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21 Days of Prayer

2019

Day 1

January 21, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings to all our Farm Loop Family: Today is the first day we share together our ministry of prayer. As we begin I would like to give you several guidelines. These are only suggestions. 1. Set aside a specific time for your prayer. 2. Pray as little or as much as you choose. 3. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead you. 4. Feel free to share your experience with Shirley or myself via email. Now we begin. Perhaps the most needed, yet most neglected ministry of the Christian life is consistent prayer. Today as you pray let your focus be on the Lord Jesus Christ thanking Him for His goodness to you and to our Farm Loop fellowship. The Book of Isaiah, verse 64 states, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens! That you would come down! That the mountains might shake at your presence." In praying that God would rend the heavens we are asking God to move in us by the power of His Spirit to know and to accomplish His will for our lives and the ministry of Farm Loop Christian Center. In the phrase that mentions His Presence we should all be reminded that the manifest Presence of God makes all the difference in our Christian lives. It is not just an emotion, but a tangible reality that comforts, convicts, changes and calls. As you pray today ask the Lord to reveal His Presence to us all. Welcome to the adventure. Pastor John

Day 2

January 22, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings in the Lord Jesus, We hope all went well for your first day of our 21 days of prayer. Our first day was to introduce us all to seeking the Lord’s Presence and asking Him to manifest Himself in us individually and as a church. Today we want to point you to Luke 11:1-2. “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord teach us to pray…” There is a need in all our lives to learn from the Master how we can and should pray. Over the next few days we will be teaching very short devotions on the Lord’s prayer but for today take time to be alone with God and ask Him to teach you and us to pray. This is a spiritual exercise that takes patience and faith. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and to speak to you in ways you understand. We all learn in different ways. God knows the way each of us learns. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 3

January 23, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings all, This is the third devotion in our 21 days of prayer. As you pray this day pray against the tactics of the enemy. He does not like a praying church so stand strong and do not cease to pray to the Father in Jesus’ Name. The enemy will try to confuse you, convince you that your prayers are not effective and condemn you for any area of your life that is not in perfect order. Remember we are not perfect just forgiven and God’s own precious children; press on! Today we ask that you pray the Lord of the harvest (Mt.9:37-38) to send laborers into the fields. God’s kingdom is prayer powered yet He uses us as His workers to do the work. There is always a need for Christians to offer themselves for the support of the local church. Today please pray for all those who are ministry leaders. Remember they are on the front line of the battle and need strength, encouragement as well as others who will share in the ministry. This can be any ministry in the church. Please lift them up today. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 4

January 24, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Today I remember the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17. Let’s remember too that in this prayer He prayed with confidence the protection and keeping power of the Father for His disciples. He did not pray for the world in this prayer because in this prayer His focus was on the ones God the Father had given Him. He was praying for the first ones who would take His gospel to a dark and violent world. Jesus prayed for those who would lay the foundation of the Church. In praying this way He gave us a model for praying for our work in His kingdom. Our focus today is His kingdom and our church. Pray as He prayed: John 17:11 “…”that they may be one.” Lord grant that our church would dwell together as one in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. John17:13 “…that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” The Lord wants us to be full of His joy. Pray for it for yourself and for the family of God. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” To be sanctified is to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit Who validates our faith. Ask God to sanctify us as His church. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 5

January 25, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings Church, Today I take my thoughts from Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-10. “ http://...we do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the (1) knowledge of His will in all (2) wisdom and (3) spiritual understanding; that you may (4) walk worthy of the Lord, fully (5) pleasing Him, being (6) fruitful in every good work and increasing in the (7) knowledge of God.” The above prayer makes for a great outline and if prayed in faith makes for a great church. As you pray today be sure to ask God to fill our church with the knowledge of His will. Take note of the seven distinct requests and make them on our behalf to the glory of God and His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Along with the knowledge of His will pray we will obey it individually and corporately. No compromise, no fear, no hesitation. His will is the greatest and safest place for a church or individual to be. Pray our labors would be fruitful. Fruitful not because of our efforts but because of our surrender and obedience to His will. Blessings in the Lord and keep up the good work of faith. Pastor John & Shirley

