Copyright © 1998 by Robert Japenga
Introduction
This guide was generated out of a need I had to expand my intercessory prayer life. To begin with, let me say that I am not an individual who feels called to a life of intercessory prayer. I give thanks continually for those saints who are both called and gifted in this. There are some, in whom compassion through intercession flows as naturally as water in a river bed. I also am grateful for those groups which nurture and provide the forum for intercession. Although all are not gifted in this, I believe that every Christian is called to the priestly function of this kind of prayer. This guide is for the rest of us for whom intercession is a struggle yet desire to follow the scriptural model to intercede.
The frequent pattern for me was to be all hyped up on a Monday, praying for family, friends, co-workers, the neighborhood, local, state, federal and world leaders. Then on Tuesday I would find myself struggling to pray the same prayers I had just uttered the day before. By Wednesday, my motivation gone, the thought of interceding would not even cross my mind. I found that I needed help in expanding my understanding of intercessory prayer.
This booklet is patterned after a little booklet by Andrew Murray published in the 1890's. That booklet immensely helped me to capture a broader view of intercessory prayer. The intention of this and Murray's booklet is to enable you to see the vast amount of prayer work that is possible for the saint. I no longer find myself without things to pray about. Rather, I have found that I can do more than I can pray about.
The purpose of this booklet comes out of my understanding of how intercessory prayer is supposed to work as well as how God leads by His Spirit. First of all, it is my belief and experience that God can direct us supernaturally into specific areas independent of our knowledge or intellect. For example, if you have become lost in a woods at night with no map, no flashlight and no compass, I know that the Holy Spirit can lead you out. In spite of this fact, it is not my understanding that I should go hiking in strange woods at nights with no flashlight, compass or map. Nor should I abandon my existing maps every time I set off on a journey and ask the Spirit to do what He has given me the ability to do.
Regarding prayer, it is my understanding that God wants to use both our minds and divine revelation in prayer. At times, He breaks through with divine intervention that far exceeds my capacity to know. I have experienced the word of knowledge come during a prayer time and provide direction for the prayer. Whenever this happens I know that I can be assured of the results. However, there are other times that God wants to use our minds in our prayer lives. For example, while praying for individuals I know well, God will remind me of something they have said in the past or something I have seen them do. At these times, we are better equipped to pray about those things because we understand more fully. If God wanted us to depend solely on divine revelation for all prayer, we would never need to get involved with one another.
Based on this understanding, I believe that the more areas that I know about for which prayer is needed, the more effective my prayers can be. This booklet is intended to expand your awareness of areas for which you can intercede for one another.
Like Murray's booklet, the guide is intended to be used for two or three months or until your prayer thought patterns become a natural part of the way you think about praying for someone. After that point, this guide can be abandoned and you can let the Spirit direct your specific prayers as He wills.
Importance of Faith
Before we get into the guide itself, we must address the most important aspect of intercessory prayer. That is the issue of faith. I have found that my motivation for being an intercessor is directly proportional to my belief that time spent in intercession changes things. It is one thing to give this truth lip service and it is another to spend an hour a day doing the work of intercession while other physical work piles up.
One day, not too long ago, I had to face two facts. The first, was that I had a latent belief that work in the physical realm was both more effective and more important than prayer (I could see immediate results). Secondly and more insidious, was a core level of unbelief that prayer really changes things. This last fact was not without significant evidence to the contrary. It was just that a strong case can be made against intercessory prayer changing things. Why should God listen to me? What do I really know about these situations? God knows best, so why shouldn't I just let Him decide? I would never outwardly profess this, yet when I examined my motivations and my inner heart I found these lingering questions.
With all these arguments, I had the immense testimony in the Scriptures that God does listen to us. Time after time, God asks us to intercede in situations that He not only is in control of, but about which He certainly knows best. Although I accepted these Scriptures as truth, I found that I was still not motivated to pray.
My questions were finally resolved while reading a short essay by C.S. Lewis concerning this issue of prayer. He disarmed all of my reasoning by stating that it was not remarkable that God should allow us to affect things through prayer, but that He should allow us to affect things at all. All of my arguments against intercessory prayer could just as easily be made against doing anything!
This beam of light shattered my web of darkness that had subtly hindered me from applying myself to the work of prayer. For any of us to truly take on this task of intercession, we must believe that our efforts will bear fruit. The writer to the book of Hebrews says it quite succinctly:
He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
Structure
This booklet is set up as a daily prayer guide. One way to approach this is to take each entry one day at a time. Bring those individuals you normally pray for to the Lord as outlined. After you have prayed for these individuals, ask the Father to give you additional names that He would have you lift up. By the way, don't be surprised that, as you are praying, you may be praying for yourself as well. Although at first you may find the need to do more than one entry a day, I would discourage this at first. Unless you are one who spends a significant amount of time interceding for individuals each day, each entry should keep you plenty busy.
Each entry is based on one or more Scriptures that lay out a basic need for prayer for others. Turn the Scriptures into your prayers. Meditate on the implications of the Scriptures. The instructions are merely some background for your prayers. Specific questions are suggested for you to hear what God is doing in the situation. Spend time listening to the Father's heart. Henri Nouwen has called prayer "listening to the voice of Him who calls you the beloved". Add to the list of questions as God leads. If He gives you more questions, ask them back to Him with the assurance that He desires to answer them. If He shows you how to pray for someone, pray with the assurance that your are asking according to His will.
Day 1
Theme: Pray that others would have the power to grasp the depth of God's love.
Scripture: Ephesians 3:18 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Instructions: Bring before the Father all who are dear to you, all whom the Lord puts on your heart, that they may know in their heart (a knowing that surpasses knowledge) Jesus' love for them. Pray that they may see how they have been firmly rooted and established by His love. Pray that they would grasp the implications of the fact that God created them; knew them personally while they were in the womb; has called them to live with Him forever; will always be with them; personally watches over, nurtures and provides for them; has died in their place; etc. Be specific in your requests.
Sample Questions:
Father, for whom should I be praying this?
Father, where are they lacking in knowledge of your love?
Father, what specifically can I pray for so that this person would grasp the depth of your love?
Day 2
Theme: Pray that others would not do wrong
Scripture: II Cor 13:7 "Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right...Our prayer is for your perfection" Matt 6:13 "And lead us not into temptation..."; Matt 26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak".
Instructions: Beginning with your family, move outward in your spheres of relationships, praying that they would choose life and light and truth at every step. Jesus said that we were to be perfect even as the Father is perfect. Pray for the perfection that Jesus requires, to be manifested in all areas of the persons life. Job made an offering every day for his family just in case they may have sinned. We too should be offering up a wall of prayer protection for all we know. Pray that their weak flesh would be strengthened. Pray for a hedge of protection to be around them in areas where they are weak. Pray that their eyes would be open and that they would be alert to the areas where God has lifted the hedge in order to test and strengthen. Pray for a recognition of temptations the instant they penetrate their life.
Sample Questions:
Father, what temptations will they be facing today?
Spirit, where are you at work sanctifying them today?
Jesus, what are you interceding before the Father for, for this person?
Day 3
Theme: Pray for unity among Christians
Scripture: John 17:21-22 "... that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Instructions: Be aware of everything that divides Christians. Be aware that the enemy (as accuser of the brethren) is constantly looking for ways to divide us. Knowing that his arrest was imminent, Jesus set praying for unity among the brethren as one of his highest priorities. Pray for those around you who are not in any apparent disunity, that God would bring them into complete unity. Think of those you know who are divided against their fellow Christians. Maybe you have heard snide remarks made by one against another. Or perhaps you know of certain "I'll just never ..." type grudges. Entreat Jesus to work His work of reconciliation between brethren who are at odds. Picture the unity in the Trinity and ask the Holy Spirit to work His fellowship between them.
Sample Questions:
Father, show me those in your body who are divided. Show me how to pray for them.
Father, what areas of weakness is our enemy using to divide my family; my church; the church locally? Show me how to pray.
Day 4
Theme: Pray for the good health of others
Scripture: III John 1:2 "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well".
