Return to flip book view

Covenant First Presbyterian Church Week 1 Our prayers may be awkward Our attempts may be feeble But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it our prayers do make a difference Max Lucado 717 Elm Street Cincinnati OH 45202 www covfirstchurch org office covfirstchurch org 513 621 4144

Day One Introduction to Covenant First s 40 Days of Prayer Worship Beginning today September 19 2021 we will embark on a journey of congregational prayer Our congregation is in a time of pastoral transition which will be successful only when God is in the process That happens by our fervent and committed prayer Why 40 The number 40 in the Scriptures is a number that represents a time of testing or trial Noah was in the ark for 40 days God s people were in the wilderness for 40 years Jesus was tempted in the wilderness during a 40 day prayer retreat Forty days of prayer may test our commitment but the flip side of 40 is that when the testing trial is over a new beginning occurs Jesus was tested 40 days but then his powerful ministry commenced So it will be for this congregation A new season of ministry is ahead of us and it is time to undergird this transition with prayer As our congregation moves into God s new future the Session and I invite the congregation to pray together over the next 40 days which will take us through our Homecoming and anniversary celebration in October Each week you will have a suggested Scripture and prayer praise topics you can use to guide you The weekly format will use headings that reflect our congregation s titles for our Session Teams Worship Witness Study Share Serve Stewardship When God gives you other topics lift them up to heaven The Bible says the prayers of God s people rise like the smoke of incense before God Revelation 8 4 You are encouraged to fill out one of our Commitment Cards These cards will be collected on Sunday September 26 and are a way for you to share your commitment and allow others to pray for you This is a simple way for you to record your own decision to pray during these 40 days Your prayer time is what you make it 5 minutes a half hour several moments during the day or night all as God leads you You may pray at home in your office while you walk the dog or while you sip on coffee in the living room You may want to join some friends in the congregation as a network of spiritual strength Praying with others has a way of bonding God s people as one body During this 40 day time frame we will be focusing our minds and hearts on hearing God speak about his dream for the congregation s future We will undergird the Session the congregation s Nominating Committee and at some point in the future a Pastoral Nominating Committee We will also be praying for our Presbytery as they guide our Presbytery s churches into a time of new and fresh ministry You are the light of the world A city set on a hill cannot be hidden Matthew 5 14 Worship is job one the first priority of the Christian believer When we spend time in the light of Christ through prayer study service witness sharing serving and leadership the light of Christ begins to shine through us Our neighbors will know that something is different by the way we live our lives Each day this week we will give one idea for worship in your prayer time The worship tip today is to remember that God loves speaking to you Take time to listen Praises Praise for our congregation Praise for our city Praise for our choir pastor Session leaders teachers members church friends Prayer For the Holy Spirit to anoint our worship services with God s presence For Sunday School teachers Children s Church teachers and childcare workers That God will continue to draw to our worship service visitors and those whom God is seeking to bring into a relationship with him Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today In Christ Pastor Bob Anderson 40 Days of Prayer 1 40 Days of Prayer 2

Day Two Day Three Worship Worship After this the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision Do not be afraid Abram I am your shield your very great reward But Abram said Sovereign LORD what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus And Abram said You have given me no children so a servant in my household will be my heir Then the word of the LORD came to him This man will not be your heir but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir He took him outside and said Look up at the sky and count the stars if indeed you can count them Then he said to him So shall your offspring be Abram believed the LORD and he credited it to him as righteousness Genesis 15 1 6 You probably know this story of Abram before his name change to Abraham He heard God s promise of a son who would be an heir Abraham was 75 years old when he first received the promise and Abram believed the Lord Here s our challenge as we await God s vision and will for our congregation we must believe This may require waiting for God s right time It may require God to shape me and form me into the person I must become to receive God s promise In fact Genesis 21 5 tells us Abram was 100 years old when Isaac was born Twenty five years of waiting Take heart 2 Peter 3 9 teaches that The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness Instead he is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance Our worship opportunity today is to ask God to build faith Praises Praise for hymns to sing for the glory of God Praise for our Presbytery s mission to revitalize our congregations Praise for couples being married in the church After consulting the people King Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army saying Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever 2 Chronicles 20 21 King Jehoshaphat was a peaceful and godly king in Israel Despite his faithfulness to God or perhaps because of it enemy nations of Moab and Ammon descended on Judah and threatened to destroy the city Jehoshaphat fell to his knees in prayer read 2 Chronicles 19 20 seeking God s help The king received his guidance from the Lord He gathered his armies readied them to fight but he sent first the choirs and instruments of worship singing Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever As the sound of worship fell on the ears of the invading armies they were thrown into confusion and began to slaughter one another Worship won the day As we pray through these days of transition and change what armies confront you Perhaps they are armies of doubt fear unbelief Worship Sing God s praise Get a hymnal and read the words out loud or sing them Our worship opportunity today is to name our battle and sing songs of praise as a weapon of deliverance Praises For our families and children For a strong body of Christian friends who make our church fellowship meaningful Prayer That we would be a congregation who teaches our children and youth how to come to Christ as Savior and teach them to be his disciples For our members or family members who are in the military for safety and protection Prayer For God to fill our hearts with his love For blessing of the pastor and liturgists who lead each week s worship For hearts that worship God through every day Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 3 40 Days of Prayer 4

