Wednesday, March 17 – Day 29

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God….for His Spirit to empower His People
We seek God and behalf of Depressed People

Editors note: this is a long entry – there is really no way to shorten it – and I can guarantee that when you finish reading it, you will agree!.

“We can’t tell them Jesus loves them until we are ready to love them too” is a line from one of the first contemporary Christian songs I heard as a teenager. This one simple line lights fire in me that can cast away the business of life and remind me that our witnessing is done through relationships. You would think with Facebook, Twitter, texting, and e-mail we would be better at relationships, but those can each be just another place for our friends to hide their feelings of worthlessness and depression. Depression is a silent killer and it affects a significant part of our churches.

See, I knew a man with a wife and three small children that came to church every Sunday. He was active in the men’s group and even invited his neighbors across the street to attend with his family. He was persistent, and finally his neighbors were saved. He was a witness to his extended family and tried his best at being a husband and father to his young family. But something was wrong. He was feeling more and more down. He quit attending special church functions and sometimes was hard to get out of bed to go to church. His wife dragged him to a doctor and he was placed on medication for depression. He went to see a therapist. He learned that he had clinical depression and it ran in his family. He continued to spiral downward. His wife was at a loss for what else to do. His church family initially tried to help, but then pulled away. All the couple’s friends pulled away. This man was trying everything to make the pain of his depression go away. In the end, this man took his life and left his three small boys and wife behind to pick up the pieces. This man was my late husband. (2002)

Please, I beg of you to go to a family that you know is dealing with depression and listen, lift them up in prayer, and learn about this disease. We as a church need to be the comfort zone of our families dealing with this depression. In Christ, we can help families deal with this and get them proper help. This is the first time I have said anything publicly about my late husband, but I felt lead to share in hope that others will seek help for their family members and friends. There is HOPE in our risen Savior!

Blessings in Christ,
Regina B.
89.1 The Spirit

Editors Note: Some say that 20 % of the population deals with depression. (The elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.) I applaud Regina for her transparency. God directed this assignment from the beginning. I did not know her story when I gave her this day to write about. She listened to my transparency at our last monthly luncheon –how I escaped going into depression – getting close from working too many hours, not taking a vacation, sleeping too little, etc. The more responsibility one has the more time they need to spend in the Bible and I had not increased my time as the responsibilities had increased. May I encourage you to do some study, to talk to someone, to be aware of someone else that might need your encouragement, to eat right, to exercise and get the right amount of sleep? There is no shame in dealing with depression, but there will surely be disappointment if we don’t. The Lord exhorts us via Paul to “press on toward the goal…” We have an adversary that will try to “de-press us from heading toward the goal.” Listen to God. Brother Charles

Tuesday, March 16 – Day 28

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God....to inspire a yearning for righteousness

….to inspire a yearning for righteousness. (inspire: 1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.) (yearning = a persistent, often wistful or melancholy desire; a longing) (righteousness = 1. morally upright; without guilt or sin: a righteous parishioner.2. In accordance with virtue or morality: a righteous judgment. 3. Morally justifiable: righteous anger.)

This is a good day to look at the words being used by the writer of these prayers! I would ask you to pray with passion for a divine influence in your prayers. Obviously those who defined the word in the dictionary put in the very first definition the words “divine influence” so let’s go for it! Can you ask the Holy Spirit to put ‘salt’ in the soul of those that you are praying for that they would yearn for right standing before their God! AND we can pray (see the NT prayer for today) from a place of celebrating the sinlessness of Christ!

The fourth sentence in the NT prayer for today is electrifying for me!! “Your words, Your deeds, Your prayers – everything about Your life was lived in outrageous fullness.” Outrageous fullness. [In today’s prayer, consider the word ‘outrageous’ to be defined as: well beyond the understanding! Not only full, but beyond our ability to comprehend what full is. More than full. Running over! An inability to contain it all.] This is what we have to celebrate!

When we go to prayer – we can move in prayers of outrageous celebration!!! Think about it – as I write these sentences I am not sure I comprehend all that the Holy Spirit is telling ME! Let’s try this together – I believe we will have some outrageous answers!

Brother Charles
Serve The City

Tuesday March 16 - Day 28

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to inspire a yearning for righteousness.
Seek God On Behalf Of Substance Abusers

Recently I read a book entitled Fasting by Jentezen Franklin, pastor of a large church in Gainesville, Georgia. Every year, at the beginning of the year, his congregation takes a journey of fasting for 21 days. I had never even gone so much as a complete day without food. (other than when I was sick) To imagine 21 days without food was mind boggling. But after reading the book, I decided to try it.