Instructions: It is God's will that we be healthy. As He promised the Israelites that He would protect them from all of the diseases of Canaan, so He promises us who are grafted into Israel. As Christ's death on the cross paid for our sins, so too, it is our source of physical healing. Yet there are many things that can prevent us from enjoying God's perfect health; our own sin and the resulting life style, sins of others, God's chastening, and even God's instruction. Just as it is God's will to provide for us and yet we are to ask for provision (Give us this day ..), God has directed us to pray for good health in His word. Pray for those you know to be grateful for the health they have and to enjoy it. Pray that they would make wise decisions that affect their health. Ask God to teach them His ways of health. Pray that God would sustain their health.
Sample Questions:
Father, what are the areas of this persons life that are keeping them from your perfect health and how should I be praying about them?
Father, show me what specific areas I need to be praying for concerning this persons health.
Day 5
Theme: Pray for the salvation of others
Scripture: Romans 10:1 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved."
Instructions: Some would question as to whether or not our prayers can truly lead to someone's salvation. Paul didn't question this. It begins with our heart's desire. It flows from the sure knowledge that just as we can lead someone to the Lord through our witness, our prayers can change the eternal destiny of an individual. Our church culture doesn't preach the consequences of hell because it is not a pretty sight. Yet the fire of past revivals was fueled by the fervent prayers of those whose heart's desire poured itself into prayer for another's salvation. Praying for the salvation of loved ones can be one of the hardest types of intercessory prayer. I previously thought prayer consisted of simply bringing the person before the Lord and saying "Save them Jesus. Draw them to yourself." I have since come to understand that praying for someone else's salvation can be an excellent opportunity to learn to listen. One man of God taught me something we all know. Salvation comes one step at a time. We need to pray for each step. Ask God to show you the next step for those you are praying for. Then fervently seek God about how that next step can be achieved. Then ask Him to do it.
Sample Questions:
Father, what is keeping this person from you?
Father, what is the next step that this person needs to take?
Father, show me how to pray for them.
Day 6
Theme: Pray the Peace of Jerusalem
Scripture: Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem... May Peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces." Isaiah 62:6 "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth."
Instructions: The watchmen were the intercessors for Israel. What a call this is from God to give Him no rest until Jerusalem is established and is the praise of the earth. Thanks to the faithful prayers of many for almost 1900 years, part one is fulfilled. Now we are called to make her the praise of the earth. How? Through military might? No, by keeping our line busy with God. God has Israel as the key and pivot point in His divine plan. Do you know what that role is? Pray that God would make us uneasy until we can glimpse the call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Sample Questions:
Father, I don't have a burden for the peace of Jerusalem. Are you calling me to be a watchmen? (or watchwomen)
Father, what areas do we need to be lifting up? What are the next steps that you desire to accomplish?
Jesus, you are going to return on the Mount of Olives. Show me how to pray for the preparation of Israel for the coming of the Prince of Peace.
Holy Spirit, what son or daughter of Israel are you calling to introduce to the Prince of Peace?
Day 7
Theme: Pray for protection for others
Scripture: John 17:11 "Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one." John 17:15 "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one."
Instructions: Our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Should that cause us to fear? No, but it should send us to our knees. The enemy has the power to maim and kill. But he can do nothing unless God allows it. Jesus set this prayer, like His for our unity, at the very heart of His high priestly prayer. Our protection against the enemy is not automatic nor is it strictly dependent upon our actions. We can avoid much of the enemies fire power by staying out of range of his guns. But if that was all it took, Jesus would not have invoked the most powerful weapon in the universe (the power of His name) for our protection. Recognize that when we invoke the power of His name for the protection of others, world history is being changed. Ask the Father to protect those you intercede for from the evil one.
Sample Questions:
Father, where are the enemy's strongholds in this person's life? What can I do to pull them down?
Father, where are this person's blind spots? How does the enemy catch this person off guard? How can I pray so that this won't happen?
