Day 31

Our final day of 30 Days of Prayer but I hope not your final day to pray! I hope you have been spurred on by the Holy Spirit to journal some of the details of Andrew Murray's book The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer. I hope you have been spurred on to ask Him who you can be praying for. Intercessory prayer isn't for only 30 days, or every once in a while, it is our privilege as believers in Christ to pray for one another and to carry one another's burdens daily. We were not created to do this thing called life all alone but instead with a community of believers.

I sat in on the Jonah study today and Priscilla Shirer, the author, wrapped up the teaching session by reminding us that if we are coming to Bible study to study God's word then that is good but if we don't do anything with it then what good is it? She encouraged us to be the hands and feet of Christ to a dying nation. To be Christ to those who are lost and have no hope. That is a pretty tall order, but one that is commanded of us to go and tell all the nations. May a revival begin in our own hearts and minds, then to our families, to our neighborhood, our workplace or school, and then to the ends of the earth. A revival happened in Ninevah (modern day Mosul, Iraq) because one man allowed God to do a mighty work first in himself and then to a large city. The prophet preached against a city of nearly 122,000 people and within 24 hours the largest revival in history occurred. You can read the story in The Book of Jonah, found in the Old Testament, only four short chapters. In the four chapters we get a glimpse of ourselves as well as our God from heaven above. May we say yes to God as Jonah did, and watch to see what He does with willing hearts and available bodies.

Day 31
The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer by Andrew Murray

What to Pray: For the Spirit of Christ in His People

"I am the vine you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me he can do nothing" (John 15:5).

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 13:15).

As branches of the Vine, we are to be so like the Vine, so entirely identified with it, that all may see that we have the same nature, and life, and spirit. When we pray for the Spirit, let us not only think of a Spirit of power, but the very disposition and temper of Christ.

Ask for and expect nothing less. Ask it for yourself and ask it for all God's children. This should be the deepest cry of our heart.

How to Pray: Striving in Prayer

"I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me" (Romans 15:30).

"I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally" (Colossians 2:1).

Paul asked his followers to join him in his trials by praying for him. All the powers of evil seek to hinder us in prayer. Prayer is a conflict with opposing forces. It requires the whole heart and all our strength. May God give us grace to strive in prayer for others, and may we all be blessed with many who pray also for us.

Your Own Prayer Requests:

Pray and ask God to bring to your mind those for whom you can pray. Be intentional, commit to action, and strive to lift up your brothers and sisters in prayer, pray that your world and their world will be changed and transformed for Christ.

John 15:5, listed above, is underlined in my Bible. In my mind it is my life verse. I didn't put a date in my Bible when I underlined it but I remember praying it back to God that I wanted to remain in Him so that I could bear fruit, fruit that will last. Once I came to faith I was fully surrendered and longed to be of some use to God. As I look back over the past 10 years of faith and the nearly 2 years I spent trying to figure out if this was really the real deal, I realize how little I have done personally but how God has been so faithful. So faithful to those I have prayed for and served alongside of. I am in awe and humbled that He would allow me to be called His daughter and serve Him in ministry.

"Christ our intercessor is our life. He is our Head and we are His body. His Spirit and life breathe in us. As in heaven so on earth, intercession is God's chosen channel of blessing. Let us learn from Christ what kind of glory there is in this kind of prayer" (page 109-110).

Thank you ladies for joining us on this journey. Today's lecture at the general level was on intercessory prayer. God is up to something and it is good. We shall serve the King together.