"Then Jesus came with
them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, 'Sit here while I
go over there and pray.' And He took
with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and
distressed.
"Then He said to them,
'My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch
with Me.' And He went a little beyond
them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it is possible,
let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.'" Matthew 26:39
"Then the Lord said to
Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your
hand on him.' So Satan departed from the
presence of the Lord." Job 1:12
"'Simon, Simon, behold
Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you
that your faith may not fail; and you when once you have turned again,
strengthen your brothers.'" Luke 22:31
"As long as the ultimate outcome of an adversity is in
doubt (for example, in the case of sickness or a spiritually rebellious child),
we should continue to pray, asking God to change the situation. But we should pray this in the same spirit as
Jesus did -- not as we will but as God wills.
We certainly must never demand of God that He will change the situation.
"We should also pray from deliverance from the attacks of
Satan. As we have already seen, Satan's
attacks, like the injuries of other people or the calamitous events of nature,
are under the sovereign control of God.
Satan cannot attack us without the permission of God or go beyond the
limits that God has set."*
You are not a helpless victim; you are His called and loved
child, a member of the Body of Christ for Eternity. God's plan for your life is that you grow
more into the beloved image of His Son, Jesus Christ, which is simply a great
way to begin the New Year.
Take care with love, especially His! Your servant and friend in Christ, who prays
for you each morning, Darlene
PLEASE NOTE PRAYER UPDATES! AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ARE
FAITHFUL TO PRAY AND TO KEEP ME UPDATED ON GOD'S PROGRESS! And for any of you who wonder if prayer is
worth taking time for, just page through previous entries and see the hand of our
loving Father in action!
SOMETHING NEW FOR PRAYER
WARRIORS: Elaine and Jim started a new
ministry in Hong Kong and have some great news for those with a gift and heart
for prayer: An online church with a Prayer Room. New visitors need to
register for a login and password and will receive an email confirmation. The room is open 27/7. Go here to learn more: https://www.thelittlechurchworld.org/prayer-room
NEW PRAYER REQUESTS: Pray for those affected by the Air Asia Airlines that crashed. Pray for those in the Norman-Atlantic ferry disaster. Pray for those in the Philippines affected once again by the flooding. Pray
for all those who have no place to
lay their heads, during this season of celebration -- the many shadow,
street people around the world.
Pray for Adrian. He is recovering from more cancer treatments
over the holidays. Pray for Phil (the man who has let
Adrian stay in his home) that he has understanding, empathy, compassion and
gentleness.
For the family and
friends of the police officers in NYC who
were so callously slain, for the people of the city and the nation that
something good will result from another tragedy.
In the aftermath of the siege
in Sydney: Please pray for the individuals who went through this ordeal and for their families and
friends and all the police officers and pray for Australia that this does not become something we must get
used to!
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: For the many
individuals in Germany fighting for a new freedom. Help the demonstrations remain peaceful and
safe. Pray for those in Russia, who are trying to
demonstrate as their nation plunges into despair once more.
Bubonic and pneumonic plague has broken out on the island of Madagascar. Last stats 40 dead, 119 confirmed cases. The last previously known outbreak of the
plague was in Peru in August 2010, according to the WHO.
For those trying to stem
the devastation of Ebola in
West Africa (Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Mali) and in other
countries, as the disease spreads for many reasons: missed "hazardous pay" for workers,
fear, lack of education and hygiene. As
of yesterday there were over
7,000 deaths from Ebola. 570 healthcare
workers have been affected and of those, 324 have died.
Also, for those in Europe
gearing up to fight a new strain of Bird
Flu.
For the situation developing in Israel and for the devastation and death being caused by the
group called ISIS or IS.
For those in Hawaii
dealing with a volcanic eruption and the lava flow.
Pray for calm, true Christian revival and a return to founding values in the USA.
ONGOING PRAYERS: Isaias & Judith
need our continued prayers for protection and good health. They lead the efforts of Ambassadors for Christ in the Philippines. With the many typhoons and floods their financial needs continue to grow as they work in the fields
training up labourers for Christ. Please
consider contributing...just click on Ambassadors for Christ link above.
Buddy and Susan
Smith and Kevin and Sandy Currell - ministers of
grace and salvation in Australia.
Please pray for Chester
as he continues to struggle through a host of medical challenges and
poor care with dwindling funds and few friends to help. Give him energy, strength and resolve as he
deals with a worldly system that has abused him.
PRAISE & THANKSGIVING: Nancy, a
friend of Hans, had surgery last week and although they did not find cancer,
they will still have to perform surgery.
She does not know the Lord, yet.
Please pray for Hans
who has just found some work to help him through his challenging times and pray
his walk and witness continues to strengthen in his new life with Christ.
Jeff (cataract
surgery) is able to see again -- keep praying for him and Rachael, his beloved wife.
Patti's dear husband, John
continues to make progress after his stroke.
Pray for Patty and Doris
(who just had her 96th birthday. She was
like a second Mom to me)
No word yet on the small project for me, but three reasonably
good prospects that will have to wait till after the New Year..
PRAY FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH
CONCERNS: Pray
for my brother, Tim, that his
COPD (cardio-pulmonary artery disease) is manageable for him and that he will
have the patience and wisdom to cope with the limitations. Pray for David
R as he manages his macular degeneration.
For Audley and Beverly’s situation and his return to the
ministry. For Nancy who
continues to grow stronger after her life-threatening head injury a few years
ago, and for Fred as he cares for
her.
Pray for BG
that his blinding headaches will finally stop.
Pray for Fion as he
supports his ageing parents and manages a heavy load of challenges.
Bettina
needs our prayers to give her strength and wisdom. Pray for Raven
as she regains her strength from the cancer treatments.
ONGOING JOB RELATED: Pray for Paul
N-S - as he continues his search for work. Please pray for Michael, a man who is humble and without a home or a job who
needs a chance to get his life back to normal.
Deepak needs
prayer that his work efforts begin to bear fruit as he is on the road
travelling, promoting his business.
ONGOING PRAYER REQUESTS: Pray the Lord’s hand is dramatically apparent
in the lives of all who receive and read this devotion...that His mighty
works would be worked out in each life for His purposes in surprising and
wonderful ways!
For Iain Barclay and
his ministry, that the Lord would encourage him in his work. For Sue-Anne
as she takes new responsibilities in her church. A dear friend, Jen, needs the watchful care of the Lord in her life. For
Louise for healing in their
family.
For Linda and Ian. For Rob and his daughter. For Reg. Pray for Annette and Lyle and their wonderful family.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD: Pray for revival in the USA to continue. Pray
for Birgit who is in
Germany.
Please pray for the many individuals in Singapore, China, Russia and India who read the WeakDay Devotion. (This year the WeakDay Devotion blog is being
read by many people in these countries!
God is mysterious!) Pray for the
Catholic Church and that the new Pope will
always put Jesus first.
*Trusting God is copyright protected since 1988 by Jerry
Bridges. All rights are reserved, including
translations. The ISBN is
08910-91742. I quote carefully and
respectfully from his wonderful book.