PASSION & PRAYER A
GRE AT
28
28 Day Devotional Guide
601-264-9234 www.crosspointhattiesburg.org Š 2014 Crosspoint Community Church All rights reserved Devotions written by Dr. Dean Register and Wes Register Book design by Andrew Moye Printed by Bourne Brothers Printing, Hattiesburg, MS
INTRODUCTION Since February is known as the “love month” we thought it would be a creative time to engage the entire Crosspoint fellowship in 28 days of “Passion and Prayer” for the eternal love of our life – the Lord Jesus Christ! Each scripture represents a prayer in the Bible or it references an action of prayer. There is no limit to God’s blessings when His people pray passionately for His power and purpose. A prayer warrior named A. J. Gordon appropriately said, “You can do more than pray AFTER you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray “UNTIL you have prayed!” Enjoy the journey for this month!
DAY 1
A PASSIONATE NEED FOR PRAYER “Lord, teach us to pray...” Luke 11:1
No one knew Jesus better than His twelve disciples. They scrutinized every detail of His life. They analyzed His teaching and they evaluated His ministry. Yet the driving question they begged for Him to answer involved “prayer.” Why? Why were they so eager to learn about prayer? They longed to know about prayer because the only way a believer can experience a measure of heaven on earth is through a passionate connection with God. Through prayer God delights to transform our daily grind into delightful grandeur. Prayer is not an option. It is a necessity!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1
DAY 2
PRAYER AS A SHAMELESS PASSION FOR GOD’S INVASION “Call upon Me and I will answer you and tell you great and mighty things which you don’t know” Jeremiah 33:3 Prayer and passion are inseparably linked. They go together like music and rhythm; like the heart and blood. Essentially, prayer involves a shameless passion of calling upon God to invade our lives with His presence and power. Notice that this verse is an invitation from God. He invites us to call upon His all-powerful ability. He waits to tell us “great and mighty things.” He waits upon our passion and our prayers.
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2
DAY 3
A PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS “Be gracious to me, O God… and cleanse me from my sin” Psalm 51:1-2 David is known as a shepherd-king who possessed a deep passion for God. But he is also remembered as a flawed and sinful man. David’s sin was neither greater nor less than mine or yours. The common plague of sin however, is that it erodes our passion for God and poisons our soul. It’s been said that every saint has a “past” and every sinner has a “future.”
David prayed for God to cleanse his
conscience and restore his joy. We have a Heavenly Father who loves without limit and forgives sin without measure.
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 3
DAY 4
PRAYING AND HARMONY WITH OTHERS “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 15:5-6 There is much comfort in the reality that Jesus thought of us and prayed for us before He finished His work of redemption here on the earth. John 17 records that Jesus prayed that all of His disciples in all ages would remain unified. Unity seems to be a token word sometimes in “church world.” But I believe it could be a reality in all areas if we could just recognize our God ordained and divinely created purpose to know the Lord, enjoy Him, and proclaim His greatness in our world. Like Max Lucado wrote, “When fishermen fish, they don’t fight.” Ask God to help you reorient your preference to His plan so you can enjoy His peace and fulfillment with others each day. Forget the fussing and fighting, but enjoy the fishing! PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 4
DAY 5
PRAYING FOR GOD’S MERCY “And they cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy on us’” Matthew 9:27
Two blind men begged loudly for mercy. They didn’t shout for justice. They didn’t demand restitution. They appealed to the tenderness of Jesus. The first step toward healing is the admission of brokenness. When you are truly desperate for Jesus to change and heal your life you boldly confess your deficiency and plead for His mercy. In what specific area of your life do you need His mercy today?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 5
DAY 6
PRAYER AND COMMITMENT “And he said, ‘Here I Am, Lord” Acts 9:10
An often overlooked but equally faithful disciple named Ananias was an essential catalyst in Saul of Tarsus’ radical transformation into Paul the Apostle. A simple but profoundly powerful prayer thrust Ananias into this vital role: “Here I am, Lord.” Four words. Just one simple sentence. Yet it represented a powerful statement of faith that compelled Ananias to overcome his fears in order to fulfill God’s purpose. Fear, apathy, and impotence mark too many of our lives. God would have us all live with eternal purpose, power and productivity. Imagine what God could do in and through us if we all answered His call with those 4 simple words, “Here I am, Lord.” Trust Him. Obey His call. Live to make a difference!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 6
DAY 7
PRAYER AND MISSIONS “Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off” Acts 13:3 God used Paul and Barnabas as a powerful team for accomplishing His plan and purpose in their world. The launch of their God-ordained purpose was cultivated and commissioned in the corporate worship of the church expressed predominately through prayer and fasting. Remembering that Jesus taught His disciples to pray for workers to be sent into the world to bring a plentiful harvest, we should prioritize our worship around the accomplishing of God’s purpose rather than our own needs. May our primary expression of worship be dominated by the desire for God’s work to be done in and through our lives. When we offer ourselves and prayerfully send out laborers, God’s will is glorified and His kingdom is expanded.
