21 Days of Prayer -Day 14 -Saturday- August 19, 2023-- Prayer Focus -Jars of Clay

Day 14 -Saturday- August 19, 2023-- Prayer Focus -Jars of Clay    

 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (NIV)

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a] Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

A jar of clay - what can we learn from a jar of clay.

 1. Jars begin moldable.

 This means to be pliable. Clay is moldable when water is added (water is very much like the Holy Spirit). The essence of the gospel is change.

 Clay can form and retain the shape of an outside force (the Holy Spirit).

  May this be true of us day by day.

             May our prayer be - Help me to be moldable day by day.

 2. Jars are strengthened by fire.

 Fire hardens and strengthens clay.

 This can be the Holy Spirit strengthening us to stand.

Pray to be strengthened day by day.

 The Holy Spirit makes us resistant to the hardships of life.

  1 John 4:4 Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

             May our prayer be strengthened by Fire.

3. Jars are vessels with a purpose.

 Pray to be filled every single day.

We are vessels carrying Jesus.

We are the hands and feet of Jesus.

We are simply the vessel that brings the message of Jesus to others.

 May our prayer be that we acknowledge we are just the instruments, or vessels that bring the message of Jesus to others.

21 Days of Prayer - Day #13, August 18, 2023 Prayer Focus - HOPE

Day 13 -Friday- August 18, 2023-- Prayer Focus -HOPE    

 Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

 Perhaps today there is someone who is in a bit of a gap. You’ve been praying for something and it has happened yet. 

 You’re believing in God for something, but there has been no fruition.

 What do you do?

 This passage is all about eternity.  We may experience suffering and hard times, our hope is in heaven.  Eternity has been set, but I’m not there yet.

 I’m leaning in prayer but there’s a gap. But we continue to walk in the promise.

 God will do His best work in that middle ground if you will allow Him to.  The enemy also likes to walk in that space and cause you to doubt God’s promise to get you to quit and give up. 

 He wants to make you nervous, negative and numb.

 This is the “Trap of the Gap.”  How do we beat the “trap of the gap”

 Romans 8:24(NIV)

24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

 Wait and Patiently are important words.  They say a little more than what they say.

Wait - means to expect fully. We are waiting with expectation. Not passive but active. I’m going to expect God to move. I’m praying and I’m looking.

 Patiently - steadfast, constant.  I’m going to keep doing it.

 No matter how long. I’m not going to swerve from my deliberate faith. I’m going to stay at it.

 Here are 3 prayers we can pray:

 1. God, renew my expectations.

 Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;  in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.Just ask God to renew your expectation.

 2. God restore my energy.

Isaiah 40:29 (MSG)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Let’s get fresh strength today. Fresh Strength Friday.

Not my strength made new, but He gives me His fresh energy.

 3. God,  increase my endurance.

 Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that

suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character,

hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been

poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

            I’m inviting God into the gap, into this space.

             God I’m here and I’m believing and locking in.. God will you give me the endurance.

             When we do, we have HOPE!

21 Days of Prayer - Day #12, Thursday, August 17, 2023 Prayer Focus - SEEK THE LORD

Day 12 -Thursday- August 17, 2023-- Prayer Focus -  SEEK THE LORD 

 Revival ignites God’s spirit in us. Our prayers together bring down the blessings of God. God is moving because we declare our dependency and then God ignites that work in us.

 It’s all about seeking God, going after Him.  Seeking Him!

 Psalm 34:1-5 (NIV)

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the Lord;  let the afflicted hear and rejoice.3 Glorify the Lord with me;  let us exalt his name together. 4  sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Even though I may experience hurt, my hope is ignited.

Verse 4 in the KJV says “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

 He hears me. I’m a seeker of God. I go after Him with all my heart.  He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

 Fear is an enemy to revival. Have you ever walked through your house and you hear something that brings fear? Or something or someone jumps out at you to scare you and you are alarmed? Yet you’re in your own house.

Fear will try to scare you out of your faith, your promise, your prayers, and your hope. We forget who we are, what God has said and where He is leading us.

 Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)

 He delivers us from all of our fears. There will be things that will jump out and try to scare us out of the reality that God is leading us. It will try to distract you.

 But God delivers us.. It’s Jesus!  Jesus delivers us from all of our fears. When sometype of fear jumps out and tries to get you off - just jump back and say “Jesus.”

 I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.  I am going to walk in all of that freedom He has given me.

 For the one the son sets free is free indeed.

Let’s seek the Lord! We are seekers of God.