anointed one, our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

 

God, please send angels to watch over me and my loved ones. Keep us from harm and evil of every kind, night and day, over the course of our lives.

 

Help those within my physical and spiritual family to love one another. Sometimes this can be a tall order; not everyone is necessarily easy to love and we love different people in different ways according to who they are and how they act. So give me both love and wisdom, both kindness and truth. Help me to know when to be firm and when to be gracious. Make me neither a doormat nor hardhearted.

 

Lord, one principle from Proverbs is this: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed" (Proverbs 15:22). This is a principle not a promise. So, Lord, help me not to rush into major decisions without getting godly counsel first. Help me realize my dependence upon both You and other people. Help me cultivate friendships with other believers so that I can call upon them for counsel and so that they can call upon me.

 

I pray for church board leaders, officers and teachers. If any do not know You, may they become born-again. Help them to be true to the Bible and to put Your Word over their own personal agendas. Help them to have genuine integrity, Biblical convictions, love, wisdom and courage. Help them be more concerned about pleasing You than advancing their agendas; may they seek harmony when reasonable within the congregation.

 

Father, I have some personal health concerns including: __________. I also pray for the physical, mental, or spiritual health of others including: __________.

 

I pray for the small Pacific Island nation of Kiribati. Thank You that the evangelical church is growing while liberal skeptical Protestantism is declining. Yet, Lord, some of the false religions are growing at an even faster pace. I praise You for the 7% of the population who claim to be born-again believers. May that number triple over the next decade. And, Lord, help those who know You to walk with You closely.

 

Thank You for Deaf World Ministries "an independent...interdenominational ministry with an international perspective that provides opportunities for deaf, hard of hearing and hearing who have a call to reach out to the deaf and hard of hearing people group in the world who have little opportunity to know the Gospel." Thank You, Lord, for their attempts to reach the deaf with the Gospel. Grant them harmony, provision and the power of Your Spirit.

 

Now help me to put You first in the daily grind of my life, I request in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 15

by Ed Vasicek

 

Wonderful Savior,

 

You make me wonder indeed. You are my Savior meaning You are the one Who has saved me, who has delivered me from the consequence and power of my sinfulness. You have saved me from the divine wrath due me by absorbing it Yourself. You have delivered me from separation from God both for now and eternity. You bridged the gap between us by sacrificing Yourself. You save me completely. You do not help me to be my own Savior, nor do we have a "shared plan" whereby you do 80% of the saving and I do 20. No, it is not even 99 to 1. It is 100 to 0. The only thing I contribute to my salvation is the sin from which I am saved! You are my Savior. All I have to do is to be willing for You to save me and take You at Your Word. Lord Jesus, You paid the debt in full. I believe it and that settles it.

 

Father, I wish that all of life were so clear and so black and white! Lord, so many times I have to make choices between shades of gray and my mental and spiritual eyes often cannot tell them apart. I need Your wisdom, for what sometimes seems to be the right choice works damage to my soul and what seems the wrong choice works out for good. Most of the time it is not that way, but sometimes it is. Only You know the beginning from the end, but You want me to think in terms of the long term. So help me look at longterm consequences, but also enlighten me with the wisdom from above.

 

Lord, I have some specific requests to bring before You today. They are: __________.

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me those sins, and You will purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I accept responsibility for them and freely bring the sins Your Spirit brings to my mind now: __________.

 

God, like every one of the billions of people who inhabit our world, I am vulnerable. So, Lord, please send angels to watch over me and protect me. Keep me from harm and evil of every kind.

 

Lord, the nation of North Korea is a painful place for Your children to live. About 100,000 Christians are imprisoned in labor camps and believers suffer intense persecution. Three million Koreans have starved to death in the latter 1990s and cannibalism is not unknown because of it. The estimated 1.5% of the population who claim to be born-again Christians face threats of death and torture. In many ways, conditions in North Korea are exactly the opposite of conditions in South Korea which is free, prosperous and filled with evangelical believers. Lord, break the bonds of communism and totalitarianism. Help believers to be able to evade persecution and when they cannot give them strength. Deliver Your people, for their blood cries out against their persecutors.

 

Help those who broadcast the pure Gospel throughout the world. Provide for them, and empower their teaching and preaching by Your Spirit.

 

I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

May 16

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord,

 

You are a great God. You are grand, majestic, peerless, glorious, universally acclaimed and completely noble. You surpass our understanding and transcend our logic. Nonetheless, everything about You makes sense. Just as an infant cannot understand nuclear physics, so we cannot understand You. But because we cannot understand does not imply that You are not reasonable, consistent and logical – for You are reasonable, logical, an consistent in a way that is superior to our ability to grasp. You are simply too awesome for us, too great for us to fathom.

 

Father, create a hunger in me a hunger for Your Word. Sometimes my spiritual appetite is sated because I have filled it with junk food. At other times, my heart is focused elsewhere. But Your Word is such a priority that You put it on a par with Your Name, for the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 138:2b, "for you have exalted above all things your name and your word." May I be like the wise man of Psalm 1 who delights in Your Word day and night.

 

God, sometimes I struggle with doubts. Doubts about You, Your love for me, Your Word, or my salvation. But my doubts can be good. They can drive me to find answers, to empathize with the doubts of others, to think more deeply and to remind myself that faith is choosing to believe despite my doubts. Like the man who asked Jesus to heal his son, I too say, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). So help me not to deny my doubts but to address them.

 

Lord, I am thankful for many things three of which are: __________.

 

Lord, I empty myself before You so that Your Spirit may fill me. I find my strength in His power not my own. May Your Spirit control me today.

 

Father, You have done a great work in South Korea. Nearly 16% of the population is made up of born-again evangelical Christians. Ten of the eleven largest churches in the world are in Korea's capital, Seoul. Korea is second only to the U.S. in the number of missionaries it has sent out. We pray that the growth and success of the Korean church would continue forward and that more people would come to know Christ. Help the believers to hold high moral standards and speak out against corruption. And Father, I pray that Your Spirit would protect and multiply the Korean Church. May what happened in Korea occur in many other nations!

 

Today I remember AMG International, "an evangelical mission and relief agency currently ministering in 55 countries of the world." Their mission is "to give each person at least one opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel." Bless their efforts and empower them with Your Spirit as they "endeavor to meet people at the point of their need whether it be hunger, sickness, or hopelessness and show them Jesus as the only answer to the problems of this life and the only hope for eternal life." Grant them harmony amongst themselves and provide for their needs bountifully, I ask.

 

Now help me be on the lookout for opportunities to minister Jesus Christ to others, I ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.