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 7
DAY 8
PRAYER FOR INTERVENTION “But earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church” Acts 12:5 When God’s people pray faithfully, God works! This was certainly a reality in the early church and remains an opportunity for us too. In a very stressful, scary time in Peter’s life, God delivered him from imprisonment and impending death. Notably,
God’s
miraculous
intervention
was
precipitated by the interceding prayers of the church. The Bible teaches us that the faithful prayers of God’s redeemed are productive and powerful! So what should we do in our greatest times of trial and need? Pray! And when we find ourselves imprisoned by our fears and struggles? Pray! And when we have a loved one in need of intervention and deliverance? Pray! Because God is faithful and He never ignores the humble petitions of His children!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 8
DAY 9
PRAYING THROUGH A TIME OF CONFUSION “Oh Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” 2 Chronicles 20:12 Okay, we may not be threatened by a vast army and intimidated by the approaching hoof beats of mounted warriors racing toward us, but we can identify with King Jehoshaphat. We too have experienced those moments of sheer panic when the clamor of confusion terrorized our soul and we didn’t “know what to do.” In those moments we can do like King Jehoshaphat did. We can fix our focus on the Lord and wait for Him to bring clarity into our confusion. He delights to turn our perplexity into His peace!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 9
DAY 10
PRAYING DURING A TIME OF GOODBYE “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all” Acts 20:36 Goodbyes are rarely easy. And in the some circumstances, a goodbye can be heart wrenching. But as much as we may dread them, the reality is that goodbyes are inevitable. So the question is not, “will they come?”, but rather “what will be left behind when they are done?” Paul’s legacy with the church leaders of Ephesus provided him the opportunity to share with them an emotional and profoundly hopeful goodbye. But how can we live in such a way that goodbyes don’t have to last forever? We can love passionately, pray like crazy, and make our lives revolve around Christ who is the Center-point of everything good, right and eternal!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 0
DAY 11
A PRAYER FOR COURAGE “Grant that Your Servants may speak Your Word boldly” Acts 4:29 If you had been arrested and jailed for testifying about your faith in Jesus would you ask God for the courage to be arrested again? The disciples did. They prayed for more holy boldness. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the confidence that God’s power in you is greater than the fear that threatens you. Shouldn’t we be willing to let our commitment to Christ cost us something?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 1
DAY 12
PRAYER AND HUMILITY “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’” Exodus 3:11 God is inclined to utilize ordinary people to do extraordinary things in His Kingdom. Before Moses ever earned a place among the heroes of faith, he was an ordinary young man growing up in Egypt. Moses was probably unqualified for the task God called him to complete. But Moses learned a valuable lesson that carries implications for our own lives: a person called and empowered by the Spirit of the Living God is never an underdog! Rather, according to Romans, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. So what’s the key to fulfilling God’s purpose for your life, even when it seems too radical and too hard? Humble faith! Walk in the sentiment of Moses by realizing that you are nothing on your own. But take with you also the promise that when God is with you, nothing can stop you!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 2
DAY 13
PRAYER AND REPENTANCE “Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly’” 2 Samuel 24:10 The specific nature of David’s sin that preceded this humble confession is difficult to identify. But it seems that David’s transgression involved a failure to trust God’s promise regarding the nation of Israel. In reality, the predominant theme in all sin is a failure to trust God and His promises. When we give in to temptation, we are suggesting that God’s way is not best. When we react in selfish anger, we take our focus from God’s glory and place it upon our own glory. When we walk in self-sufficiency, we fail to trust in God’s provision and we discover that our way is a detour to nowhere. How’s your faith? Will you trust God in everything you face?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 3
DAY 14
PRAYING WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY “Why, O Lord, do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble? Psalm 10:1 Hardship and stress can overload our emotions making us feel like God doesn’t hear our prayers. Feelings are fickle, however, and they can betray us. That’s why we must pray with faith and trust God for the results. The key is not to deny our emotion, but to fortify our devotion. God turns a smiling face toward anyone calling for His grace.
