Day 7 - Outpouring of God's Spirit

SCRIPTURE
…I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.  Joel 2:28-29 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
A.W Tozer, renowned mid-century pastor and author, said, “I want here to boldly assert that it is my happy belief that every Christian can have a copious outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a measure far beyond that received at conversion, and I might also say, far beyond that enjoyed by the rank and file of orthodox believers today.” In other words, God has more for us! His Spirit is alive and available. Its purpose is to comfort and nurture. but also to transform and empower us for an abundant life with supernatural impact in the world around us!

Is it your “happy belief” that you can have a copious, abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Is it your desire to receive this in a measure far beyond that which you are currently experiencing? Are you ready to be used in new, exciting, and supernatural ways? Ask for it! Receive it! Walk in it!

PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank You for Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. Thank You that He left the gift of His Spirit to reside in us! We confess we regularly miss the great opportunity of being filled up by your Spirit. We forget, dismiss, or neglect instead of receiving this incredible gift.

I commit today to a posture of openness, an attitude of welcoming You in, a spirit of urgency and discontent, that nothing less than a life full and overflowing with You will suffice. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Clear out any obstruction that would keep Your outpouring from being an infilling. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Day 6 - Physical & Emotional Health

SCRIPTURE
I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17 (NIV)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
The God we serve is a God of restoration. When reading Scripture, there is one claim that can’t be argued. It is that God desires His children to walk in wholeness and healing. If you could sum up the entire story of the Bible in four words it would be this: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. These four words represent the plan of God from Genesis to Revelation. His plan is to redeem us from our fallenness and brokenness and restore us to how He intended all of mankind to be. While the ultimate restoration of both our bodies and souls will happen when we are united with Christ after death, we are still promised healing in this life now. Let’s contend for God to send his healing power in our church to heal those afflicted with physical pain and emotional wounds.

PRAYER
God, we believe that You are the way-maker, promise-keeper, and miracle-worker. We pray that You send a wave of Your healing power in the life of Red Hills Church to heal physical ailments and emotional wounds. We pray against sickness and cancer, and we ask for You do the miraculous. We pray that You would pour out Your joy and peace to those suffering from anxiety and depression. We pray for those who experience mother wounds or father wounds, that they would encounter Your true love, forgiveness, and acceptance. God, we look to You as our first response, not our last resort. You are the Great Physician. In the name of Your great and glorious son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 5 - Our World

SCRIPTURE
This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’   Matthew 6: 9-13 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
In the book “21 Seconds to Change Your World,” the Lord’s Prayer is unpacked as the perfect recipe for moving the heart and hand of God. It teaches us to pray each day for our world, nations, cities, ministries, families, and anything pressing. 

Our world is bleak right now and very overwhelming with the destruction we see and hear about. To name a few: the fires in Australia, the possibility of war with Iran or North Korea, starvation, divided nations, sickness, natural disasters, corruption, violence, and despair. 

Praying the Lord’s Prayer daily will equate to answered prayers. It can change the course of action around the globe. We can get bogged down with the weight of this world, but prayer and praise transform our hearts, moves God’s heart, and He changes the outcome. We’re wrong when we think there is nothing we can do or that our petitions won’t really matter. Prayer and praise release His army. God loves taking the wheel and reversing what the enemy is destroying.

PRAYER
Our Father, we open our hearts to You. God of compassion, God of power, we know there are wonderful and terrible things happening in the world around us. We are grateful to have faith in You; knowing You will bring hope in our world. There is no greater love than what You have for Your children and the world You created. We trust You! Amen

Day 4 - Our Nation

SCRIPTURE
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

THOUGHTS
It is an understatement to say our nation needs healing. We continually experience new waves of racial injustice, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, school shootings, issues of gender confusion, and the list goes on. But God has given us an invitation to pray for the healing of our nation.

He made a promise to King Solomon that if the people of God would… 

Humble themselves
Pray
Seek His face
Turn from their wicked ways

Then he would… 

Hear from heaven 
Forgive their sin
Heal the land

This promise given to Solomon is given to us today.

