Day 10

During yesterday's How to Pray section the author says, "Time is one of the primary standards of value. The time we give a thing is proof of the interest and value we place on it. " I have thought about that statement a lot. I have thought about my own behavior and where do I spend my time? What do I place great value on? For the third day in a row the author of our book is asking us to pray for those willing to go out on to the mission field. I think the author has done this because this work is of great value and doesn't come easily. I have been on mission trips outside the country and I have discovered mission fields in the US, as well. My most recent mission field is my neighborhood and my extended family. Frankly, I'd rather go out of the country!!!

Day 10
The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer by Andrew Murray

What to Pray: For God's Spirit on Our Missionaries

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)
What the world needs today is not only more missionaries but the outpouring of God's Spirit on all those He has sent out to work for Him in the foreign fields. God always gives His servants power equal to the work He asks of them. Think of the vastness and difficulty of this work. Most fields are under the power and sway of the enemy of our souls. Missionaries enter into Satan's strongholds. Before any significant work can be done, these powers must be broken down. Spiritual warfare is the order of the day. We must pray for those who have made it their life's work to face these difficulties head on and to minister to those who in many cases have never heard the name of Jesus, much less know anything of the Gospel. The work of prayer for missionaries is not easy. It takes dedication, concentration, and persistence. Do not give up the fight. God is with you.

What to Pry: Trusting God's Faithfulness

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23). Think of God's promises to His Son concerning His kingdom, to the church concerning the lost, to His servants concerning their ministry, and to you concerning your prayer life. Then pray in the assurance that He is faithful; He waits for prayer and faith so that He can answer and fulfill every request. "Faithful is he that call you [to pray], who also will do [what He has promised]" (1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV). Take up individual missionaries that you know; make yourself one with them, and pray until you know that you are heard. Intercede on their behalf. There may be times and places where they are unable to pray and count on those at home to bridge the gap!

Your Own Prayer Requests:

~Pray for the lost, those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.
~If you have friends who are struggling in their marriage, pray for them. Do you have friends who are raising a prodigal child? Pray for them on a regular basis. Pray for strength and wisdom on how to best parent that child and pray that the parents will find any needed help for God to accomplish through them the plans He has for their child.
~Are you raising a prodigal child? Check out a book written by Blaine Bartel titled, "7 Absolutes to Pray Over Your Kids." Pray the prayers the author has written until you are able to pray the prayers the Spirit gives you to pray specifically for your child.

Shortly after I first came to know Jesus as Savior, I was sitting in church listening to a sermon. The pastor was talking about Satan's territory. Satan's territory is the home where no one believes in Jesus. Satan's territory is the neighborhood where divorce is high, abuse is high and he wants those involved to keep it a secret. When the secret is told and prayed over Satan loses that plot of territory. In this particular sermon the pastor mentioned spiritual warfare and when Christians step out in faith to make Jesus known to others that Satan gets mad and tries to quiet us. I was feeling pretty smug because Satan didn't seem to be bothering me. I felt pretty mighty and strong. As I was thinking along those lines the pastor said something like, if you have never experienced spiritual warfare then you aren't doing anything to make Satan mad, you aren't messing with his territory. My smug mumbling became a charge to make Satan mad, to go out into the world with such a passion to serve the One who saved me. The One I had fallen so deeply in love with needed to be known by others. I told the Lord right then and there that I was His to do with as He saw fit. I wanted to impact the world for Christ and make His name known to the lost. I had no idea what I had just asked for. Although I have experienced warfare that I wanted to run from, I also experienced lives being changed because of the love of Christ. Oh the warfare is real and it is really hard to endure at times but as we have stated in the past, "Our God wins!" When the warfare comes up I know it is because God is on the move and Satan doesn't like it. So, na-na-na-na-boo-boo, Satan, look out cuz here comes our God...and He wins! Let's keep praying ladies!!