40 Days of Prayer - Day 36

Day 36

‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’ – Luke 15:3-7

When Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep, He said that the shepherd left the ninety-nine to go and look for his lost sheep. This is exactly what Jesus did and continues to do for us. Pray that we will become like the good shepherd. Pray that we will follow the heart of God to the lost and the destitute, sharing the good news of Jesus with them. Ask God to open your eyes and ears to the needs of the people around you.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 35

Day 35 – Holy Monday

‘He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So, He opened not His mouth.’ – Isaiah 53:7

Around the world, Holy Week is celebrated in anticipation of Christ’s death and resurrection. It is a week of mourning the death of our Saviour but also a time of great joy, as we wait in expectation of His resurrection. Throughout this week, ask God to help you go deeper in understanding the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice.

40 Days of Prayer - Palm Sunday

PALM SUNDAY – On Sundays we pause to anticipate the coming of Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

‘The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"’ – John 12:12-13

40 Days of Prayer - Day 34

Day 34 – Your Relationship with Jesus

‘Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.’ – Habakkuk 3:17

God is our redeemer. Pray honestly and vulnerably, allowing God to expose the broken and painful areas in your life that prevent you from fully surrendering to Him. Ask God to bring His healing and reconciliation into those areas. Pray in thanksgiving for the depth of God’s grace.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 33

Day 33 – Someone you know

‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ – Isaiah 41:10

Today we invite you to be prayerful as you think about someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus or is struggling and in desperate need of God’s love. Pray for the words of Isaiah 41:10 to speak in their lives. Pray that they will develop a personal relationship with Christ. As you finish praying, we encourage you to think of ways in which you can encourage this individual and how you can stay connected in their life. May Christ be their light and hope.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 32

40 Days of Prayer Day 32 – Sacrificial Giving

‘And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you.’ – 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Hands at Work is committed to making the stories of vulnerable children personal. Across Africa, there are stories of volunteers going the extra mile, and sacrificially giving of themselves by taking on responsibility for the children that they have built relationship with. Ask God to give each Hands at Work volunteer a spirit of boldness and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, as they discern what it means to ‘make it personal’ in their own lives.

After visiting a vulnerable family in their home, Ramos, a member of the local Hands at Work team in Chimoio, Mozambique, shared the situation with the Care Workers and asked them, what can we give to this family? The Care Workers immediately raised their hands, one by one, and offered a mat, a blanket, clothes and food.

It was beautiful to see these Care Workers sacrificially giving of themselves out of their own poverty to care for the most vulnerable children. Today we invite you to think of ways that you can give of yourselves and care for the people around you. #40Days2020