Day for Reflection

An encouragement to persevere in prayer and proclamation

I have a dear friend who has faithfully prayed for her non-Christian husband for 30 years. It is her anguish day and night that they do not share the things of Jesus together. Yet she faithfully, and with great perseverance, continues to bring him before her Lord.

Another perspective
A group of women met together to investigate the claims of Jesus. As I explained the message of the gospel to them, each one became anxious about their non-believing husbands. One shared how antagonistic he was to the gospel of Jesus; another how hardened he was; another how impossible it was. Rather than letting this turn into a pity-party: we shared a desire to pray for these men. We covenanted to pray for each of the husbands until they became Christians. Five days later I received a tearful phone call from one lady saying that her husband had just accepted Jesus into his life. I must say I didn't believe her because surely God can't work that quickly! Another week, and another phone call from another lady - her husband had become a Christian. I began to praise God for his goodness in answering the prayers of our group. Within five weeks (the duration of our course) each of these husbands had turned to the Lord, even before a few of the women did. Now God has raised up each of these men to have wonderful ministries in the body of Christ. Christ transforms lives, transforms families, transforms churches and communities. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, and be encouraged to persevere in prayer.

Sarah Plummer

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Prepare us for times of great need around the world. Empower your people with the gifts of your Spirit to act and work for your good pleasure in this dying world. Instil in us hearts that remain in you. Raise up a new generation of men and women full of the Holy Spirit and faith to teach and exhort us to be steadfast and obedient. Amen.

A Quote

The deep, deep joy of following Jesus, blesses me day by day and takes me to pleasant places, even in the shadows, he is there and that’s the deep, deep joy of following Jesus.

– Colin Buchanan

Journal Exercise

Revise the Bible passages and your prayers from the past week. What aspects of Christ’s character have you discovered? What changes do you and your fellowships, local churches and wider churches need to make so that his mercy and love may also impress others? Write a prayer asking God to help you and your fellow Christians to make these changes.

A Challenging Prayer

Pray that God’s people, in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ and his command to make disciples of all nations, will:

• Reform the life of the Church (including our culture, ordinances, customs, use of resources and the deployment of ministry), which will in turn;
• Encourage and enable the multiplication of faithful Christian fellowships, congregations and churches, obedient to the teaching of the Bible, which equip and nurture their members, and extend into our villages, towns and cities and in all the world.