February 1

by Ed Vasicek

 

Creator of All,

 

I praise You that literally everything that I see has been made by You. The only thing not made by You is You, the uncreated One. All creation occurred by a conversation within the Persons of the Godhead. You said, "Let us make man," or "Let there be light." And by Your Word, You created all things out of nothing. You created space, dimension, time, matter, and spirit beings: angels. Then You created man, a being who is both physical and spiritual.

 

Although we humans cannot create something out of nothing, we do recombine what You have created. In that sense, we too are creative. When our creativity is wholesome, it showcases Your image in us. Help me, therefore, to welcome godly creativity and to nurture it in my life. Help me to think outside the box.

 

Thank You, Lord, that creation is heading somewhere. We wait for the return of Christ to rule during the Kingdom Age, and we anticipate the New Heavens and the New Earth.

 

I ask You to help me to think as a Christian should. Help me renew my mind. When I am anxious, help me present my burdens to You and trade them for Your peace. May I have Your calm when appropriate, and Your zeal and energy when appropriate.

 

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.

 

Lord, thank You for working in the African Republic of Benin. Even though only about 4% of the population claims to be born-again, the number of believers is rising sharply. Thank You for using the Jesus film and youth ministries to bring in the harvest. We pray that the church in Benin would become the strongest in Africa, and that the believers there would be bold and consistent. Lord, there are many completely unreached people groups in Benin; burden the Christians there to reach out to them.

 

Father, I remember Chosen People Ministries, as they seek to share Yeshua (Jesus) with the Jewish people. We pray that growing numbers would receive Him as Messiah. Bless their efforts, give them wisdom, and provide them with much fruit for their labors.

 

Today I remember our nation's teachers: public school teachers, private school teachers, home schooling parents, and tutors. It is more and more difficult to teach children in groups these days because of all the broken homes. May our teachers feel appreciated.

 

Direct my paths this day, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 2

by Ed Vasicek

 

El Shaddai,

 

You are pure. You are not corrupted in any way or by any means. You are not mostly pure but completely pure. There is no sin within You; You are completely light with not even a hint of darkness. Lord, You are very much unlike us, a people of unclean lips who dwell among a people of unclean lips. Even the good we do is often contaminated by sin or ulterior motives. But You are completely innocent of all wrongdoing.

 

Thank You for the stewardship You have given me. You gave Adam and Eve the responsibility to reign over the earth. Help me to be faithful to the degree of my influence to rule well. Help me realize that all that I have belongs to You; I may possesses it, but I do not own it. And one day, I will give an account for what I did with what You gave me.

 

Part of the stewardship You have given me is managing my funds. Help me to be wise in this area, to faithfully support Your church, and to manage my money in a way that bears testimony to the fact that this world is not my home. May my integrity and value system be such that others know that I do not associate money with happiness, and I take seriously the command to owe no one anything.

 

And so, Lord, I pray that You would help me to be properly responsible. Help me gladly accept the responsibilities of my station in life, but help me not feel false guilt for that which is not my responsibility.

 

I ask You, Lord, to help me get along with all of my family members. Sometimes this is not possible, but help me to walk the extra mile and to pursue peace--but not to the point of being taken advantage of beyond that extra mile.

 

Father, today I pray for the nation of Bermuda. The country is fairly wealthy, and many of them, nearly 20%, claim to know Jesus. Lord, help the Christians in Bermuda to be burdened for missions. Help the evangelical churches to work together for common causes that would benefit Your kingdom. Lord, infuse the church in Bermuda with Your Spirit's power and zeal.

 

Today we pray for Christar Mission in their attempts to reach the least-reached people throughout the world, including Asia and Africa. The challenge is great, the dangers many, and the resources never enough.  We pray that the missionaries would work together harmoniously and efficiently, that You would open the doors and prepare the hearts, and may many, many come to Christ and mature through their efforts.

