Praying for the family

Second day, i feel tired and have that thought, if only i could watch a movie... That aside today was a good day, but last night was wow, just after reading that He is the One who sees me, and getting so encouraged in knowing that God will be with me, i got good news as long time client emailed and requested for a meeting.. it seems i getting out of the woods and i am so grateful to the One who sees me. Today was a great day, full of hope because of Him, been my God, been there for me in love and compassion, i am so grateful to my God for helping me come this far.

Today is set to be a prayer day for the family.

Scripture readings : Genesis 18:16 - 19:38, Matthew 6:25 - 7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15


Genesis 18:16-19:38, This is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and their destruction. The major lesson in relation to the prayer items of the day is the power of intercession. Abram interceded for the righteous in the cities not to be destroyed with the wicked. Through His intercession, God had mercy on Lot and his family that they were saved from the destruction. We have a responsibility to intercede for our family through prayer and also through Godly living. If the cities had some righteous people (10), the cities would have been spared, if we live Godly lives, God will also deliver our families, our cities and our countries because He will remember us, hence spare them. V20 says "So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived (NIV)"


Matthew 6:25-7:14, The passage start by telling us that we should not be worried about anything, but we should commit all things to God. Despite what could be happening in your family, do not worry about it, but take this time to present it before God in prayer. It also encourages us to seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness and that all things will be added to us, as we pray for our families, we should especially pray that all the family members will be righteous and men and women after God's heart, for after we all attain this, the all other things we need, be it peace, love, wealth, health, children etc will be added to us. So the major prayer item we should always have for our family is that we should be right with God.

Lastly it encourages us to ask, seek, and knock, with the assurance that God will hear and answer us. It gives the example of parents who always grants the requests of their children, it assures us that despite all things, God will assuredly answer our plea. This will give us the assurance as we approach Him, in prayer.

Psalm 8:1-9, This passage recognizes the majesty of God and how He has blessed us, Indeed as we go to pray for our families, we should not forget to thank and praise God in recognition of this far He has brought us. Everyone of us have something to be grateful for, no matter how difficult life has been, God has been with us, that why we are not yet crushed, that why we can still read and write this. He's been good to us, and we need to recognize His power and majesty as we approach in prayer, let our hearts be full of praise and adoration. This will also help boost our faith, Knowing He is so capable and that He has been with us in the past.

Proverbs 2 : 6-15, The benefits of been good far out weights the benefits of been evil if any. God will uphold the upright, giving them victory. Lets our prayers be also prayers for God to give us wisdom and His knowledge for then we shall be guided into His ways. He shall be a shield to us if our walk is blameless, He will guard our course if we are just and will protect our way if we are faithful. Indeed we should pray for this wisdom, because after we have it ⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just  and fair—every good path. ¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,   and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,  and understanding will guard you (NIV From Bible Gateway).

One of the lesson i am getting from this is, i ought to pray so much for me and my family, to be right with God primarily and for all other needs secondarily, whatever i ask in His name, i am assured He will give, and that i should not worry or be anxious of anything, but bring all to Him.

The Prayer Items for the day: 

DAY 2 January 10, 2012
Genesis 18:16 - 19:38, Matthew 6:25 - 7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15
Family;
• Repent any sins on behalf of the family (2 Chron 7:14  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.)

• Pray for your extended family, and their needs (1 Tim 5:8  Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever)

• Pray for God to save those that are not born again (Mk 5:19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”)

• Pray for those who know the Lord to continue to experience Him (Acts 10:2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.)

• Destroy any kind of strongholds that would be present in your nuclear and extended family (Judges 6:25-26 That same night the LORD said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. ²⁶ Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.”)

• Pray for God to use you to reach out to the extended family

• Pray for God’s visitation

New Beginnings

Prayer and Fasting

Today marks an interesting season for me, it is the start of our church's annual beginning of the year prayer season. It involves prayer and fasting for 21 days, for the fast, you are free to choose various forms of fasts that you are comfortable with. I will provide a link later on to the church's website where you can get more info on this. For me i am not sure i can go through a full fast for 21 days, so i choose a fast i think i will be able to go through with (with God's help), i will not watch movies for this period and will spend the time i used to watch movies in reading the word and in prayer.

Scripture Readings
Today is day 1 and the scripture readings are: Genesis 16:1 - 15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5 

Genesis 16, is the story of Hagar and her son, Ishmael. It is preceded in chap 15, with God making a covenant with Abram that He will increase his descendants to be as numerous as the stars in the sky, in chap 16, Abram agrees to go by his wife's plan to have a child through her maid. This chapter is about what happened after the maid conceived. she was mistreated and later sent away, it is during this bleak moment of her life, that Hagar obtained the promise of God's prosperity and blessings.

I would identify with Hagar, for this year has begun quite in the wrong footing for me, and like her feel like giving up. It must have been difficult for her sitting beside that spring in the desert, not knowing what to do, or where to go. But God came through for her and all she could say is "You are God who sees me, i have seen the One who sees me" vs 13. As i begin this year, i am trusting to see Him who sees me, am trusting that in midst of all this desolation, He will affirm and encourage me in His word and promise.

Perhaps you too like me are wondering what will become of you, or your family this year, believe with me that the One who sees you our Almighty God, will come through for you and encourage, comfort, guide and bless your life.

Matthew 6:1-24, is part of the sermon on the mount. I think it generally addresses the aspect of attitude in our doing the religious duties like giving to the needy, prayer, fasting and what we treasure. As we begin this journey of seeking God and allowing Him to work in us. We are been cautioned of doing it inappropriately as so doing will rob us of God's blessing. My prayer at this point is that God will help us pray, and help us be of such attitude and motive that is pleasing to Him in all we do.

Psalm 7:1-17, what i can get from this is the confidence of psalmist, he is confident that he has lived a righteous life and is not afraid to approach God. As much as i may not have such confidence based on my record, i will entrust my life to Jesus Christ whose blood washes  sin and all sins giving us confidence in approaching the seat of mercy. My prayer is to commit the entire of me to Him in repentance that He may reign in me and guide me in all what i do.

Proverbs 2 1-5, this is a call to be deliberate in our search for God , the fear of God and knowledge of God. We are called to accept His words, storing up His commands, applying our ears to wisdom and applying our heart to understanding. May He indeed help us to be deliberate in seeking Him and living in the manner He directs.
Prayer Items
The prayer items of the day were posted as:
Personal
Today is the first day of something new. Regardless of where you are in your relationship with God, 21 days of prioritizing the Lord over essential needs in your life will draw you closer to him and transform whatever needs to change. Pray for the following;
• That God will help you to envision how you will resemble him more closely at the end of these 21 days.
• Repent of your sins and wherever you have not been walking in God’s will (Ps 51:7).
• Pray that the Lord will continue to transform you (Ps 51:10)
• Pray that God’s will be done in your life as it is in heaven (Matt 6:10)
• You will continue to grow in your spiritual life and disciplines that would help your growth, such as prayer and fasting, reading God’s word, fellowship and witnessing (Acts 2:42-47)
• Pray for your personal needs such as, financial, social etc. (Phil 4:6).


According to me, the verse of the day is:
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4: 1-7 NIV , Verses taken from Bible Gateway)