On the Go - July 5, 2008

Suffering is the usually result of someone else exercising liberty without compassion.

Live it
If you live in America and drive a car, then you've seen them. They hold cardboard signs and stand at an intersection begging for a handout. They're called panhandlers and stand outside your car window hoping you'll feel guilty and give them money. There's little doubt whatever suffering they endure is mostly self-inflicted. But there are people around the world who tonight will go to sleep hungry and just as many will have no roof over their head when it's time to retire. No doubt poverty makes many suffer, but some do so for having conviction that those in power find offensive. You may not realize this but most first-century Christians lived beneath the streets of Rome in catacombs in order to avoid persecution and outright martyrdom at the hands of religious zealots. During this season of celebrating freedom and independence, why not take a moment and pray for those who don't have freedom from oppression we Americans take for granted.

Pray it

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Eph 6:18

Resources
There is no greater testimony to be said of someone than God knows him. (2000)
We know that prayer defined David's life because we learn it in Psalms, his personal prayer journal. (2001)
Are we praying with anticipation and expectation of His coming? (2003)
Forget persecuted for serving Jesus, are we even inconvenienced? (2004)
A person whom God has forgiven will pray. It's as simple as that! (2005)
What God gives to the obedient are withheld from those who are not. (2006)
Devotional (2007)
How good is your protection plan? (2008)

How to Pray for...
My husband or wife.
Help me keep be faithful to the covenant I made with my eyes.

My children.
Grant my children a healthy appetite for your Word.

Their school.
Don't allow self-centered religious leaders into schools to teach hypocrisy.

Their teachers.
Bless those who instruct with godly principles rather than secular humanistic values.

My children's friends.
Lead them in the path of righteousness, helping them stand when their friends won't do so.

My friends.
Give me an opportunity to make a new friend today and lead me.

My work.
Keep my employer from making mistakes that would jeopardize the employees.

My city.
Help our leaders take care of business without compromising godly principles.

Governmental leaders.
Reveal the hidden dangers in all revenue generation based on immoral activity.

My country.
Restore a spirit of humility that comes by realizing we moved away from you, not the other way around.

My President.
Give him godly conviction and holy desire.

My church.
Give our church a real desire for revival.

My pastor.
Bless my pastor and his family as he watches the flock.

My church leadership.
Grant creative juice to those who assist the pastor in serving the flock.

Sister churches.
Bless those pastors who are building up the church.

Persecuted churches.
Protect the persecuted church from destroyers.

Missionaries.
Meet the need of the missionaries abundantly and to overflowing.

The sick..
Relieve the pain and suffering of those who are ill today.

The lost.
Reveal your gospel through creative means to those who act like they don't want to hear it.

Those in despair.
Refresh us with new insight from your Holy Word.

Those in the hospital.
Keep them from discouragement and restore them to health as soon as possible.

Those grieving.
Restore those who grieve in a spirit of hope for the future based on Your Word.

Widows.
Comfort them if their heart is still tender having lost a mate.

Orphans.
Help me love an orphan today in Your Name.

Myself.
Make the desires of my heart the absolute same as Yours, Father.

Prayertower Devotionals are the original creation of James R. Green: Just Thinkin'... (2000-2003), Read the Bible Thru in 365 Days (2004), Pray Thru the Word in 365 Days (2005).and One-minute Devotionals (2006 to present).
Scripture provided by God's Word Translation (c)1995 - God's Word to the Nations. All Rights Reserved.