|
Friday, February 21 2025
Good Morning Drawing Close to God, Powerful Praying Servants! Amen! Check out the Connection blogs below and pray through them. Pray for our Vision team meeting tonight that we would seek, hear and plan God's plans. Check out TWFYT below that as it speaks into the new things God is doing and our discerning and following well. Praying for you all! Have a blessed day abiding in Christ and following His lead. Shalom shalom--perfect peace to you!
Connection blogs:
February 13 - Tools in the Hands of a Mighty God
|
|
|
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him” (Psalm 67).
Every year almost 700,000 international students flock to college campuses in the United States. They are far away from home, many for the first time, navigating a strange culture and attempting to take classes in a language different from the one that is most natural to them. Many of these students want to impact their nations in a significant way, but most are not Christians. These students are a huge untapped resource for the cause of Christ, but about 70% of them will never see the inside of a Christian home unless we reach out to them. The reality of this situation is staggering when we consider that these potential kingdom workers already know the language, customs and layout of their own countries. Through hospitality and acts of love, our families and churches can become the hands and feet of Christ to them, bringing many into the Kingdom of Light! Then, by training them to reach their own nations for Jesus Christ, these young men and women can become incredible tools in the hands of a mighty God.
Gracious Lord, please give me a heart for the nations, for I long to see all the ends of the earth fear Your Name! Help me to see the big picture of how reaching out to one young student can change the world for Jesus! Let me be one of many in my church to seek to build relationships with young men and women from all over the world so that they might have an opportunity to see the living Christ in our homes! Teach me to stretch beyond what is comfortable to learn from and minister to these young students, so that they will see Jesus in me and know that I care about them.
--Adapted from Revolution on Our Knees: 30 Days of Prayer for Neighbors and Nations by Dave and Kim Butts. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
|
|
|
Praying through the President’s First 31 Days
Day 25
Pray that the Office of the President will exemplify honesty, integrity, and transparency.
O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; he swears to his own hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken (Psalm 15:1-5).
|
|
|
- Praise God, the changer of times and seasons (Dan. 2:21), who is in control of all of history.
- Give thanks for this new day.
- Confess any misuse or waste of time.
- Commit yourself to taking hold of today’s opportunities and to enjoying the special pleasures God provides during this season.
- Ask him to guide you to make wise and efficient use of your time.
- Pray that your church leaders will be protected from overloaded schedules. Ask God to give them wisdom as they lead the church and care for their other concerns.
Prayer Pointer
“When we say to people, ‘I will pray for you,’ we make a very important commitment. The sad thing is that this remark often remains nothing but a well-meant expression of concern.” —Henri Nouwen
|
|
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
TWFYT:
ODB: It ties to the Connection blog! May God bless you eith shalom/peace today
|
“Sometimes I just feel so . . . invisible.” The word hung in the air as Joanie talked to her friend. Her husband had left for another woman, leaving Joanie with young children still at home. “I gave him my best years,” she confided. “And now I don’t know if anyone would really see me or take the time to actually know me.”
“I’m so sorry,” her friend responded. “My dad walked out when I was six, and it was hard for us, especially Mom. But she said this thing when she tucked me in at night that I never forgot: ‘God never closes His eyes.’ When I was older, she explained she was trying to teach me that God loved me and watched over me always, even while I slept.”
The Bible presents words God gave Moses to share with His people during a challenging time, when they were wandering in Sinai’s desert: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). The blessing was to be spoken by the priests over the people.
Even in life’s wildernesses—those places where we wonder if anyone sees us or truly understands—God is faithful. God’s favor—His shining face and enduring love—is always turned toward those who love Him, even when we can’t feel Him because of our pain. No one is invisible to God.
By James Banks
REFLECT & PRAY
|
|
How does it comfort you to know that God truly sees you? Who can you share that comfort with today?
Thank You, Father, for seeing me, knowing me, and loving me. Please help me to turn my face to You always!
Hear more from James Banks on how God sees our needs and hears our prayers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In showering the people with His favor, God instructed the high priest to bestow on them the blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26. “The Lord make his face shine on you” (v. 25) is rendered “the Lord smile on you” in the New Living Translation. God smiling and turning “his face toward you” (v. 26) expresses the idea that the people have God’s special attention and approval. This benediction, pronounced by many pastors at the end of church services today, affirms that God provides for and protects His people, assuring us of His presence, pardon, and peace. The Hebrew concept of peace (shalom) is all-embracing and includes the concepts of completeness, security, health, wealth, tranquility, contentment, friendship, and peace with God and humanity.
K.T. Sim |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LISTEN ONLINE