Day 8
Theme: Pray for others to grow in their knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
Scripture: Ephesians 1:16-17 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Instructions: Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, issues the plea of his heart when he cries "That I might know him and the power of his resurrection." If he said this in most evangelical churches, we would go up to him and ask him to repeat the sinners prayer. Paul was cognizant of the fact that we know only in part and that to know Jesus better is the highest goal we can set in our life. Growth is a sign of life (II Peter 1:8) and sadly, many have stopped growing. Ask the Father to give others Paul's heart cry. Paul asks the Father to grant others both wisdom and revelation to know him better. Simply put, wisdom is applying what we know. Revelation is God revealing what we can't know. God the Father is in charge of both. Pray that God would grant both wisdom and revelation to those for whom you pray. Pray that you would have the perseverance to sustain your prayers and that you would keep asking.
Sample Questions:
Father, where does this person need to grow in their knowledge of You?
Where does this person need Your wisdom; Your revelation?
Day 9
Theme: Pray for others to know the hope of what awaits them
Scripture: Ephesians 1:18 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you..."
Instructions: We are living in an age where there is no hope. We don't even understand the word. Some think the light at the end of the tunnel is an on-coming train. Some think it has been turned out because of an energy shortage. As Christians, we have a sure hope that is for our good and not for our destruction. We have a hope that will never be extinguished. It can not be seen through our natural eyes however. Hope is seldom preached about in this age of instant gratification. We need to pray that the eyes of our heart would be enlightened, unburdened with the cares of this world to know God's hope. Pray to that end for all you know.
Sample Questions:
Father, what does hope mean?
Lord, what areas bring despair for this person and not hope?
Father, what things in this person's past prevent them from seeing your promised hope and how can I pray?
Day 10
Theme: Pray for others to see the beauty and the riches in other people.
Scripture: Ephesians 1:19-20 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints..."
Instructions: There is a tendency among some of us to want to hear bad things about other people. We hear something that someone did that was bad and we want to tell others. We are so quick to point out the log in the eyes of others forgetting that criticism of others needs to be handled like taking a splinter out of an eye - very delicately. Paul was praying for the church in Ephesus that they would have their eyes opened to see the glorious beauty God has placed in His children. Pray for those you know to see the beauty in others; to see what God has invested in them; to see people as God sees them; to see what He has for them. Jesus, grant us your eyes to see one another.
Sample Questions:
Father, what areas do I need to see the riches in the saints?
Father, where does this person need to see this?
Day 11
Theme: Pray for others to know the availability of God's power
Scripture: Ephesians 1:19-20 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..."
Instructions: It is so easy for us to get dragged down by the frailty of our mind, will and emotions. What Paul describes as our momentary light afflictions get blown way out of proportion when compared to God's power that is available for us who believe. That is why Paul recognized that we need the spiritually alert eyes of our heart to know His great power for us. Most of us don't need any spiritual insight to recognize God's awesome power in creation. We definitely need enlightenment to know His power for us in the midst of our failures, our frustrations, our circumstances and our culture. God has the power and it is available for us who believe. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us! Pray for those you know to have their heart's softened to see God's great power for them in the here and now.
Sample Questions:
Father, where does this person need your resurrection power?
Father, where is this person's heart hardened, preventing them from receiving the truth and power of Your word?
Day 12
Theme: Pray for God to equip and send out more workers into the harvest.
Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into his harvest field."
Instructions: If ever Jesus addressed the role of man versus the sovereignty of God in the issue of evangelism, it is in this passage. Who is responsible for calling men and women into the ministry? Jesus implies in this remarkable passage, that your prayers, have a direct impact on how many workers get sent out!
Where is this harvest field? Jesus tells the disciples to look around them to see the harvest. We don't have to go anywhere to be in the harvest field. It's right in our family, our neighborhood, our jobs, our community, and even our church. Although we don't have to go anywhere to be in the harvest field, perhaps the Lord of the harvest has another place to use us. The problem with most of us is twofold. First of all, we don't see the plentiful harvest ("Lord, they're not interested in Church"). Secondly, we're too busy to do the work. Pray for God to open our eyes to see the plentiful harvest all around us. Pray for God to call us out of the safety and warmth of our current situations and into the field. Pray that God would give us the willingness to say, "Here I am Lord, Send me."
Sample Questions:
Father, where are you calling this person into the harvest field?
Lord, what is holding this person back and how can I pray?
