August 16

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great One,

 

Even though You are Three Persons, You are One God. You have one purpose, one plan and one direction. The Holy Spirit will never lead us in a way that conflicts with the Father or Son. The written Word of Scripture will never contradict the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Spirit Who inspired the written Word according to the will of the Father. Lord, in this life we deal with organizations or families where we cannot get a consistent answer. But You are One God with one plan and one set of values.

 

Lord, Your word says, "A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly" (Proverbs 12:23). O Father, help me not to be a bragger or a showoff. Instead let time and wisdom help others form a true opinion of me. Remind me that "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe" (Proverbs 29:25). Although I should care about my deportment and my manners and I should consider other people, I have a freedom in Christ. My self-esteem comes from being in Christ, not just from impressing people. May humility be my trademark, I ask.

 

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

 

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

 

Lord, the pressure to conform to the world’s values – especially sexual and moral ones – is great. Help me to remain staunchly committed to You. I may, at times, feel like I am standing alone, but You are with me!

 

Lord, make me to hunger for Your Word. Like the Psalmist, may I have this mentality, "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors" (Psalm 119:24). O Father, You went through great effort to get Your Word to us; many have died to preserve it and missionaries give their lives to translate it while scholars have worked to make it intelligible in our language. But all this is in vain if I do not read and study it. Only You can create an appetite for Scripture in my heart although I can nurture it or subdue it. I need Your Spirit to open up its meaning and to help me apply it.

 

I praise You for the believers who live in the African island nation of St. Helena. Although 5.2% of the population claims to be born-again evangelicals, the church there is on the decline. Churches are elderly the young people are into materialism. O Father, spark a revival in the church there and may the church buildings be filled with young people who are eager to serve You! You can do this by Your Spirit, we have no doubt. We pray that You would.

 

I remember Christ For The Island World, a ministry that has been "planting churches using nationals since 1983. [They] are currently assisting in several regions of Indonesia among the Hindu, Muslim and Animist people. [They] also have similar work in Russia and Ukraine that was started in the 1990s." O Father, prosper, bless, empower, protect, grant harmony and provide much fruit for this ministry! May they glorify You as they lead others into Your Kingdom.

 

Help me to glorify You today, I ask in the Savior's Name, Amen.

 

 

August 17

by Ed Vasicek

 

My Father,

 

You control what seems to be chance for us. Our uniqueness was determined when our parents' genes came together and were shuffled. Yet Proverbs 16:33 says: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." According to Psalm 139:16, even our development in the womb is under Your jurisdiction. In Exodus 4:11, we read, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" So, Father, if we like how You made us or dislike it, we have to believe You have a plan, a plan so complicated that sometimes we have no clue as to what it is You are trying to accomplish.

Lord, I have some disappointments and burdens in life. A few of them hurt me and have left scars including: __________________. I turn them over to You. Help me to find Your purpose and joy in life. There are many things I cannot change, but I can share all my thoughts with You. You are a God Who feels with me. You help me to go on and grow and direct my attention elsewhere while, at the same time, not pressuring me to "get over it."

 

Lord today, I especially remember those looking for a job. Open doors of opportunity and match the right person to the right job. Especially help those who work with integrity and have good character to find employment.

 

Also, dear Father, help me to handle my finances well. Guide me when it comes to saving, giving and help me know when to say no. Help me control my money under Your guidance; please, do not let money control me.

 

I pray for the Heilongjiang Province of China with its 38 million people. Lord, many of the people in this region are Shaministic or Buddhist, but thank You that perhaps 4% of the population is made up of born-again evangelicals. Thank You that house churches are growing. Yet there are few trained Christian leaders in this region. In addition, the Mongolian and Altaic people in this area are less reached. Father, pour out Your Spirit on this region. May the number of believers double in the coming decade, I ask. Provide leadership opportunities to train solid pastors, I ask.

 

Father, please bless the ministry of Christian Associates International as they seek "to reach the unchurched through the multiplication of high-impact leaders and high-impact churches.... [They] desire is to see God work powerfully in...the cities of Europe and the world." Grant them harmony, help them remain faithful to the truth of Your Word, protect and provide for them and grant them an abundance of fruit to Your glory, I ask.

 

I pray for those who work as auto service technicians/mechanics. Help those who know You to shine and share and may all be men and women of integrity, I ask.

 

Now, Lord, help me to a person of integrity today in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

August 18

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Lord,

 

You are the God of the paradox. Many who shouted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" later repented and believed, saved by the One Who was crucified for them! You reveal Yourself to those not considered wise in the eyes of society, but hide Yourself from those who are lauded by the masses. If we want to find a meaningful life, we must lose ourselves in You. When we are weak, then we are strong, for we trust all the more in You. You demand complete and total holiness if we are to be right with You, but You provide that holiness and perfection by putting us in Christ so that we are clothed in His righteousness. You are Lord of the paradox.

 

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.

 

I remember parents. 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. Send angels to protect them, I pray.

 

Lord, the Maharashtra State of India with its 95 million people needs the Gospel. Perhaps. .2% of the population is evangelical Christians. Although their numbers are small, they are growing, for which I praise You. Hindus who have passed – anti-conversion laws – and used other means to persecute religions other than their own control the local government. Although many of the older churches are weak and not as effective as they should be, new churches have brought new life in the realm of outreach and zeal. Bless these new churches and revive the old ones, I ask. Multiply the number of believers in this State, I pray.

 

Father, prosper the ministry of Christian Life Missions, an “organization...whose sole purpose is to meet the challenges and existing needs of peoples throughout the world while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the provision of goods, services and relief efforts to various nations, CLM has a vision to impact these areas which...are strategic in affecting world history towards the cause of Jesus Christ.”

 

Bless those, O Lord, who work in the fields of bookkeeping, accounting, and/or auditing. May they work conscientiously and help those who know Christ freely share their faith.

Help me to share the good news with someone soon, I ask. Open the doors and help embolden me to walk through them. I give my day to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 

August 19

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Lord,

 

Thank You for saving us by Your grace. Certainly if we were forgiven and saved on the basis of our works, none of us would be able to stand before You, for all our good deeds are like filthy rags before You (Isaiah 64:6).

 

David knew You, but he fell into awful sin. He coveted a woman and committed adultery with her. Then he had her husband murdered through his general; he left the dirty work to another. King Ahab, who did not know You, also coveted. He coveted Naboth’s vineyard, but he did not commit adultery. Yet, he too had a man murdered. His wife set things up for Naboth’s murder; this king also had another one do the dirty work. You worked repentance in David’s heart and David repented. His relationship was restored. But Ahab did not repent and died having never been forgiven, as far as we know. Lord, to know You, to have a relationship with You is everything that really matters in my life. To miss knowing You is the greatest tragedy of this life and the next.

 

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.

 

I pray for the elderly, sickly and shut-in including: __________________.

 

Help me to be an alert Christian, Lord. I do not want to be numbered among those who value peace so much that I keep my head in the sand or deny undesirable realities. No, I need to understand how I am led into sin, how the devil tempts me and to have answers for the questions people are asking. I need to read, study and tool up as one of Your workers. I can neither rest on my laurels nor live in the past, for You have placed me in today's world. That means You want me to address today's challenges. Help me to be brave and to do so, I ask.

 

Lord, the Latin American island nation of St. Kitts-Nevis is a challenge. Drugs and all sorts of illegal activities are characteristic on St. Kitts, but the folks who reside on Nevis tend to be godlier. Thank You that almost 23% of the people claim to be born-again believers, but response to the Gospel among the unsaved seems particularly poor. May Your Spirit sweep over these islands and may the number of believers grow by 50% over the next decade and may believers be noted for their spiritual depth and consistent lifestyle, I ask.

 

Father, please bless the work of Christian World Outreach. "The mission of Christian World Outreach is to participate with the body of Christ in responsible evangelism, to bring dignity, self worth and encouragement through leadership development and to meet the physical needs of people through humanitarian assistance." Bless their work in Burkina Faso, Haiti, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

Empower them, grant them harmony among themselves, provide for them, protect them and give them great fruit for their labors, I ask.

 

Now, Lord, help me to serve You faithfully today, in Yeshua’s Name, Amen.

 

 

August 20

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear God,

 

You are not a foreman or a slave-driver trying to get as much work out of us as You can. You do not need us, but You take pleasure in using us. You love it when we are freely motivated to serve You because we love You. Indeed, you have ordained that Your children should be characterized by good works (Ephesians 2:10). So You have work for us to do in the realm of ministry and service.

 

You want us to love You, but You also want us to love others. You want us to use the spiritual gifts You have given us to constantly “prove” what Your will is (Romans 12:1-2) and to view life as a series of opportunities to serve You in a variety of ways. Slave driver, no. Assigner of work, yes. Help us to gladly report for duty realizing You are the one Who creates the desire in us to serve You. Some of us can remember a time before we knew You, when all we thought about was ourselves. We marvel that You have so changed us that it is now not just about us but about You and others too!