PRAYER
God, we confess and repent of the sins of America. We have turned away from You as a nation and we ask You for mercy. We appeal to You for our President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, and members of both the House and the Senate, to make decisions that will lead toward a more righteous, peaceful, and orderly America. We also ask that these leaders guide us to ways that represent You and Your ways. We pray for the unity of our nation and an end to racial and political divides. May we be a nation that brings glory to Your Name. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Day 3 - Our City

SCRIPTURE
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.  Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
Where we live is so special. The weather is beautiful, the people are friendly, and we couldn’t ask for a better view than our surroundings. In the above Scripture, we see the prophet Jeremiah charging the Israelites to take responsibility for where they live through prayer. The prophet is telling them to pray that God would grant peace and prosperity to the city they find themselves in while exiled. If Scripture gives them this direction, how much more should the body of Christ pray for the city they freely inhabit? 

There is something unique that takes place when we take responsibility for our city through prayer. Let's lift up our city today and believe that it would turn toward God like never before.

PRAYER
God, I pray You would do a significant work in our city. I ask that Your power and presence would fill its businesses, schools, municipalities, and even the streets. Let Your peace rest on where we live. Let our city be a light in a dark world for You. Fill our city with Your peace and prosperity. Guide our leaders to make decisions that reflect Your heart. We ask Your will be done in Newberg as it is in heaven. Guide, protect, and change our city for Your glory. We ask these things in Your name, Amen.

Day 2 - Our Leaders

SCRIPTURE
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
Despite the intensity that Americans feel about political leaders during Presidential elections, studies repeatedly show that voter participation is in decline in American elections; both nationally and at local levels. When it comes to politics, the foremost responsibility of a follower of Christ is to pray. If polarization is extreme and voter turnout is low, prayer turnout needs to be on the rise! Paul exhorts Timothy that we should pray for leaders in multiple ways - including giving thanks for them. 

We are encouraged to pray that political leaders govern in a way that promotes peace, godliness, and dignity. Why? To facilitate the spread of the Gospel so that all those who don’t know Him “come to a knowledge of the truth” (v. 4).

Paul places no qualifiers on the exhortation. Christians should not restrict their prayers only to the government leaders or politicians they like or those from their own party. Who knows what God might do, especially if we pray for those leaders with whom we disagree.

PRAYER
Dear Lord, we pray for our government leaders and to thank You for them. We pray they would govern wisely to facilitate tranquil cities, states, and a nation that will provide an atmosphere to advance the spread of Your Good News into all regions of the world. We pray that our leaders would seek the right ways of governing for the public good. We pray that You would help us to see politicians as You see them—through eyes of love, grace, and compassion, so we may have a heart to pray for them regularly.  Lord, today I specifically pray this for the U.S. President, Donald Trump; Oregon Governor, Kate Brown; and Newberg Mayor, Rick Rogers. May their spirits unite with yours and rise above their minds as they live and lead. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Day 1 - Our Hearts

SCRIPTURE
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)

THOUGHTS
The first thing that happens when you visit the doctor is a nurse checks your vitals: your heartbeat and blood pressure. It doesn’t matter why you’re there, but they always monitor your heart. The reason is that your heartbeat and blood pressure readings are an important indicator of your overall health. 

As we enter 21 Days of Prayer, it’s important to check the vitals of our faith, which is our heart. In the Bible, the heart is the emotional center of a person. God places a high importance on the spiritual condition of our hearts. The Bible asks us to “examine our heart” and to “guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” God’s promise comes to us when we fully commit our lives to Him; the promise is predicated by the premise of our devotion to Him. He is roaming the earth to build our hearts and make them stronger. When worship and prayer hold priority in our lives, we become fully committed to Him.

PRAYER
God, I pray that you would strengthen my heart and those who are fully committed to you. I declare my complete dependence upon you. Without you, I can do nothing. Jesus, I ask that You forgive me of my sins. Holy Spirit, regenerate my heart and make me new again. Give me a renewed passion and a fresh revelation of Your Word. Would You guard my heart against the evil attacks of the enemy and restore my heart to exactly how You designed it to be. Give me the strength and courage to continue in prayer for the next 21 days. In the name of Your great and glorious son, Jesus Christ. Amen