Day Four Day Five Worship Worship As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho a large crowd followed him Two blind men were sitting by the roadside and when they heard that Jesus was going by they shouted Lord Son of David have mercy on us The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet but they shouted all the louder Lord Son of David have mercy on us Jesus stopped and called them What do you want me to do for you he asked Lord they answered we want our sight Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes Immediately they received their sight and followed him Matthew 20 29 34 There s an important lesson on prayer in this Scripture account These two blind men were desperate to regain their sight Their faith was obvious as their prayer was shouted out above the noise of the crowd Even the rebuke to be silent did not stop them Lord Son of David have mercy on us This prayer Jesus always hears This is the prayer from the broken heart the one who is in desperate need for compassion and mercy It s interesting that such an attitude is difficult to attain It is so much easier for us to think I can find my way out of this and in so doing miss the gift Jesus has for us Then Jesus asked as if he didn t know what do you want me to do for you Here s another worship prayer prompt for this week Be honest with Jesus in prayer Tell him what you want him to do Shout it and repeat it if necessary Praises For those in our church family network who have recovered from COVID For our Revere Bell that let s our community know that it s time to turn to God for help Be still and know that I am God I will be exalted among the nations I will be exalted in the earth Psalm 46 10 God s voice is a comfort to all who hear it Sometimes all it takes to feel his presence is a few moments of silence and stillness When we gather on Sundays to worship God we have set aside time to minister to God in our prayers our hymns our attention to the Scripture Most often we think of worship as a time for God to minister to us Rather God loves our attention our adoration our setting aside our affections of the world to honor the Heavenly Father with our love and conversation Our praise prompt today is to remember to be still and join in the exaltation of God s power and sovereignty Be silent for a while in your prayer time today Make note of what you hear and feel and think Praises Our music scholar program For our joyful fellowship times that follow worship Prayer For all our students this year for protection from disease and encouragement in study For all teachers professors who share their knowledge to the generations whom God will use for divine purposes Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Prayer Pray for healing for those suffering from cancer For our homebound members and friends for the comfort of God s presence and the gift of our friendship Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 5 40 Days of Prayer 6

Day Six Day Seven Worship Worship As a prisoner for the Lord then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received Be completely humble and gentle be patient bearing with one another in love Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were called one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all Ephesians 4 1 6 I think one reason the Apostle Paul sprinkled his letters with prayer and thanksgiving is because prayer has the quality of drawing people together in unity The Body of Christ is meant to function as a living organism Living organisms have many cells that are all connected and accomplishing a common purpose Paul says that we must make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace Our behaviors will reflect our inner life hence the calling we ve received will manifest the source of that calling our Lord and Savior A worship prompt for today is search for disconnects in your church network With whom do you need to make peace Praises For our opportunities in worship to be one in Christ as we come before the Lord That we are one in Christ that gives us strength to live into that identity For just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function so in Christ we though many form one body and each member belongs to all the others Romans 12 4 5 God is always full of surprise Yesterday we read about the importance of being one in Christ and today we read in Romans 12 the value of honoring our differences Oneness in Christ does not homogenize our differences God wants to use the differences in us because he created each of us unique Those characteristics giftedness and personalities God will use for the Body of Christ to accomplish God s purposes Praises For the many varied gifts that make our congregation s ministry rich and vibrant For the reality that it is the Holy Spirit who bonds us into one people in mission Prayer Teach us to accept one another Help us to recognize the gifts of others and to encourage them Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Prayer For the courage to be humble and renew my broken relationships For all church pastors to have a spirit of renewal within their own lives Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 7 40 Days of Prayer 8

Day Eight Day Nine Witness Witness Today we change our topic theme to Witness This is the title for one of the Session teams This group helps the Session with how we spread the Gospel to our world advertising website livestream worship Courier local community and International Mission And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching Matthew 5 14 The author of Hebrews instructs us to manifest the life of Christ in our lives and words our life becomes a witness He gives three instructions 1 spur one another on toward love and good deeds 2 keep gathering for worship and 3 encourage one another He looks to the future with his words all the more as you see the Day approaching the Day of judgment and Christ s return In short our lives are to be shining examples of what God has done in our hearts The encouragement is summed up with a call to be alert to the second coming of Christ As you worship with the congregation today ask God to show you someone you can encourage And as you do keep alert that Jesus may return at any moment Josiah was born to the family of King David and in the late 600s BCE This King began to reign when he was eight years old and his father died However it happened you will read that eight years later Josiah yearned to have a heart for God like his ancestor David 2 Chronicles 34 3 says In the eighth year of his reign while he was still young Josiah began to seek the God of his father David God honored Josiah s heart and gave an opportunity into which Josiah entered Verses 14 19 tell of an exciting discovery that was made As the temple was being repaired the workmen discovered the lost scrolls of the Law Judah had fallen away so completely from God that they had literally lost God s Word These words were totally new to Josiah and the people but the rediscovery and reading of God s word set the nation up to be blessed and to experience the presence of God in a powerful way Spiritual revival became a fire of worship that rid the land of idols and injustice A witness is a testimony of what one has seen and experienced Our Christian witness in our city and region will be the spark that ignites the fire of revival of faith of love of moral foundations rebuilt and God s presence revered Praises For our church building where we have the freedom to worship and minister to our friends and neighbors For a ministry in a city where we have abundant opportunities to help others in Jesus name and to share our witness of how God s love has changed our lives Read 2 Chronicles 34 35 Prayer Take home the church bulletin and use the Deacons Prayer Concerns page as a prayer guide this week Pray for our church s neighbors who live in the apartments and condos nearby that God would be at work in their lives Prayer That we would have hearts that yearn for God s presence For a hunger to read and study God s word For our mission partners David and Carleen Heath Wycliffe Bible Translators as they and their team work to translate Scripture into the native language of indigenous people in Nigeria Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer Praises For copies of Holy Scripture that we are free to study For opportunities to study Scripture with our church family and friends Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 9 40 Days of Prayer 10

