Day Twelve of 40 Days of Prayer for FRC

Father,

All the children in our community have returned to school this week. Thank you for the opportunity for each child to receive an education. Some children are home schooled while others attend school outside the home. Give each child an eager mind to learn; give them safe passage to and from school; make their stay in the schools a peaceful experience. Please keep all toxic and fatal activity from the schools, the children, the teachers and school personnel. Your name is a strong tower; may the righteous run to it and be safe. Keep each child protected under the canopy of your son’s name, Jesus. 

Bless the teachers who have committed their life to teaching children. They do more than educate, they form young lives into adulthood. Protect our teachers; give godly teachers divine opportunities to introduce you to their students. Give the teachers your courage and wisdom to minister to the many children in their care. I lift up homeschool moms, too. The task of homeschooling and caring for the home is difficult. Give them strength and vision. Help them persevere and grant them joy in the journey. Give each parent a burning desire to disciple their children in the midst of all the academics.

Be with the many children who come from difficult homes. Some are hungry-provide them with food; be their comfort at home and at school when their life seems to lack all joy. Be their hiding place. Surround them with your songs of deliverance. Draw them with your everlasting love; in their neglect - be their guardian. Help them know how miraculously you love them.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Psalm 12:7; Psalm 32:7; Jeremiah 31:3; Proverbs 18:10

Day Eleven of 40 Days of Prayer for FRC

Father,

Thank you for the many people you bring to our church. Thank you for the divine appointments you provide for us to give hope to hurting people. We consider it a great privilege that you would entrust us with the ministry of the gospel. We do not feel worthy of your mission, yet, you love us so much that you allow us to join you in your work.

The lost in this world are numerous. The news makes us so uncertain about our future. And many are putting their faith and hope in things that are passing away. Sadly, too many are perishing in their sin. Forgive us for being so distracted by things that are insignificant. 

Sometimes we fail at your mission. Being evangelical we often begin the work of saving the lost by sharing with them your Son. This is good. But we fail to finish the work you have given us. Give us a burden to go beyond saving souls to making fully devoted and committed disciples. Often churches experience 20% of the people doing 80% of the work because we have lacked in training others to be your disciples; instead we have just snatched them from the fires of hell. You desire so much more!  And these people need so much more!

Give those that are just church attenders a burden for your truth on a daily basis - not just weekly. Help them seek what is lasting. Cause them to see everything on this earth as dim compared to your everlasting truth. Help each to seriously consider their answer to this question: if everything were stripped away, would Jesus be enough? 

Unsettle us with our apathy. I pray we suffer continually with your burden to fulfill your ministry and finish your work. Help us, Lord, to always be attentive to what others need eternally, not just temporarily. Give us your eyes to see,  your heart that feels and your passion that persists. Make us a church that does more than just attract people; help us to disciple people to be followers that become your servants who impact Fredericksburg with your love. Enlarge the core of disciples in our church so we can enlarge the followers in your Kingdom. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

1 Corinthians 9:16; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 24:35; 1 John 2:17