January 16

by Ed Vasicek 

 

Dear God,

 

How I praise You that You can be here with me; this is true no matter where I go. As the Psalmist put it, even if I go to the depths of the ocean, You are there. Indeed, You have long enjoyed the beauties of the ocean depths, beauties of which only a few men have sampled.

 

You are omnipresent, present everywhere. You are not merely ubiquitous – present in more than one place. No, You are literally present in every place at once. Yet, You are especially present when two or three believers gather in Your Name. You are present in a local way upon Your throne in heaven.

 

Lord, help me to fear You. Help me to remember that though You are my dearest friend – and knowing and glorifying You is the purpose of my life! I sometimes get too familiar with You. Though You are my friend, You are never my “buddy.” Help me to strike the right balance between reverence and familiarity.

 

Lord, help my body to be healthy and strong. And help my loved ones to enjoy good health as well.

 

Lord, I am thankful for many things, three of which are: __________.

 

Today I pray for the country of Slovakia. Thank You that there are some evangelical believers in this land; help their small numbers to increase exponentially. Create a hunger in that land for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and may the believers there live out a Christianity worth reproducing.

 

Today I ask You to bless Spanish World Ministries. May their radio program, “El Camino De La Vida” continue to be used of you to reach many throughout Central and South America, as well as Spain and elsewhere. Help them to work well with the evangelical churches throughout these regions. Provide for them and protect them, we ask.

 

Today I remember our governor and his/her staff. May he/she execute his/her office with integrity, ethics, and do so in the best interest of the people of our state.

 

We ask Your joy to show itself in my life today, for I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

January 17

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great God and King of Kings,

 

I worship You as the Infinite One. You, O Lord, have no boundaries. You fill the entire universe, and Your attributes are extending outward toward infinity. Just as we never run out of numbers, so neither are Your attributes exhausted nor You power limited. When we consider the billions of stars, some of which are actually galaxies whose light combines as though they were but single stars, we have to admit that we cannot comprehend the vastness of the universe. But, You, Lord, are so much greater, just as infinity is greater than any number.

 

Today, Lord, I praise You for my coming bodily resurrection. I know that, at death, my soul shall be immediately ushered into Your presence, but my body will decay unless I am alive at the time of Christ’s return to the sky and thus avoid death. Then my body will be resurrected to become an immortal body, like that of the resurrected Jesus.

 

Lord, help me to develop humility. You command me to humble myself before You, but You also want me to be humble in my dealing with others. Help me to not look out for only my own interests, but the interest of others.

 

Lord, I empty myself before You so that Your Spirit may fill me. I find my strength in His power, not my own. May Your Spirit control me today.

 

Dear God, I ask You to help me get along with my neighbors. Help me not only to be at peace with them, but to develop a positive relationship with them. If they do not know Christ, use me to reach them, I pray.

 

I pray for my lost friends and family members, including: __________. Father, please send Your Spirit to draw them to Yourself and grant them the repentance that leads to life.

 

Today I remember that part of the United Kingdom called England. O Lord, at one time so many knew You there, but the percentage of evangelical Christians has significantly dwindled. May Your Spirit once more sweep across that land. May the number of evangelical Christians triple in the next decade, and may their level of commitment deepen.

 

Dear God, bless Bible Related Ministries as they seek to rescue divided churches. Provide for them; give them success for the sake of Your body.

 

Today I remember the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Bless him/her, and help the chief justice to fear you, to seek truth and objectivity, and to use his/her position for good as You define good.

 

Shower me with strength and joy today, I pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

January 18

by Ed Vasicek

 

Yahweh, the Great I AM,

 

I thank You that You are completely capable. Not only do You have all power, and not only do You have all knowledge, but You also have the ability to coordinate the power with the knowledge to get the job done, and to do it perfectly. We thank You that You have the skill and competence to be fully capable. Therefore, we know You are able to oversee our lives-- miniscule as they seem in comparison to Your grandeur.