 

Father, we pray for race-relations in our land and throughout the world to improve as we learn to respect one another’s humanity and dignity. Quell tensions and help the world to stop pointing fingers. May we all live in such a way to earn the respect of others, and help each of us to make great effort to be fair toward others.

 

Lord, help me to carve out some time to contemplate Your Word and Your will for my life. Help me to examine my heart, to check in with You and see how good I am doing. Help me to take the time to realign the priorities of my life to accomplish Your will for me, not necessarily my own. When I find that I am really not willing to make changes that I know You want me to make, Lord, I am willing to be made willing.

 

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

 

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

 

First John says 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 confess the sins I am aware of now and I ask Your Spirit to search my heart (Pause to admit them to God.).

 

Today I pray for the Latin American island nation of St. Lucia. Thank You that 12.3% of the population claims to be born again and evangelical. At the same time, many Christians are nominal in their faith with 80% of all children born out of wedlock. Pastors are now receiving better training and some churches are experiencing renewal. Thank You, Lord. May the Christians in St. Lucia get “the real disease” and get serious about serving Jesus Christ and may the number of evangelicals double over this decade, I ask.

 

I pray for the missionaries my church supports including: __________. Keep them true to the Word, protect them, provide for them and empower them by Your Holy Spirit, I ask.

 

Keep me true to Your Word today I also ask, in Christ’s Name, Amen.

 

 

August 21

by Ed Vasicek

 

Almighty King,

 

It is amazing to think how You condescend to us. You existed before there was time or dimension. Your attributes are perfect and perfectly balance and harmonize with one another. Nowhere do we see this harmony more than in the cross. Although a holy God cannot let we who are tainted by sin into heaven, in Your love and mercy You want to forgive us. So You sent Jesus to bear our penalty, thus satisfying Your justice and holiness and allowing Your loving desire to save us come to pass. You have forgiven us without compromising Your character. How marvelous!

 

Lord, I thank You that I am free from guilt. Christ bore ALL my sins, not just some of them. You do not view me as I am, but as I am in Christ. Instead of seeing me, You see Jesus. You accept me completely because You see Jesus. You have given me the righteousness of Christ! Although the Old Testament sacrifices had their place, they could not cleanse the conscience, but Jesus does: "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:14).

 

I also pray that You would help me to love my family members as I should. Help me put You first, my family second and then the rest of life third. Help me balance the rest of life between work, church, work around the house, extended family, social activities and community involvement.

 

I thank You, Lord, that You have taken away my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh, a new nature, the Law of God written upon my heart. I am so privileged to be under the New Covenant, to know You and be indwelt by Your Spirit.

 

God, help me to be a good listener. You gave me two ears and one mouth, help me to see the obvious implications of that. As James says, help me to be slow to speak but quick to listen.

Lord, like everyone else, I have fears and insecurities that haunt me. I give them to You and ask You to help me constantly do so.

 

Lord, today I remember the sparse North American French territory of St. Pierre and Miquelon. Only .4% of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals and the population itself is under 7,000. Father, though small in size, we pray that You would do a mighty work here. May half the population come to know You personally and then in turn, please use them to reach the French, I ask.

 

Lord, thank You for Christians in Action, "an international, interdenominational and transcultural evangelical missionary society with ministries in 21 countries. Its 300 ministry personnel with the goal of planting indigenous national churches carry out personal evangelism, discipleship and church planting. Other activities include short-term evangelistic teams and medical and dental clinics in needy areas." Father, grant the workers harmony, protection, provision and empower them by Your Spirit, I ask.

 

May I live like a peacemaker today, I ask, in the Name of He of Who died and rose for me, Amen.

 

 

August 22

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Father,

 

I thank You for the Holy Spirit. He is a Purifier. He makes me holier. He is the divine Revealer Who opened my eyes to the truth of the Gospel. He helped me to understand that Christ died for my sins and arose the Victor. He brought me from spiritual death to spiritual life through the new birth (regeneration) so that I would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He granted me the repentance that leads to life. He is the Unifier. He baptized me into the Body of Christ so that I might be one with those who have also been regenerated. He has endowed me with spiritual gifts and begun creating His fruit in my life. When I empty myself, He fills me. When I am grieving, He comforts me. When I grieve Him, He convicts me. When I cannot go on, He reminds me that it is not by might, nor by power, but by Him, the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

 

My God and King, help me with my thought life today. Help me think positive and pleasant thoughts today, thoughts that please You. I know that the battlefield is my mind. Help me to renew it faithfully by reading, studying and pondering Your Word. Remind me of the garbage-in-garbage-out principle. Help me to be cautious about what I watch and how I am entertained.