Day 6

January 26, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings our family in the Lord! Today our prayer focus comes again from another prayer of the Apostle Paul. “I thank my God on every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:3-6 The love Paul had for the saints at Philippi is obvious in his prayer. He had great affection for these believers. It was in this city that Paul and his team were thrown into prison. As they worshipped the Lord in jail they were released by a miracle of God and the jailer and all his household were saved that night! You may read the account in Acts 16. We all seem to remember those great events in our lives when God acted on our behalf. He has done mighty things for our fellowship. Our church and every church is a miracle of God by His Son Jesus Christ. Pray through the passage quoted above and do not hurry. Remind yourself of all the blessings God has given you and be grateful. Also ask our Father to pour out His blessings on all the folks in our congregation and fill us all with His great joy. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 7

January 27, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Confessing our Lord and Savior Greetings in the Lord those of you who are participating in our 21 Days of Prayer. Today is a day for us to confess the Lord Jesus. I will not present scripture but all I share will in fact be scriptural. Lord Jesus I confess You. Today I must face the world and I need Your grace and strength to overcome doubt, fear and sin. If I go on my own power I will fail. I ask You for these things and all to Your glory: Strength to stand and light to understand, Hands and feet anointed by Your Spirit to serve as You would serve. The sword of the Spirit to defend my life and the shield of faith to quench the firey darts of the evil one. Your riches are unsearchable and inexhaustible so in Your blessing me Your supply is not limited or diminished yet I am made rich! I praise You Lord Jesus that You have called me Friend and also told me I am Your brother. I confess You as my Savior Redeemer. I bless Your Holy Name and offer my life and our church to You as a sacrifice of love. Amen. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 8

January 28, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings and blessings to all, Today take time to pray the Lord’s Prayer which you can find in Matthew 6:9-13. It is easy to say the words of this prayer and assume we have done well but I want to challenge us to take the time to pray the sentiments of this prayer taught to us by Jesus. What I mean is to pray each phrase with thought and heart. An example would be to really meditate on the thought that God is our Father and is your Father. The impact of this reality should be allowed to work its way into your heart and soul. Ask God to reveal to you the power of the fact we are His children and really can call Him Father. Take your time. You may even need to pray several times today to cover all the aspects of this amazing prayer. Pray it as request, as blessing and as your right to say and pray these things. There is so much here for us as a church. Let’s pray today the way Jesus taught us and pray for ourselves individually and for our church corporately. We are enjoying the reports that are being sent to us as to the impact of this season of prayer! Keep on pressing in and seeking His will. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 9

January 29, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

When I was a boy I had an experience once when a small dog that was being chased by a much larger dog came running across the street to escape being mangled by the larger dog. The little dog ran straight for me and jumped up in my arms. I did not know either of these dogs but here it was, the weaker little dog hoping I would save it from deadly injury. I did exactly what the little dog hoped. I yelled at the other dog and it stopped and went away. My authority and strength saved the little dog. It seems prayer is like this for you and me. The apostle Paul said it like this. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me…..for when I am weak then I am strong.” II Cor.12:9-10 We are now entering the second phase of our 21 Days of prayer. I know from experience that some of you may be discouraged and wondering if your prayers are working. You probably feel weak and inadequate. Rejoice in the Lord! We are weak and inadequate! Knowing this we can run to His strength. Today ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray as you should. Remember Ro.8:26 “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray as we ought.” This is the perfect place to be. Rest in His power. Wait on His influence and He will pray with you and through you for our church. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 10

January 30, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings everyone, Today our prayer lesson comes from Matt 16:19 “ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Jesus says the same thing again in Matt 18:18 so it would be good if we listen to him. What Jesus is telling us as the church is that we have amazing power and influence on the earth and in heaven. When we pray we should be mindful that God has given ‘us’ the keys to the kingdom. We have a clear way to the Father and we have the capacity to release the kingdom of God on the earth today. Do not doubt this power and privilege. Use it for His glory! Today, believe God will answer your prayers and that you have kingdom power in you. Lift up your requests before God in the name of Jesus and see all the influence you have on the things of the earth and on God. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 11

