Wednesday, March 10 – Day 22

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God….to be recognized and honored by leaders.

As we pray for our leaders, our president, our representatives, our judges and mayors and governor, we can easily reduce them to their office, and forget about them as people, persons like us. They carry the same fears and doubts, the same weakness, the same tendency to sin. They need Jesus as much, but not more, than we do.

So our prayers for our leaders begin with our prayers for their hearts and souls. Our prayers begin with the most important request, that Jesus Christ will be their Savior, that He will be Lord of their lives, that they will experience the freedom of forgiveness, the hope of heaven, and the strength of a life lived under the care of our Shepherd. We understand that we can’t expect Christian behavior from people who aren’t Christians. We can’t expect them to follow Jesus if they don’t acknowledge Jesus as their Lord. So, we pray for Jesus to become their Lord and Savior.

And our prayers are lifted for those who have been saved, our brothers and sisters who try so hard to serve our Master, while surrounded by temptations of power and pride. Recognizing how hard it is for us to be faithful, we empathize with our Christian leaders who fail like we fail, but who are forgiven like we are forgiven. We pray that our leaders will have the courage, regardless of the consequences, to clearly communicate that Jesus is their king, that while we live in a democracy, this democracy is part of a monarchy, ruled by the King of senators and representatives and judges and presidents.

And we pray for “we the people”, who find it quite easy to blame the leaders of our country when we ourselves are the government of the people, by the people and for the people. We pray that our King will rule us as we vote and participate in this democracy.

And we pray our gratitude, that regardless of the actions of our leaders, that Jesus reigns, that Jesus must reign until all of His enemies are placed under His feet. We pray in the assurance that our King reigns very well. We pray, knowing that we are citizens of another country, a country that faces no real threat, a holy nation that is strong and stable, and we’re going there soon. Thank You, King Jesus, for being the leader of our leaders, for continuing to reign as Your kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven.

Gary Brouwers

Peace Church

Sunday, February 28 – Day 12

Seeking His Light to Awaken The Lost
Seek God....for the light of the Gospel to Shine

Once in my lifetime I traveled all night. Leaving Kansas City about 9 P.M. I arrived at my destination at the break of dawn. It was a long and lonely trip. The red Eastern sky just before daybreak was most welcome. This experience reminded me of the dark world with evil, immorality and sin on every hand. However Jesus said "I am the light of the world". Eventually this Light will dispel the darkness. The Eternal Light will shine forever more.

Dr. Forrest Whitlatch
First Church of the Nazarene

Wednesday, February 24 – Day 8

Seeking His Life to Revive the Church
Seek God....to purify His people

When George Washington was about 20 years old, he filled a little book he titled Daily Sacrifice with prayers written in his own hand. An entry for Sunday Evening reads like this:

“O most glorious God… I acknowledge and confess my faults; in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins, but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers are become my sin and stand in need of pardon. I have heard thy holy word, but with such deadness of spirit that I have been an unprofitable and forgetful hearer… But, O God, who art rich in mercy and plenteous in redemption, mark not, I beseech Thee, what I have done amiss; remember that I am but dust, and remit my transgressions, negligences and ignorances, and cover them all with the absolute obedience of Thy dear Son, that those sacrifices (of sin, praise and thanksgiving) which I have offered may be accepted by Thee, in and for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered upon the Cross for me.” *

When we, like this great President, are honest enough to tell ourselves and God that our “prayers have become our sin”, we will know that the Spirit of Truth has been doing some real “surgery” in our lives. May we live in such sensitivity to the Spirit that we can experience His refining and purifying power at all times.

*Excerpted from the Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel

Bernie Hayes
Noelridge Park Church