Tag: Pray

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 2 (10/2) is Luke 10:2

    “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – Luke 10:2
    PRAYING FOR MORE LABORERS

    The Lord gives us a prayer request as the ANSWER to an ASSESSMENT He has made.  From Luke 10:2 we find He assessed two things about the POPULATION of people. His first assessment is there is a GREAT NUMBER – the harvest is great. 

    Is the population great? Oct. 2, 2023 the world’s population is nearly 8 Billion. In 1860 it was 1 billion. When I was born in 1960 it was 3 billion. If I live to 77, 2037 it is projected to be at 9 billion. WOW.  9 BILLION.  The harvest is TRULY GREAT!! 

    His second assessment is the LABORERS are FEW. Those who are to be reaching the lost are few. This is heartbreaking. 

    More people with less soul winners. Friends, we have a problem. 

    So Jesus provides the ANSWER to the dismal assessment. The answer is to PRAY!!! We are to PRAY for laborers!!  WE ARE TO PRAY FOR LABORERS.  

    Let me be direct with a question regarding your prayer list.  If I were to look at your prayer list will I find this prayer request that Jesus asked you to pray on it?  Would I find that you daily are praying for God to raise up laborers to go into the field? 

    There is no question the harvest is great as we have nearly 8 billion people to reach! There is no doubt the laborers are fewer.  The ANSWER starts with PRAYING to the Lord for laborers!! (And be ready because you might be the answer to your own prayer!!)

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 2 (10/2) is Luke 10:2.  It says, “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

    We are to be praying for laborers ON the field and praying for more laborers to GO to the field. 

    Continue Strong PRAYING for laborers for the great harvest.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 4 (9/4) is Daniel 9:4

    “And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those
    who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,” – Daniel 9:4
    Approaching God with Adoration of who He is!

    As Daniel is appealing to God for God’s people with a broken heart let’s not miss the APPROACH as his prayer begins with ADORATION.  He acknowledges to God how GREAT and AWESOME He is! This acknowledgment goes back to what Moses had said about God in Deuteronomy 10:21 as he stated “He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.  David acknowledges the same high description in 2 Samuel 7:23 stating, “And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name — and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land — before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?” The Psalmist would direct praise in Psalm 99:3 saying, “Let them praise Your great and awesome name — He is holy.”
     
    As we think about our prayer life, please remember that HOW YOU THINK ABOUT GOD DETERMINES HOW YOU PRAY!   From Daniel’s prayer of Daniel 9:4, Daniel knew two crucial things about God.  1. that God was POWERFUL.  2. That God is a PROMISE KEEPER.  This would impact what he would ask as He knew what God’s character was.  

    Learning to pray means learning not just HOW to pray but learning about WHO you are praying to.  

    Daniel’s approach to God is so revealing of how we should approach God as we come boldly to the throne of grace in times of need.   From Daniel and other OT saints, we learn we must always approach our awesome God with adoration before asking for anything.

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 4 (9/4) is Daniel 9:4. It 9:4 says, “And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,”

    Important TIP for praying:   Adoration precedes asking!

    Continue strong with a dynamic prayer life!  
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!
  • PRAYING EFFECTIVELY FOR YOUR PASTOR(S)

    PRAYING EFFECTIVELY FOR YOUR PASTOR(S)

    1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us. 
    7 Prayer requests to pray for US
    Verses to DATE the Word on May 25 (5/25) is 1 Thessalonians 5:25 “Brethren, pray for us.
    This devotional is a how-to for putting praying for “us” into practice.
    The great apostle Paul understood that he must himself be a man of prayer and that he MUST have others praying for him.  Notice some verses that have him appealing for prayer support.
    1 Thessalonians 5:25 “Brethren, Pray for us”                        
    Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us; 
    2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us,                
    Colossians 4:3 praying also for us,
    Ephesians 6:18-19  Praying always…. for me
    Romans 15:30  Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
    2 Corinthians 1:11 You also helped together in praying for us

    If the Apostle Paul needed to pray and needed prayer warriors how much more do our pastors need our prayers?

    Please notice 7 Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor – one prayer each day of the week from Monday to Sunday:
    1. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Monday:  Pray for PROTECTION
    Pray for PROTECTION from the attacks of the wicked
    2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,  2  and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
    Pray for PROTECTION from the attacks of the Devil, namely DISCOURAGEMENT
    2 Timothy 1:3-4  I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4  greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears,
    Pray for PROTECTION from natural temptations, namely PRIDE
    1 Timothy 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.  
    John 12:43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God  

    2. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Tuesday: Pray for PREPARATION

    Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.    * He studied it, submitted to it, and he shared it

    Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 “And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright — words of truth.11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
    “Shepherds seek to speak words to be remembered, retained and reproduced by the sheep!”
      