Oh, I haven't gone completely without food, I've drunk juice and eaten fruit and had a couple of partial meals along the way, but I wanted to seek God with my whole heart. In the midst of my experiment, I was at our school and the students had macaroni and cheese, lasagna and salad, and topped it off with chocolate covered donuts. They offered me one, and juices shot out into my mouth. I could hardly resist the temptation to chomp down one of those little round gems. This reminded me of our need to hunger and thirst for righteousness. The promise is that we will be filled.

We also need to hunger and thirst for those who struggle with substance abuse. May our prayers be as passionate for their souls as is their desire for a fix. Indeed, may Jesus be our addiction! When He is, we will need no other and our lives will flow like a river of righteousness into the lives of those who struggle for freedom.

God Bless,
Pastor Dave
7^th Day Adventist

Monday March 15 - Day 27

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to intervene to bring forth justice.

“Oh Lord, reshape our minds to value Your goodness. Penetrate our hearts with Your compassion.”

So we express our faith by presenting the same appeals for justice before Your court, day after day.” Page 42.

Please look at the circle at the top of the page 42. Today is “day 2” of the theme “Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities.” Please notice that the city in the circle is in darkness and the light is off to the side and partial. Each day the light moves to the center toward the top of the buildings and becomes brighter.

The lesson we can graphically see from this illustration is that one prayer on a topic most often is not enough. God is a God of persistence, and we are called to be like Him. Daniel prayed ‘through’ for 21 days and finally an angel from heaven arrived with his message. The angel messenger needed help from Michael, one of the chief princes. Daniel was participating in warfare in the heavens. (…Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth…) We are called to the same perseverance, day after day.

Another illustration of perseverance is found in II Kings 13:14:19. Elisha told King Joash to strike the ground with the arrows in his hand. The King struck the ground 3 times “and the man of God was angry with him.” “You should have struck the ground 5 or 6 times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it.” (total victory)

Don’t hold back! Go for total victory in your prayer life! As the circle at the top of each illustrates, let us ‘strike the ground’ with the arrows of prayer that we hold in our heart and speak with our mouth….day after day until the picture the Lord has given us is clear, bright and complete.

Charles Daugherty
Serve The City

Monday, March 15 – Day 27

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to intervene to bring forth justice

Day after day we see injustice; we hear injustice; we feel injustice. The sights and sounds of injustice flood our lives from every direction -coming from neighborhoods, family, work-places, radio, TV...... Sometimes before I get too anxious about it all, I know I just need to turn off the TV and instead re-focus myself on who God is. He is the God of justice. His Word says so. His promises are true. His character shows it and His love reassures us that at some point His justice will be done in every situation. "Vengeance is mine...says the Lord" (Hebrews 10:30). Even as we see people continue their wicked ways in cauldrons of evil, we know that at the end of their days they will have to stand before a righteous, holy Judge (God) and give account for their lives. .....talk about having a bad day!

But in the meantime - I can, you can, as a community of believers we can cry out to God Almighty for Him to break the schemes of the enemy and overthrow evil. We can know that we are heard when we appeal to the Lord for His goodness and His love to intervene in our city, our courts and our legislatures. There is no God like our God. He is worthy to be praised.

Tawnya Gardener
The Salvation Army

Sunday March 14 - Day 26

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to bring blessing through righteousness.

Today’s OT prayer concerning Sodom is both inspiring and convicting. God will show grace and mercy to SO many if only a FEW would walk in righteousness! Of the hundreds and hundreds in Sodom, God would spare the city if only 10 righteous could be found. So sad! Lot had not been a believable witness of the Living God…even to his two future son-in-laws who found him to be “jesting” when he warned them to flee the city…and they perished in the city.

Over the last 30 years I have traveled the eastern half of Iowa calling on business after business. I was always amazed at the grace God had given so many businesses to actually still be “‘in business.” Their ethics were questionable, their business practices were lacking, morale down…..and yet they were still operating. Why? I would always find Believers that were praying for that company. Some were employees, some were family members of the employees while still others were connected to that company in various manners.

The Lord is calling us to a more active roll these days; prayer, then care while being ready to share when appropriate. We recently heard a report of two companies located in Houston Texas. In company A the employees that were many Believers did not connect with each other, may have prayed, but were mostly silent in their day to day lives. The company closed at a great loss to the city, to so many families and to investors across the nation.