Day 13
Theme: Pray for others to be fearless in spreading the gospel
Scripture: Ephesians 6:19-20 "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador of chains."
Instructions: Most of us understand why Paul is asking for prayer to be able to fearlessly make known the gospel. We have felt the tension mount, our throat tighten and our mind go blank as a friend or family member made some negative comment about church or Christians or religion. However, most of us don't have the chains to justify such fears and are worried that we might actually be ashamed of the gospel. We need to pray for one another, that we would know the mystery of the gospel. Pray that, whenever we open our mouth, God would empower us, give us the words and take away our fears so that we could make known the gospel. Open our hearts Lord to share you whenever we open our mouths.
Sample Questions:
Father, what are the things that cause this person to fear sharing the gospel?
Father, what areas of the mystery of the gospel are still a mystery for this person?
Day 14
Theme: Pray that others would know God's will
Scripture: Colossians 1:9-11 "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Phil 1:9 "And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best ..."
Instructions: In this day of fast food and lightning fast communications, many of us feel that when we seek God's will on a situation, that He will serve us as quickly as McDonald's and with the clarity of our cable TV and fiber optic phone links. In God's economy, He has placed a lot of value on our spending time seeking Him and applying our minds to understand Him. Determining His will is rarely communicated to us in "Dorothy Go Home" skywriting terms. Paul emphasizes this fact in these two prayers. God desires for us to be filled with the knowledge of His will. That says that there is a lot to be communicated about God's will. Paul says that it comes through spiritual wisdom, understanding, knowledge and depth of insight. This places a heavy responsibility on us for using our minds in knowing God's will. But Paul also says that it is dependent upon God's revelation of His will. That's why Paul is praying for this. We too need to be praying that God would grant to others, spiritual wisdom and understanding, love germinated knowledge and deep insight into God's ways and means.
Sample Questions:
Father, concerning what issues in this person's life do you want me to pray?
Father, what do you long to show them about your will?
Day 15
Theme: Pray for the daily provision of food
Scripture: Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread."
Instructions: Again and again, Jesus addresses the age old argument against intercessory prayer. [If God is all good and desires to give good things to His children, why should we bother asking Him for something He already desires to give]. Of course we know that it is not God's will that we starve to death. Yet here again, Jesus teaches us that our daily provision is dependent upon our asking. Not only for ourselves but for others. The "Lord's Prayer" is not intended to be a prayer recited in unison in the congregation. Jesus prefaced this teaching on prayer by telling His disciples to pray in secret/in their prayer closet. He then teaches them a prototype of all prayer. The key pronouns are not me and mine but us and our. We have much to learn about our union and interconnection with each other. Pray for the daily needs of those you know. Not for just those in want but for those in plenty. Jesus did not ask us to pray for a month's supply. How often we desire not just today's bread but tomorrow's. Pray that God's kingdom would be primary and trust that all else will be "given unto them". Alleluia!
Sample Questions:
Lord, show me those in need of your daily bread.
Lord, show me those in need of your daily bread this day.
Day 16
Theme: Pray that the sins of others would be forgiven.
Scripture: Matthew 6:12 "Forgive us our sins as we forgive our debtors". I John 5:16 "If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that."
Instructions: Can I really grant to another, life giving forgiveness by my prayers? It seems as if Jesus and John thought so. How often we see another's sin and judge. How often we see another's sin and are indignant. But how often do we see another's sin and pray? John does not encourages us to dig up the sins of others. If you have seen the sin of another, pray and ask God to forgive their sin. Believe that He will grant His life giving forgiveness. Believe that your prayers will free this person from the bondage of sins.
Sample Questions:
Lord, in what areas am I judging others? Turn my criticism and judgement into prayers for their forgiveness.
Lord, bring to my memory, sins I have observed in others in the past, and have not brought to your cross.
Day 17
Theme: Pray for God to open doors for others to clearly spread the gospel
Scripture: Colossians 4:3-4 "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should."