 

Your Word tells us that there is one mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. As man, He understands our lot and represents us because He is one of us. As God the Son, He is deity, one Person of the blessed Trinity. He therefore not only fully understands both perspectives, He has experienced humanity: temptation and the limitations of human life, yet without sin. Yet He has the infinite understanding and holy character that comes from being God the Son.

 

Lord, Help me develop holiness in my life. Help me to consider myself dead to sin and alive to God today.

 

Father, I have many needs. I need the sense of security that only You can give. The news headlines are often frightening and grievous; help me to remember that my citizenship is in heaven. Conquer my fears.

 

Please address the following needs: __________.

 

I remember the nation of Aruba in prayer. This Dutch speaking Latin-American island is noted for its beauty. We pray that this would become the case in the spiritual realm as well. We pray that the relatively small evangelical church there would double over the next decade, that rivalry among evangelical churches would lessen, and we thank You for the religious freedom in that nation.

 

Today we pray for a mission organization that focus upon the other side of the world, the African Inland Mission (AIM). Africa has its challenges: the spreading of Islam, AIDS, tribal hostility and polarization, a competitive spirit among evangelical churches, and poverty. We pray that You would provide solid indigenous leaders for the good churches there, that You would push back Islam, and that many Africans would become consistently surrendered to Your will. Protect, provide, prosper with health, and guide the missionaries who served there.

 

At home we pray for our State Senators. Help them to come to know You, to fear You, to govern in light of their relationship with You, and to seek the best interest of the people of our state.

 

Now, Lord, open doors for me today, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

January 19

by Ed Vasicek

 

O God,

 

You have been so good to me. You are excellent in all Your ways, and Your gracious kindness overwhelms me. Because You are good, You work all together for good toward those Who love God.

 

Lord, thank You that You have created me with a conscience. That is part of what it means to be in Your image. Thank You what when I accepted Jesus, You intensified that conscience by giving me a new nature, a deeper etching of Your Law upon my heart of flesh. Help me to live my life according to that new nature – not according to my old, rationalizing one.

 

Lord, help me to set my mind on the good and lovely things of life. Prevent me from becoming cynical; instead help me be a positive testimony toward others as I highlight God's grace in my life.

 

Lord, help me to keep a positive and constructive attitude when I have to deal with people I do not enjoy. Part of me wants to take a dig, but I don't think this would please You. Although You do encourage me to assert myself and speak the truth, You want me to do so in love, not out of getting even. Help me to leave justice in these small matters to You.

 

"Help me to resist temptation and the lures of the Satan today."

 

Lord, I am thankful for many things, three of which are: __________.

 

Lord, the nation of Australia is one that usually brings a smile to our faces as we envision kangaroos and crocodile hunters. But spiritually, only 10 percent of the population attends church in a given week. We thank You that there are some strong evangelical churches, even within the Anglican church. But we pray that You would stir up Your people to seek Your face, and that the Australian believers would become more committed than ever. We also pray that You would double their number within the next decade. Please revive the church in Australia.

 

Today we remember the American Missionary Fellowship, a ministry that seeks to reach people in the United States. In the past, they helped organize and plant Sunday Schools, and now they seek to reach the various cultures residing within the U.S. Give them fruit for their labor, keep them true to You, and provide for their needs.

 

We remember our local Red Cross chapters. Thank You for the help they offer, provide for them, and guide them.

 

Please make my day a day of service of You, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 20

by Ed Vasicek

 

O Sovereign Lord,

 

You are the Sovereign, the Supreme Ruler, the One Who Determines, and the King of Kings. As King Nebuchadnezzar confessed, "His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:34-35) You truly set up kings and take them down. You are in charge, and we are foolish to think otherwise.

 

Today I thank You for the burial of Christ, which is part of the Gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. My sins were buried with Him and dissipated in the earth. Just as one goat was slaughtered during Yom Kippur and another released into the wilderness as a "scapegoat," so in His burial Jesus carried my sins far away.