 

We pray for the CEOs of our towns, villages, and cities. Whether we call them mayors or presidents, please, may many come to know You, espouse Your values, and influence their communities in accord with Your will and the good of the region.

 

Shower Your grace on me today, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 3

by Ed Vasicek

 

God my Father,

 

You are light, and in You is no darkness at all! You are pure, You are overpowering, You are distinct from Your creation. You entertain no dark ways. We have a dark side to us, hearts that are deceitful and desperately wicked. But You have no dark side, not hidden evils, not corrupt ways. You are light, and You shed light upon those who humble themselves before You. You expose us – and all creation – for what it is. Because You are light, we cannot hide from You.

 

I thank You, Lord, that Your Spirit is convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Thank You that Your Spirit also restrains evil. We appreciate that, though men and women without Christ are lost, they are still in Your image, damaged as that image is because of the Fall. Therefore, things are not nearly as bad as they could be.

 

Lord, help me be a person of discernment. There are many false teachings out there, many schemes to trick or confuse me. Help me not be gullible but discerning, discreet, and perceptive. Many I know the truth so well that I easily recognize error.

 

Father, I pray for the health needs of friends and family members, including: ______________. I also pray for a few other needs: ______________.

 

Today I pray for the Asian nation of Bhutan. Less than one half of one percent of the people are born-again. Such a small number! We know that it is against the law to try to convert a Buddhist or Hindu in the Buddhist monarchy. Christians are barely tolerated, demonism abounds, and this nation is one of the least evangelized in the world. We know the country is closed to missionaries. Help the Christians to share Christ, and help the church there to grow exponentially. Bless the evangelists from India who reach out near the border areas.

 

I pray for Crossover Communications as they train and multiply church planters in Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and the Ukraine. May their work be effective, their cooperation exemplary, their fruit monumental. May Your Spirit pave the way as they seek to establish local churches in this region. May the churches flourish, and, dear Lord, please raise up individuals for this task.

 

Today we pray for school principals everywhere. May many come to know and follow You, and help them to influence others for Christ. May they promote values that honor You and bless others.

 

And now, Lord, remind me of Your presence throughout my day, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 4

by Ed Vasicek

 

My Father in heaven,

 

Lord, You are described in many ways, and one of them is as a "consuming fire." As a fire is pure, so You are completely clean and holy. As a consuming fire cannot be quenched, so You have infinite energy and none can stand in Your way. As a fire separates the impurities from fine gold, so Your gaze sees through all and sorts through all. As a fire represents Your wrath and judgment, so it is right for all creation to fear You.

 

Father, I thank You that one day Jesus Christ shall return to the clouds, and we will meet Him in the air. The dead will be raised and those of Your children alive on earth will be changed into immortality as they ascend upward to meet You, all in the twinkling of an eye. We eagerly await this "blessed hope."

 

So, Lord, help me to have endurance as I wait for Christ's return. Sometimes life becomes overwhelming and I become disappointed in circumstances, disappointed with people, and, frankly, disappointed with myself. Sometimes, I confess, I even feel disappointed with You. So help me to endure, to persevere in faithfully serving You, because I know my labor in You is not in vain.

 

Lord, I have many things for which I can thank You. A few of them are: ______________.

 

Father, help me to be content with the things I have and my lot in life. At the same time, help me take initiative and deliver me from passivity. Help me not be like the servant who fearfully hid his talents. Help me to boldly invest myself in Your work. Keep me from comparing my skills and talents to others.

 

Today I pray for the nation of Bolivia. Thank You for the 12% of the population who claim to be born-again, and we pray that that percentage will soon reach 30. We are grateful, Lord, for the growth You have given the Bolivian Church. But we know that the major income for many Bolivians is growing coca and cocaine. Christians are stressed: if they grow cocaine, they can support their families; if they do not, they live in poverty. We pray that You would make a way for the believers to provide well for their families while not violating their consciences at the same time.