January 31, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings to ali in Jesus’ Name, Yesterday our prayer focused on the power we have in heaven and on earth when we pray. This should convince us that our prayers are important. Today let’s focus on Jesus words in John 14:12f “ I say to you, he that believes on me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do.” As you pray today seek the Lord’s will as you pray and be bold in your request. Can you believe this promise Jesus has made to us as His church? Ask the Holy Spirit to lead your prayer and help you pray for the ministry of the church. Let God know we are willing to follow Him wherever He leads. This means our hearts and our desires must match His. See Psalm 37:4. Prayer is not us changing the mind of God but bringing our mind into agreement with God. He changes our desires to match His and then prayer has the power promised as we believe. Blessings, Pastor John

Day 12

February 1, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Hello everyone, We are now better than half way through our 21 Days of Prayer. It has been a great exercise for many and several reports have come in about answered prayers. Praise the Lord! Today I bring your focus to those in the congregation who are responsible for the different ministries in our church. These persons include every level of ministry. All of us need your prayers. The Bible reference today is the recounting of the time when Moses was holding the rod of God while Joshua was in battle. The story is found in Exodus 17 and particularly verse 12. Moses’ arms were growing tired but when he let down the rod the battle began to be lost and when he held up the rod the battle began to be won. There was power in the rod but Moses needed the help of Aaron and Hur. They came to his aid and lifted his hands. This is a beautiful picture of Christian ministry. As you need strength for your day so also do those who labor for you in the Lord. Keep everyone in prayer this day who you can remember is serving the Lord in any fashion. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 13

February 2, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Good morning church, Today we would like to focus on our nation. The last several weeks have shown how divided we have become. There is a great cultural chasm between us as a people and a greater chasm between us and God our Father and the Lord Jesus. “If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14 As we pray we must accept our part in the condition of our land. This means we should begin with personal confession. When Nehemiah learned of the condition of Israel he did not leave himself out of the equation. Take time before you pray to read his prayer in Nehemiah chapter one. Pay special attention to verse 6 where he says “Both my Father’s house and I have sinned.” Nehemiah owns his sin as well as those of the nation. Confession is essential to prayer power. Confession clears the way for the Lord to work. Blessings, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 14

February 3, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Greetings in the Lord Jesus, Today we go a little deeper into the power of prayer. James writes this. “the prayers of a righteous man accomplishes much.” James 5:16 Prayer with power is based on our righteousness in Christ and our personal life of righteousness. This kind of praying does not make a mockery of grace by continuing in sinful acts or attitudes. This is just the way it is. If prayer does not change us then it is likely it is not effective prayer. Formal praying may exist side by side with bad conduct and bad character but it seems such prayers are not very powerful with God and may not be praying at all. If we approach God unwilling to listen, learn and change then we may never catch the vision of prayer that God honors. I have found prayer never changes God but changes me. The character of our inner life and thoughts are a condition of powerful praying. God wants to change my heart before He changes the conditions around me. Blessings in the Lord Jesus, Pastor John & Shirley

Day 15

February 4, 2019 • Pastor John Wilson

Paul writes in his benediction to the Corinthian believers the following words that remain an admonishment to we the body of Christ today. His words are timeless. “Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. II Cor.13:11 Today let’s join in prayer asking that the Lord Jesus would move us ever closer to completion. Completion was also spoken of in Philippians 1:6. We are admonished to be of good comfort. Translated this means we are to be a comfort to one another. This was the ministry of the early church and their greatest strength. They turned the world upside down with their love and unity. They were together and gave comfort to one another. Let us be the same as they. There is also the urging of Paul to be of one mind and living in peace. The world has no peace but we not only have it but can share it if we live it. Finally Paul prays the God of peace be with us. This is that Presence we long for and pray to become known for; the people of the Presence. Blessings to you all, Pastor John & Shirley

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