In company B, two employees that were Believers (from different congregations) began to meet and pray for their company that was in trouble. The asked this question: “Why are we here?” Slowly their numbers grew. They asked God for His wisdom to bring proposals to management at the right time and with the right attitude. Their proposals were adopted and the company made a complete turn around. In the right time, they presented a proposal that would allow employees to volunteer on a project in the community during company business hours with no interruption to their pay. The proposal was agreed to. This company continues to prosper. The company is serving their city.

Locally, in Linn County, one man praying is the reason (my perspective) that the company he works for is still holding on. One man!

Can we ask the question? What are we here for? Why not look for others in our work place that are Believers and begin to pray for our companies, supervisors, owners and investors? Why not?

As we do so, we become an answer to one of the sentences in our OT prayer for today. “As You transform our lives in Christ’s righteousness, even though we are few, bring about some of the great, long-promised blessing upon the entire city.”

Indeed! Why not?

Charles Daugherty
Serve The City

Sunday March 14 - Day 26

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to bring blessing through righteousness.

“For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children …after him to keep the way of the Lord…” These words from the scripture in Genesis 18 stopped me. First I thought of them as directly speaking to me of my responsibility toward the children God has entrusted to my direction in this lifetime. Abraham was chosen so that he may command his children… to keep the way of the Lord. Is that why I am chosen? Wow. That was my first thought but then those thoughts expanded to the people I interact with. Was I chosen so that I can influence them? Does anyone else ever think “Why did God choose me?” When I read those words in Genesis 18 it seemed my question was answered.

JB
Family Of Faith Community

Sunday, March 14 – Day 26

A few terrific insights on “How To” Share!
Pages 38 & 39 in Seek God For The City
(If you do not have your copy yet – email us at SeekGod@servethecity.org

It’s not too late to join in….We have 14 days to go!
Some start over at Day 41 and go through the guide again!

Find these bullet points in the guide….and…more.

Ø The Stories intersect: Listening In Order to Tell.

Ø AS you “notice” your way into the story of people’s lives by sincerely serving them or praying for them, you’ll become convinced that there are new chapters and better endings in their story than they may have ever dreamed. WOW.

Ø Many avoid evangelism because it usually puts pressure on those who speak and those who listen. It gets clouded with fear and guilt on both sides……

Ø Connect to relate the gospel story with their story………

Ø Interacting may be easier than you think……..

Ø Watch for three stories:

o Their story

o Your own Jesus story

o The gospel story.

Ø Listen well and you’ll find ways that your story corresponds to something of theirs.

I have to tell you – these pages are full of grace to the reader!

For more, read pages 38 & 39 in the guide.

You Sunday entries will be posted at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Saturday, March 13 – Day 25

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples.
Seek God…for God to be worshipped by all peoples.
Seek God On Behalf Of Agricultural Workers

Lord,

Growing up on a farm, I learned how much we must rely on You. We can plant strong seed and utilize chemical fertilizers and insect control agents, but without You we have nothing. The seed sprouts according to Your creation plan. The plants are blessed by Your sun and rain. The harvest is dependent on You. We ask You to bless the planting season and the harvest this year as well as all who participate in it. But the harvest of crops has no meaning unless there is also a harvest of souls. Set us on fire, Lord, for those who have yet to make Your acquaintance. May the planting and cultivating glorify You, and the harvest be a cause for rejoicing on earth and in Heaven.

Helen Fye
New Beginnings

Saturday, March 13 – Day 25

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples.
Seek God…for God to be worshipped by all peoples.

I know that God has answered, is answering and will further answer this prayer in the days ahead…..and we get to participate in the answer!

Pray Globally – Gather Locally!

We have celebrated the Global Day Of Prayer (GDP) twice. GDP originated in South Africa in 2001 when 45,000 gathered to pray for their nation. In 2002 a little over 350,000 gathered in 6 nations in Africa, then 22 nations the next year, then all of Africa, then across the globe until their were over 400 million praying in 2006.

As we celebrated locally in 2007, we had Believers praying in their native tongue representing the following nations or language: in addition to English (America and Australia) we lifted up prayers in Chinese, German, Fijian, Korean, Shona (Zimbabwe), Nagaland, Nigerian, Portuguese, Samoan, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Swahili (Kenya), and Telegu (India). Thirteen (13) different nationalities plus English! I could not understand what the words were but I could understand the cry of the heart as each one prayed….at times I cried but at all times I understood the call of the Spirit. When we gather this way, it is an amazing experience.

In the OT prayer for today, the second to last prayer sentence is: “Gather willing worshippers from the diverse peoples in our city.” We were an answer to that prayer. We will continue to be an answer to that prayer! “Oh Lord God, we want to be that House of Prayer For The Nations that You desire us to be. Help us answer the call!”

