Prayer Points for April 2017

1. Oh Lord, with all the uncertainties in life, I could use some reassurance. There are times when things seem so dark. I ask you to reassure me and encourage me by your Spirit. Cause me to know the mystery that Christ is in me. Thank you for the great assurance that you will give me by your indwelling presence. And thank you for reassuring me with your goodness and mercy! You, oh Lord, are my Shepherd! (Psalm 23:6a).

2. Oh Lord, I am so grateful that you have reserved an eternal dwelling place for me. I am honored that you would make me your dwelling place. Thank you for coming to dwell in me in order that I might dwell with you forever! I purpose to abide in you by faith, trusting you to live your life through me. You, oh Lord, are my dwelling place. And you, oh Lord, are my shepherd! (Psalm 23:6b).

3. Dear God, thank you for giving me new life in Christ. Now, everything that I am is of God because Christ is the source of my life. Christ has become my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and justification. Cause me to remember whose I am and what I have in Christ. I glorify your name, oh Lord, for my amazing new life (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

4. Heavenly Father, I recognize that I am what and who I am solely by the grace of God. Everything I have, I have received from you. Thank you for making me who I am in Christ! Keep me from the prideful attitude of comparing myself to others. Cause me to remain in a perpetual attitude of receptivity and dependency upon you (1 Corinthians 4:6c-7).

5. Dear Lord, I thank you that you have granted me a measure of faith so that I can have a vital relationship with you. But too often my mind gets in the way and I try to figure things out. I confess that my human reasoning is no match for your divine wisdom. Therefore, I yield my mind to you and ask you to guide and guard my thoughts. I ask you to cause me to relate to you in simple faith and trust you with the details (Matthew 18:8).

6. The broadcasts call men to salvation and discipleship. Through intercessory prayer, we share in God’s burden for the lost. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise … but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

7. The sinful choices of people individually and collectively often bring affliction to those who are relatively innocent. However, we can pray to our God, who rules over everything that his people confront. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

8. Instead of letting affliction weaken our faith, we can turn trials into opportunities to call on the Lord. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. … The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:13, 16).

9. “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Psalm 2:8). This invitation to prayer was prophetically addressed to the Messiah, Jesus, before he came to earth. Since believers are his body, we can also take part in petitioning the Father to extend Christ’s redemption to the nations!

10. Many people are struggling with anxiety regarding the future for themselves and their families – often for good reasons. Pray that God will raise up champions in Christ who are able to put their trust in him and give him praise under all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

11. God wants us to rely on him for our future – not on our own strength or possessions. Pray today, like Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, that God will have his will in your life (Luke 22:42).

12. God gave the apostles a strong desire to proclaim the gospel to gentiles as well as Jews. And their brave ministry caused them tremendous suffering. Pray that God will raise up brave witnesses today with the same level of dedication and courage (2 Corinthians 6:4-10).

13. Heavenly Father, give us today a part of your sorrow for the souls already lost – and a strong desire to reach further with the gospel to those who have not yet heard the good news (1 Chronicles 16:23).

14. The evil one is always trying to destroy our close relationship with God. Let us diligently spend time with God in prayer and praise. By doing so, we are effectively keeping evil forces out of our lives (James 4:7-8).

15. We pray for the spiritual maturity and protection of listeners. “The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). So, we can depend on God for victory in spiritual warfare.

16. The mind of a man is a battlefield. Pray for men to cultivate the “mind of Christ,” thinking as the Holy Spirit would lead instead of as the flesh leads (1 Corinthians 2:16).

17. Men’s eyes are often the least disciplined parts of their bodies. Pray for men to commit to having disciplined eyes and to resist the temptations to lust (Matthew 6:13).

18. Men’s ears need to be tuned to the Spirit of God. Pray for men to learn how to listen to the still small voice of the Lord in their consciences and hearts (1 Kings 19:12).

19. Men’s mouths can get them into trouble. Pray for men to have controlled tongues and to think through their words before they speak (Psalm 19:14). The indwelling Christ must renovate men’s hearts. Pray for men to allow the heart of Christ to beat in their spirits (Philippians 1:21 and Galatians 2:20).

20. The Bible instructs husbands to love their wives in an understanding way. Pray that James’ advice to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger will be heeded by husbands, helping them build a deeper understanding and appreciation of their wives (James 1:19).

21. Fathers have the power to build up or tear down their children with their words. Pray that men will refrain from unwholesome talk and use their words to build up their children (Ephesians 4:29).

22. Pray for God to help men resist temptation and draw their hearts, minds and bodies to their wives (Proverbs 5:15).

23. Chapter 15 of Proverbs says, “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict.” Pray for men to break the generational curse of unrighteous anger so their wives and children can experience God’s peace in their homes (Proverbs 15:18).

24. A loving father brought his sick son to Jesus for healing. Pray that fathers will pray over their children and bring their children’s needs to Jesus in prayer (Matthew 17:15).

25. In a time in which moral absolutes are being rejected and biblical values are being considered out of touch with reality, pray that Christian men will humbly submit to the teaching of Scripture and stand up for what is right and sound (Philippians 2:15).

26. The first commandment cited by Jesus in Matthew – to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind – along with the second – to love our neighbor as ourselves – build a solid base for a life of joy and peace. Because Christ lives in the believer, Christian men are enabled to fulfill these commandments. Pray that their leadership at home and in society reflects their faith, blessing those entrusted to them with an attitude of love and respect (Matthew 22:37).

27. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 27:12-13). Pray that these signs of the end times will turn the hearts of many men to focus on the eternal kingdom values. Pray that your heart and mind will be anchored in the promises of the Word of God. Believe him and stand firm in spite of the tsunami of bad news that washes over us from the media.

28. Bless those in authority by praying for them with supplication, intercession and thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1). The authorities are instituted by God and supposed to be God’s ministers for good (Romans 13:1, 4). The Lord hears our prayers and wants us to live quiet and peaceable lives in all goodliness and reverence (1 Timothy 2:2b).

29. Two ministries, Champions Arise and Every Man a Warrior, are joining efforts to encourage and train Christian men to be effective leaders at home and in society. Please pray for Edmund Spieker and Lonnie Berger as they plan to develop working models in Brazil over the coming months (Colossians 1:28).

30. Scripture exhorts us to exercise ourselves toward godliness (1 Timothy 4:1-7). As the signs of the last days are all around us, pray to be careful in following the simplicity of the gospel and biblical doctrine. Remember those who are being persecuted for their faith. Pray that your faith will not falter when you are honored by having to suffer for the name of Christ (2 Timothy 3:1-12).