 

Today I remember the ministry of CrossWorld, formerly known as UFM. As their 400 missionaries help reach and disciple thousands, we pray that You would keep them walking with You, true to Your Word, safe, and amply supplied. May Your Spirit bless their labors, and help them to relate well to one another in ways that please You.

 

We pray for our nation's emergency radio dispatchers and those who work the 911 emergency lines. Give them accuracy, clarity, and wisdom. We pray that many would come to know You.

 

Strengthen me for the challenges of this day, and, Lord, help me to apply my heart toward wisdom, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

February 5

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great God and Father,

 

I celebrate Jesus Christ as my Great High Priest. Because God the Son became a man, He can understand my human weaknesses and the plight of life in a fallen world. Because the Son of Man is also the Son of God, He is the perfect High Priest, completely experiencing both divinity and humanity.

 

Therefore, Father, He presents my needs before Your throne. But unlike human high priests, He is neither sinful, mortal, nor limited. He not only offers sacrifices, He IS the sacrifice!

 

Thank You that the church is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets (Ephesians 2:20). A foundation is only laid once, and they did so. We now have that foundation in Your written Word, the Bible. Like the Berean believers, help us to use the Scriptures to prove whether a teaching is true or false.

 

Lord, as Your child, You call upon me to be light in this dark world. Actually, I am to reflect Your light as I am transformed, moment-by-moment. May I cultivate Your daily transforming grace.

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of them, and You will cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). So I bring my sins before You now. I do not excuse them, but I freely admit them and ask for Your forgiveness. They include: ______________.

 

Lord, help me to control my moods and attitudes by conviction and Your Spirit. Help me not to anchor myself in the vacillation of feelings, but in the bedrock of truth. Help me to do Your will, whether I feel like it or not.

 

Father, I pray for the tragic nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This land has been devastated by war and bitter hatred between people groups. The poverty is unimaginable. The spiritual darkness is even greater, with less than one in a thousand people claiming to be born-again. Thank You, Lord, the number of churches has grown since the war, however, and thank You that the small evangelical church has a good reputation for being a fellowship of racial reconciliation. Help the church to multiply one hundred fold over the next twenty years, I pray.

 

I ask You, Lord, to prosper the missionaries from the European Christian Mission. Help them as they partner with the evangelical churches of Europe to share Christ and disciple believers on the continent. Break the bonds of secular humanism and anti-supernaturalism; may the number of believers in Europe double within the next decade.

 

Today I pray for those who organize chambers of commerce and downtown organizations that help nurture prosperity and business within a community. Help them to uphold businesses that will add positive contributions to a community but to hinder businesses that would offend You.

 

Help me to walk with You this day, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 6

by Ed Vasicek

 

Mighty God, Abba Father,

 

I thank You that Your Son took upon Himself the role of Savior. A savior is one who delivers or saves another from danger or disaster. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior from sin and from Your wrath. Our sin provokes You to anger and demands justice. Our Savior has delivered us from the demands of Your justice by satisfying the just penalty for our sins. He did this while on the cross, when He – the sinless one – became sin for us. Thank you that He bore our sin in His body on the tree.

 

Father, I thank You that You have grace for all. Your common grace causes it to rain for the just and the unjust. You feed the birds and sustain life, though You have no obligation to do so. Your special grace is showered upon those who know You.

 

Help me to respond to Your grace by trusting You, and thereby I affirm Your character and glorify You. As I experience Your saving grace and Your sustaining grace, help me, in turn, to be gracious to others, not exacting my due.

 

Lord, I have many needs to bring before Your throne. Provide me with people who will support me in life’s bad times and celebrate with me during life’s good times. I have many other needs, a few of which include: ______________.