Day Ten Day Eleven Witness Witness Then Jesus came to his disciples and said All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age Matthew 28 18 20 A witness in a jury trial is one who tells the judge and jury what they experienced heard and observed In Matthew 28 18 20 Jesus commissions the disciples to be witness to the nations Matthew s Greek word for nations is ethnos which refers to all people groups throughout the world not simply the nation itself but all the ethnicities or people groups that compose that nation A witness exercise for today might be to notice how many people groups you might encounter during your daily routine As you do this give thanks for those you see and pray silently for the Holy Spirit to lead them to an encounter with Jesus Praises That Jesus gives us his authority as we go out and tell others about Jesus life death and resurrection That we are able to support mission workers around the world through the Presbyterian Church Prayer That you might have opportunity to witness to a neighbor about how God s love means to you For Christian sisters and brothers in China Afghanistan and other nations who must worship in secret and share Bible portions that they hand write because they have only a few Bibles For our mission partners Justin and Krista Clermont in Chad for Dustin and Sherri Ellington as they continue their work in Zambia and for Tim and Huilan Mountfort and their teaching ministry in East Asia Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings who publishes peace who brings good tidings of good who publishes salvation who says to Zion Your God reigns Isaiah 53 7 Amplified Today s Scripture text is Isaiah s prophetic word that reveals a day to come fulfilled in Jesus life death and resurrection when God will send forth messengers to publish proclaim announce the Good News of God s visit to earth in Christ Jesus Our congregation publishes this Good News in a variety of ways Public worship is one way Ways that we bear witness to our encounters with God is another Looking at this in a more organizational way we are bearers of Good News as we publish the Courier worship together on Sunday as well as our website Facebook and worship service internet streaming Researchers have determined that in a typical week our church may have several hundred visitors to our church website These may be for just a moment and sometimes much longer In the electronic age we have opportunities to explore ways to publish glad tidings even if in a few moments God is eternal and a few seconds is like hours or days to our eternal God Today think about your opportunities to bless someone with the Gospel in word or deed that may be spontaneous or just for a few moments in a supermarket checkout line Praises For the many opportunities God gives us to publish glad tidings For the many people who see our church in online media For the witness shared in our worship services through our Music Ministry Prayer That people who watch our internet worship service or visit our web site will become attracted to the hope that Jesus gives our troubled world For Blair and Jane Cook with the International School Project and their team writing Christian curriculum for use in public schools around the world Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 11 40 Days of Prayer 12

Day Twelve Day Thirteen Witness Witness You then my child be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful leaders who will be able to teach others also Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus David strengthened himself in the LORD his God 1 Samuel 30 6 2 Timothy 2 1 3 The Apostle Paul writes to his spiritual son Timothy important words that we need to hear in our world Paul taught Timothy the Gospel message in the presence of many witnesses Some of these witnesses may have been some of the original disciples At the very least they were well seasoned and mature leaders whose words and lives confirmed the truth of the Gospel to Timothy Timothy did go on to become an excellent pastor and teacher Here s a thought to ponder today ask yourself how is my life confirming the truth of the Gospel to others my family my friends Praises For the witness of many Christian leaders of our church over several hundred years who committed their lives to witness the Gospel to the generations to come Prayer That God would give us the mind of Christ so that we will know how to think speak and act That Covenant First would continue to be a congregation that supports future church leaders David s victories over various enemies made him increasingly popular with the people of Judah and King Saul was very jealous and declared David a threat David gathered some loyal men and they settled in Ziklag Beginning in 1 Samuel 30 1 we read David and his troops returned home to find that the Amalekites has sacked and burned the encampment and carried off their families His men were angry with him and threatened to stone him to death Praises That God is always ready to make us strong when we are weak Prayer That our church will be a congregation who leads the way in helping others turn to God first when difficulty arrives Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 13 40 Days of Prayer 14

Day Fifteen Day Fourteen Witness Share While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town he told this parable A farmer went out to sow his seed As he was scattering the seed some fell along the path it was trampled on and the birds ate it up Some fell on rocky ground and when it came up the plants withered because they had no moisture Other seed fell among thorns which grew up with it and choked the plants Still other seed fell on good soil It came up and yielded a crop a hundred times more than was sown Today we begin a new weekly theme based on our congregation s Session leadership model Share As you pray this week reflect on how Jesus shared how our church shares and the ways you share Several passages this week will be from the Book of Acts The description of the church s beginning is in Acts and this was a sharing group of new Christians When Jesus said this he called out Whoever has ears to hear let them hear Luke 8 4 8 This is a very well known teaching of Jesus As we end our week s theme of Witness let s consider Jesus words It s very easy to hear this story and think about Jesus spreading his message like a farmer of that time The farmer took the seed in hand and spread the seed with his arm swing out The seed would fall on some receptive soil and grow well Other seed would fall on a hard or thorny soil and little or no harvest would result The harvest is a witness to the power of the seed However let s turn this around just a bit and look at our own hearts as the soil that will receive Jesus seed Is our heart s soil broken up soft and ready for the seed to take root On the other hand is our heart s soil hard packed or maybe full of hard clay The seed will grow a bit and then wither in my heart Finally Jesus notes that our heart may be prone to growing the seed but our inattention our busyness our fragmented schedules are like thorns and thistles that choke the young plants This is a good thought for today Ask God to till the soil of your heart that God s word will grow deep roots and bear a spiritual harvest Praises For Jesus desire for a harvest in our lives Prayer That God will prepare our hearts to bear a harvest of souls in our city as we witness God s love to the world For our various mission partners that God will work through their ministries to bring a harvest Today pray especially for Pat Durst with International Friendships Inc Ward and Kari Ballard with Navigator Collegiate Ministries and Mark and Marianne Householder with Athletes in Action Acts 2 41 47 This is a breathtaking account of sharing with those in need Newly filled with the Holy Spirit their sense of oneness and unity began to overflow with sharing even to the point of holding everything in common Their sharing was an outward expression of the inward flow of God s abundant life pouring out to others as an anointing of the Holy Spirit Today consider what you can share with others It could be as simple as sharing a seat on the bus or offering someone a ride home Thank God for his abundant gifts to you and allow the Lord to speak to you about how you can overflow with sharing Praises For the work of our Deacon s at Covenant First Prayer That God will prepare our hearts to bear a harvest of souls in our city as we witness God s love to the world Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles All the believers were together and had everything in common They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved 15 40 Days of Prayer 16