 

And so, Lord, I ask You to help me have a clear conscience, believing I am forgiven in Christ and clean before You. Help me keep my conscience clear, avoiding sin and confessing my sins to You when I have failed to avoid them.

 

Lord, I am thankful for many things, three of which are: __________.

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of them, and You will cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). So I bring my sins before You now. I do not excuse them, but I freely admit them and ask for Your forgiveness.

 

Father, I need wisdom every day. Your Word encourages me to both develop wisdom and to pray for it. Lord, I know the start of wisdom is fearing You, and I also know that wisdom comes to those who crave, respect, and value it. Help me to place wisdom high on my priority list.

 

Today I remember the European nation of Austria. Even though we think of Europe as religiously free, Austria often restricts smaller denominations, many of which are Evangelical. We pray that this 1998 law would be seen for what it is, an enemy of freedom. It is sad to hear that less than half of one percent of this nation is evangelical Christians. There are more Jehovah Witnesses in Austria than there are born-again believers! Thank You that the small evangelical church in Austria is growing, but they are so minute in number. We pray that the church would grow ten fold over the next decade!

 

Today we pray for AmeriTribes Mission. Use them to reach Native Americans throughout the Western Hemisphere. Provide workers, funds, and, most of all, the working of Your Spirit to draw America's first inhabitants to Yourself – and for the native church to provide its own leaders and church planters.

 

Bless and guide our elected Prosecutors. We know their job is important: may they seek justice for righteousness sake, and may they do their work with integrity.

 

Motivate me today to keep serving You, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 21

by Ed Vasicek

 

Precious Lord,

 

I know that You have many aspects to Your being, characteristics and attributes that Your Word reveals. The Bible is clear that You are an angry God. Although it is not popular for us to consider ourselves, "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God," that is, in fact, our situation. Your wrath is revealed from heaven. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, lightning strikes, tsunamis and hailstorms all remind us that something is wrong with the universe, that it is indeed cursed. And, as nature leads us to believe that You are the Great Creator, so disasters remind us that You are angry.

 

Thank You, Lord, that Your anger and Your justice are not Your only attributes. You are a God of mercy, love, and grace as well. So You sent Jesus to bear the wrath and anger that was due us. As Your Word says, He "became a curse for us." Because of Jesus, You – an angry and holy God – are now free to shed Your grace and mercy upon us without compromising Who You are.

 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Your character is perfectly balanced. Help me to live a balanced life, to make balanced choices, and to seek to grow in all areas. Help me succeed spiritually, relationally, intellectually, physically, socially, and to live in a reasonable manner financially, if that is Your will. And if not, help me to accept what I cannot change and what You do not want to change. Help me not to be driven by a guilt complex (feeling more responsible than I should) nor by peer pressure, but by Biblical conviction and reason. Help me recognize nonsense and unhealthy attitudes for what they are.

 

Gracious God, help me to recover from past events that have harmed me in one of the above ways. Although I want to learn from the past, and although I recognize I can better minister and sympathize with others because of my past, these advantages are joined to disadvantages. Help me to escape from the prison of my past and to boldly agonize forward toward the calling of Jesus Christ for my life.

 

Please address the following needs: __________.

 

Today I pray for one of the nations of the former Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, just north of Iran. Lord, most of this nation is Islamic with less than one-tenth of one percent Evangelical Christian. Although there is some measure of religious freedom, we know the nation allows no foreign missionaries. This is a poor land, and people need Jesus. We pray that You would multiply the efforts of the few Christians who live there. We pray that the church would grow exponentially, and that Your Spirit would draw great numbers to Jesus Christ.

 

Today I remember AMF, the American Messianic Fellowship. Bless their efforts in sharing the Gospel "to the Jew first" as they build bridges of friendship. Thank You that this ministry is conducted ethically and honestly. Bless them as they reach out and train others to reach out to Your chosen people.

 

Today we pray that You would guide and assist all the emergency radio dispatchers in our area. We know that they form an important link between the need for emergency help and getting that help on the scene. Keep them alert, and may they excel in this important service.