 

Today I pray for the nation of Iran. This country, formerly known as Persia, has a long history. Unfortunately, there are very few in this land who know Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Lord, change the government in this land and establish one that recognizes human rights, including the right to share and propagate religious beliefs that are not in the majority. Help the few Christians there to be wise, and open doors for the Gospel. Bless radio broadcasts and other avenues of communication for the Gospel. May the number of believers in Iran increase exponentially.

 

Lord, today I remember FIM, The Fellowship International Mission. Bless them as they minister to difficult areas, like Morocco and Niger. Missionaries serve on a number of continents, and are doing a vital work. Please, Lord, give them fruit for their labor, safety, provision, and help them to relate well and work with one another well. May Your Spirit use them greatly as they share the faith and disciple believers.

 

I also remember the counselors in our community, especially the Christian ones. Help them to direct their clients into Your truth, and may they impact many lives for the good.

 

Now bless me this day, I pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 

February 7

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great God,

 

You are Adonai, You are Lord of the Estate known as all creation! You are the Master, You have dominion over all things and are worthy of our allegiance, respect, and obedience. You own all.

Although we possess many things for a time as Your stewards, we own nothing. You are the Lord Adonai, our true and most worthy King and Master.

 

Lord, thank You for saving me from sin. Sin is not just what I do, it is also what I fail to do to please You. Sin is not just my action, but it is part of my nature. My heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.

My attitude is contaminated by sin, so it is out of my heart that sinful actions flow. As You help me grow, my new nature becomes more dominant, and my heart of flesh begins to overtake my heart of stone. Help me to remember that sin is not just what I do, but it is part of who I am, the old me.

 

So, Lord, I want to see more holiness in my life. I want to be set apart for Your use, and I want You to feel completely at home in my life. Help me to be special for You.

 

Today I pray for my marriage (if I am married) and the marriages of those around me. Marriage has fallen on rough times, but it is near to Your heart, since You instituted it. Help me to encourage growth in my own marriage (if I am married), to find the right mate (if that is Your will), or to be content with my single estate (if that is Your will). But whatever my lot, help me to be social and proactive, because I cannot really love people if I evade them.

 

Help me be alert to Satan's schemes. Help me to take up the full armor of God and to draw near to You, O Lord. Help me to resist the devil, and he will flee. Place a hedge around me so the evil one cannot hinder my service to You, Father.

 

Thank You for the African country of Botswana. Although the Gospel has penetrated this society, the church is often made up of nominal Christians. AIDS is a serious problem in this country, and churches that promise healing are drawing people away from more Biblically-based congregations. Tribal religions are often unyielding to the Gospel, and many Botswanians combine Christian belief with tribal religion and superstition. Help the truly saved to become firm and uncompromising in their beliefs. May Christians maintain a high moral standard and may they participate in Biblically sound congregations. May the number of genuine believers double over the next five years, and Lord, please raise up strong leaders from within the church there.

 

Today I pray for Galcom International as they supply equipment to help reach people with the Gospel, particularly through short wave radio opportunities. They have provided 400,000 fix-tuned radios in 117 countries, radios that remained tuned to Christian stations only. As a result, thousands are being reached and discipled. Provide for this ministry in every way: financially, relationally, and spiritually. Use them to impact many for Jesus Christ.

 

Today I pray for our local district attorneys. These individuals perform an important function as they seek to keep criminals behind bars. Help them to seek justice and have your priorities. Keep them from wrongly condemning the innocent, and give them wisdom in rightfully and successfully prosecuting the guilty.

 

Lord, this world is challenging. Help me never to fear, but to remember that You are by my side.

I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

February 8

by Ed Vasicek

 

Precious Lord,

 

You are Yahweh, the great I AM. When Moses asked Your Name, You told Him, "I AM." I Am that I Am is Who You are, the eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You had no beginning, and time is nothing to You because You transcend it. You are not, "I Was," nor are You, "I Will Be," but "I AM."

 

As Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58), thus identifying Himself as Yahweh, the LORD. Although You have many titles, the Name by which You are known is YAHWEH. We so reverence that Name that we translate it as LORD, all in upper case letters.