This year, May 23^rd, is the date set for Believers praying the same prayers all across the globe for a world that God has given us to pray for, care for and share with.

We are determining if we are called to do this here again. Would you like to take part in such a gathering? Let us know at prayer@servethecity.org Please put in the subject line: “GDP 2010” and give us your phone number!

Charles Daugherty
Serve The City

Friday, March 12 – Day 24

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God….that many would know and follow Him

Look how the whole world has gone after Him! John 12:19 (NIV)

I have been observing the messages that have been coming forth from the Christian Community in these days.

I recently heard George Otis Jr. speak about his studies of individuals and communities that have experienced transformational revival. He told us that the transformational revival is extraordinary, beyond routine, supernatural intervention beyond missional objectives. It is not confined to individuals or the church but is in every sphere of the community. Even the toxic earth and eco systems become instantly healed in transformational revivals.

Otis said that the transformational revival does not flow out of a burden for a dysfunctional community but rather it is a pleasant by-product of believers seeking God’s intimate companionship.

It comes when Believers want God for Himself not for what He can do.

The common thread among many speakers and authors today is that we must seek God first. As we seek Him and have fellowship with Him we will come to see “how the whole world has gone after Him.” It is only thru the intimate relationship of seeking God’s face will we be able to find what we are truly looking for in these days. The Church is very good at doing, now we need to work on being- being the bride of Christ and reflecting His glory.

Our prayer request---

Holy Spirit speak to our hearts so the we will seek and know Jesus.

PD
Serve The City

Friday, March 12 – Day 24

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God…that many would know and follow Him.

People matter!!!

As I read and reflected on today’s reading of …that many would know and follow Him…I was reminded that everyone I see today, everyone that I come in contact with, will spend eternity somewhere.

Heaven is real!

Hell is real!

And people really do go to one or the other.

I remember reading once a quote by CS Lewis who said that we have never seen a mere mortal…that if we saw people as they one day would be that we would either be tempted to worship them or realize what horrors a person without Christ will experience.

What I read helped me realize that every single person I come into contact today really matters to God and therefore they should matter to us. And if God cared enough about them to send His Son…then we owe it to Him, and them, to share the good news.

People matter to God – they should matter to us.

May the Spirit of God help us to seek to know Jesus and make Him known!

Robin Tyner
Stonebridge Church

Thursday, March 11 – Day 23

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples

Seek God…for every people group to hear the gospel.

“Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39

 As a child I would sit and listen to my grandfather’s stories of his childhood and of his father who was a horse trader at the turn of the century.  I loved those stories and my grandfather. When I became a Christian my love of stories continued.  I loved to hear those Believers, who were older in the faith, recount their stories. I remember the lady who prayed and her broken toilet was fixed, the man who drove many miles on a tank of gas that was long past being depleted, the couple who told of God’s faithfulness to supply hair spray and healing.  These stories give me hope and encouragement.   Just as my grandfather spent many hours with me telling me his stories, these wonderful men and women of God shared their precious lives with me telling me their stories.  I love them like family.

“Lord, I pray that You would revive the art of storytelling so that each of Your children both young and old would continually tell of the great things that You have done for them.  Help us to be bold in our storytelling so that we are ready with our story in any circumstance where we find ourselves.  Help us to tell our story so everyone who hears may understand; give us the right words for each unique listener.”

“Lord, help us to give liberally of our time so that we when we tell our stories others may find hope in You.”

“Lord, help us to use our talents to tell our story by text, by Facebook, by video, by song, at the coffeeshop or at the dinner table. Let us be a people who passionately share Your gift of salvation thru our stories and lives.”

Amen

PD

Serve The City

Wednesday, March 10 – Day 22

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God…to be recognized and honored by leaders.
Seek God On Behalf of Government Leaders

As Christians we are to serve and honor our Lord in all we do, and seek to glorify Him. Our thoughts and behaviors in the political and governmental realm are included in that. How easy it is to jump on the media bandwagon – conservative or liberal – and use our voices to tear down politicians whose views don’t agree with ours. How many emails do you receive each week, forwarding a cartoon, column or essay berating a politician or the government? And how many times do we forward this type of material along to others! I can only imagine how my heart and mind would be transformed if I spent the time I waste on watching political television programs or listening to radio talking heads, praying for those government officials instead! And I mean truly caring about and praying for their salvation! And for Christians in government, praying that their hearts would always make decisions that line up with Scripture and that they would be infused with the power of the Holy Spirit to be Godly leaders in their public and private lives. When I wonder just how involved believers should be in government – and the opinions are vast – I know that prayer is the type of involvement that the Lord always views as right!