 

Help me to think of You often throughout my day, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 22

by Ed Vasicek

 

Precious Lord,

 

I praise You that You are a kind God. Although it is true that You are not tame or always "nice," You have a heart of compassion and You care about Your creation. Not a sparrow falls without Your knowledge, and You number the hairs on our heads. You comfort the downtrodden and broken hearted, and You have a special place in Your heart for children, the orphan, and the widow. You are generous, sending the rain upon both the righteous and the unrighteous. It is Your kindness that leads us to repentance.

 

Lord, I do not want to be paranoid, but there are three enemies constantly stalking me: the world, my sin nature, and the kingdom of darkness. The world (society) has its good and bad points. You want me to participate in my society, to be in the world. You want me to serve as light and salt, and You do not want me to retreat under a bushel. Yet, You want me to reject that way of thinking that refuses to put Your will and Your Word first. In the world, but not of it.

 

My sinful nature is strong, too strong. You want me to walk in the Spirit, and, with His power, to turn a deaf ear to the call of my fleshly desires. And, although Satan himself will probably never bother me, his lesser associates, demons, do. As they tempt me or put thoughts into my mind or create undesirable circumstances or happenings, help me to remember that even the demons are subject to You. Help me resist temptation in Jesus' Name, and help me not to give place to the devil. Thank You that I am secure in Your hand, and I claim the blood of Christ and word of my testimony. I choose to put on the armor of God.

 

Abba, Father, I have many needs. Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and I find it easy to strike out. Give me wisdom when I face the unexpected. Help me to delay my responses and conduct myself with wisdom. Keep me from making a fool of myself – or blurting out responses I will later regret.

 

Lord, I empty myself before You so that Your Spirit may fill me. I find my strength in His power, not my own. May Your Spirit control me today.

 

Lord, today I pray for the nation of Bangladesh. What a seemingly hopeless mess it is! The people live in utter poverty; the Islamists are pushing harder and harder to mandate Islamic law, and evangelical Christians make up less than one half of one percent of the population. The 230 million Bengali people represent one of the largest unreached groups in the world, and so Bangladesh and the Bengalis who live in India need to hear about Christ desperately. Bless the Jesus film and continue to reach people through this, we pray. May the number of born-again Christians grow exponentially in the next decade.

 

Yahweh, I ask for You to bless and prosper Arab World Ministries. We know that the Muslim people are among the most unreached in the world, and we know that Christians literally take their lives and wellbeing in their hands when sharing Christ or living the Christian life. Protect and direct the associates of this mission. Give them tact, shrewdness, and the wisdom and power of Your Spirit. Exceed the mission's goals, expectations, and even dreams. May Muslims flock to Jesus Christ in droves through their work.

 

Today we think of our community libraries and librarians. We know, Lord, that it is so important for Christians to think, and to think deeply. Thank You for community libraries that serve the entire population.

 

Lord, I surrender myself anew to You today, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 23

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear God,

 

How awesome is Your creation. Like the Psalmist, when I consider the work of Your hands – the stars, the moon, the sun – it makes me wonder how You could even pay attention to me. You are the Creator of all, and Your handiwork evidences Your genius.

 

Thank You that You care about me – and even the tiny details of my life.

 

Father, thank You that You have called every believer a saint, a set apart one. Thank You that You have made all New Covenant believers priests. We can approach Your throne directly through our great High Priest, Jesus Christ. We can also help connect lost people to You by sharing the Gospel with them.

 

Father, help me learn to check in with You first before I make decisions, especially important ones. I have known Christians to move to another location, switch jobs, churches, and employment without waiting on You for direction and guidance. So, Lord, help me remember that if I am going to be in Your army, I need to check in with headquarters. Remind me that I am not my own.

 

Help me to resist temptation and the lures of the Satan today.

 

Meet my needs this day, father; help me to use my resources of time, energy, and money wisely and in a way that pleases You.