 

Lord, You have been good to me. I am grateful for your blessings, a few of them include: _____________________.

 

I praise You and am overjoyed that You have adopted me into Your family. We all dread being alone, and had You not adopted me, my future would be a lonely eternity indeed. Thank You that now I will enjoy Your company, the company of other believers, and even myriads of angels. I am so glad to be in Your family.

 

Help me, Lord, to reflect the family to which I belong, the family of God. May others see Christ in me. Help me to be both bold and kind, realistic yet a person of faith.

 

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.

 

Dear God, help me to find meaning in the details of life. Sometimes I wonder what the purpose of it all is. Yet I remember that even the little things of life bring You glory. So help me not get discouraged or demoralized.

 

Today I pray for the large nation of Brazil. Lord, You have drawn many people to Yourself in that land, but many evangelical churches are shallow and legalistic. Pastors are often untrained, and there are a lot of ego issues that Satan uses to break up unity or justify sinful behavior. Help the believers in Brazil to espouse Christianity worth reproducing. Thank You for the increased training of leaders through Bible Institutes and seminaries.

 

Today I remember Global Outreach Mission and their 346 missionaries serving in 39 countries around the world. Help them as they share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples. Keep them true to You, help the missionaries to get along well with one another, provide for them, dear Lord, spiritually, financially, and with Your Spirit's power. Keep them safe, and may the individual families be strong.

 

Today I remember those who work in the food service industry. Help Christians who are employed in this area to be a good testimony and to demonstrate a servant's heart that glorifies God.

 

Help me to depend upon Your supply of grace this day, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 9

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great Father,

 

You are El Shaddai, God Almighty. You are not merely a strong God, You are infinitely strong. The billions of stars in billions of galaxies were merely spoken into being. Nothing is too difficult to You. You have packed more energy in a single atom than we expend in our entire lifetime. Unlike the false gods of this world, You can deliver on Your promises.

 

Since You are all powerful, I can bring my request before You and submit them to Your will, confident that my requests which are consistent with Your plans will be addressed. They include: __________________.

 

Lord, I thank You for the angels You have created. They are ministering spirits, ministering to us, the heirs of salvation. Please send guardian angels to watch over my loved ones and me.

 

Dear God, help me to have a heart and mind that want to learn. Help me participate in church not just to get a spiritual lift, but also to serve and to learn and grow.

 

I am a needy person. I ask that You would give me peace of mind as I struggle through life. Help me offer my fears and worries to You and leave them before Your throne.

 

Today, Lord, I pray for the nation of the British Virgin Islands. Although over a fourth of the population claim to know you, and 86% profess some sort of Christianity, yet 75% of the births are out of wedlock. We pray that the profession of believers would better match their walk, and that you would help them to grow in spiritual maturity and stay pure in a tourist area famous for worldly pleasures.

 

I ask Your to bless Greater Europe Mission as they send out college students, short-term and long-term missionaries in an attempt to reclaim Europe for Christ. We pray that these individuals would have a positive influence upon the Kingdom of God, encouraging local Christians, witnessing and discipling others. May Your Spirit prepare and use Greater Europe Mission, and may You revive Your church in Europe, partly through their efforts.

 

Today I thank You for those who assure the quality of our water or provide water service. We thank You for blessing us with this necessity, we pray that they would find fulfillment in their work, and that those who know You would share the good news with fellow workers.

 

Now, Mighty One, help me find my strength in You today, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 10

by Ed Vasicek

 

Good Lord,

 

Thank You for being so longsuffering. Although You become angry and You express Your wrath, revealing it from heaven, You delay Your anger. You are patient, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. You have put up with me as well, tolerating my stubborn heart and nurturing me toward growth. Thank You that You are not quick-tempered, nor do You ever act unreasonably.

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of them, and You will cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). So I bring my sins before You now. I do not excuse them, but I freely admit them and ask for Your forgiveness.