Kathryne Oates
Isaac Newton Christian Academy

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

Tuesday, March 9 – Day 21

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God…to display His love and power by answered prayer.

Christianity is a supernatural walk. We live in a body of flesh that is opposed to God, and everything God calls us to do or tells us we cannot do is the opposite of what the flesh calls us to do or tells us not to do. So we need the power of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to overcome the power of the flesh.

In other words, we need to depend upon God for the capacity to live a supernatural life: a life that is lived above the natural.

• It is a life that loves someone who hasn’t treated us right.
• It is a life that does not retaliate when someone wrongs us.
• It is a life that rejoices in God’s plan in the midst of tribulation.
• It is a life that doesn’t have anxiety about an uncertain future because it trusts God.

I believe prayer is one of the significant ways we show our dependence upon God. When we pray, and God answers our prayers with strength to defy the flesh, the unbelieving world sees that and realizes that we are different and wants to know why we are different and asks (I Peter 3:15). Supernatural lives are the greatest human tool we have for evangelism.

How can we sell something to others when we haven’t demonstrated that it works for us? And supernatural lives come from dependence upon God for the ability to live that kind of life. And that dependence is expressed in our prayers as we ask Him for the strength to do the biblical thing or not to do the unbiblical thing. The ability to live such a supernatural life in the ordinary circumstances of life is not a spectacular miracle like the paralytic being healed in Luke 5:26, but it is none-the-less miraculous every time we walk according to the Spirit and do not do the deeds of the flesh. And it’s miraculous because it’s the power of God working in us in the same way it was the power of God which healed the paralytic.

Through prayer working in our lives may we “call” the unbeliever’s attention to God’s gift! It’s the most authentic form of evangelism.

T.F.
Cedar Valley Bible

Tuesday, March 9 – Day 21

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God….to display His love and power by answered prayer.

When God answers our prayers, we feel loved and we glorify Him! That we are encouraged to boldly ask Him to hear us in heaven on behalf of the foreigner shows us a way to align our will to His will. 1 Kings 8:43 reminds us that He cares about the foreigners/sojourners in our midst and He wants us to care, too. That we would ask Him to answer our prayers is the small picture. That we would ask Him to answer the prayers of the foreigner so that all on earth would know His name is the BIG PICTURE. We need to be reminded to see the BIG PICTURE. The result is a promise. And when it happens, we will ALL be "struck with astonishment, glorify God" and in the fear of the Lord, say, "We have seen remarkable things today." Luke 5:26.

May God work this good work in our hearts and include us in the joy and astonishment!

Jeude Landhauser
Bethany Lutheran

Monday, March 8 – Day 20

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God....that His people would reflect His great name.

In his classic book The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer states that when God created our world he first created things. Then, he created mankind. The things became very important to man. These things became so important to our first parents that they denied God and sought things. They sinned against God and brought death as a penalty on us all.

In the cover letter for the Seek GOD for the CITY 2010 booklet states the same thing. “Prayers focused on needs [things] can gradually shrink to selfish wish-lists concerning our own circumstances.” Let’s pray that we do not concentrate on the needs [things] of others in the world, but on the spread of God’s grace and life to all. In these trying times, it is very easy to dwell on things instead of true spiritual needs.

It says in the Bible that God so loved the world that he gave His only son to die for us. It does not say he died for us to give us things.

Pastor John Bailey

Family of Faith Community

Monday, March 8 – Day 20

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God....that His people would reflect His great name.

What makes people NOT want to glorify God? It is “mind boggling” to me that anyone would want to “slip away” from God – yet didn’t I 30 years ago? Didn’t I accept Jesus in my heart at the age of 20 and then turn away?

It took me 20 some years to turn back to God. In those years of being selfish, self-centered, condemning and sinful how did I turn back? It was POWER of PRAYER! I had a wonderful Aunt who prayed for me for those years. I had a Mother, who knew that I was lost, but had to turn me over to God because she didn’t know what to do. Then one day this woman came up to me and asked me if she could pray for me! Yes, a complete stranger who saw that I needed prayer. That night I knew that I needed a Savior. God worked in my life that day, but of course many times in those lost years He was working, but I was so blind.

So, for anyone who knows a person who is back sliding, a person that is NOT giving God glory – STOP right there and pray for that person. Go to that person if possible and ask them if you can pray for them. You may be that “saint” that God is using for HIS GLORY.