Instructions: Have you ever tried to walk through a closed door? Our grandson has tried it a few times from our family room to our deck. It usually happens when he is in a hurry or not paying attention. It hurts and it doesn't get him where he wants to go. When we hurry to share the gospel before God open doors, it hurts us and others. We need both boldness and sensitivity in proclaiming the mystery of Christ. Sensitivity to recognize an open door when we see it and boldness to not hold back. Pray that God would open doors for others to proclaim the gospel. Pray that, when opened, they would pass through. Pray that they proclaim it clearly.
Sample Questions:
Father, what doors do you desire to open for this one today?
Jesus, in what ways, is your mystery not clear to this person? How can I pray that it will become clear?
Day 18
Theme: Pray for all those in authority
Scripture: I Timothy 2:1-2 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
Instructions: In the early 1970's, a group formed called Intercessor's for America. Their one goal was to begin praying for those in Washington. Although there is still much wrong in Washington, I am amazed at the number of strong and active Christians in Washington. I can't say the same about our local and state officials. Paul urged us to pray for all those in authority. Pray for your local officials, your state representatives, state senators, your governor as well as your Congressmen. Pray for the members of the Supreme Court. Pray for the many in authority in the Executive Branch. This can be overwhelming. Let God direct your prayers.
Sample Questions:
Lord, for whom should I be praying today?
Father, what are you doing in our school board; our town council; our state government? What do you want me to be praying?
Day 19
Theme: Pray for God to open the eyes of others to see the tremendous support we have all around us through the ministering angels.
Scripture: II Kings 6:15-17 "'Oh my Lord, what shall we do?' the servant asked. 'Don't be afraid', the prophet answered. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' And Elisha prayed, 'O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
Instructions: Will there ever be a time when we will have God's perspective as Elisha did? So often, we look around at the condition of the world, the condition of the church, and the condition of our own lives and we forget that there are more who are with us than those who are against us. Only a third of the angels fell from heaven and became agents of Satan. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Pray to our Lord, that he may open our eyes so that we would see. Pray that we would have His perspective. Pray that we would move as those on the offensive, reclaiming and plundering the enemies strongholds.
Sample Questions:
Lord, in what areas is this person afraid?
How can I pray Lord?
Day 20
Theme: Pray for the faith of others that it would not fail under the attacks of the evil one.
Scripture: Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Instructions: Satan can do nothing to us without God's permission. Remember Satan's attack on Job? Not one thing was allowed without God's divine permission. Satan had requested to put Simon through the mill. And Jesus said Yes! But then, the strong word of encouragement comes that He was going to pray for him. We too will become targets of the enemy as we grow in the Lord. We too will be objects of Satan's special requests before the throne of God. We are called to walk in Jesus' steps and pray that the faith of those who are targets would not fail. You know of individuals who are in this position. Wheat, as it is being sifted, is tossed to and fro. It is totally shaken. It never is allowed to be at rest. We may not know the purpose behind God's allowance of such sifting, but we can rest in the assurance that there is purpose.
Sample Questions:
Father, who are you allowing to be sifted like wheat by the enemy?
Father, where is their faith faltering and how can I pray?
Day 21
Theme: Pray that God would use us to show forth the many facets of His wisdom to the principalities and powers.
Scripture: Ephesians 3:10-12 [God's] "intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence."
Instructions: Richard Foster has described prayer as a not a task to master but a task by which we are mastered. Our goal in prayer is to hear the heart of God and respond to it. God's word does not provide a lot of insight into the motives and intentions of God. Much is left to our speculation. In this passage Paul is giving us a glimpse into God's design, His plan, and His purposes. In God's plan, He desires to use us to demonstrate to the principalities and powers, the breadth of His wisdom. How is that accomplished? By the freedom and confidence with which we approach the Almighty. And how do we do that? By being positionally in Jesus and by operating in total trust in, and obedience to Jesus. Pray that others make known God's multi-dimension wisdom to those in the heavenlies. Pray that others would approach the throne of God with freedom and confidence.
Sample Questions:
Lord, show me the areas where I need to be praying for this person's confidence before you.
Lord, show me how to pray so that this person will enjoying the freedom of free access to you.