    1 Thessalonians 3:10 “night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and supply what is lacking in your faith:  (Pray they provide what you need to learn!)

    3. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Wednesday: Pray for PROVISION

    Luke 8:2-3 some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3  and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
    1 Timothy 5:18  For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 
    Pray for the PROVISION of PAY.  (Pastors have bills just like everyone else.)

    Pray for the PROVISION OF WISDOM, & PRUDENCE in handling people and problems
    Daniel 2:14  Then Daniel responded with tact and prudence to Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 

    1 Timothy 3:2 Pastor is to be sober-minded, (calm, cool and collected in the face of a crisis)

    Pray for the PROVISION of ENCOURAGEMENT
    2 Corinthians 7:6  But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
    2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
    1 Corinthians 16:17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit

    Pray for the PROVISION of HELPERS
    Exodus 18:25-26 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  26  So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.
    Acts 6:1-7 (v3)  “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

    Pray for the PROVISION of STRENGTH
    Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 
    Nehemiah 6:9 “Now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”

    4. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Thursday: Pray for PROGRESSION,  the PROGRESSION of personal pursuits of piety.
    1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 
    1 Timothy 6:11  But you, O man of God, flee (PUT WAY) these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
    2 Timothy 2:22  Flee (PUT AWAY) also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
    1 Timothy 4:12  Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
    1 Peter 5:2-3 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
    That the pastor PRACTICES WHAT HE PREACHES
    Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

    5. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Friday:  Pray for POSSIBILITIES
    Colossians 4:3 praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,

    6. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Saturday: Pray for the pastor’s PRIORITIES
    Acts 6:4  “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

    Pray for the pastor’s PRIORITIES with his Faith; his Family; his Fitness
        
    Faith – has to sit before he serves    Has to abide to abound.
    A pastor can become so busy doing the work of the Lord that they have no time for the Lord of the work.

    Family – what does it profit a pastor to gain the whole world and lose his family?  
    1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

    Fitness  – exercise    – rest – relax – recreation
    Mark 6:31  And Jesus said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

    7. Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Sunday: Pray for God’s POWER. 
    POWER from God’s ANOINTING so there will be POWER from the PULPIT and in the PREACHING
    1 Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
    Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
    Acts 10:38  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Monday: Pray for PROTECTION
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Tuesday: Pray for PREPARATION
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Wednesday: Pray for PROVISION
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Thursday: Pray for PROGRESSION of personal pursuits of piety.
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Friday: Pray for POSSIBILITIES
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Saturday: Pray for the pastor’s PRIORITIES
    Prayers for God’s People to Pray for God’s Pastor on Sunday: Pray for God’s POWER 
    the POWER from God’s ANOINTING so there will be POWER from the PULPIT and in the PREACHING

    Based on the appeal may you make the commitment to PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR(S)
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 25 (5/25) is 1 Thessalonians 5:25

    “Brethren, pray for us.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:25
    The Request of Request – PRAY FOR US!

    One must describe the great Apostle Paul as a man who BELIEVES IN PRAYER!! He started letter after letter telling of how he was praying for those he was writing to, whether an individual or a church. He was a PRAYER WARRIOR for others.  Then as you get to the end of his letters, he almost always made a personal APPEAL for prayer. For instance: 
    Romans 15:30 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive (agonize) together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,”
    Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
    Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison  4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

    Friends, the appeals of Paul in just these few verses convey a huge truth for all of us.  If the Apostle Paul absolutely knew he could not do ministry without PRAYER what makes any of us think we can do ministry without prayer?    We must be prayer warriors and we must have prayer warriors!

    How will you apply 1 Thessalonians 5:25?  
    If you are the “brethren” of the verse I trust you will pray for your spiritual leaders (the “us” of the verse)
    If you are the “us” of the verse I trust you will be spending time in individual prayer but also ASKING OTHERS (the “brethren” of the verse) TO PRAY FOR YOU!

    “Brethren,” are you spending time praying? Are you praying for your spiritual leaders?
    “Us,” are you asking others to pray for you? 

    The verse to DATE the Word on May 25 (5/25) is 1 Thessalonians 5:25. It says, “Brethren, pray for us.”

    Reminder: “Nothing of eternal significance ever happens apart from prayer!”  Dr. Jerry Falwell

    Continue Strong as a PRAYER WARRIOR,
    And remember to DATE the Word
    BTW – your prayers for Date the Word are greatly appreciated!!!! 
    www.datetheword.com