A. O.
Valley View

Sunday, March 7 – Day 19

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God…for His renown among all the peoples

“…Make known His deeds…” We each have a story to tell. Our lives have been changed by the power of His love. I’m grateful for the people who loved “hell” out of me, who continued to pray and believe for me and speak the truth in love to me when I was stubborn, foolish, selfish and hurting so desperately. Their stories of a real God loving real people and the way they loved me, spoke volumes. They didn’t preach doctrine. They loved me, encouraged me and prayed for me.

Now, I have the privilege of doing the same. What an honor to be a part of what God is doing in other’s lives. That includes the life of Antonio Wheat, one of the men who killed my brother in 1965 during an armed robbery. (They were both 19.) “Tony” loves others well from behind bars, mentoring young men, encouraging them, praying for them. My brother did not die in vain. A seed planted is producing much fruit.

From the place of forgiveness, the Lord prompted me to send Tony a Guidepost subscription this year. I’ve never sent him a gift before. He wrote me a beautiful thank you of how much it means for him to read those encouraging true stories and share them with others. God is good.

Yes, Lord, “stir your people to tell the story of Your glory in their lives.”

Marilyn Schneiderman
New Life Community – Anamosa
Aid To Women – Cedar Rapids

Sunday, March 7 – Day 19

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God… for His Renown Among all Peoples
Seek God…on Behalf of Business People

Bill, a Wisconsin dairy farmer, told me, he had the conviction God called him to his job to provide his world with milk. May our business men and women accept their position as God’s calling to serve our world.

Dale, an electric salesman in Rochester, was being asked by his employer to be involved in a shady action; Dale said, “I won’t do it”; his employer’s response, “You may leave!” His competing business hired Dale the second week; many of his former customers, switched with him, because they appreciated his honesty, doubling Dale’s contacts. May business people guard themselves carefully, so their honesty and integrity will be their exemplary badge to their unbelieving fellow business persons, drawing them to Himself.

Ken, a Minnesota logger, was treated deceptively by a DNR inspector, who laid his testing equipment down on the treated logs, making it register a condemning result; Ken took his “correction” patiently, and survived. God, give Your business personnel wisdom to work with the stiffening government regulations, and use them redemptively.

Ron, in woodworking, cabinet making, at Fairfield, prospered in his shop until he was using computer designed production pieces for many customers. May initiative, inspired by You, give Your men & women success, mindful that only a prolific business can provide jobs for needy neighbors.

Garth Betry

Saturday, March 6 – Day 18

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God…for God’s light to bring abundant life.
Seek God on behalf of Mothers

How precious is Your loving kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and you give them to drink of the river of your delights. For with You is the fountain of life. In your light we see light. – Psalm 36:7-9

Life’s precious but often painful journey does not begin with a first step but at the point of conception. Often times a Mother first inkling we exist is a feeling of sickness and fatigue. We were brought into being and developed by our Mothers who endured the physical pain of delivery and the emotional pain of watching us make the very mistakes she warned us against. The pain is never gone but only subsides from time to time as we stumble through live returning to our Mothers for the MILK of life (Mothers Invested Loving Kindness). Today’s prayer is inspired by John 10: 11-18 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. Jesus is drawing the analogy between shepherding and His being our protector. Mothers care for their offspring to the dying end, instinctively and aggressively protecting their children from harm.

Mothers are a Blessing to us all. Lord Bless the Mothers

• Bless you for Loving us as we develop in your wombs.
• Bless you for all the Loving pain you went through to deliver us.
• Bless you for all the weary long days that you held us and stayed with us when we were ill.
• Bless you for the comforting words and encouragement when our hearts are troubled and our eyes were wet with tears.
• Bless you for having the patience & a forgiving heart as you watched us walk in the way of the world and not by your words of wisdom.
• Bless you for teaching us we are Children of God and that Christ’s Eternal Love is for us.

Lord God you are the wellspring of Life, we offer this day to your Glory and ask that you would protect, heal and strengthen our Mothers. Bless them with an abundance of the Fruit of the Spirit and Lord teach us to be vocally Thankful for their Loving Kindness. In Jesus Mighty and Powerful Name—Amen.

Leo & Janet Bonifazi
Neighborhood Church

Saturday, March 6 – Day 18

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God…for God’s light to bring abundant life.

I appreciate today’s reading about light. In Sunday School one day I gave our youth group black duct tape and – after turning off the lights—I told them to try to cover every bit of light in the room. They diligently covered the cracks around the doors, the LED lights on the sound system, the illuminated exit signs (don’t tell the fire marshal!), etc. until everything was completely dark. Once our eyes adjusted we were in total awe of how very dark it was. Suddenly someone’s cell phone lit up and we were all stunned at how much one little phone lit up a very large room.