 

Today I remember that part of the United Kingdom called Northern Ireland. Thank You that the conflict there has subsided and that peace seems to be reigning. May it continue that way. May Christians shine their light, and may the evangelical church there double in size over the next decade.

 

We also pray today for the Messianic Jewish movement. We know, Lord, that some Messianic groups are more in tune with a proper understanding of Scripture than others, but many of these groups are solid. Help them in both reaching the Jewish community and in creating interest in the Jewish roots of our faith so that we might better understand Scripture.

 

Use me this day to serve You, I pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

January 24

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear God,

 

Thank You that You are a God Who is near and not far away. We do not need to find You in some building or shrine, nor must we work ourselves into a frenzy to communicate with You. You are near to all who call upon You, to all Who call upon You in truth. It is amazing that You can relate to one person as they rejoice and praise You, You can be overjoyed when a sinner comes to repentance, and at the same time You can sympathize with another Who is grieving the loss of one close to that individual. You can give each one of us complete, focused, and undivided attention at the same time!

 

God, I thank You for the assurance of salvation You want me to have. Your Word tells me, “These things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, in order that you might know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Thank You that I can be sure.

 

Lord, help me to direct my attention where it should be focused. I cannot do what You can; if I focus on one situation, I displace another. Help me set priorities that are Your priorities and to put my family and those nearest to me before everything but You.

 

Lord, I am thankful for many things, three of which are: __________.

 

I remember the nation of Lithuania in my prayers. Though I know that the people of this land have suffered much under Communism, we know that only a small number have been born again by Your Spirit. We pray that the evangelical church would double there over the next five years, and that the Lithuanian people would come under the deep convicting and drawing ministry of Your Spirit. Help the Christians there to be a good testimony, and use them. Keep out cults and false religions, we pray.

 

We also remember the ministry of rescue missions throughout the world. Help them to truly rescue lives by the Gospel. Protect, provide, and, most of all, Spiritually fill the workers. May the number of genuine conversions outpace the number of “convenient” conversions. Encourage those who work or support such difficult ministries. Bless them as they offer food, clothing, and eternal hope to so many.

 

Help me today to honor You, I pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

January 25

by Ed Vasicek

 

Great, Almighty Father,

 

I praise You that You are a god who feels sorrow. Your Spirit can be grieved. He actually becomes sad when we resist Him and stifle His work in our lives. We know that You take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. In addition, Your Son, when He was on earth, was prophesied to be, "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," according to Isaiah 53. You understand my heartbreaks, and You feel my sorrows. When I multiply my sorrows by the number of humans on earth at any time, I marvel that You feel each sorrow.

 

Today I celebrate the fact that I have been baptized by Your Spirit into the body of Christ, the blessing of all believers (1 Corinthians 12:13). I thank You that Your Spirit indwells me – and every genuine believer (Romans 8:9), and I pray that He would fill me completely. I would love to see His fruit in my life, day by day.

 

Your Word tells me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of them, and You will cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I do not excuse my transgression and omissions, but I freely admit them and ask for Your forgiveness. So I bring my sins before You now: __________.

 

Lord, help me to be a good manager of my time. I do not want to live the hurried lifestyle, but I need to be efficient in some areas that I might have more relaxed times later. Enlighten me as to how I might do this.

 

Today I remember the Bahamas. Although there are many professed evangelical Christians there, the quality is weak. Drugs, materialism, and low commitment really make the church ineffective and often without strong leadership. We pray that Your Spirit would stir up the believers there, that they might truly be in the world but not of the world.

 

Today we remember the outreach of Avant Ministries. We thank you for the many countries in which they minister, and we pray that you would bless them with much fruit for their labor as men, women, and children accept Christ and grow in Him. Help the missionaries to work well together, and reduce conflicts and other relational problems. Provide for them financially, and bind Satan as he seeks to undermine their work. Keep them true to You.

 

Today we pray that you would help those who work in the tow truck business. We know they are often unappreciated – except when we need them. We also sympathize with their sometimes gruesome work. We pray that we would remember to seek to witness to them when we need them.