 

Father, thank You that the Lord Jesus, after dying once for all mankind and at one point in time, ascended back into heaven, never to die again. As the risen victor, He sits at Your right hand and prays for us and defends us against the devil's accusations.

 

Help me, Lord, to likewise be on the lookout for ways I can help my brothers and sisters in Christ. My life is so busy, and sometimes I feel pulled in too many directions. But help me to care about others.

That brings me to setting priorities. Help me to seek Your kingdom and righteousness first, and then I will be able to view the rest of life from the right perspective.

 

Lord, I remember the small nation of Brunei, near Indonesia. This is an oil-wealthy country ruled by a sultan who might be the richest man in the world. The Christians in this land are finding it more and more difficult to live their faith. Islam is the state religion – and Muslim activists are pushing to make Brunei 100% Muslim. What freedoms are left from the past are being eliminated. We thank You that about 5% of the people in Brunei claim to be born-again, and we pray that their numbers might double.

 

We also pray that the government would recognize the rights of its people to freely choose and share religious beliefs.

 

Today I pray for World Missionary Radio Fellowship, HCJB. Thank You for their many years of radio transmissions around the world. Thank You for their facility in Quito, Ecuador, and the multitudes of people who hear the Gospel and grow in the Lord through this strategic ministry. Provide harmony to all who make up the organizations, finances, and, most importantly, the backing of Your Holy Spirit.

 

Also bless the mail carriers and postal workers who provide such an important service to the rest of us.

May many come to know You, and may those who do freely share their faith.

 

Lord, guide me in all my choices today, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

February 11

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great God,

 

Thank You, Father, that You are a Teacher. As Your Word states, You, "instruct us in the way we should go." You counsel us, You lead us, and, by Your Spirit, You penetrate our hearts and minds. You are constantly developing us, teaching us, and leading us. You are the ultimate Teacher. It amazes me that You even want to tutor me. Help me to be a wiling and motivated student!

 

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, thank You that you have given us all things richly to enjoy. Although the comforts of this world can distract us, there is no virtue in denying ourselves the wholesome pleasures of life. Treating ourselves harshly does nothing to make us more godly (Colossians 2:23). Yet, Lord, You do want me to have self-control, a part of the fruit of Your Spirit. So help me to learn to be moderate in all things.

 

Almighty One, help me to feel well today. Check pain and illness, if this is Your will. Although sometimes You use bodily weaknesses to help us depend upon You, or You allow us to experience them as those who share in the consequences of the curse (for our bodies are not yet redeemed – Romans 8:23-24), yet it is also true that sometimes we have not because we ask not. So I am asking.

 

Today I pray for the nation of Bulgaria in Eastern Europe. Only about 2 percent of the population claims to be born-again, and the Orthodox Church has campaigned against evangelicals, accusing us of being cannibals and tied to the criminal element. Please stop these slanders and multiply the evangelical church tenfold over the next decade. Help the leaders to mature, and provide for them.

 

Today we pray for InterAct Ministries as they reach people around the top of the North Pacific Ocean including Alaska, parts of Canada and parts of Russia. Many of these are indigenous people who have not been evangelized. Bless their staff, missionaries, and ministries. Help them work together well, to be personally strong in You, and to be blessed by Your Spirit with much fruit for their labors.

 

Today I pray for those who work to make traffic control efficient and safe.

 

Help me bring the joy of Jesus to others today, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 12

by Ed Vasicek

 

Gracious Father,

 

Thank You that You always stand ready to forgive. The only condition for the believer is confession, a repentant spirit. For those who do not know You, it is repentance toward You and faith in the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we trust Christ, all our sins are legally forgiven. When we sin as believers, sin causes relational problems with You, a tension in our relationship. Even though we are secure in You, sin creates an obstacle to our fellowship. When we confess our wrong, You immediately forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We forgive others, with Your help, in the same way.