Day Sixteen Day Seventeen Share Share One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer at three in the afternoon Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts When he saw Peter and John about to enter he asked them for money Peter looked straight at him as did John Then Peter said Look at us So the man gave them his attention expecting to get something from them Israel was in the midst of a drought and food was scarce in this story of the prophet Elijah in Kings 4 especially verse 7 A widow in Zarephath called out to prophet Elisha for help Her husband was gone and creditors were coming to take what she had left her two sons Elisha asked strangely What do you have in the house Her response was honest and desperate I have only a small pot of oil not enough to even make bread to feed Elisha She had nothing to share Elisha told her to go to all her neighbors and ask them for empty jars as many as they had Then he told the widow to pour her small amount of remaining oil in her pot into the jars She risked losing the little but as she poured but the oil kept coming as she poured it into each jar When she filled the last jar the oil stopped flowing She went and told the man of God and he said Go sell the oil Then Peter said Silver or gold I do not have but what I do have I give you In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk Taking him by the right hand he helped him up and instantly the man s feet and ankles became strong He jumped to his feet and began to walk Then he went with them into the temple courts walking and jumping and praising God Acts 3 1 8 and pay your debt Then you and your sons can live on the remainder 2 Kings 4 7 When we think about sharing it s easy to think about sharing financially or helping someone find a job helping them with groceries or perhaps helping someone by caring for their child Peter had no money Silver or gold I do not have What did Peter have to share Jesus This poor man asked for money and Peter commanded his attention looked him the eyes and said In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk Peter s faith is evident because he reached and helped the man stand No doubt there As you pray today think about what it would look like for you to share Jesus We are sometimes fearful of sharing generously because we might not have enough for ourselves But we have a God who promises to provide for our needs One of the names for God used in the Old Testament is Jehovah Jireh meaning the Lord will provide We may feel that we don t have the time the money the energy the abilities or other resources to share freely Yet God is always ready to build our faith as we share with others even from the little we may have Our congregation shares with those in need with mission workers and in generous giving Every Sunday at fellowship hour there is a generous display of sharing Let s give God thanks for the abundance of sharing Today will be a good day to trust God as you share in some way Praises Thanks for being able to share Jesus power and love Praises That God is Jehovah Jireh the God who provides Prayer That God will give us words and ideas as to how to share Jesus with others Prayer For God to build our faith in his provision Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 17 40 Days of Prayer 18

Day Eighteen Day Nineteen Share Share In reply Jesus said A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers They stripped him of his clothes beat him and went away leaving him half dead A priest happened to be going down the same road and when he saw the man he passed by on the other side So too a Levite when he came to the place and saw him passed by on the other side But a Samaritan as he traveled came where the man was and when he saw him he took pity on him He went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring on oil and wine Then he put the man on his own donkey brought him to an inn and took care of him The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper Look after him he said and when I return I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have Sell your possessions and give to the poor Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out a treasure in heaven that will never fail where no thief comes near and no moth destroys For where your treasure is there your heart will be also Luke 12 32 34 The Samaritan man in this parable of Jesus had something the Levite and the priest did not have pity But a Samaritan as he traveled came where the man was and when he saw him he took pity on him Today we might call this compassion Something about the man s plight tugged at the Samaritan s heart and he acted on it He dressed his wounds found him housing and someone to watch over him Then he went the extra mile he paid the innkeeper and promised to return and reimburse him any expense There are many people in our city who need someone to have this kind of compassionate action Some are hungry and homeless Others are emotionally wounded Many others are simply without means and have little access to the help they need Sometimes we can help Other times we may not be able to help But we can always pray Today when you see someone in need what can you do Do it And pray Pray for healing provision hope God cares for the sparrow that falls from the tree and God cares for our neighbors who have no roof Share with the Lord s people who are in need Practice hospitality Luke 10 30 37 Praises For the many people who provide jobs and opportunity for those who need that helping hand Prayer Covenant First supports Christian faith based agencies who help those in need City Gospel Mission and Ohio Living Llanfair Pray for these ministries and the people for whom they provide care One person gives freely yet gains even more another withholds unduly but comes to poverty A generous person will prosper whoever refreshes others will be refreshed Proverbs 11 24 25 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit Rather in humility value others above yourselves not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others Philippians 2 3 4 Romans 12 13 The Bible has much to say about sharing A few of the Scripture references are listed above Use a Reference Bible concordance or internet search and research what the Bible says about sharing Open yourself to God s voice of instruction Ask God for creative ways to share that you ve never considered or imagined Powerful guidance is on the way Praises Give thanks for God s word that instructs and guides us For sharing in friendships in our church congregation Prayer For a heart that is willing to keep our hands open to share with others Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 19 40 Days of Prayer 20