This shows why light is the perfect metaphor for the Christian life. Darkness never creeps into a lighted place—it has no power to do so. Only light can creep in. It overcomes the darkness. Just a tiny amount of light penetrates and makes a difference.

Today’s NT verse, John 8:12 reminds us that in Christ’s light we don’t have to walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. That should keep us from stumbling around. Let’s spread that light around so others can join us in the abundant life!

Mark Forstrom
New Covenant Bible

Friday, March 5 – Day 17

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God....for God to overwhelm spiritual power of darkness.

“This day we are praying that the Lord overwhelm the spiritual powers that hold millions captive in our land, Indeed, Lord, you know these powers hold untold millions in all lands. We know that you are omnipotent, that no power can stand up to you. Untie the burdens of those we know and the many we don't know. Help us to be as effective as we can in this spiritual warfare, to turn many to the light.

Help us, also, to be earnest in praying for each nation, no matter how small. After all, you care for each of us. How much more do you care for the hundreds in even the smallest country.

Thank you that you do care. Help us to do our part.”

Grant Carpenter,
Oakland Church of the Nazarene / His Hands Free Medical Clinic / Aid to Women

Friday, March 5 – Day 17

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God....for God to overwhelm spiritual power of darkness.

Recently I met a woman whose first husband had been exposed as a pedophile. Their children were not the victims of such actions but she said to me “Though I have forgiven him, my kids (now grown and married) will never forgive him.” This woman is a believer and I said to her “With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Satan always enjoys creating prisoners if he can get us to cooperate with him. These adult children are afflicted by demonic powers who have imprisoned them by their own unforgiveness. Their unforgiveness is their attempt to be “violent” toward their Dad but has only succeeded in bring darkness and death to their own souls.

“Lord, prevail against the works of darkness in these adults and others and in all who call upon Your name. Amen”

Steve Russell
Jordan’s Grove Church

Thursday, March 4 – Day 16

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God....to rescue people from spiritual darkness

It occurred to me that those in greatest need of release from their bondage are those who are blinded to that bondage. They think they are okay and that others are trapped in barren life styles. The Word clearly shows that unless we are slaves to righteousness we are slaves, prisoners, to sin. My prayer is that those in darkness would have the light of truth penetrate their lives through us. I pray that our lives would mirror the freedom of Christ, freedom from guilt, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, jealousy, covetousness, and unbelief. I pray that our lives would visibly show kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, peace, patience, joy and love – independent of the environment we find ourselves in so that they may see hope and lives changed to the glory of God. I pray that the hardness of their hearts might be broken and made ready for the seed of the Word of God to penetrate deep and bring forth life.

J. O.
Valley View

Thursday, March 4 – Day 16

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God…to rescue people from spiritual darkness.

God’s heart longs for us to walk in the fullness of what Christ died for on the cross; securely as His sons and daughters. Not swaying in our convictions; marching forward in love, power, and a sound mind triumphing over darkness.

“Lord help us be all we can be in You; representing your goodness, your faithfulness, your mercy, your love and forgiveness. Make us people that respond in love when we are ridiculed and mocked; blessing rather than cursing. Amen.”

Brian Fink
River of Life Ministries

Wednesday, March 3 - Day 15

Thanking God for the Seek God For The City prayer guide!

The 40 days of prayer is off to a GREAT start!

Here at church the adults have given overwhelming support to pray, in weekly groups, in individual settings at home, at home groups and other ways!

The Spanish speaking people were thrilled when presented with their Spanish version. The office here did a great job of downloading the Spanish version of WAYMAKERS!

The children’s version got a warm welcome in their Sunday school class. Again the downloading off of WAYMAKERS worked well!

It is great to see prayer increase, we can be sure that Jesus is pleased!!

Love in Jesus
DM
River Of Life Ministries

Wednesday, March 3 – Day 15

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God for the city… for revelation leading to repentance

“For those who have heard about You but remain stone-cold to You… Vindicate Your reputation by disclosing Your mighty mercy… that their stony hearts melt in view of how determined You are to love them. Cause them to behold Jesus…”

Encountering the “stone-cold” is a challenging experience in the life of a believer. Alive with the fire and passion given to us by Christ, it is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes maddening to witness others walking in firm rejection of God. If you are like me, you may approach the hard-hearted like a special project. If we just have the right words, the right program, the right strategy, we can break through and “win one for Jesus.”

