Prayer Devotions

March 2021 Luke 18:1 Pray Always and Never Give Up

Prayer for Persecuted Church

Pray for those in the midst of persecution Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Hebrews 13:3

Global watchdog Open Doors reports that 322 Christians are killed every month for their faith while millions more suffer persecution on a routine basis.

Please pray that these believers will not only stay committed to the call of Christ but also will respond in love to the evil shown by their aggressors. ’s love will open doors for these believers to share the Gospel even more.

This Month’s , these are some of the most dangerous countries to follow Jesus:

Uzbekistan Laos Turkmenistan

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Daily for … "Passover has a message for the conscience and the heart of all mankind. For what does it commemorate? It commemorates the deliverance of a people from degrading slavery, from most foul and cruel tyranny. And so, it is Israel's - nay, God's protest against unrighteousness, whether individual or national.” — Rabbi Morris Joseph

Monday, March 1st: My daughter recently shared with me what a friend who is a member of their church worship team and an elementary school principle posted on Facebook: My neighbor is 90 years old and the best human. He is constantly finding ways to serve me which started years ago when I was out of the on mission trips. His yard is pristine and mine…not so much. He finds joy doing yard work which he says “keeps him busy”. His speech has declined significantly recently which hiders me from being able to understand him sadly. He still finds ways to communicate love. A few weeks ago, I noticed that the large branches that had broken off the mimosa tree in my backyard had disappeared. I knew that Mr. 90 year old ninja had snuck into my backyard and removed them. Yesterday, I noticed that the small trees that I’ve hated since I moved in had been chopped down and stacked neatly into a pile behind my fence. This man completely represents the hands and feet of Jesus. He loves “thy neighbor”. Thy millennial, African American neighbor. (You see, 90 year old Mr. Hall is white.) I can’t help but think what our world would look like if we truly loved our neighbors. What would our speech sound like if we learned people’s stories and let compassion shape conversations? Relationships and compassion can change the world. This is what being like Jesus looks like. May we all, like Mr. Hall, strive more and more to reflect how Jesus loved. Mark 10:42-25; Philippians 2:1-7; Hebrews 6:9-13; 1 Peter 4:8-10

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Tuesday, March 2nd: Have you ever known someone who was a professional critic? A true professional should have ethics and simply critique (give an assessment of) someone’s work or material. Ideally they would be looking for strengths with perhaps some observances to improve that which they are assessing. And then there are those whose sole mission it seems is to judge and find fault, often to bolster or protect their own sense of self-importance. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees in Luke 6. They were in the synagogue to hear Jesus speak, but it was not to glean anything from His teaching but rather to scrutinize His every word and action in order to find some way to accuse Him. Why? They were looking for a way to bring Him down. He was overshadowing them and their positions of importance, and frankly they were better critics than teachers. They had lots of knowledge but no love, and in the Amplified we are told that “knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom].” Jesus taught and led through His life and His love for the lost – they through their “learning”. They were very good at straining gnats and throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Later in the chapter Jesus warns to not judge or condemn that we might not be judged and condemned, but to instead pardon that we might be pardoned. It can be easy to find fault, but it is much better and productive to find what is good and can be useful, both in our own lives and that of others. Lord, help us to have ears that listen for that which will edify, not for the purpose of fault-finding and self promotion. May we be judicious in our assessments without being judgmental. Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1-4

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Wednesday, March 3rd: When we read about the men who lowered their friend through a roof in order for him to receive healing from Jesus, we marvel at their faith and determination. When Jesus honors their resolve by forgiving the man his sins, the Pharisees begin their diatribe about Him being guilty of blasphemy. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus proceeds to do what the friends had originally expected – He heals the man; he tells the man to rise, take up his stretcher and go home. So why did He not heal the man of his obvious infirmity first? Jesus was demonstrating to them that the physical need was the easy part; this caused them to glorify God and they were filled with awe, knowing that they had witnessed something remarkable. And Jesus Himself said that it was in order that they might know that He also had the power to forgive sins. This should also be a reason for us to want to walk in His power. Not that others would think we are anything special, but that they would know that if the God we serve is capable of miracles we can see, He is also capable of even greater things that are beyond our ken. His desire is to impart complete healing, but the greater is that of our souls. The miracles are a means of blessing and a means of grasping the attention of non-believers so that they are ready to listen to the deeper needs that He can satisfy. May we desire to walk in His power to the end that all will turn to Him and give Him glory. Luke 5:22-26; Mark 16:17-20; Romans 15:18-19

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Thursday, March 4th: I’ve been saddened by some of the vitriolic rhetoric I’ve heard and read coming from professed Christians attacking our new President and his wife. I remember a time when we respected the office even if we did not necessarily respect the beliefs of the person. In fact I was aghast when, in one of the pre-election debates, President Trump was told, “Just shut up, man!” Are we not called to a higher standard? First lady Jill Biden has been ridiculed for wanting to be recognized as Dr. Biden and chided that it sounds fraudulent and even comedic. I doubt that many of these critics have put in the rigorous work required to obtain such a degree; if they had they hopefully would at least show more respect if not compassion. It was Jesus who said to love our enemies, do good to those who may hate us and pray for them even when they mistreat us. If we truly believe and trust God, then we know that He has a plan, it is larger than we can conceive, and we haven’t been filled in with all the details on how and through whom He intends to accomplish it. It is He who removes kings and establishes kings. We are simply called to be His vessels, and when we are told to be a light on the hill I seriously doubt He meant the kind of light used in an interrogation room to intimidate and condemn a suspected criminal. God is the judge. Our assignment is to be so in tune with our King that we can fittingly represent Him through our words and actions in all situations. Allow Him to shape you into His image. Daniel 2:20-22; Luke 6:31-36; Titus 2:7-8; 1 Peter 2:12-17

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Friday, March 5th: In order to walk into what He has for us, we need to walk out of where we have been. The Lord delivered His children out of Egypt and everything they had known in order to lead them into the unknown of th