Day Twenty one Day Twenty Share Share Jesus said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind This is the first and greatest commandment And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets Since then you have been raised with Christ set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God Set your minds on things above not on earthly things For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God When Christ who is your life appears then you also will appear with him in glory And whatever you do in word or in deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him Matthew 22 37 40 Colossians 3 1 4 17 God s two greatest commandments are to love God and love others To love everyone with the love of Jesus is a true sign of our love for God and our desire to live Christ like It s the ultimate of sharing In Jesus day and throughout biblical history hospitality was one way this commandment was practiced Hospitality is known as entertaining and welcoming guests or visitors It is a genuine way to show love for others Consider the fact that the root word for hospitality is in our word English word for hospital A hospital is a place to receive care and be ministered to physically Jesus tells us in in Matthew 25 40 that whatever we do for the least of people we do for him In today s world churches offer hospitality in the ways that the congregation welcomes or receives the members and strangers We greet and welcome them We provide light heat Bibles to read and a bulletin that helps one follow the liturgy Years ago churches were built in neighborhoods where the members lived most could walk to church And they all knew one another they farmed together worked together shopped together and worshipped together Today our churches are filled with those who live many miles away Our hospitality is sometimes challenged by so many people we don t know Let s step out in sharing friendship at church next week find someone you don t know and make a new friend Praises For a congregation which has many opportunities to welcome many every week What do your think it means to do everything in the name of Jesus We might think that s the end of the prayer during worship That s one good answer but it also means especially in the context of Colossians 3 that all we do work play worship cut the grass change baby diapers drive the car can carry that powerful statement in Jesus name To do something in Jesus name is a way of living according to Jesus will for his glory and in his power The Apostle Paul penned these words because the Scriptures tell us that we have died with Christ and are risen with Christ therefore set your heart on heavenly things not earthly things This might be a new perspective for living our lives every day drive the car in Jesus name enter the work place in Jesus name when you are late for work because of a traffic gridlock be patient in Jesus name when you hug your children and grandchildren hug in Jesus name You don t have to say it out loud but you can And that will give you opportunity to share in words the love of Jesus Praises That all we do can be done to God s glory Prayer That we would increasingly aim to live our whole lives in Jesus name and thus bear witness to him Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Prayer Give us creative ways to bond new friends into the Body of Christ Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 21 40 Days of Prayer 22

Day Twenty two Day Twenty three Study Study This week we begin a new theme from the ministry goals of Covenant First Presbyterian Study Our Session leaders oversee and encourage opportunities for Bible study Christian Education for children and youth Vacation Bible School and more The Reformed tradition of our congregation insists that we always begin with Scripture When confronted with a decision or dilemma we start with the question What does God say in the Bible Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth 2 Timothy 2 15 NIV It s not always easy to take this admonition to heart Study does not come easy for us nor does the time for study Do your best the NIV translation states From the Greek manuscripts it literally reads Be diligent Perhaps put your heart into it might be a better phrase Many find that when we read the Bible consistently even in small chunks we are hungry for more Those little bits are like appetizers that make us hungry for the main meal In the congregation study of the word of truth must be foundational if the church is to stand before the challenges of secular culture Teaching our young generations how to study the Bible becomes a primary field of endeavor Our mature members need to study in order to rightly divide the truth Literally cutting it straight a reference to the exactness demanded by such trades as carpentry masonry and Paul s trade of leather working and tentmaking from John MacArthur Study Bible note Where to begin Get out your big study Bible or purchase one go to Christianbook com for a list As you read examine the study notes Jesus answered It is written Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God Matthew 4 4 Jesus often referred to the Scripture as food that nourishes 1 Peter 2 2 As newborn babes long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation 1 Timothy 4 6 Being nourished with the words of the faith Another way to study is to listen to our Covenant First s sermon that was streamed on Sunday Go to Covenant First on Facebook and you will find the worship services from previous Sundays Listen to the whole service or just the sermon with your Bible open The advantage of this is that you hear the preaching of the word again it will sink in a bit deeper And you will be able to stop ponder and think get a fresh cup of coffee and continue Praises For our live stream congregation For the opportunity to worship and hear the Word of God proclaimed Prayer For our pastor choir and technical crew for our online worship experience Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Praises For our Bible study opportunities and teachers at Covenant First The new Youth Sunday Study group is our newest Prayer For our teachers For those who teach our children and youth God s future leaders Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 23 40 Days of Prayer 24

Day Twenty four Day Twenty five Study Study Lord our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth You have set your glory in the heavens Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger When I consider your heavens the work of your fingers the moon and the stars which you have set in place what is mankind that you are mindful of them human beings that you care for them You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor You made them rulers over the works of your hands you put everything under their feet all flocks and herds and the animals of the wild the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea all that swim the paths of the seas Psalm 8 Study does not have to be academic Psalm 8 is a study of God s creation It s as if the Psalmist wandered through some days and nights examining what he saw The heavens the hungry cries of babies the playful shouts of children He studies the stars and moon flocks herds wild animals and birds in the sky You ve probably done this without even thinking about it This Psalmist does consider the creation critically He makes the fascinating discovery that children are a stronghold against our enemies spiritual and otherwise He then ponders the mindfulness of God over all humanity And then gives worshipful praise May we do the same Praises Go outdoors and study creation speak your thanksgiving Prayer That God would make us as attentive to our neighbors as he is Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today I Nehemiah went to Jerusalem and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on Nehemiah 2 11 12 Nehemiah was among the first who were able to return to Jerusalem after the destruction of Jerusalem by King Artaxerxes of Persia God was preparing the way through Nehemiah for a revival of worship in Jerusalem You can read the Nehemiah s account in the Old Testament book that bears his name Your heart will break as you read of the pain and sorrow God s people experienced when they saw the city s destruction Jerusalem was no longer inhabited and strangers in the area were not interested in new neighbors who claimed this as their city Nehemiah to avoid any surprise attacks on his life set out in the dark of night to study the construction needs of the city before recruiting workers Nehemiah is a classic case study in studying the context in order to make a plan for the future As Covenant First moves into the future our Elemental Church Team is our Nehemiah Using tested materials and process the team came to Session with findings and the outline of a plan That information will be disseminated to the congregation right about now in our Forty Days of Prayer One difference our Nehemiah didn t go out in the dark of night Experienced coaches from the Elemental Churches company assisted and guided Lisa Allgood from the Presbytery also provided information and coaching The Elemental Churches material is helping the church leaders to answer Who are we now that our former pastor is not here What is our current context Who are our neighbors How has God equipped the congregation to meet needs of these neighbors What kind of gifts will a new pastor need in order to lead us into the future Praises For the focus on the future from the Session and the Elemental Churches Team Prayer That God will make his vision known to the congregation and help us to follow him into the future Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 25 40 Days of Prayer 26

