Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

My part was to pray for four specific areas...

1) Lord, we pray for unity...

unity WITHIN our individual churches

and unity AMONG the churches here in our city.

Heal divisions, we pray.

O God, bring down the walls.

Forgive us that so often we've gotten off track and off message.

Convince us, Lord, of the urgency of the day we live in.

Give us a common vision.

That we might see a move of God right here in our city.

People who are lost coming to know You.

2) Lord, release fresh movements of prayer in every nation of the world

so that this generation may accomplish the divine purposes You have for each one of us.

May we seek Your throne of grace with persistence.

Not distracted and concerned about so many things

when only one thing is important.

Lord, forgive us our puny distractions.

Help us to pray always. Ephesians 6:18.

Without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17

With thanksgiving steadfastly

in intercessory, concentrated, prevailing prayer! Colossians 4:2

(One line I left out...Lord, fill every mid-week prayer meeting to overflowing.)

3) Lord, we pray for our local churches...

the leaders,

those who minister faithfully week in, week out,

those working with young people,

in our local churches and at the local youth drop in center,

And we pray for the precious young people of this city,

Lord, raise up a generation that will seek after You.

Lord, we pray for areas of our community where the church doesn't seem to reach.

Show us what we need to do and grant us the grace to do it.

4) We pray for persecuted Christians.

for our brothers and sisters around the world. Hebrews 13:3

Those who right now are undergoing intense interrogation, torture and risk of life itself.

We can't even imagine what the pressure must be.

Those who are willing to sacrifice personal comfort and safety,

even to the point of death for the sake of the gospel.

May Your Presence surround them.

Encourage their hearts.

Bring them often to our minds.

In Jesus' Name we pray.

The lesson learned?

It's important to speak the Word. Matthew 10:19-20

Not on our own initiative. John 16:13

Speaking His wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2:7

Boldly. Ephesians 6:20

Like this morning reading Psalm 1.

Whatever he does shall prosper.

The pre-conditions being following everything the Lord says to do

revealed during meditation 24/7 on His Word versus following the advice of non-believers.

If we fulfill the conditions, we can lay claim to the promise,

declaring it aloud in faith.

I'm more and more convinced of the need for aggressive prayer.

Prayers of declaration.