 

Lord, please help me honor You, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 26

by Ed Vasicek

 

My wonderful God,

 

I know that You are a God of joy. You bring joy to those Who know You, and You are the source of joy, happiness, and contentment. Your Word commands me to rejoice in You because You are a happy God. We will celebrate the wedding feast of the Lamb with You, and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. You are the only source of lasting joy. The world and the devil offer their temporary versions, but their counterfeit joy will one day turn into mourning. My joy will grow greater and last without expiration.

 

Father, thank You for adopting me – of all people – into Your family! You have given me Your name and all the rights that accompany this adoption. I will share eternity as a companion and brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although He is the unique Son of God, something I will never be, I will still be, nonetheless, family!

 

Lord, help me to be a social person today, to enjoy relating to others. You want me to love others, but I cannot love them if I do not participate socially with them in some way. Help me to converse in a way that pleases you. May I make others feel comfortable by my presence.

 

I have many personal needs, including the need for good health. Please bless me this way, I pray.

 

I pray for my lost friends and family members, including: __________. Father, please send Your Spirit to draw them to Yourself and grant them the repentance that leads to life.

 

Today I pray for the nation of Bahrain, not far from Saudi Arabia. Although Bahrain has a mixture of religious groups, only a bit more than 3% are born again Christians. Particularly bless the Christian radio and literature outreaches. I pray that the number of believers would double within the next few years. Pour your Spirit out upon this nation with a population of about 1.3 million.

 

I remember the radio and literature ministry of Back to the Bible. Thank You, Lord, for this Scripturally-based teaching and outreach ministry. We know that these broadcasts have had an impact in helping to disciple many of your children in solid doctrine. Provide for and guide this ministry, I pray.

 

We remember nurses today in prayer. They have a stressful job, but we so appreciate them when we are recovering from surgeries or illnesses. Bless them, and may many come to know You.

 

Help me stand firm for You and Your will in my life today, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 27

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Lord,

 

I praise You that You are a God of order, not confusion. We see this when we look at a single cell, a molecule, or an atom. The Laws of Science are laws because they were ordained in an orderly way by an orderly Creator. Even though this universe is cursed and the rate of decay intensified, even what seems to be chaotic is part of an orderly plan.

 

Lord, when life gets chaotic for me, help me to trust You as the one Who has a plan. Help me be a person of faith, one who trusts even when I cannot understand.

 

Lord, I celebrate my gender. Your Word tells me that You created mankind as male and female, and that both genders are in Your image. Both genders, therefore, reflect much of Who You are and what You are like. But both genders have been cursed by sin and its consequences, and this is likewise equally prevalent in both genders, even though it may surface in gender-related ways. Thank You for making me who I am.

 

Father, I have a number of personal needs, including the need for good relationships. Help me to get along with others, yet keep me from being held hostage to fear. If I want to be close to others, I need Your help to confront others when necessary; otherwise I will create the distance caused by a grudge. Other needs today include: __________.

 

Today I pray for the Afro-Caribbean nation of Barbados. Although this country recognizes complete religious freedom, and although many claim to be born-again, the quality of evangelical Christianity there is often weak. Most babies are born out of wedlock, and false religions and cults are gaining ground because the Gospel does not seem to be working there. But we know that the Gospel does work, for true believers who submit to Christ as Lord. We pray that the Christian testimony there would be better. We pray that the evangelical church (i.e., the individual believers who make up the church) would espouse a Christianity worth reproducing.

 

Today we remember BCM, originally begun as the Bible Club Movement. We thank You for all BCM does: church planting, evangelism, discipleship, and teaching, working in 50 countries with over 700 career missionaries. Please, Lord, protect, provide, and give much fruit to each ministry attempt. Help the missionaries to get along with one another harmoniously, lead by Your Spirit, and bless all their efforts to Your glory.

 

Today we remember those linemen who repair our electrical lines after storms and disasters. We know their job is often thankless. We pray that You would keep them safe and bless their efforts as they bless us.