 

So, Father, teach me not only to forgive the repentant, but also to be able to ask for forgiveness. When I sin against another, help me not to justify or rationalize it, but to isolate my wrong from whatever wrongs may have been done against me. Help me to say, "What I did was wrong, please forgive me" and nothing more. If others have wronged me, help me to address that at a separate time. May I be good at knowing how to ask for forgiveness. And, as I grow, may I have less to repent!

 

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. Help me not to grieve Him, but rather to give Him complete control of who I am and what I do.

 

Today I pray for the African nation of Burkina Faso. Thank You that about 8 percent of the population claim to be born-again, and thank You for the growth of the Gospel in some areas. At the same time, Lord, Islam is gaining converts in the north of the country. This nation is impoverished, prone to drought and famine. Unemployment and illiteracy are high. The missionaries have a rough task cut out for them. Make them effective, provide health, finances, and harmony for them; may Your Spirit fill them and empower them; help them walk closely with You and not get discouraged with the monumental challenges before them. We pray that You would continue to use the Jesus Film, that You would raise up strong and solid leaders and training facilities, and that the church would multiply in both numbers and depth.

 

Today we remember Interserve, a network of Christians from all over the world who, using their professional skills, work together to serve people of Asia and the Arab world – getting alongside them in tackling material, physical, mental and spiritual needs. Bless them as they reach out with the love of God in sometimes difficult situations. Give them tact, wisdom, safety, and fruit for their labors.

 

Today we remember all those who manage our personnel departments. We know it takes compassion and professionalism to do this job well, and we pray that you would bless these people-helpers with discernment and wisdom. May many come to know You.

 

Again, Lord, I ask You to prosper my ways today, for I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 13

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Abba,

 

Thank You that You fill all in all. Although You are separate from Your creation, You are present everywhere and although space is simply a created entity of Your pleasure, the entire universe cannot contain You, O Lord.

 

Thank You, Lord, that You created man in Your image. We humans are creative, personal, and spiritual. We have both a real physical component and a non-material component. You want us to love you with both components, with all we are: soul, spirit, mind, strength, and will.

 

Help me to resist the temptations and snares of the devil today. I claim the blood of Jesus Christ and the word of my testimony. I take up Your armor, O God.

 

Lord, help me to be a Christian who is known for being loving. May I look out for the interests of others, be considerate, concerned, and willing to lend encouragement and help. Help me not to simply think how people can benefit me, but also how I can benefit them.

 

I have a variety of personal needs in my life. I ask You to take away any guilt I feel, real guilt or false guilt. Help me believe that my repentance results in Your cleansing. You bury my sins in the depths of the sea, separating my iniquities from me as far as east is from the west.

 

Today I pray for the nation still known as Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). There are only a few thousand evangelical believers in this impoverished Eastern European nation of 10 million people. Father, please multiply the number of evangelical Christians in this land tenfold within the next decade. Help the church develop strong leaders and a good testimony.

 

Father, today I pray for Janz Team Ministries, an independent faith mission that has just over one hundred workers overseas and in North America. Thank You for their work in mass evangelism and other forms of evangelism, including teaching English as a Foreign Language. Give them unity, safety, provision, and the empowerment of Your Spirit.

 

Today we pray for those who inspect meat, agriculture, and other areas related to food safety and production. Help them to do a good job, and may the Christians in this field boldly share Christ with their coworkers.  May many respond by turning to Christ.

 

Now, Lord, may I live in a way pleasing to You today, I pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 

February 14

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great God,

 

Thank You for your love, a love that is pure, enduring, and deep. Thank You that, in Christ, nothing can separate me from Your love. Thank You that You are a social God. As Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of the Persons of the Trinity seek to glorify one another. And it was through a conversation between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that the universe was created as You said, "Let us.…"

 

Thank You, Lord, that I too need others to be happy and fulfilled. Sometimes I feel lonely and alone; help me not to cower in a corner, but help me to jump into my church, neighborhood, and community. You made me social, just as You are social. Help me nurture that part of my being and not stifle it in fear.

