2009 National Foster Care Prayer Vigil

The National Foster Care Prayer Vigil is calling followers of Christ together across the country during the week of May 17-24 to cry out to God on behalf of children and youth in our nation’s foster care system, their families, their workers, and the church as it responds to the needs of those involved in the foster care system.

Is God calling you to be the voice for your city? See the map for a listing of vigils already scheduled.  See the links to the left to learn how you can become equipped to add your city to the map.

Gather together.  Pray for the kids.  Watch God work.

Continue in Prayer

Each year I look forward to Spurgeon’s Morning reading for January 2nd to give my prayer life a kickstart. Here is a quote:

Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”

Read the whole thing here.

George Muller and Praying for God’s Provision

This excerpt from George Muller’s Autobiography is a great example and encouragement of how to trust in the Lord and plead with Him alone for His provision:

My gracious Lord has not sent me help yet. Yesterday and today I have been pleading with God, giving reasons why He would be pleased to send help. The arguments I used are:

1. I began the work for the glory of God that there might be visible proof of God supplying, in answer to prayer only, the necessities of the orphans. He is the living God and eager to answer prayer. 
2. God is the “Father of the fatherless,” and as their Father, He should be pleased to provide (see Psalm 68:5).
3. I have received the children in the name of Jesus. Therefore, He, in these children, has been received, fed, and clothed (see Mark 9:36-37).
4. The faith of many of the children of God has been strengthened by this work. If God withheld the means for the future, those who are weak in faith would be discouraged. If the ministry was continued, their faith might still further be strengthened. 
5. Many enemies would laugh if the Lord withheld supplies and say, “We knew that this enthusiasm would come to nothing.” 
6. Many of the children of God, who are uninstructed or in a carnal state, would feel justified to continue their alliance with the world in their ministries. They would continue in their unscriptural proceedings to raise money if He did not help me. 
7. God knows that I cannot provide for these children in my own strength. Therefore, He would not allow this burden to lie on me long without sending help.
8. My fellow-laborers in the ministry also trust in Him.
9. I would have to dismiss the children from under our scriptural instruction to their former companions if He does not help me. 
10. He could prove wrong those who said, “In the beginning supplies might be expected while the ministry is new, but after a while, people will lose interest and stop supporting it.” 
11. If He did not provide, how could I explain the many remarkable answers to prayer which He had given to me previously which have shown me that this work is of God?

In some small measure I now understand the meaning of that word, “how long,” which frequently occurs in the prayers of the Psalms. But even now, by the grace of God, my eyes are on Him only, and I believe that He will send help.”

“Live on the Brink of Eternity”

I’m re-reading the Life and Diary of David Brainerd and again being humbled and encouraged by his radical sensitivity and passion for Christ. This quote made me think of the missionary couple that I posted on the other day and how easily I can lose sight of eternity. This life is a vapor in light of eternity.

“Oh, I love to live on the brink of eternity, in my views and meditations! This gives me a sweet, awful, and reverential sense and apprehension of God and divine things, when I see myself as it were standing before the judgement seat of Christ…My soul is delighted to be a stranger and pilgrim on the earth.” p. 101

Free Audiobook Download of the Month

Each month christianaudio.com gives away a full audiobook download for free. This month it is one of my favorite classic books – The Practice of the Presence of God (Unabridged) by Brother Laurence

Use the coupon code JULY2008