 

Now, Lord, help me follow Jesus today, for I pray in His Name, Amen.

 

January 28

by Ed Vasicek

 

God of Infinity,

 

I remember as a child trying to understand what it meant to be invisible. How could You be present with me, and yet I cannot see You? Although my vocabulary has grown, I still marvel that You are the King eternal, immortal, and invisible. You are not subject to the laws of physics that restrain and restrict Your creation. We do not see You, we do not physically feel You, nor do we audibly hear You. We know that one day our bodies will be transformed into spiritual bodies like that of the resurrected Christ. We look forward to seeing Your invisible glory one day.

 

Lord, we know You hate sin. Yet, if sin had never been allowed, Your glory would not have been as manifest. Because of sin, we glorify You for the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. We will experience a greater good, having it better than Adam and Eve could have before the Fall. Right now, sin brings untold misery to all creation, but one day, You will work all things together for good.

 

So, today, Lord, may I be characterized by a reasonable optimism. Things are bad now, sometimes very bad, and I do not want to live in denial and justify that denial in the name of optimism. But I believe that one-day, things will be exactly as they should be. Then our present suffering will not be worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.

 

Lord, today I am thankful, and I remember a few things for which to praise You: __________.

 

Help me, Lord, to develop a deeper hunger for You and Your Word. Please help me resist the temptations to find my main meaning in life apart from You.

 

Lord, I pray for the nation of Belarus. This former member of the Soviet Union has not fared well in many ways, including spiritually. The Orthodox Church and government restrict public evangelism and have passed laws preventing evangelicals from building church buildings within its cities. We pray that the tide will turn, and that the small 1.5% of evangelicals in this nation will multiply to over 10 percent within the next decade. Help the nation embrace complete religious freedom, may the believers there have a holy fervor for serving You.

 

Today we remember the Biblical Literature Fellowship, a ministry producing Christian literature in French to meet the needs of French-speaking Africans and other Francophones. Provide for them as they work with churches and missionaries. Guide the leadership by Your Spirit.

 

Lord, I remember the Marine Corps today. Help the men and women of the corps to stand for what is right, to seek You, and to feel appreciated by our nation.

 

Be my Rock this day, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 29

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear Yahweh,

 

You are the immortal God. You can never die, never be harmed, and never be vulnerable. Yet, at the same time, You know the sensation of death, being harmed, and being vulnerable. Because You, O God the Son, took on human flesh, and because Your deity was and is united to Your humanity, there is a sense in which we are saved by God's blood (Acts 20:28). Nonetheless, as deity, You have never died, nor can You. All the great leaders of earth have been mortal; we know no one like You. But then again, we are not surprised.

 

Today I thank You that my standing before You is perfect, because You see me in Christ. When You look at me, You see not my own righteousness – which is like filthy rags; no, You see the righteousness of Christ which has legally been given me the moment I received Him. In daily life my state – what I am practically – is far from perfect, as anyone close to me can testify. Lord, help my state more closely align with my standing!

 

Today I ask You to watch me as I travel. This is a dangerous world, and I pray for safety. May my vehicle(s) perform well, and watch over me, I pray.

 

Help me to resist temptation and the lures of the Satan today.

 

I pray for the small European nation of Belgium with its varied languages and people groups. Sadly, secular humanism has swept over this land, as it has most of Europe. Help the small evangelical population of just better than 1 percent to be bold, wise, and shine their lights. May Your Spirit hover over this land, drawing many to Yourself. We pray that, beginning this year, the church would experience unprecedented growth.

 

Today I pray for Cadence International, a ministry seeking to reach and disciple our military. We know, Lord, that many strong Christians become that way during their young adult years. Help this ministry to make a profound impact upon many whom, in turn, impact many others.

 

Father, I remember home healthcare nurses today. They make it possible for elderly folks to avoid nursing home life. There is no place like home, and home becomes more precious when we sense we are near to losing our independence. Help these professionals, give them wisdom, and may they feel appreciated.