 

Help me remember that our church is a body, and that I have a part to play. Help me to be forbearing (to put up with a lot), to confront when necessary, and not to be touchy. Help me maintain a realistic view about human nature – even among the regenerate – so that I do not hold false expectations that will be frustrated.

 

God, Your Word tells me to ask for wisdom when I need it. I ask You to enlighten my mind, and, like the wise person of Proverbs, help me to seek, crave, and pursue wisdom.

 

Dear Lord, today I pray for the nation of Burundi. Although many in this nation claim to be born-again, the hatred between the Tutsi and Hutu peoples has resulted in massive murder and devastation. Help the evangelical church to be a community of reconciliation. Please restart the leadership training centers, and help the people forgive. Be especially gracious to all the orphans who saw their parents slaughtered simply because they belonged to the wrong tribe. Please, Lord, bring healing.

 

I remember the ministry of Jews for Jesus as they take the good news of Yeshua the Messiah to the Jewish people around the world. May Your Spirit empower the workers, help them to walk with You and to get along with one another, and provide for them in every way. Give them great fruit for their labor as they reach Your special nation.

 

Today I also pray for our public libraries and librarians. Thank You that, in our nation, we may expand our minds freely. We know that many philosophies and teachings are contrary to Your Word, so help us to study that we might have answers and offer alternatives that please You. May more and more librarians and administrators come to know You.

 

Help me look for You working among those I rub shoulders with today, and help me walk through the doors You open, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

February 15

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great Father of Lights,

 

I praise You that You are a God Who makes decisions. You are not some force or some law of the universes. You are a personal God. You think, You feel, You create, and You decide. You have a perfect will. Since You decide, you also discern and are therefore the perfect Judge of the Universe. Your decisions are never wrong, never lacking knowledge, information, or reasonability. You are not a random God. Although Your ways are higher than ours, and although many of Your decisions do not make sense to us, we are the ones with the problem, not You.

 

Today I thank You for the atoning work of Jesus Christ. He earned my salvation by paying a penalty as a sin offering to You, Father. He took my sins upon Himself and gave me His righteousness in exchange. He became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

 

Father, in light of the work of Jesus for me, help me to remember that He has purchased me with His blood, and that I do not belong to myself, but to You. I am Yours. Help me view life accordingly.

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of them, and You will cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). So I bring my sins before You now. I do not excuse them, but I freely admit them and ask for Your forgiveness.

 

Meet the personal needs of my life, Lord. My physical needs: health, strength, provision. Meet my spiritual needs: growth, nurture, fellowship. And meet my social needs: matters of family, friends, and community.

 

Today I am praying for the nation of Cambodia. Lord, the slaughters that took place there in past decades are horrible to even hear about. In the process of the ravage of internal warfare, most Christians were killed. Thank You for the 300 evangelical congregations in the land. Even though evangelicals make up only about one half of one percent, the church is growing quickly. The challenges are many, with so many abandoned children who end up as prostitutes in addition to the emotional effects of past slaughters. May the church grow exponentially, raise up leaders, and help the government to take a positive stance toward religious freedom. May You turn Cambodia into a lighthouse for other nations. Bless the missionary agencies who work there with fruit and provision.

 

Lord, I thank You for the vital ministry of Kids Alive, as they rescue children from dangerous situations and provide them with housing and education around the world. Lord, we hate to hear how many children are suffering abandonment, abuse, and living on the streets. Help the missionaries and ministries of Kids Alive to make a big difference for the Kingdom of God. Provide for these ministries abundantly, help the workers to live in harmony, and rescue many children!

 

Bless all those who protect children locally too, I ask.

 

Now, Lord, help me keep my eyes on You today, I request, in Jesus' Name, Amen.