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 4
DAY 15
A PRAYER FROM A THIRSTY BELIEVER “As a deer pants for streams of water, so I long for You, O God” Psalm 42:1 Can you remember a time when your body was exhausted and dehydrated and you craved for pure water to slake your thirst? Like a deer running through the woods trying to elude the chasing dogs and desperately needing to find a stream of water? The Psalmist experienced a spiritual drought and He prayed for the Lord to quench His thirst and to renew his passion. Do you long for God’s intervention like the Psalmist? Will you put aside all other distractions and ask the Lord to fill your life with the pure water of His truth? Will you ask Him for a “refill” right now?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 5
DAY 16
PRAYING EVEN WHEN IT GETS YOU IN TROUBLE “…Three times a day Daniel got down on his knees prayed, and gave thanks to God” Daniel 6:10 Praying can get you in trouble! Consider Daniel. He made a holy habit of seeking God in prayer three times daily. His peers, however, nursed jealousy toward Daniel and they persuaded King Darius to issue a decree against all prayer except prayer directed toward the king. Daniel wouldn’t compromise so he faced the consequence of being thrown to the lions. What courage! Daniel would rather spend a night with lions than miss a day of prayer. Faithful praying will always stir the Devil’s animosity and appeal to God’s security!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 6
DAY 17
WHEN GOD SAYS “NO” TO YOUR PRAYERS “But He said, “My grace is sufficient for you and my power is perfected in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Does it perplex you like it does me that God said “no” to one of the greatest prayer warriors in the Bible? Paul didn’t reveal the identity of his “thorn” and we don’t know if it was physical, emotional, spiritual, or all three combined. God declined Paul’s request for the thorn to be removed because the thorn kept Paul humble. God allowed the thorn not to make him miserable but to make him exceptional. God occasionally says “no” to our requests not to “complicate” our lives, but to “consecrate” them. God’s grace is perfect for every situation and He delights to turn our deficiency into His sufficiency.
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 7
DAY 18
PRAYER AND THE TEST OF SACRIFICE “Take now your Son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…and offer him…as a burnt offering” Genesis 22:2 What a bizarre instruction God gave to Abraham. For at least 25 years Abraham prayed and waited for a son. Why would God put Abraham’s faith to the test like this? Because our faith is not really tested until God asks us to do what seems unreasonable, to bear what seems unbearable, and to trust Him to do the impossible. Abraham believed God could raise Isaac back to life and Abraham rested his faith on God’s promise. God didn’t desire Abraham to slay his son. He wanted Abraham to pass the test of obedience. What sacrifice is God testing in your life? Will you obey?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 8
DAY 19
PRAYING ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you� Philippians 1:6 Is there someone in your life for whom you praise God whenever you think about their impact upon your spiritual development? Consider the unnamed Christ-followers in the city of Philippi. They left an indelible mark upon the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. So much so that he not only praised God for them but He thanked God that they were partners in the spread of the Gospel. Are you living for Jesus in such a way that your fellow church members bend their knees and praise God for your faith? Why not write a note to someone who inspires you to live stronger for the Lord.
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 1 9
DAY 20
PRAYER HAS NO “AGE LIMITATION” “Behold, Lord, I cannot speak, for I am a young man” Jeremiah 1:6 God knows your heart. He knows your fears and worries. And like Jeremiah you can be honest with God. Jeremiah didn’t think he could do the job that God wanted. He thought he was too young. But trusting God and praying to Him is not restricted to a certain age, whether its 15 or 100 years old. Can you identify with Jeremiah? Is God asking something of you? Are you hesitating because you think you’re not old enough or not young enough? Listen to God and allow Him to direct your steps. He performs the extraordinary through ordinary people!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 0
DAY 21
PRAYER AND GRATITUDE “And he fell on his face thanking Jesus� Luke 17:16
Jesus marveled that only one of the ten individuals He healed returned to thank Him. Were the others too busy? Did they intend to thank Jesus later? You wonder if He would marvel at our discourtesy today. True gratitude always finds a way to fall at Jesus feet in humble adoration without any hesitation. A thankful heart expresses true love for the grace it receives from God.
