Day 16

I wish I could give each of you reading this blog a copy of this book. It might make a GREAT Christmas gift if anyone is looking for a little something for you. The name of the book is The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer by Andrew Murray. Although we are only working the devotions here, great insight into prayer is captured in the book. Murray challenges us to intercede for others, however, at times we don't know what to pray or how. Read what Scripture has to say:

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Murray has given us suggestions on what to pray for and how. I am amazed at the number of suggestions he makes that I have never really considered as areas to pray for, today is one example.

What To Pray: For the Power of the Holy Spirit in our Sunday Schools

"But this is what the Lord says: 'Yes, captives will be taken from warriors and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save'" (Isaiah 49:25)

Every part of the work of God's church is His work. Prayer is the confession that He will work in answer to our prayers. One of the often neglected ministries in our church is the Sunday school. This is not a place to leave your children merely so that you can attend worship service. Sunday school should be a place of learning, a place of prayer, a place of instruction in the things of God. Often there is a shortage of volunteers to teach and help in this ministry. We must come to understand how vital it is and how desperately important to the forming of the future leaders of our churches. Pray for teachers, qualified teachers, those who are enthused about the Word of God and awed at the preciousness of children. Pray for the children, that they will be encouraged to attend, desire to learn, and that they will retain what they have learned. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our Sunday schools so that our children may be nurtured and instructed while their minds and hearts are receptive. Pray for the salvation of the children.

How To Pray: Boldly

"'Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:4, 16).

We can approach the throne with confidence because we know that God delights to hear our prayers. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are accepted in Him. We are heard. Let us pray for our children with all boldness and confidence that God desires to bless them and use them. Let us persevere, realizing the value and importance of our subject. The more we pray the more we will lean how to pray, and to believe, and to expect an answer with increasing hope and confidence. Hold fast your assurance; it is at God's command you come before Him as an intercessor. Intercede for the Sunday schools and for the children who attend them.

Your Own Prayer Requests:

~Pray for an outpouring of the Spirit onto those who He calls to work in the Sunday school classes.
~Ask God if He is calling you to serve in the Sunday school classes.
~For those He calls He will equip, pray the workers will trust in God's ability and merely their own availability.

Our church's children's ministry program needs around 450 workers in order to serve our children on Saturday night and Sunday morning worship services. That is amazing!! We do not want a warm body teaching our children and caring for our children, we want those who are enthusiastic about God's Word and His babes.

WBS uses 20 workers, some teachers are in that mix and others who come to rock babies or assist teachers. When I think of the children of WBS, it is imperative to me that the women who come to care for our kids first love Jesus, and because of that great love, they can care for the littlest ones who mean a tremendous amount to Jesus. Please pray for those who are lovin' on our precious ones and consider your role to benefit the kingdom.