Father God, the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, stands out among all the rest, for it is only in His name that we have power to combat the enemy as we come boldly to Your throne of grace. May our name, and all that we stand for, be respected among those who know us and those whom we work for. May the way we live and conduct our lives bring blessing to our family, our community and to the kingdom of God. Amen.

Father, we are deeply moved within our spirit, as we consider the day of Pentecost when You presented Your gift from heaven, the blessed Holy Spirit, to the 120 in the upper room which marked the beginning of the early church. But even more personally You make the Holy Spirit available to all, in every generation, who come to You in faith, who surrender their hearts to You and forsake the ways of the world. The tongues of fire came upon those who gathered in the upper roon filling them with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in tongues as Your Holy Spirit enabled them. May we also be yielded, open, and ready to receive the fullness of Your Holy Spirit so that we walk in the power of Your Spirit, boldly proclaiming the salvation message, “Jesus saves.” Wherever You send us to share this message we’re confident that You will prepare the way just as you did to the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading from Isaiah but needed a believer to explain more fully. You sent Philip at just the right moment and the eunuch was gloriously saved. We too can go forth in the same power with the same kind of opportunities as we prayerfully look for opportunities and obey the leading of Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.

Ancient of Days, You have given us Your Holy Word as a spiritually historical foundation to build our lives upon. Through the centuries Your greatness is demonstrated through ordinary people just like us and through Your awesome acts that reveal Your incomparable power and divine attributes. History in the past and history in the making is subordinate to Your sovereign work in the lives of Your people. We choose to remember our leaders, who spoke the Word of God to us and consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith as we lovingly submit ourselves into Your merciful hands. Amen.

Father God, You physically reign in a place invisible to my eyes while Your Spirit with its invisible qualities is at work deep within my heart. Though I cannot see You I recognize Your masterful handiwork. Though I cannot touch You I feel Your divine presence. Only a God like You is great enough to mastermind the universe, yet small enough to live within my heart. Father, You have made Your wonders to be remembered and appreciated. You are gracious and compassionate; Your presence is seen and felt everywhere. I acknowledge You as the Creator of the universe and the Light of my life, for You are my Lord and Master from eternity past to all eternity future. Amen.

Jesus, I want to thank You for Your goodness in supplying for all my needs. Certainly You’ve blessed me with physical blessings such as food, clothing, shelter. You also shower me with spiritual blessings as You place godly men and women in my path who revere Your holy name and honor You with their lives. They live above reproach and serve as examples of those who have overcome the world! Jesus, just as You brought these dear brothers and sisters into my life for a season, I pray that I, too, will make a positive difference for those who are presently watching my life. I want my testimony to be an example of Your life-changing, all-sufficient, and all-sustaining grace. Amen.

Father, we’re so thankful that there is nothing in our past or future that can separate us from Your love or daily provision for our lives. You provide the necessary tools to overcome the difficulties we encounter from earliest childhood to present day. Though the enemy seeks to disrupt our lives, pollute our minds and sear our conscience we will not be defeated by evil. Instead we overcome evil with the steadfast goodness You instill in our hearts as we hold dearly to the light of Your Word. We say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passion as we eagerly wait for our great hope in the second coming of Your Son, Jesus, who will unite us with You, our Father, in heaven. Keep us faithful and ever hopeful. Amen.

Father, may we be people who are quick to notice the ways in which we can be of special blessing to others. It seems quite easy when it comes to those whom we befriend. We often recognize their need before they express it and find genuine fulfillment in being Your hand extended to them. But You challenge us to go even further in making ourselves available to our enemies with whom it is not natural to provide for their needs. In expressing agapé to those around us we love in spite of what we see or have experienced. May all that we do on behalf of others be an expression of Your heavenly touch extended through Christian human service. It is in Your strength and compassion that we can do that which is unnatural to our human flesh, but natural to our redeemed spirit. Amen.

Father, thank You for Jesus, the Bright Morning Star. We also thank You for John the Baptist who had a vital role as prophet of the Highest when he gave knowledge of salvation to unbelievers leading them to repentance of their sins. We thank You that he came to give light to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace. We consider the ultimate price that he paid in laying down his life because he was a prophet who spoke the truth even when it cost him everything. He didn’t preach “peace and comfort” to those practicing sin, but instead he told them how to be saved. Help us to follow his example and lead unbelievers to the Bright Morning Star who will guide us through this dark, sin troubled world to the eternal abode where there will be no more night, for Your glory will give us light and the Lamb will be as a lamp for all to see. Keep us faithful until that eventful day we pray. Amen.

Father, we glean so much from the characters of the Bible; both bad and good examples of those who thought themselves to be above Your commands and those who heeded Your warnings. Achan in Joshua 7 had a heart of greed, a lying spirit, and prized himself above innocent lives who perished as a result of his sinful actions. Your judgment eventually came upon him and he paid with his life and that of his entire family. But we also see Noah who labored for years building an unprecedented mammoth boat for the torrential flood waters You warned him about. He heeded Your warning and thereby saved his family’s lives and the pairing of many animals that would reproduce on the earth following the flood. Help us to realize that we are wise to follow Your warnings given in the commands of Scripture. To feel that we are the exception is a lie from the pit of hell that will immediately or eventually lead to our demise. You warn because You love us and want the very best for us. Remind us often; through Scripture, through fellow believers, through negative and positive examples we see all about us, and through the inner working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Father, in this age of competition and egocentricity help us to resist the mindset of the world. We’re tempted to focus on big numbers, large budgets, expensive buildings, newest resources, impressive staff and other worldly comparisons of those who share in this calling to minister to our lost and dying world. When our focus is narrowed to imitating or competing with other ministry groups we lose sight of the One to whom we are honoring and our priorities become misaligned. We want to thank You for the scores of people and ministries that are making a tremendous spiritual impact for Your Kingdom, many of them unheralded and unseen. As Your followers, move us beyond pettiness, jealousy, and possessiveness to appreciate and affirm those who might have a different way of presenting the Gospel as long as it is in accordance with the Scripture. Help us to support and pray for one another as we carry forth the light of God’s Word. You have called each one of us to lift up Your name and You will draw people to Yourself. As we seek You above all else You will be our daily guide and out of our hearts will flow abundant springs of living water that will not run dry even in a drought stricken land. Amen.