FIRST THINGS, FIRST

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God — 1 John 4:7 (NIV)

SUNDAY 2 Praise God for the successful installation of new hangar doors at our South Sudan base. We are grateful for our maintenance team who were walking closely enough to the Lord to hear His call for their skills in Juba, where there are many operational challenges. When we listen and pray, God involves us in His plans.

MONDAY 3 Every Monday and Friday, MAF UK colleagues meet together in the Folkestone office and online for morning devotions. We focus on the Lord, thank Jesus for all He is doing through MAF, place our work in His hands, and lift our requests to Him. Please remember us in your own quiet times.

TUESDAY 4 Psalm 145:18 reminds us, ‘The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.’ As you read through the prayers for this week, give thanks that when we stay close to the Lord and look to Him first, He promises to draw close to us too.

WEDNESDAY 5 Today, let’s remember those who look after our prayer ministry at MAF UK and MAF International. Pray that God will give them fresh, creative ideas to help staff and supporters understand the needs of those we serve and uphold our mission to hard-to-reach communities.

THURSDAY 6 Whenever we commission a new or repurposed plane — like the one that arrived in Arnhem Land earlier this year — MAF colleagues circle it to pray for the work and ask God’s blessing on the aircraft. Our pilots also pray before each flight. Pray that prayer will always remain at the centre of our ministry!

MAIN Installing the hangar doors in South Sudan was a huge task!

TOP LEFT Our Papua New Guinea staff unite in prayer and worship

TOP RIGHT Pilot Steven Biggs prays before a flight in Liberia

FRIDAY 7 Give thanks for our programme in South Sudan. Pray especially for those who've recently committed themselves to peace, following the visit of Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland. Ask that leaders in that embattled nation will put aside their differences and be reconciled.

SATURDAY 8 Pray that MAF personnel won’t grow weary of meeting together, either at home or while serving around the world. Today, let’s read Hebrews 10:23-25 and ‘spur one another on towards love and good deeds’.