 

Shine Your light upon me today and help me reflect it to others, I pray, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

January 30

by Ed Vasicek

 

Oh Father God,

 

Thank You that Your love is everlasting. You do not grow weary or tired, and I will experience Your loving presence and blessing throughout eternity. Your love has no quotas. It does not need to be conserved or rationed. Even though you already shower me with Your love, heaven will be so much greater!

 

Lord, thank You that Your Spirit dwells within my heart, my inner being. Thank You that he has written Your Law upon my heart. Thank You also that He wants to produce His fruit in my life: help me cultivate His fruit-producing ministry by walking closely with You, confessing known sin, and trusting in Your strength.

 

Dear God, I pray that You would give me tact in relating to others today. Help me to speak tactfully, to write tactfully, and to conduct myself with consideration to others.

 

Help my church’s leaders to be true to the Word of God, to walk closely with You, and to help nurture a godly harmony and unity: not the unity of surrendering truth, but the unity that comes from a common faith and trust in the main truths of Your Word.

 

Father, I have many requests to make, a few of which are: __________.

 

Today I remember the persecuted church. I think of countries like Sudan, China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and Viet Nam, to name some of the worst. Please, Lord, change laws and attitudes so that this persecution would stop. Help the believers to evade persecution, when possible. Help them to stand firmly when they cannot evade it. I pray that their persecutors would be won to the faith, and that one day, Christians everywhere would be free to share their faith and live the Christian life without fear.

 

I remember the ministry of Voice of the Martyrs, and I pray that You would provide for them in every way. Give them wisdom, direction, finances, and harmony so that they would effectively serve the persecuted church.

 

May your blessing be upon all Emergency Medical Technicians as they save lives and provide emergency treatment. Help them get to the medical scenes safely and quickly, may they act wisely, and prosper their work, I pray.

 

As I go on my way, help me to walk with You and depend upon You today, I pray, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

January 31

by Ed Vasicek

 

Dear God,

 

I know that You, Almighty God, are the Fountain of All Wisdom. You are wise in every meaning of the Word. No one is more in touch with reality than You are. You completely understand cause and effect, You know the consequences of choices Your creatures make, You understand discretion, prudence, reason, and are more rational than the sum total of all creation.

 

Lord, help me to draw from Your wisdom. Your Word tells me that You enjoy giving Your children wisdom; we need to ask for it, cultivate it, and value it. So often the people who value wisdom are wise, while those who do not seek wisdom are typically foolish. So help me seek wisdom as You direct in Your Word, particularly with the book of Proverbs.

 

Lord, thank You that prayer changes me. Thank You that prayer often changes events. Although You will not grant our prayers when outside Your will, there are many things You will only give us IF we pray. So often we have not because we ask not. So today, I am asking!

 

Today I ask for energy. Grant me energy to get through my day, to do a good job with my responsibilities, energy to enjoy life, to serve others, and to grow in You.

 

I pray for my lost friends and family members, including: __________. Father, please send Your Spirit to draw them to Yourself and grant them the repentance that leads to life.

 

Today I pray for the small nation of Belize, bordering Mexico and Guatemala. The evangelical church has grown in numbers significantly, perhaps to fifteen percent. Yet many of the Christians are not maturing in the Lord while some of the people groups have hardly been reached. Help the Christians to support local evangelical churches, provide for fulltime workers, and reach out to some of the native American groups in the area. May the church in Belize double in size and quadruple in commitment.

 

Lord, today I pray for CAM missions as they seek to evangelize and disciple people throughout Central America. We thank You for their significant work throughout Central America. We pray that You would provide workers, strategy, funding, and harmony for this mission and its personnel. We pray that Your Spirit would draw growing numbers to Yourself in these areas, and that the level of spiritual maturity among these new believers would be outstanding.

 

We pray today for our surgeons. Although surgery is a word we would rather not hear, we pray that You would bless the efforts of these professionals as they seek to save lives.

 

Now, Lord, please bless my day with joy and peace, in Jesus' Name, Amen.