Day Twenty six Day Twenty seven Study Study Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain Exodus 26 30 Moses was on the mountain with God in Exodus 26 God revealed to Moses a myriad of instructions for worship sacrifice and living as God s holy people Above all were the instructions for the Tabernacle which was a large area set apart with embroidered curtains It contained the shelters for sacrifice offerings and the Holy of Holies which was God s dwelling place in the midst of his people As the Lord lays out in detail his design for the Tabernacle he says Set up this Tabernacle according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain 26 30 The word translated here as pattern is in Hebrew mishpat which ordinarily means justice or ordinance The unusual use of mishpat in this verse underscores the authority of God s design Moses and the Israelites were to be guided by the divine pattern when they set up the Tabernacle If you abide in My word continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them then you are truly My disciples And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free John 8 31 32 AMPLIFIED Read Exodus 24 31 and you will see that Moses had to do a lot of study to create this worship center for the people Hebrews 8 5 speaks of the priests who served at the sanctuary tabernacle and it is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain God has a plan for how we are to live and as we study in the presence of God we begin to understand God s loving path for our lives Let s study carefully and follow the pattern Study must always begin with a humble and open heart That is when we begin to learn There are four well recognized steps in study The first is repetition Repetition regularly channels our minds in a specific direction thus ingraining habits of thought Ingrained habits of thought can be formed by repetition alone thus changing behavior even if we do not understand what is being repeated The second step in study is concentration Concentration centers our minds It clears away the clutter of a thousand stimuli and forces us to focus on one thing only This focus allows us to be truly present where we are Comprehension is the third step in the discipline of study All of us have had the experience of reading something over and over and then all of a sudden we understand what it means This eureka experience of understanding catapults us to a new level of growth and freedom It brings insight and discernment The final step in study is reflection While comprehension defines what we are studying reflection defines the significance of what we are studying Reflection allows us to see things from God s perspective Praises Praise and thanks that God is a revelatory God who shows us his nature and the ways in which are to live that bring him glory Study produces joy As our proficiency grows so will our joy Study is a discipline ordained by God for the training of the mind in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Richard Foster in the Making of an Ordinary Saint Prayer Lord shape and form our lives after the pattern of your loving purposes Praises Recall one time when you had a time of great insight and learning Thank God and meditate on that experience with gratitude Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Prayer Ask God to give you a love of study especially in the Scriptures Pray that Covenant First will always be a center for the proclamation and teaching of the Scriptures Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 27 40 Days of Prayer 28

Day Twenty eight Day Twenty nine Study Stewardship Administration My son be attentive to my words for they are life to those who find them Proverbs 4 20 22 The word attend means to pay attention to give some time to something To attend to the Word of God is a lot more than just reading it s meditating on it During our time of soul searching before pastor searching our Elemental Churches team made many discoveries These discoveries were most often uncomfortable The good stuff about our congregation s life is like the whipped cream on pie it s obvious and obviously delicious And Covenant First has lots of it thank the Lord But over time habits are formed attitudes take shape and sometimes they push us moving forward Other times they may keep us off our centeredness in Christ Jesus Attending to the Scripture keeps us on center Taking time to reflect on who we are whose we are and why we are can light the flame of refreshing revival that transforms our private and public life Proverbs 4 20 22 also gives a key motivation The study of God s word gives life Study is worth the effort for God s word fills us with life Then we live an abundant life that overflows with God s grace to bless others Let this be your goal today Praises Thank God for our congregational life name several things you appreciate about CFPC as you thank God Our theme word this week is administration When any group of people get together to accomplish a goal they divide tasks and each begins a process of administration Our church Session is elected to administrate the goals of worshipping together learning spiritual growth evangelism and so forth Interestingly the word has a fascinating etymology The word derive from ad ministrare to serve attend wait upon To be an administrator is to be a servant one who ministers to the needs of others even wait upon them That seems to fit a church organization more than it does the C Suite of General Electric or P G It could be called servant leadership Jesus was a servant leader The Lord said to Moses Bring me seventy of Israel s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people Have them come to the tent of meeting that they may stand there with you I will come down and speak with you there and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone Numbers 11 16 17 Prayer For this congregation to be a place where people are drawn close to God and find life for their soul Moses was carrying a heavy weight hundreds of thousands of people depended on one man s leadership and wisdom Read all of Numbers 11 and you will gain perspective on what this meant God gave Moses the solution delegate Choose 70 who are already known to be wise leaders and v 17 I will come down speak with you there and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you put it on them They will share the burden Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Leadership in Scripture is about leading with the anointing of the power of God Praises Thank for the many fine pastoral leaders over the course of our church history Prayer 40 Days of Prayer 29 For our Session leaders and Congregational Nominating Committee who will be nominating new Elder and Deacon leaders 40 Days of Prayer 30

