Day 8

Have you ever given away money? Have you ever given your time to Jesus? Have you given until it hurts? Mother Teresa says, "Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go." I have had the privilege of leaving the country on two missions trip. However, we don't have to leave the country in order to minister to others. God can use whatever we are willing to give, time or money. There is a ministry, Feed My Starving Children, located in Aurora, IL., about 10 minutes from my home whose primary purpose is to feed starving children. I have been several times and I am always amazed at what can be accomplished in a short period of time. FMSC (http://www.fmsc.org/) packs food for children in several different countries like Haiti, Zimbabwe, Uganda, the Philippines and more. Packing is done with up to 90 people for about an hour and a half. In that time frame enough meals are packed to allow up to 90 children, sometimes more, to eat one meal a day for the next year. Stories are shared that tug at heart strings, stories that you can't help but be touched by. Children's lives are being changed by God with future purposes in mind.

Day 8
The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer by Andrew Murray

What to Pray: For the Spirit on All Christian Workers

"On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many" (2 Corinthians 1:11). There are Christian workers in every walk of life; not only in our churches and missions but also in our schools, our hospitals, our government, our military, our highways, our farms, our markets, in business, and in leisure. God be praised for this! But think what more they could accomplish if each were living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit! Pray for them, it makes you a partner in their work, and you will have reason to praise God when you hear of blessing in their lives and in their work on every front.

How to Pray: With Specific Petitions

"What do you want me to do for you?" (Luke 18:4).
In the above reference, the Lord knew what the blind man wanted and yet He asked him. Verbalizing our desires gives credence to the transaction in which we are engaged with God and so awakens faith and expectation. Be specific in your petitions so as to know what answer you may look for. Think of the great number of Christians you know who are working for God in their various fields and endeavors, and ask and expect God to bless them and prosper them in answer to the prayers of the people. Ask even more specifically for those in your own family and place of work. Intercession is not the breathing out of pious wishes; it is believing, persevering prayer to receive specific answers to specific requests.

Your Own Prayer Requests:

~When interceding for others, ask them how you can pray specifically for them and then do it. Be sure to follow up with them at a later date to see how the prayer has been answered.
~When praying for your family pray specifically. Ask God to show evidence of your families spiritual growth and then watch for the answer.
~Pray for an opportunity to be used by God during the Christmas season. Be specific on where and then watch for the opportunity to present itself. He longs to bless you and me, may we look for His answer as we move about our day.

I love praying for specific things. When FMSC first moved to the area, they were in a temporary site awaiting a permanent location to open. There seemed to be obstacle after obstacle that came up and delay after delay. We asked them how we could pray specifically for them. They needed inspections to get done and be approved, they needed specific workers to show up and get specific tasks done in order to move forward. We had so much fun praying for them and then hearing how God answered those prayers. Did God need us to pray in order to accomplish those things? No, He doesn't need us to do anything before He acts, however, He gives us the opportunity to join Him in the work He is doing. If you haven't started yet to pray, just do it!! If your prayer life is feeling a little stale, tell Him you don't want a stale prayer life any longer and ask Him to help you. That is a prayer He will love answering.