40-Day Prayer Devotional eace Rev. Tyrone E. Barnette, Senior Pastor PPeace Baptist Church 4000 Covington Hwy. Decatur, GA 30032 www.peacebaptistchurch.org Offi ce: (404) 288-1750 Fax: (404) 288-5209 Acknowledgements Family and Friends, You hold in your hands the inspirational writings from the private and personal journals of the Prayer Ministry members, members of Peace Baptist and a few special friends. Every page of this book is a pure work of the heart to encourage you during the next 40 days and any other time. Thanks is not enough to every Prayer Warrior and Peace member and friend who contributed to this effort. You are blessed and a blessing. A special thank you to Mother Essie Ray for her labor of love reading every devotional and making invaluable suggestions and edits. To Alisha Braxton whose assistance in helping work with offi ce staff making the vision come to light. To Pastor Barnette who challenges us to stretch out on faith, dream big and seek God in everything then do it unafraid, thank you for your support. Tabitha, thank you for energy, listening, patience in putting it all together. Finally, Peace in Prayer – A 40 Day Devotional, is presented with you the reader in mind. The theme scripture of the Prayer Ministry is Luke 22:32, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Remember Beloved, we hold you in our constant prayers and more so, Hebrews 7:25 reminds us that Jesus is praying right now for YOU. In Christ, Min. Kim Kendall, Prayer Ministry Leader 4 | A Word from Our Pastor Peace Family, Prayer unlocks the promises of heaven! It opens our heart to God and allows us to release the pressures of this world to Him. Peter says, “Cast your cares on Christ for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). We should make it a goal each day to take time to cry out to God in prayer and allow Him to remind us of His power, promises, and presence. Over the next few weeks I hope you will join us as we read these devotions and seek the face of God collectively. I am reminded of the two blind men in Matthew 20:30 that cried out to Jesus when He passed by. They said, “Son of David, have mercy on US!” Notice they called on Him together. They understood the power of corporate prayer and agreement. During these weeks, we will be asking God to move in our individual lives and families. However, let us not ignore the potential of calling on God as a team and as a collection of desperate Christ followers who need a breakthrough. Let’s pursue daring faith together and expect miracles to result. Each day members of our congregation have written devotions that I pray will touch your heart and inspire you to yield your live to Christ. They have prayed over each word and our prayer ministry has arranged them on certain days that are destined to meet your needs. During this time, you may also participate in one of the fasting options we have presented. I trust you will receive God’s richest blessings. Pursuing Daring Faith, Pastor Tyrone Barnet e | 5 Day One Affi rmation 1 Peter 1:16 “since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” God calls us to be holy as He is holy. We ought to then take Him at His Word, which God uses to prepare and equip us for every good work! (2 Timothy 3:16-17) This affi rmation so follows: I Am holy, Therefore... I Am set apart for God. Psalm 4:3, Deuteronomy 14:2 My thoughts, actions, activities, relationships MUST refl ect the glory of God and align with what pleases Him. Ephesians 5:1 I Am a peculiar person, unique in my form and unchangeable characteristics, like my physique, ethnic heritage, my family etc. 1 Peter 2:9 I Am a Vessel of the Holy Spirit Who lives in me. 1 John 4:4 I must care for His temple, my body, and conduct myself as a living sacrifi ce. Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19 God makes me anointed, chosen, precious, and victorious. 1 Peter 2:9 I Am a royal priest—servant and child of the Most High. 1 Peter 2:9 I Am a spiritual being having a natural experience. I have the righteous mind of Christ! 1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 1:10 I Am the blessed person in Psalms 1 and 119. Mia Jones-Walker 6 | Day Two Be Strong, Be Courageous 1 Chronicles 28:20 “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not Notes fear or be dismayed, for the Lord God – my God will be with you.” There are times in life when we are charged to do things. We know that we have heard from God but fear and the feeling of worthlessness blocks our ability to carry out the charge of what is in our hearts. In 1 Chronicles 28, David charged Solomon with the honor to build the temple for God. I can only imagine how he must have felt being given such a great task. What Solomon did not know is that God saw his heart. David told him, “…for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9). No, Solomon wasn’t perfect and we (people) are not perfect. All God is asking is for us to be willing. Life has thrown many challenges but none of them, no matter how great or small, can stand when compared to what God has promised. Today, activate your Daring Faith and begin a new journey moving in the promises of God. Make up your mind to be strong and of good courage and watch God move tearing down the walls of unforgiveness, broken trust, doubt, fear, and disappointment. Let’s walk through the shadows to obtain God’s greatness in life. Great looks different for everyone but small faith looks the same for us all – You only get what you see. Rev. Twana Culberson | 7 Day three The Danger Of Letting Anger Get The Notes Best Of You. Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Let us not allow anger to separate us from the love of God. Anger will rob you of your time, energy, peace and joy. So be careful my Brothers and my Sister in Christ, this is what the enemy hope to achieve. His purpose is to kill, steal and destroy and he will accomplish his goals by any means necessary. We serve a God that will not harm us, but gives us strength and hope. All we need to do is pray, trust, believe and give it to him. Ephesians chapter 4: verse 26 says “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” If you have an issue with someone why hold onto the anger when you can take it to the Lord in prayer. Being angry gives the other persons (s) too much power over your life. Take back your power Saints, forgive them with the love of Christ. Don’t hold onto anger but release it so that you can be set free. Whenever you are offended give it to God and he will work it out. It may be easier said than done obedience is better than sacrifi ce. Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, I ask in your name, please remove these feelings of anger, hurt, guilt, fear, shame, confusion, depression, panic, sadness, rejection and hatred from our souls. Father God fi ll us with your love, peace and joy. Father you said in your word if we will call on you that you would show us great and mighty things. We are casting all our cares upon you. Heavenly Father we need you now more than ever. Thank you Lord for being our shelter in the midst of an angry storm. Let us not be consumed with the things of this world. Father God at the very moment when we feel lost we pray that you will hold our hand and lead us in thy path of righteousness. Amen Sandra Irvin 8 | Day four A Lifeboat of A Different Kind Acts 27:31-32 “Then Paul said to the centurion and the solders, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.” In Word The scripture shares this story of Paul as a prisoner on his way to stand trial in Rome. In trial Paul focused perpetually on purpose and his source of power, direction, and protection. Paul understood that his survival rested in the one and only God. Paul had a resume of tragedy having already experienced three shipwrecks (2 Cor. 11:25). Early on (Acts 23:11) God made a promise to Paul stating, “as you have testifi ed about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome (NIV).” Paul also had the experience on the Road to Damascus when the Lord assured him that I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles (Acts 26:17). The promises from God and the wisdom of experience was insuffi cient in steering the crew, pilot and owner, to making a wise decision to forego sailing.