Day Thirty Day Thirty one Stewardship Administration Stewardship Administration The mark of a good leader is loyal followers leadership is nothing without a following Proverbs 14 28 Leadership is nothing without followership Churches love good pastoral leaders but working to develop Godly followership can sometimes be an exasperating challenge Developing training programs for church officers creating patterns for growing faithful disciples Christian education options for parents new members students and young adults are all ways to create loyal followers as King Solomon challenges us in Proverbs 14 God has given you many gifts to use in Christ s ministry We are called to be good stewards or managers of those assets Do you sit on the sidelines Or are you an loyal and active follower Praises That spiritual ministry is an important priority for our congregation Prayer For God to provide the means to provide the people and resources to equip our members for leadership in generations ahead Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer Jesus Your eyes are the lamp of your body If your eyes are open and good your whole body will be full of light But if your vision is bad your whole life will be full of darkness And if the light you think you have is really darkness it s the worst kind of darkness you can have Matthew 6 22 23 Are you a good steward of your eyes A steward is a manager who cares for something that someone has given them God has given you eyes to see God has also given you eyes in your heart Ephesians 1 18 so that we can see God s dream for your life When our spiritual eyes are healthy our vision of the future becomes focused and clear Scripture becomes our eye drops that keep our eyes clean Prayer becomes our lens that focuses God s light from scripture and our vision creates the path forward in our lives and in our congregation s future Praises Praise God that we are stewards of God s riches Prayer Make me a good steward in your kingdom Lord May your gifts be your treasures for me to manage and share Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 31 40 Days of Prayer 32

Day Thirty two Day Thirty three Stewardship Administration Stewardship Administration First of all then I urge that supplications prayers intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men for kings and all who are in high positions that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life godly and respectful in every way This is good and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth As Jesus looked up he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins Truly I tell you he said This poor widow has put in more than all the others All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on Luke 21 1 4 1 Timothy 2 1 4 As Christian citizens we have the opportunity to assist in creating good government through the stewardship and management of prayer God s ministry in our church thrives when we nurture the congregation through prayer In the same way the Bible urges us to pray with thanksgiving for our city and nation For our Nation The President the Senate the House of Representatives Supreme Court For our City Our Mayor City Council County Commissioners City Planners Property and Zoning Board Judges and the Courts Jails Prisons Detention Centers For our Protection Police Firefighters Sheriff and Deputies National Guard Praises Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praises Praise God for his sovereignty over all rulers and governments Prayer Use the suggestions above from 1 Timothy 2 1 4 to pray specifically for those leaders where you live Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer When you see the word widow in the Bible think powerless no voice no choices Widows tended to be stewards of little They had no estates to administer But Jesus spots one widow who was putting her gifts into the Temple treasury two copper coins Today they would be worth about 1 8 of a cent It was Luke records all she had to live on Poor administration we might shout She should know better She did know better She knew that her Heavenly Father would care for her That Temple treasury fund was used for a variety of purposes including the care of the poor This widow sacrificed all for the sake of other widows Jesus saw this woman give her heart Put your heart in the offering plate next Sunday Prayer Lord open my hands to let go all that holds me with earthly ties Unbind me that I be free in you to do your will Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 33 40 Days of Prayer 34

Day Thirty four Day Thirty five Stewardship Administration Stewardship Administration In those days when the number of disciples was increasing the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables Brothers and sisters choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord Joshua 24 15 The early church grew so quickly that the sheer number of people overwhelmed the 12 Apostles Many of these early believers were poor and needy Each day these Christians gathered food and prepared meals for everyone And some of these poor were overlooked because there were so many If our church grew by three thousand people in two days we would face similar challenges They chose seven men to be administrators The Greek word translates to English as Deacons The first Deacons were organizers and table servers Note the why of this decision in verse 2 so that the Apostles would not have to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables What distracts us or takes our time from the ministry of the word from attendance at worship from daily prayer and Bible reading Think about that As Joshua takes over from Moses he leads them into the Promised Land promised to their ancestor Abraham generations before He says Choose this day whom you will serve I have set before you today life and prosperity death and adversity He is saying that God is giving them a choice That way or this Endings and beginnings aren t easy They don t just happen There are choices to be made As we approach the closing days of these 40 days of prayer what choices has God put before you Are you fearful of the giants in the land of the future Are you willing to set aside the idols that distract you from our Father in Heaven and bind you with the wiles of the devil These 40 days can be an ending for a way of living that didn t honor God And like all 40 days of trial perseverance this time will mark a new beginning for you It also marks a new beginning for the church As we pray as we go through difficult times of choosing life or death what will you choose What will our congregation choose The future is unfolding and there are choices to be made Praises Give thanks for the wisdom God gives as we seek to grow a strong congregation Praises For God s promise of a future for God s careful planning that we must follow Prayer Lord make the love of Scripture fill my heart Prayer Lord help my eyes to see the future and give me a willing spirit Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Acts 6 1 4 40 Days of Prayer 35 40 Days of Prayer 36