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 1
DAY 22
PRAYER AND SURRENDER “Lord… Here am I. Send me” Isaiah 6:8
“Surrender” doesn’t come easily for most of us. It didn’t for Isaiah. He felt unqualified. He confessed the impurity in his life. He referenced “unclean lips” to describe more than a foul mouth. He was talking about his foul life and the corrupt culture around him. But God delights to select ordinary people like me and you to be His ambassadors of hope in a world of despair. He looks for “availability.” He looks for someone who will reply “I’ll serve you, Lord” in my home, my church, my work, or wherever you send me! What areas of “surrender” do you need to pray about?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 2
DAY 23
PRAYER AND PRAISE FOR GOD’S CREATION “The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky proclaims his handiwork” Psalm 19:1 Haven’t you stood awestruck by a summer night sky dotted with stars? Or cotton candy clouds lumbering along on a spring day? Or a winter morning landscape shrouded in a blanket of fresh snow? Perhaps the prayer of the psalmist was penned in the afterglow of a multi-colored sunset on an autumn evening. When the psalmist considered the raw power of God’s masterful creation he erupted in praise. Indeed, God’s creation prompts us to exclaim our prayers of praise for His glory. In addition to the external heavens, our internal DNA represents such a complex design that only the Holy Designer could arrange it. So, go ahead and voice your praise! He is worthy!
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 3
DAY 24
PRAYING AND THE NECESSITY OF LISTENING “Speak, for your servant is listening” I Samuel 3:10
We live in a busy and noisy culture that makes it difficult to practice the virtue of listening to God. I-pod, I-phone, radio and TV compete for our attention and blare messages 24-7. Listening, however, is as essential in our communication with God as it is in our relationship with our family. What is God whispering to your heart that compels you to listen to His message? Will you agree with Samuel and exclaim, “Speak, Lord, for I am listening”?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 4
DAY 25
PRAYING WHEN YOU’RE DEPRESSED “I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life” I Kings 19:14 We can be encouraged to learn that some of the greatest leaders of faith experienced seasons of depression. Elijah was arguably one of the boldest and most devoted prophets in the Old Testament. He knew what it was like to see God do extraordinary miracles. He tasted the thrill of victory, but he also drank from the cup of despair. Sound familiar? Have you had those seasons of hopelessness when you felt all alone and felt that everything was going downhill in your life? Then take heart and keep on praying. Just like God had more assignments for a depressed prophet, He has more work for you to do. Will you trust God to write a new chapter in your life?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 5
DAY 26
PRAYER AND HOLY ACCOUNTABILITY “Lord, do not let those who put their hope in You be disgraced because of me” Psalm 69:6 A sometime overlooked aspect of prayer involves our responsibility to live in a way that attracts others to the Lord. Notice the humility and honesty in this prayer request. It is a plea for God to shine His tender grace through us so compellingly that others want what they see in us. Honestly, would others spend a day with you and feel the presence of God so magnetically that they would be driven to seek God’s grace too? Will you pray right now about this crucial matter?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 6
DAY 27
PRAYER AND BAD ATTITUDES “I want people everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing” I Timothy 2:8 Have you ever tried to pray when you were angry with someone? Ever been in an argument with a friend or your spouse and followed it up with prayer? Awkward isn’t it? Indeed it is silly, awkward and indicting because our attitudes can hinder an effective prayer life. Prayer turns our passion towards God for our good and His glory. The toxins of a sullen and sour attitude can’t survive in the holy climate of fervent prayer. Lifting our hands to God is an external posture of an inward desire to be right with God and right with one another! What “attitude adjustment” do you want to pray about?
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 7
DAY 28
PRAYING FOR GOD’S FAVOR “Let the light of your face shine upon us O Lord” Psalm 4:6
Remember carefree summer evenings when you chased fireflies (lightening bugs)? Researchers are now worried that fireflies are becoming extinct around the world and their warm fluorescent glow is fading. Makes us wonder about the light of faith. In a culture that grows increasingly dim with fear, hatred, loneliness, greed, and violence lets pray for a fresh resurgence of Christ-followers who glow with faith, hope and love. When the light of the Lord shines upon us, we brighten everything around us! Pray for God’s favor upon your church and its mission to be “Grounded in the Word of God, Drenched in the Spirit of God, and Devoted to the Glory of God.”
PASSIO N AND P RAY ER - A GRE AT 28
MY PASSION AND PRAYER TODAY:
DAY 2 8
“ Yo u c a n d o m o r e t h a n p r a y AFTER you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray UNTIL you have prayed” - A.J. Gordon