 

Lord, like everyone else, I have fears and insecurities that haunt me. I give them to You and ask You to help me constantly do so.

 

Lord, help me to get to know my neighbors where I live and at work or school. Teach me the importance of participating in my community as an avenue to benefit myself and a way to show love to others.

 

Father, if I am going to get attached to people, I have to risk rejection. If I am going to build significant relationships with friends, I have to learn how to handle conflict. May I neither run nor fight, but instead help me work at communicating, compromising and expressing myself tactfully. Help me to properly handle conflict in all my relationships including church life.

 

Today I pray for the Latin American Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent. Thank You that almost 25% of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals. At the same time, Lord, many of those who profess Christ do not live holy lives and many are ignorant of Bible doctrine and teaching. I pray that You would develop a core of strong leaders and that those who know You would exemplify a life that pleases You and bears testimony to Your regenerating and sanctifying grace.

 

Lord, bless the ministry of Church Ministries International, "an evangelical, interdenominational, mission organization dedicated to helping urban churches in Latin America and Spain evangelize their city and nation.... Church Ministries International works with teams of missionaries and pastors of various evangelical churches...to carry on a concentrated program of evangelism, discipleship and church planting." Father, prosper, provide and protect this ministry and those associated with it. Grant them harmony and empower them by Your Spirit, I pray.

 

Help me to live in a way that attracts people to Christ, I pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

August 23

by Ed Vasicek

 

Almighty Father,

 

You are the God of the laws and routines. Certainly You vary that routine, but Your Son keeps holding the universe together. Every day the sun rises, every day the sun sets. Gravity works everyday, 24/7. Scientists and physicists can discover the laws of the science because You ordained them. Despite the chaos in our universe as a result of the curse, we find a great deal of order, constancy and dependability. After You created all, You said it was all very good, but then sin entered the world. And with it, the curse. It isn't all very good now, for evil is the ruining of the good. But it is remarkable to see what is still good. We can therefore depend upon the daily cycle and the annual cycle. We know the earth will keep its peculiar tilt so that the polar icecaps do not melt and destroy the world by a flood. After the Flood of Noah, You promised there would be no more worldwide floods and the rainbow reminds us of this covenant.

 

Thank You, Lord, for the assurance of answered prayer. As Jesus said in John 16:24, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete." Although I know this general promise is not a detailed treatise on prayer, it assures me that You want me to ask and it also tells me that You are concerned about my joy. And, so Lord, I ask You to meet my needs and bless those close to me.

 

Father, thank You for my senses. In Your grace and goodness, keep them all healthy and help me to appreciate them and use them in ways that please You. Help me to discover the joys of being a human being created in Your image, yet help me to enjoy life in ways consistent with Your revealed will. I recognize that if I enjoy myself in legitimate ways, I am less prone to enjoy myself in illegitimate ways.

 

Lord, the Hubei Province of China especially needs Your help. Perhaps 1% of the population is made up of born-again evangelicals and the government in this region is especially oppressive. The 60 million people in this province need to hear of Jesus, but even the house churches are few, particularly in the cities. O Lord, change the hearts of the political leaders of this area. I pray that the Gospel outreach here would expand a hundredfold over the next decade and that the number of believers would double within the next five years.

 

Praise Your Name for Commission to Every Nation, a non-denominational missionary sending agency "helping ordinary people partner with God to accomplish the extraordinary.... Missionaries go out to six world regions to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed." O Lord, bless this ministry. Provide for the workers. Grant them harmony among themselves, protect them, grant them good health, empower them by Your Spirit and give them much fruit for their labors, I ask.

 

Now reward me with fruit for my labors and glorify Yourself through me, I ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

August 24

by Ed Vasicek

 

Faithful Father,

 

You are so good to me. Your love extends downward toward all and in Your love, You warn of Your wrath. You are the God Who Warns. Before Cain killed Abel, You warned him to correct his attitude.

 

Before the Flood, You warned that You would not always strive with man. Righteous Lot served as a warning to Sodom and Gomorrah. You sent Your prophets to warn Israel of the consequences of her apostasy and the judgment You would bring. Sometimes people heed Your warning, as in the repentance of the people in Nineveh who surprisingly repented at Jonah's preaching. But more often, it seems Your warnings are not heeded. A lonely eternity awaits those who have not heeded the warning of the Gospel. You warn us through our consciences, Your Word, other people and even the disasters of nature. Thank You that because of the work of Your Spirit, we were primed to heed Your warning.

 

Lord, I have some specific requests to bring before You today. They are: __________. Lord, I am thankful for many things three of which are: __________.

 

It can be difficult to be honest with others sometimes, but it can be even more difficult to be honest with myself. Help me not justify my wrongs, and help me be willing to ask for forgiveness when I wrong others.

 

Lord, I empty myself before You so that Your Spirit may fill me. May I find my strength in His power, not my own. May Your Spirit control me today. Keep me from grieving Your Spirit by hardening my heart or disregarding Your will or flirting with sin, I ask.

 

Lord, the nation of Sudan has been a mixed blessing. On the one hand, many have responded to the Gospel especially in the south. As a result, over 10% of the nation claim to be born-again evangelicals and nearly a fourth of the population professes some sort of Christianity. Yet the Muslims control the more populous north and they are radical Muslims. They have massacred tens of thousands in the South and have taken over 100,000 as slaves! O Lord, stop the bloodshed and slavery. Grant true freedom to this nation.

 

Halt the spread of evil in Sudan and fortify and nurture the spread of the Gospel. Indeed, the behavior of the people in the north emphasizes how much they need the Gospel! Bless the relief and mission agencies (like Samaritan's Purse) that seek to help the many refugees. Work good out of this, O Lord.

 

Lord, I pray for the great ministry of Samaritan's Purse as it goes out "to the aid of the world's poor, sick and suffering. [They] are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ. [Their] emergency relief programs provide desperately needed assistance to victims of natural disaster, war, disease and famine.... [Their] community development and vocational programs in impoverished villages and neighborhoods help people break the cycle of poverty and give them hope for a better tomorrow.

 

“[They]...impact the lives of vulnerable children through educational, feeding, clothing and shelter programs that let them know they are not forgotten." O God, provide for, protect, empower and grant harmony to this ministry, I pray.

 

Help me to live for You today, I ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

August 25

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord,

You are majestic. You are splendid, superb, royal and kingly. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Were I to see You in Your glory, I would die from being overwhelmed. There are many things in life that are beautiful and a number of overwhelming experiences or views. If I were to peer at a glorious sunset above majestic mountains, I might be impressed. But You are majestic to an infinite degree. You are royal and kingly in such massive ways that I cannot even begin to comprehend it. But one day, I shall see You and I shall enjoy Your majesty forever and ever.

 

Abba, Father, help me to resist the devil today. Lord, I ask You to bind Satan and his forces; I claim the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. Thank You for my advocate, my defense attorney – our Lord Jesus Christ. He stands before Your throne and thwarts Satan's attempts to accuse me (1 John 2:1-2, Zechariah 3:1-5).

 

Lord, Your Word tells me that, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Help me to run from pride and to pursue humility which is simply sanely seeing reality from Your perspective and looking at things in proper proportion.

 

Lord, Hosea prophesied that, "My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). Father, remind me that ignorance is destructive. Especially help me cultivate knowledge of Your Word and Bible doctrine. Convince me that the most important thing I can do to grow, once I am saved, is to spend much time in Your Word. Help me never waver from that simple conviction. Fellowship, worship and body life – these are all important. But spending time in the Word is number one. Help me seek ” the meat of Your Word” over feelings, excitement, or motivation. It is so easy to justify letting our feelings lead us in the name of “passion.”

 

Father, I pray for the Manipur State of India, with its 2 million people. Thank You that over a third professes some sort of Christianity with probably over a fourth of the population professing to be born-again evangelicals. Thank You, Lord. But there are many unreached people and drug addiction and AIDS are significant problems in this region as well. Help the Christians to point to better alternatives and may the church here keep maturing and keep reaching out. Bless their efforts, O Lord.

 

Lord, I pray for CRISTA Ministries, "a gathering of Christians from all walks of life, demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ by working together for positive change in a fast-paced world." CRISTA is ten distinct ministries: 1) CRISTA Senior Ministries, 2) World Concern, 3) King's Schools, 4) CRISTA Broadcasting, 5) Island Lake and Miracle Ranch Camps, 6) New Hope Child and Family Agency, 7) Intercristo, 8) Seattle Urban Academy, 9) CRISTA Women's Ministries and 10) Christian Veterinary Mission. O Lord, bless this multi-tasked ministry as it fills important voids in the Body of Christ. Help the leaders to manage this work well; make it effective, efficient and one that brings glory to You.

 

Grant those who labor in this ministry like-mindedness, integrity and wisdom, I pray.

 

Grant me wisdom today, I request in the Name of the Messiah, Amen.

 

 

August 26

by Ed Vasicek

 

O My Father,

 

Thank You for being there for me. You are truly my best friend. Although I revere You as the Creator, Redeemer and Holy Sovereign, You are the only one that really knows me through and through. You see my lifetime all at once. You know all my thoughts, fears, aspirations, joys and disappointments. You have comforted me, disciplined me, tried me and showered Your grace upon me. You know the subtle tactics my ego employs, the insincerity within me, the good intentions that never materialize and the times my heart is open before You, craving to do Your will. No one but You has shared or can share all of life with me. And so, My Lord, thank You for being my constant companion.

 

Father, today I pray for situations outside of my control. I can make certain choices about myself, but I cannot choose for others. And back in my own life, there are many choices I cannot make. I did not choose the family into which I was born, the genes that combined to make me, or traumatic events that I have experienced. Yet, Lord, despite my vulnerability, You want me to take responsibility for my choices and not pass the buck. Help me think and use wording that makes it clear that I am taking responsibility for all my choices, not just those which prove to be good or successful.

 

I pray for Christians who are straying from their first love or compromising their walk with You. Rekindle the faith they once professed and help them fervently love the Savior once again. Remove their boring view of serving You and help them see the adventure and fulfillment of walking daily in Your light. Stir up their hearts and help them make the routines of godliness a part of their lives. I especially remember: __________________.

 

Today I remember evangelical missionaries everywhere who are trying to raise support. Lord, while many churches give anywhere from 10 to 50% of their offerings toward foreign missions, the average church gives only 2%. O Father, break Your people of becoming ethnocentric. Keep us from confusing our earthly citizenship with our heavenly one. Keep us from perfectionist thinking that anchors us to one mission until everything is as perfect as it can be while neglecting other important areas; instead, awaken us to the reality that our commission is to share Christ around the world NOW. And as these perspective missionaries are turned down time after time, we pray that You would encourage these candidates and provide for them financially and in the realm of wisdom.

 

Lord, the nation of Suriname in South America is different from the rest of the continent. It was a Dutch colony and they imported indentured servants from India and other Asian areas, as well as Afro-Caribbeans. Thank You that 4.1% of the population claims to be born-again evangelicals and that the percentage is on the rise. Father, please develop warm and solid leaders for the churches, use the Jesus film and student outreaches and help the seven translation projects now in progress. Father, double the percentage of believers over the next 5 years, I ask.

 

Help me to exemplify Christian love today, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen

 

 

August 27

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great Master,

 

You are the Lord of all, but You are also the Lord of the individual. You have arranged a situation in which we can decide whether we want You to be the Lord of our lives or not. Although we recognize Your Sovereign workings behind the scenes, we do experience a choice on our part. You are not everyone's chosen Lord. But I have personally covenanted with You and I know You not only as the Lord of the Universe, but as MY Lord and Master. Help me to be less and less like the disciples when Jesus criticized them with, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but not do the things that I say?" (Luke 6:46). Help me, Lord, both to desire to obey You and to actually obey You.

 

Adonai, 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.

 

Help me to do my part by volunteering to serve or continuing to serve in a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. May I set my roots down deeply and to attend every week I am able to do so.

 

Lord, today I remember the nations in which believers are persecuted, facing death, dismemberment, torture, rape, sexual abuse, imprisonment, slavery, or confiscation of goods. These persecuting nations include: Comoro Islands, Cuba, Uzbekistan, North Sudan and Morocco. O Father, may these and the others among the 86 persecuting countries become enlightened in the realm of human dignity and God-given rights including the right we have to choose and practice our religious convictions. May the persecutors themselves be won to faith in Christ; may the governments mandate and enforce the recognition of true religious freedom, and help believers by granting them an extra portion of wisdom. Help them to evade persecution when possible and help them to find their strength in You when they cannot.

 

Lord, I pray for the Hunan province of China, the most difficult part of China to successfully evangelize. Your Spirit has been working mightily in other parts of China, but in Hunan, only about 2% of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals. The 67 million people identify with Chairman Mao who came from this region and they view the Gospel as foreign. Hearts are hard here and the Scriptures are sparse. O my Father, soften the hearts of the Hunan people. By Your Spirit, bring many to eternal life, I pray. May the number of believers double over the next five years, I pray.

 

Dear God, thank You for D&D Missionary Homes: "When a missionary family in transition seeks housing” either going to the field, or returning for a short stay, they face considerable expenditures that usually are not recovered, or cost-effective when considering the period of time involved – usually two to six months." Through D & D "an example of costs for a missionary couple...is about 30%-40% the cost of equivalent rentals for three months to one year." Father, bless this ministry as it serves Your servants, I ask.

 

Help me to bless Your servants and to be a blessing to lost people around me. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

 

 

August 28

by Ed Vasicek

 

Shepherd of All Who Know You,

 

Thank You for being the God Who is a shepherd – a God Who leads His children. Although we must admit that Your leading is not always clear, it is clear when You choose it to be clear. You’ve given us Your Word which provides Your leading in most situations. You have also given us Your Spirit Who is the down payment for the complete redemption we will one day experience. You have given us the Body of Christ and those who are gifted with wisdom and knowledge. And You have given us prayer, by which we can ask You for wisdom.

 

O God, You have taken such great pains to lead us! Help us listen to Your voice! Help us spend time in Your Word, with Your people and in prayer. As our Shepherd, You do not want us to go astray or wander into the paths of deception. Thank You, Lord, for being my Shepherd, for leading me in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake.

 

Today I pray for safety. I ask You to keep me safe. I ask You to keep my loved ones safe. Keep us from harm and evil of every kind: physical, spiritual, moral and relational. I ask You to put a hedge around my loved ones and me and send guardian angels to watch over and protect us, I ask. I pray for Your protection night and day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

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

 

Lord, I empty myself before You so that Your Spirit may fill me. May I find my strength in His power not my own. May Your Spirit control me today. May I manifest His fruit, especially the fruit of self-control.

 

Father, today I pray for the African nation of Swaziland. I thank You for the mighty spiritual harvest in that land over the years and that nearly 30% of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals. Praise Your Name. Yet, Lord, the church is not as strong as she should be.

 

About 70% of the church members are women, so there is a gender lopsidedness that makes it seem as though the Gospel were not really masculine. In addition, many of the believers still struggle with witchcraft. Lord, the church needs a new generation of strong leaders; train them and raise them up, I ask. May the Christian men take deep root and take leadership in the churches and help the church to know how to respond to the major AIDS epidemic there. Help the economy to improve so that the youth can find jobs instead of turning to delinquency, I ask. May the quantity of believers grow somewhat, but may the quality of believers grow tremendously over the next five years, I ask.

 

Lord, thank You for DELTA Ministries International as they equip the local church for short-term missions with "field opportunities, travel, logistical support, recruitment, cultural preparation, prayer and training that is both biblical and practical.... On-field: field communication management, financial accounting, logistical support and problem solving." Bless this ministry and prosper it, I ask.

 

Now help me to serve You faithfully today, I pray in the Messiah’s Name, Amen.

 

 

August 29

by Ed Vasicek

 

O Lord,

 

How awesome and majestic You are. You inspire Your creation to be awestruck at You. We marvel at You; our mouths hang open and our hearts are filled beyond capacity. You are the God Who inspires awe. When I gaze into the sky, I am in a sense intimidated. I remember how small I am compared to the vast sky above. Then I remember how small planet earth is compared to our sun or some of the larger planets in our Solar System. Then I remember how small our solar system is compared to our galaxy. And then I remember our galaxy is one of perhaps countless galaxies and I am completely overwhelmed. And You, Lord, created all this out of nothing. And You, Lord, care about me. How can it be? But it is so, because You have said so and You have proven it so by sending Your Son as my sin sacrifice.

 

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.

 

Help me to resist temptation and the lures of Satan today. Do not allow me to give place to the devil, or to gain him access into my life.

 

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

 

Lord, the European nation of Sweden has a tremendous history. The church in Sweden has been extremely missionary minded, well beyond its numbers. But nowadays, Lord, only 4.9% of the population claim to be born-again evangelicals. The state church has gone the way of theological liberalism, no longer believing in the truth of Scripture. In 1900, 99% of the population believed that there was a God; now that percentage is less than half! O God, revive this nation. May Your Spirit grant many the repentance that leads to life. May the evangelical church double over the next decade to everyone’s surprise, I ask! Because You are Sovereign, You can easily do this and I pray that You would.

 

Father, thank You for Eagle Projects International, "an interdenominational Christian ministry of evangelism, church planting and various kinds of humanitarian assistance projects such as medical clinics, English camps, orphanages and church training. [They] are always conducting new projects in different countries around the world." Bless this ministry as it fits into Your greater plan of world evangelism and missions. May some who get involved in these projects sense Your call to full-time missions, I ask.

 

Today I pray for those who work as correctional officers and jailers. Lord, these are difficult tasks within less than perfect systems. Help those who are Christians to distinguish themselves with wisdom, street smarts and Christlike character, I ask.

 

May I live in a Christlike manner today, I pray in His Name, Amen.

 

 

August 30

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord,

 

Thank You for being a God Who looks out for the best interest of Your children. You lavish us with Your grace; You do not cut it tight. You work all things together for good though we are often perplexed when trying to understand how it is so. You care for our daily needs and You give us even more than we ask for. No, our lives are not beds of roses, for You bring trial and tribulations to us at times. But ultimately in the long run, we will appreciate the intricacies of your plans, plans to bless us and do us good. Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is our Advocate against Satan’s accusations. Lord, You are the God Who justifies us, Who goes to bat for us, Who fights for us. Even when appearances seem otherwise, Your Providence is at work.

 

Father, I praise and worship You, for You are worthy of all praise. I bow my knee before You; I acknowledge my complete and utter dependence upon You. Every breath I take is a gift from You. You are an awesome God and I devote myself to You because I am awestruck with You. Like John the Baptist, may my motto be, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

 

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

Help me to do my part by volunteering to serve or continuing to serve in a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. May I set my roots down deeply and attend every week I am able to do so.

 

Today I pray for the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia with its 24 million people. The number of born-again evangelicals is perhaps 3%, mostly from the influx of Han Chinese people who now outnumber the Mongolians in the region. Lord, many of the people are steeped in Buddhism and demonic oppression is a common problem because of it. Thank You for the growth of house churches; Lord, within 5 years, help the number of born-again evangelicals grow to 7%. Do a mighty work here; penetrate the native Mongolian culture and the Evenki and Oroqen peoples, I ask.

 

Thank You, Lord, for East-West Ministries. "God has called an unusual blend of academic and business people from varied professions and with varied life experience to come together and form East-West Ministries International.... What [they] share is a love for Jesus Christ and a passion to be agents of His grace in a world that desperately needs the salvation He alone can give. East-West works hand in hand around the world with indigenous church leaders and other existing ministries to fulfill Christ's command to ‘make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.' (Matthew 28:19-20)." Thank You for their work in the nations of the former Soviet Union, other Eastern European and even Caribbean nations. Prosper their ministries, protect them, provide harmony for them, meet their needs and empower them by Your Spirit, I ask.

 

Bless my efforts to serve You here at home, I ask in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 

August 31

by Ed Vasicek

 

Lord,

 

When I wake up, You are with me. During the night, You did not sleep or even nap. You never have attention deficit even though Your attention is divided between every creature and every inch of the universe. But Your attention is infinite and when I divide every atom in all creation into your infinite attention span, I am left with the quotient – infinity. How can this be? But it is so. When I pray, You hear my prayers with complete and intense attention while at the same time listening to the pleadings of all Your children. Lord, infinite knowledge and infinite attention – these concepts are beyond my understanding. I use the words, but I cannot grasp them!

 

First John says 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 confess the sins I am aware of now and I ask Your Spirit to search my heart (Pause to admit them to God).

 

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.

 

Lord, like everyone else, I have fears and insecurities that haunt me. I give them to You and ask You to help me constantly entrust myself to You.

 

Lord, help me to get to know my neighbors where I live and at work or school. Teach me the importance of participating in my community as an avenue to benefit myself and a way to show love to others.

 

Help me, Lord, to be a peacemaker and not a troublemaker. May I be a blessing to my church, my pastor and my friends. Keep me from instigating problems, from gossip, slander and disrespect for those in authority. When I disagree, help me to disagree agreeably.

 

Lord, the European nation of Switzerland, with its 7 million people, is a wealthy nation. But it is spiritually poor. Only about 4% of the population is made up of born-again evangelicals despite its rich Reformation heritage. The churches have turned away from the Bible. Thank You, Lord, for some of the newer denominations that have planted solid churches there like the Evangelical Free Church. Bless their efforts with great fruit; work in the hearts of the up and coming generations, I ask.

 

Lord, thank You for the Swiss missions agency, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelischer Missionen. They seek to unite Evangelical German-speaking Swiss ministries consisting "of approximately 40 mission works and 6 theological schools" which stand for the fundamentals of the evangelical faith. Lord, bless this work mightily. May Your Spirit again move in Europe and may the land of Switzerland become a nation filled with zealous born-again believers, I pray. Provide for, protect, empower and grant harmony and fruit to the members of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelischer Missionen.

 

Help me see Your Spirit produce His fruit of love in my life today, I ask in the Messiah’s Name, Amen.