Day 22
Theme: Pray that our prayer lives would be consistent, deepened, and enriched.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Luke 18:1 "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
Instructions: How easy it is for us to flag in our praying for one another. Be encouraged! Paul recognized the problem or he would not have so encouraged the saints in Ephesus. And Jesus is very aware of our weakness. He recognizes our propensity to give up. Paul's remedy for this is to pray with all kinds of prayers offered up on many varied occasions. Prayer need not be boring or repetitious. What new kinds of prayers is the Lord teaching you? In what new circumstances is He teaching you to pray? Jesus' remedy for our feebleness in prayer is more fundamental. He points out in this parable that it is raw faith the fires the engine of prayer. There is a divine connection between persevering prayer and faith. Pray for others to grow in their knowledge of the kinds of prayers to be offered up. Pray for others to see new occasions for prayer. Pray for others to grow in their faith so that the Son of Man will find persevering faith when He returns.
Sample Questions:
Lord, how can I pray so that this person does not flag in their praying for the saints?
Lord, what new areas of prayer do you desire to be realized in this person?
Day 23
Theme: Pray for those that persecute you.
Scripture: Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Instructions: Paul states in Romans 12:14 that we are to "bless those that persecute you" and II Timothy 3:12 "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." The Greek verb for persecute () means to put to flight and drive away. First of all we need to observe the truth of God's word that we will be persecuted if we live a godly life. For a variety of reasons, in our culture, this does not happen to most of us very often. But there will be times in our walk that we will be put off/driven away/rejected because of our faith. Though not our classical understanding of persecution, the pain of rejection is very real. When we feel the rejection of others for any reason, we need to begin by praying for them; we need to bless them by asking God to bless them.
Sample Questions:
Lord, show me who has rejected me.
Father, how can I bless them?
Day 24
Theme: Pray for the little children in your life.
Scripture: Matthew 19:13-14 "Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"
Instructions: Apart from our immediate family, we rarely pray for the little ones. They have no immediate needs that we are aware of (unless they are sick) and generally are not living in hostile environments. But these are just the kind of children that were brought to Jesus. He took the time to pray for them and bless them. Are we willing to take the time to pray for the little ones we know? Pray that God would raise these little shoots into righteous oaks. Pray that God would begin even now to reveal Himself to them. Pray for God to bless them.
Sample Questions:
Lord, what little ones am I overlooking?
Lord, how can I pray for this little one?
Day 25
Theme: Pray for those whose lives are so entangled and entrapped by the enemy, that Satan's grip on them can only be loosed by long term prayer and faith.
Scripture: Mark 9:28-29 "After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why couldn't we drive it [the demon] out?' He replied, 'This kind can come out only by prayer [and fasting].'"
Instructions: How often we are like the disciples in our prayer life. We have tasted the gifts of easily answered prayer and are dumbfounded, dismayed and discouraged when it doesn't work the same all the time. "Why Lord?" Jesus rebuked more than the demons that day. He rebuked the disciples for being complacent accomplices of an "unbelieving and perverse" generation that He found difficult to put up with. When asked why they were unable to cast out the demon, Jesus did not say that it was their lack of faith. He said it was their lack of prayer. Yet their lack of prayer was evidence of an unbelieving heart. Persevering prayer in the midst of circumstances that do not change is a sign of faith. Pray for those we have long since dropped from our list. "Lord, nothing has happened." Pray and don't faint.
Sample Questions:
Lord, show me those I have given up on whom you haven't given up on.
Lord, what long term prayer are you calling me to for this person?
Day 26
Theme: Pray for those with whom God has made you partners in the Gospel. Pray for God to show you with whom you should be ministering.
Scripture: Luke 6:12-13 "One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles."
Instructions: God has called each of us to be ministers of the Gospel. The ministry of the Gospel is serious business worthy of serious prayer before we embark. We are not called to be "lone rangers" in this work. We are called to minister with others. What is your ministry? With whom are you ministering? Pray for those with whom you minister. Pray that God would protect the unity that exists. Pray that God would grant you mutual joy as you walk together. Are you currently alone in what you do? Pray for God to bring to you additional co-laborers. "It is not good for man to be alone" were some of the first words that God spoke to man. Are you willing to spend a night in prayer for God to show you your fellow ministers? Do we take ministry seriously enough to make that kind of investment?
