40-Day Fast and Prayer 1 Pray 4 Malaysia “We totally believe that prayer helps to unite churches, denominations, genders and believers of all ages. When we pray without giving up, changes will happen in the society, the economy, politics, education, entertainment and others.” 2 40-Day Fast and Prayer We encourage you to 1. Read the whole chapter of 2 Corinthians 5 as a start. 2. Meditate on and memorize the assigned verses of each week. 3. Consider how you can be “an ambassador for God”. 4. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you as you fast (with your parents’ guidance) and intercede for Malaysia each day. (Prayer points serve as guide only). 5. Write down your impression, revelation, audible voice of God, or vision, etc. in your diary. 6. Send us a copy of your reflection after the 40-day Fast & Pray, or email us directly at [email protected] CHARITY Give the money saved from fasting. (Charity box provided) PRAYING ROUND THE CLOCK Log on to www.necf.org.my NOTE: For information on individual states and federal territories, please log on to www.necf.org.my For Your Intercession. Scriptures for Meditation throughout the 40 days 2 Corinthians 5 3 Pray 4 Malaysia Week 1 Scriptures for Meditation Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 4 40-Day Fast and Prayer 22 July 2006, Saturday: Be Holy The God that we worship is a holy God. He wants us to be holy and has called us to be holy. “After all, I, the LORD, am your God. You must be holy because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44a) Pray 1. Confess all your wrongdoing, whether they are bad thoughts or bad actions or bad words. 2. Strength to obey His Word and to do what is right. 3. Self-control and courage to reject evil. 4. To seek God with all our heart. 5. To overcome difficulties in life, and be holy and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before I sleep or wake up, the first thing I do is pray. Prayer is talking to God and asking forgiveness for my sins. Gabriel Hardin, 12 years old 5 Pray 4 Malaysia 23 July 2006, Sunday: Pastors & Leaders Pastors, church leaders and even our parents help Jesus look after us. They give their time and energy to teach, lead, comfort, and discipline us. Sometimes, they get criticisms and complaints. No wonder they are often exhausted! They need our encouragement and prayers. When they fail, we need to pray for them to rise again. Without them, we will be lost. Jesus says, “I in them and You in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that You sent me and will understand that You love them as much as You love me” (John 17:23). Pray 1. Thank God for our parents, pastors and church leaders, Sunday school teachers and youth advisors. 2. They may be wise, strong and courageous to do what is right. 3. They make time to rest and draw strength from Jesus. 4. Anointing in preaching, in binding and healing the broken-hearted. 5. They may be holy and competent, capable of leading even in difficult times. 6. They will grow closer in their relationship with God. God answered my prayers whenever I ask for Him for help to go through my parents’ discipline. Cody Low, 7 years old 6 40-Day Fast and Prayer 24 July 2006, Monday King : HRH Yang diPertuan Agung Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Prime Minister: YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Deputy PM : YAB Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior” 1 Timothy 2:1-3 Pray 1. Give thanks to God for these leaders of our country. 2. God gives them wisdom and truth. 3. God helps them to be fair, righteous and kind leaders, and be good examples to others. 4. God gives them and their families good health and protects them. 5. They always remember and protect the poor and helpless. 6. They always value freedom to worship and encourage a more respectful society. God blesses me when I pray for my health and studies. I pray for other people and also for our government so we can have a peaceful country. Krystal Tay, 11 years old 7 Pray 4 Malaysia 25 July 2006, Tuesday The Cabinet is made up of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministers in charge of all the government departments. The Cabinet ministers usually meet each week to discuss and make plans for the nation. “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” Proverbs 16:9 Pray 1. God will direct the Cabinet members so that they make decisions that are wise, fair and honest. 2. They hate dishonesty, and stay away from corruption and immorality. 3. Good health, peace and harmony in their families. 4. They choose to do what is right and good for the people, and are committed to serve the country. 5. They will work well together. 6. Christians in the Cabinet to be salt and light. Please see page 52 for the list of Malaysia’s Cabinet and Ministries Prayer to me is like getting closer, drawing near and developing a better relationship with God. Just like the Hebrew word ‘shakah’ which means coming face to face and knowing the plans God has for us. John Tneoh, 15 years old 8 40-Day Fast and Prayer 26 July 2006, Wednesday The Judiciary means (a) a system of courts of law, and (b) the judges in the Federal Court, the High Courts and the Subordinate Courts of Malaysia. The head of Judiciary is the Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim. It is important that judges make wise and just decisions in accordance with the laws of the land, which is the Federal Constitution. This is important to God for He is righteous and loves justice (see Psalm 11:7). Pray 1. Judges to make decisions wisely, without bias, and according to the laws, not according to their personal preferences or what other people might think. 2. God gives them wisdom and courage to do what is right. 3. They will be men and women of integrity - honest and upright. 4. They will respect Malaysians’ right to choose their religion. 5. God will bless them as they uphold truth and righteousness. We can talk to God about people whom we care. Julia Koh, 9 years old 9 Pray 4 Malaysia 27 July 2006, Thursday The mission of the Ministry of Defence (Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak) is to protect the sovereignty, stability, interests and strategic rights of the nation. The Ministry of Internal Security (Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has the task of ensuring public peace and order so that society is protected from danger. One of its jobs is issuing publishing permits and controlling publications. The Ministry of Home Affairs (Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad) takes care of these things – immigration, foreigners coming into the country, national registration, citizenship and film censorship. Pray 1. The three ministers named above will lead their ministries wisely. 2. The officials of the Ministries of Internal Security and Home Affairs will carry out their duties with wisdom and honesty. 3. All departments will provide efficient and honest public services. Pray against those who look down on citizens of other faiths. 4. All members of the Armed Forces (the Army, Navy and Air Force) will carry out their work effectively and faithfully, to protect Malaysia. 5. Christians working in these ministries will be a good example to those around them. I can call God for help when I have any trouble. I thank God for blessing me in my prayers. Jesus always answers my prayers. Stephanie Chew, 9 years old 10 40-Day Fast and Prayer 28 July 2006, Friday The Ministry of Finance (Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi; Minister II Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yakcop) deals with taxation, the budget and the economic well-being of the country. The National Economic Action Council (NEAC) (Dato’ Sri Mohd Effendi Norwawi) advises the government on how to deal with economic difficulties and handle important economic issues so that the country will continue to be stable and prosperous. The 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) aims to help the country grow economically and to look after welfare of the people. It works towards Wawasan 2020, the vision of Malaysia becoming a developed country by 2020. The Ministry of International Trade and Consumer Affairs is headed by Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal.