40 Days of Prayer begins today. We would love for you to pray alongside us during this time, as we lift up our nation, city, community, and church.
Here is the information for 40 Days of Prayer: sycamoredecatur.com/40DaysofPrayer
Tag: 40 Days of Prayer Campaign
40 Days of Prayer Devotionals – Day 7
Day 7 – The Challenge Before Us
As we end this week of preparation, we hope you have benefited from the daily devotionals. It is our prayer that you share our desire for national healing, revival in the church and salvation for the lost in our community.
Tomorrow starts our 40 day event of focused prayer. We anticipate struggles with maintaining this schedule. It is easy to be excited and motivated during the planning and early days but our schedules are full. Work, family and even church commitments can drain our energy and distract us from obedient service to God.
For many of you, today, Easter Sunday, will be filled with activities celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let the gospel truth of His redemptive work motivate and strengthen you. As part of your worship today, meditate on the things God has shown you this week. Be encouraged with the knowledge that you have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weakness and in all points has faced the temptations, which beset us.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Resource
If you would like more information about 40 Days of Prayer, including how you can download a PDF copy of the information and link with us on social media, visit our website: sycamoredecatur.com/40DaysofPrayer
40 Days of Prayer Devotionals – Day 6
Day 6 – Praying in Confidence (Proverbs 21:1; James 5:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; 2 Chronicles 7:14)
Why prayer? Wouldn’t a petition or letter writing campaign to political leaders, to those who can really make a difference be more effective? While appealing to national leaders can be an effective means of driving change, the intent of the 40 Days of Prayer is to address sin – the root cause of the reason we need change. Meaningful, lasting change starts in the heart of each individual. Through prayer, we make an appeal to the only One who effects this change, the One who can direct the ways of our leaders (Proverbs 21:1).
More importantly, God instructs us to pray. Knowing this is His will, we may pray in confidence that He will hear our cry (James 5:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; 2 Chronicles 7:14).
The Challenge
Effective prayer requires faith, humility, and repentance. Take this day to confess sin and seek repentance. Humble yourself before God and give thanks for the atoning work of Christ. Make prayer your first priority, not your last resort.
Resource
If you would like more information about 40 Days of Prayer, including how you can download a PDF copy of the information and link with us on social media, visit our website: sycamoredecatur.com/40DaysofPrayer
40 Days of Prayer Devotionals – Day 5
Day 5 – Be Persistent and Alert in Prayer (Colossians 4:2-4)
Before Paul closes his letter to the Colossians, he encourages them in their prayer life by telling them to:
- Be devoted to prayer – Praying with persistence, perseverance, and focus.
- Be alert in prayer – Praying with exactitude, engagement, and involvement.
- Be thankful in prayer – Praying and thanking God for what He has done for you.
- Be intentional in prayer – Praying your leaders would have an open door to spread the Word of God.
The Challenge
The prayers of the saints are an incense and a sweet aroma to God (Revelation 5:8). Intentional prayer for thanksgiving, for others, and for service opportunities requires us to put aside selfish desires and humble ourselves before our holy God. This can be difficult for an hour (Matthew 26:36-46), much more so for 40 days. Use this day to understand the need and prepare for the commitment necessary for 40 Days of Prayer.
Resource
If you would like more information about 40 Days of Prayer, including how you can download a PDF copy of the information and link with us on social media, visit our website: sycamoredecatur.com/40DaysofPrayer
40 Days of Prayer Devotionals – Day 4
Day 4 – Be Devoted to Prayer (Acts 2:42)
Acts 2 recounts the beginning of the church, as we know it. God blessed Peter’s preaching, so that thousands were saved. Those who remained in Jerusalem formed a church.
According to Acts 2:42, the Jerusalem church devoted themselves to four things:
(1) The Apostles teaching
(2) Fellowship with one another
(3) The Breaking of bread
(4) Prayer
The Challenge
Prayer is the focus of 40 Days of Prayer, so we want to challenge you to devote yourselves to prayer like the church in Jerusalem. While demands on our attention are great – children, work, church, etc – we believe we need to be devoted to the things of God. Devotion is not half-hearted effort, but it is characterized by persistence, perseverance and focus.
We desire you devote yourselves to participating in 40 Days of Prayer beginning April 1st. Knowing this will require persistence, perseverance, and focus on your part, we encourage you to use this day to prepare your minds for action (1 Peter 1:13).
Resource
If you would like more information about 40 Days of Prayer, including how you can download a PDF copy of the information and link with us on social media, visit our website: sycamoredecatur.com/40DaysofPrayer
40 Days of Prayer Devotionals – Day 3
Day 3 – Pray for Your Leaders (1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17)
Given the current political and social climate in our nation we might conclude that evangelicals are at odds with our culture. While there may be an ever increasing divide between evangelicals and secular society, withdrawal is not the answer. It is not the answer because it breeds an us against them mentality.
Instead of withdrawing from society, we are to live in it, honor our leaders, and pray for those over us. Both Peter and Paul agree.
Peter writes,
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor (1 Peter 2:13–17).
Paul writes,
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1–4).
The Challenge
As believers, even though we are often at odds with the world; told not to marvel if the world hates us (1 John 3:13); and told that friendship with the world puts us in conflict with God (James 4:4); we are not to withdraw from society. Conflict between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom should not drive us to seclusion; rather it should motivate us to prayer and action that the world might know Christ.
Resource
If you would like more information about 40 Days of Prayer, including how you can download a PDF copy of the information and link with us on social media, visit our website: sycamoredecatur.com/40DaysofPrayer
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