Sample Questions:
Lord, show me the areas where you want me to be ministering.
Lord, show me with whom I am to minister.
Day 27
Theme: Pray that we would be able to escape the coming calamity and be worthy of standing before Jesus at the end of the age.
Scripture: Luke 21:36 "Be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Instructions: No man knows the time of Christ's return and the apocalyptic events that will surround it. Certainly there is much evidence today of His imminent return (return of the Jews to the promised land; the expected rebuilding of the temple; the incredible leaps in communication; the technology for restricting commerce without proper identification; increased tension in the Middle East). What we do know from God's word, is that we are to pray for one another that we can escape what is coming; that we can stand before the King of Kings clean of our failures and sins. We don't know what is coming or when. We only know that Jesus has called us to pray. Pray now for those you know for steadfastness in what is coming. Keep alert and attentive.
Sample Questions:
Lord, show us where we are not on the watch.
Lord, how am I to pray?
Day 28
Theme: Pray that God's absolute truth would permeate us through and through.
Scripture: John 17:17 "[Father] sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
Instructions: Our culture has lost all sense of absolute truth. As Christians, we are not impervious to this. It is so easy to slip into little half truths that work to our advantage. "What they don't know won't hurt them." "There is no way they will ever know." Phrases we use that are sure signs of the absence of absolute truth. Jesus connects truth with sanctification and holiness. If we lived our lives in God's truth, we would be holy. Are we willing to subject our entire life to absolute truth? Jesus said that Satan, the father of lies, had nothing in Him. I believe that this meant there were no lies in Him. What are the lies we have told or are currently living? Pray Jesus' prayer for those you know. Pierce the darkness, Lord, of those we know with the cleansing light of your truth. Bring the whole truth of Your word into our lives. Break our intimate connections with the father of all lies. Make Your word alive in us. Give us a burning love for the truth. These are prayers for us all.
Sample Questions:
Lord, show me the areas where you desire to bring your truth in this person.
Day 29
Theme: Pray that we would see the glory of Jesus.
Scripture: John 17:24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory"
Instructions: When Moses dedicated the first tabernacle (Exodus 40:34), a cloud covered the tent and the glory of the Lord filled it. The glory was so powerful that Moses could not even enter the tabernacle. When Solomon dedicated the temple (I Kings 8:10-11), again a cloud filled it and the priests could not stand to minister ("for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord"). When Jesus came to earth, John records (John 1:14) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt ( - to pitch a tent/to tabernacle) among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father." If the glory of the Old Testament tabernacle was powerful enough to effect those near it, how much more the glory in Jesus. We need to pray as Jesus prayed, that we would behold Jesus' glory. And pray that as God's present day tabernacles, we too would be filled with His glory. In the same way that we awake on a beautiful day and remark, "What a glorious day", we need to live our lives continually expressing "What a glorious Lord!".
Sample Questions:
Lord, what does it mean to see your glory?
Lord, what does it mean to be where you are?
Day 30
Theme: Pray that we would speak God's word with boldness.
Scripture: Acts 4:29 "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with boldness."
Instructions: Do you ever tell God something He already knows? "Ah, Lord, ah, remembering their threats and knowing our fear, help us!" Boldness is different from brashness. In the Greek, the word implies more of the sense "without fear." Fear in the midst of possible rejection. Fear in the midst of vague yet powerful threats. Fear of turning a person off to the good news. Lord, enable your servants. Teach us boldness without brashness. Teach us the meaning of servanthood. Pray for those you know to proclaim the Word of God, living and active without fear.
Sample Questions:
What are the things Father, that makes this person fearful about speaking Your Word?
What things make me fearful? What things make others fearful. (Then intercede to the Father to cast out that fear).
Prologue
It is my desire to see this guide used by the Holy Spirit in your life. Keep in mind the words of Richard Foster that we will never be masters of a task whose end goal is that we be Mastered. May the Master "Teach us to pray". I trust that it has been helpful.
Your comments and suggestions would be most welcome.
Bob Japenga
10 Elaine Drive
Simsbury CT 06070
February 5, 1998
rjapenga@microtoolsinc.com