Day Thirty six Day Thirty seven Serve Serve In our congregation s organizational themes a critically important one is Serve John 13 teaches us that service to others was at the core of Jesus character As he and the disciples sat for the Passover meal everyone was so involved in their own stuff that they forgot the importance of cleansing their feet before entering the meal space Ordinally a servant was assigned the task Jesus reprimanded no one He simply took a basin and towel and began to wash the feet of the disciples It was an act of humble service It was not meant as a gotcha for his disciples a way of shaming another by pointing out their fault in a subltle way Jesus act of service recalls what Mary of Bethany had done for Jesus just a few days earlier washing his feet with expensive perfume and drying them with her hair Jesus interprets her extravagant act of love and service as an anointing for his burial 12 1 7 As Jesus prepares for his own death on the cross he is revealing that his entire life is about serving his Father in Heaven Jesus calls us to serve the Father in the same way Whether it is City Gospel Mission treating a hungry person to lunch giving a warm coat to a cold child or simply holding a heavy door open for the next person it is the attitude of loving service that marks us as Jesus followers After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation tribe people and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands Revelation 12 9 God s people are stewards of God s vision for the end of time As followers of Jesus the Holy Spirit reveals God s plan to bring an end to evil and create a new heaven and a new earth Revelation 21 1 The Church the Bride of Christ will live with Christ in Heaven for all eternity Our time on earth as the Bride of Christ is to prepare be ready for Christ to return Our lives and ministry are to be focused on doing God s will in heaven here on earth as it says in the Lord s Prayer With that in mind we are given a picture of what we will see in that end time an uncountable number of people from every nation tribe people and language Heaven will reflect the mission of Jesus as it will be fulfilled That is an astounding thought This week take note of all the people you see from other nations or people groups Pray for them and their salvation Bless them as you encounter them in relationships Praises Thanks for the image of mission completed one day in Heaven Do not plot harm against your neighbor who lives trustfully near you Proverbs 3 29 Once upon a time people knew their neighbors They talked to them had cook outs with them hung out by the back fence and went to church with them In our time of unprecedented mobility and increasing isolationism it s hard to make lasting connections with those who live right outside our front door That s especially true in a downtown city like Cincinnati People live in locked apartments or lofts Your neighbors may not be the ones who live near you but they may be folks you meet at Starbucks or where we work There are many neighbors near the Covenant First church building And more are arriving The city was once a place to work in an office and now it is becoming a place to live as well How do we manage administrate in this new environment One way is to use the word steward When we have neighbors and live in a community with others we become stewards of those God has placed near us That s the implication of our Scripture for today Do not plot harm against your neighbor who lives trustfully near you We could read this from the end of the sentence to the beginning your neighbor who lives near you trusts you live with them in such a way that you build trust and do no harm One way to do that is to pray for your neighbors When you see a neighbor introduce yourself and get to know them Write their name in a notebook As them if there is anything they would love to see God do for them and when they answer write it down and promise to pray for them Even better let the first prayer be right then and there Out loud Praises Thanks that God entrusts us to be his stewards and ambassadors Thanks for the growth in the residential neighborhood all around our church downtown The Banks OTR and the West End Prayer For opportunities to meet neighbors we don t yet know near our homes and near our church Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Prayer Make us a mission worker for the end times Lord Help me to share the Good News of Jesus love and to live a life that reflects the role of Bride of Christ Show us opportunities each day to serve others 40 Days of Prayer 37 40 Days of Prayer 38

Day Thirty eight Day Thirty nine Serve Serve Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble and he delivered them from their distress He made the storm be still and the waves of the sea were hushed Then they were glad that the waters were quiet and he brought them to their desired haven Psalm 107 28 30 The president of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary Dr Scott Sunquist recently launched a project for staff students and alumni called Advancing on our Knees He is quoting Hudson Taylor a missionary to China in the 18th century For Taylor and President Sunquist this is a call to discern God s future for the seminary a future that will be revealed as we advance on our knees in prayer That s a great image as Covenant First enters a new time of ministry in a city that is becoming an urban community that is diverse energetic and vibrant Covenant First has many young adults who visit and some who stay to worship and serve Why Because they are looking for a solid foundation on which to build a career a marriage a family They may even be looking for fathers and mothers to give direction and guidance something they may not have received as they grew up God knows We know God knows and now is the time to become stewards of a generation that will impact this nation It s our calling to make this impact one that is full of God s explosive power This is the confidence we have in approaching God That if we ask anything according to his will he hears us And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him John 5 14 15 John writes to the first century Christians and to us today saying to have confidence in approaching God in prayer Confidence faith trust boldness belief Hebrews 11 1 tells us that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see As we come to the close of our forty days may your faith become a confident faith Let your faith become strong by the Holy Spirit Let faith in God s promise become visible in our dreams and then in our life And then trust in faith that God is at work in you even when you don t see it with your eyes Ask God to give you eyes to see in his Spirit world And God will Praises Praise God for the freedom we have to come confidently to God to ask what we need and know that God hears us Prayer Praises That God is giving us a next generation neighborhood to reach for Jesus Christ Prayer Teach us to pray Lord Keep our knees on the ground that might be firmly planted in your vision of the future that is already breaking forth For an increasing awareness of all of the neighbors living near our church Lord build our faith into confident action that is empowered by the Holy Spirit Lord show us ways to demonstrate our faith by serving our neighbors and friends Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer 39 40 Days of Prayer 40

Day Forty Serve The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Psalm 19 7 This is day forty We have feasted on the Word of God The Word of God has tested our hearts We ve done soul searching for our congregation and the future is beginning to unfold as the Spirit reveals the Father s dreams for Covenant First The opportunity for reviving the soul is upon us J I Packer writes Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God s near presence and holiness This is the awakening to which God calls us Day forty is an ending and a beginning as is each day of your life Invite the Holy Spirit to fill your life with the fresh breath of God Ask that the wind of the Spirit fill the sails of your life and take you to the full promises of God Praises Thank you Lord for challenging tests of each day Concluding Thoughts With this section of our 40 Days of Prayer we bring to a close our journey of prayer We undertook this journey because we believe that our pastoral transition will be successful only when God is in the process And that occurs through prayer The number 40 is important in the Bible The number 40 represents a time of testing or trial Noah was in the ark for 40 days and God s people were in the wilderness for 40 years Jesus was tempted for 40 days We prayed for 40 days The testing now transitions into a new beginning Prayer is still critical to our journey But now you may have developed some new prayer patterns that you can now carry into the future You may have been blessed with some answers to prayer Perhaps you are less anxious about the congregational transition and if so that leaves space for faith to expand and grow Be sure to pray for our Session as the elders and other volunteers work through our Session Teams Worship Witness Share Study Serve and Stewardship As we uphold our leaders in prayer we will see God s miracles honor our faithfulness and God s glory fill our congregation s ministry Thank you for your part in the future Prayer Form us and shape us so that the world sees Jesus in us and through us Journal answered prayer and ways you may have seen God at work today 40 Days of Prayer In Christ Pastor Bob Anderson 41 40 Days of Prayer 42

Men may spurn our appeal reject our message oppose our arguments despise our persons but they are helpless against our prayers J Sidlow Baxter 40 Days of Prayer 43