Facing an apparent failure to break through, sometimes we turn defensive. These “rejecters of God” become the enemy. We may give them several labels… secular humanists, faces of the culture of death, nazi-feminists, godless liberals… I think sometimes we hide behind the labels and battle lines out of fear of what it would cost us to be the Church who reveals the God who is determined to love the stone-cold.

Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Let us have a fresh perspective today of seeing the stone-cold not as enemies whom we need to organize against but as an incredible testimony that God is writing. Let us approach those who would oppose or slander the work of the Kingdom determined to love them. May our approach to vindicating God’s reputation not be in our protests, our petitions, or our carefully crafted talking points but in disclosing the mighty mercy of the Father through radical love. My prayer is that as we collectively love them, in us they would behold Jesus.

Katie Sandquist
Aid to Women

Tuesday, March 2 – Day 14

As I go through today's prayer entry for March 2nd, I'm reminded that there's a process of learning to enjoy and engage the Word of God. If we were really honest, probably each one of us has had difficulty reading the Word. At times it's seemed lifeless, boring and dull. Truth be told, the Word is everything but boring, it's full of life! In order to receive that life and have understanding we need help. We need God to open up the eyes of our hearts so we can comprehend and receive all that God wants to show us. We need God to open up our hearts so we can encounter the beauty of Jesus as we meditate on his truth. If the Word has been boring, lifeless or hard to understand, simply follow along with today's prayer on a consistent basis and ask God for help to enjoy it.

Sean Hughley
Cedar Rapids House Church Network

Tuesday, March 2 – Day 14

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God….for the word of God to be understood.

As I read today’s message I thought about how easy it is to want to fix myself. I know the Lord is busy with important issues and if I fix myself he won't be bothered. When I start to think like this I remind myself that God is so big that I cannot understand how big he is, but since he is this big he can keep track of everyone and everything. His desire is to be with each of us at all times wanting to know the details of our lives. We need to think in terms of accepting his grace and following him boldly.

Dennis Spencer
Stonebridge Church

Monday, March 1 – Day 13

Seeking His Glory in Evangelizing All Peoples
Seek God....for God’s love to be received

Seeking God on behalf of physically disabled people,

Jesus showed mercy to the blind, crippled, and diseased. As we contact physically and emotionally disabled people, may we be to them Christ’s representatives tangibly showing the compassion of Jesus Christ. Trusting in Jesus, may they experience that even their afflictions work together for their salvation.

Earl Dykema
Peace Church

Monday, March 1 – Day 13

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God….for God’s love to be received

Like you, I have been watching the Winter Olympics with great interest over the past 16 days. At no other time do I find myself watching curling, cross country skiing and so many other sports that seem to captivate us as only an Olympics can. But, the bigger question I have been asking myself is, “How many of these incredible athletes don’t know Jesus Christ?”

Nothing stirs my heart as much as the need to pray for those who don’t yet know our Lord Jesus Christ. To think that our churches (and organizations like FCA) “exist” for people not yet currently inside a church (or participating in a Christian ministry) inspires me to pray “for the eyes of the spiritually blind to be opened to recognize God’s love…..” Matthew 20:32-34 is a great reminder of the Lord’s compassion, mercy and grace. My question is: Are we ready for the harvest? Are we ready for people to come to Christ in our city today?

Today’s prayer for the physically disabled is a prayer that I have never spoken before. It challenges me to think more deeply about those around me and to prayerfully consider those with disabilities in my regular quiet time.

Our prayer today is for China, Taiwan, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands and Cook Islands. “Lord we pray for these nations today and I ask that you would bless the citizens of these countries, so far away from us…..that you would strengthen churches, pastors, lay leaders and others involved in ministry. I commit them to you and pray that your word, your love and Holy Spirit would abide in these places. I pray that there would be an increase in people who come to know you and call you Lord and Savior in each of these countries………and I pray these things in the awesome name of Jesus Christ…………Amen…………”

The “Seek God For The City 2010” prayer guides has been a wonderful tool to assist me in my prayer. It is exciting to be able to join with thousands of others who are also praying each day for different countries, with very specific prayer requests, with appropriate scriptures and notes. Wonderful! We have distributed Prayer Guides to all of our FCA Huddle groups and encouraged our faculty sponsors and students (on various campuses throughout Eastern Iowa) to be praying as well. We also have asked our Leadership Board of Directors and our FCA Prayer Team to use these guides throughout this 40 day period of prayer. It is a thrill and a privilege to be part of this.

“……Lord, on this first day of March in 2010, I thank you for the great privilege to join with others in prayer. Hear our cries Lord and help us to see others as you see them………Lord, touch many in our city today……………In Jesus Name…………Amen……….”

Carl Gonder
Eastern Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes