DAY 18 (WED., 10/31)

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” Psalm 95:6-7

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG:  Father, as we come before Your throne today, help us to purify our thoughts and cleanse our hearts.  Father, we thank you for allowing us to be the flock that You guide, protect, and comfort.  Help us to bow down and truly worship You today.  Convict us to worship You.  

CF:  We confess, O God, that many times we fail to listen to your voice.  We listen to the loud call of the world at school, work, and through media.  Father, help us to be the flock under Your care.

PRAYER AGENDA:  Pray for all the volunteers that keep the church library organized and useful.  Pray that the joy of the Lord will shine through each one of us at home, work, and school.

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DAY 17 (TUES., 10/30)

PRAYER PROMISE:  “God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement...”  1 John 4:16-17

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG:  Lord, fill us with patience and kindness even when things are not going the way we had planned.  Teach us thoughtfulness.  Show us how to build one another up instead of tearing each other down.  Let us be willingly inconvenienced for one another’s needs and quick to go the second mile, then the third.  Lord help us to live in love so that we may live in You.    

PR:  We praise you ,O God, for your unfailing love. When we are weak You love.  When we fall short You love.  We praise you , O God, for a love so true.

PRAYER AGENDA:    Pray for our deacons and their families by name.  These families devote their time, talents, and resources to glorify God.  Pray for Matthew Hammock as he leads the FCA at El Dorado High School.

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DAY 16 (MON., 10/29)

“I pray for them.  I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.  And glory has come to me through them.”  John 17:9-10

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

IN:  Father, we pray today for the families You have chosen to give to us.  They are wholly and completely yours in every way.  You have blessed our families with abundance and surpassed all our worldy needs.  Help us to look through the lense of Your Son, that all we have is given by You.  Father, we ask for a covering of protection through Your Spirit over our families today.

MN:  Father, we pray for the families in our community that they will seek and grow in the knowledge of Your Son.
  
PRAYER AGENDA:  Pray for our Ladies Grief Recovery Class that all those present will find comfort in God.  Ask God’s blessing on the Camp Kurios Board as they plan for this years theme and focus.   

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DAY 15 (SUN., 10/28)

As we enter into the third week of our 40 days of prayer we continue to celebrate the confidence that we have in prayer.  This week we will be reminded that we can be confident when we address God because He is our Heavenly Father.    Just as an earthly father seeks the welfare of his flesh-and-blood children, so our Father in heaven is eager to bless us with “good gifts” in response to our requests. 

 Prayer Promise:  “Search me, O God, and know my heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG:   Father, we pray on this first day of the week, that we dedicate this week to You.  Search our hearts and give us the dedication to allow them to be searched.  Cleanse us from all dirt, grime, and stains we have allowed the world to place on us.  Purify our hearts as we begin this week of prayer.  Father, help us to guard our hearts and to use you as our filter from this world. 

PRAYER AGENDA:   Pray for Kenneth Langston as he serves our church thorugh his constant cleaning and maintaining of our facilities.  Ask God to bless Wayne andRhonda Harrell as they work with our scouts programs.    

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DAY 14 (SAT., 10/27)

“Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;  morning by morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. ” - Psalm 5:3

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG:  Father, help us to be more consistent, and more confident, in our prayer lives.   Give us the discipline to lay our requests before you each day, and the patience to wait for your answer. 

CF:  We confess that there have been times when we have led people from you, and not to you, through the carelessness of our words;  help us to be more sensitive to the impact of our actions, and more aware of those looking to us as examples. 

PRAYER AGENDA:  Ask for a special measure of grace today for those who are struggling with the sin of spiritual laziness or indifference.  Especially ask God to convict the hearts of those parents who do not make the effort to bring their children to Bible School, so that these young people may have the benefit of this good ministry before they are grown     *    Pray for all our Bible school teachers as they prepare for their classes tomorrow.  

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DAY 13 (FRI., 10/26)

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” - Psalm 145:18

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG:   Father, as we draw near to you in prayer today, give us a deeper sense of your presence in our lives.  Strengthen us with your Spirit, give us boldness, and help us to be more childlike in our faith. 

SG:   We especially pray for more humility.  Soften our hard hearts, and crucify our pride, so that we might be more eager to bend our stubborn wills to your gracious and loving will.   

PRAYER AGENDA:  Ask for a special measure of grace today for those in our church family who are struggling with chronic health problems   *   Pray for the evangelistic work of brothers Swamidas & Moses in India. 

 

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DAY 12 (THUR., 10/25)

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”  Romans 8:16-17

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR:   Heavenly Father, we praise You for the confidence that we receive from knowing that your Holy Spirit lives in us, and that He intercedes for us. Thank you for the work of your Spirit to develop the fruits of love, joy, and peace in us.

SG:  Lord, help us to be honest with ourselves and our priorities.  Help us to respond to the leading of your Spirit when He seeks to convict and correct us, so that we can make the changes necessary to reach our full potential in you. 

PRAYER AGENDA:  Ask God’s blessing on Rob Newsom our Youth Deacon  *  Pray for Gail and Joan as they work in our church office, as they represent us to the community, and as they support the ministries of our staff.  *   Ask for a special measure of strength today for those who are struggling with an anger problem. 

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DAY 11 (WED., 10/24)

“For you have not received a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” - Romans 8:15

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR:   Heavenly Father, we thank you for the Spirit of sonship that reinforces our sense of belonging in your family.   We thank you for our brothers and sisters in our spiritual family, the church.  We thank you for the encouragement we receive from our fellowship with other Christians.

CF:  We confess that we often get so busy that we don’t make sufficient time for church, for service, and for spiritual growth.  Help us, Father, to examine our priorities and spend our lives on things that last.

PRAYER AGENDA:   Pray today for those who are on the Youth Council that they will continue to seek God’s guidance as they plan activities and programs that help our children grow spiritually   *   Ask the Lord to bless all the teachers in both the public and private schools, as they attempt to shape and mold the minds and hearts of young people        

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DAY 10 (TUE., 10/23)

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  Matthew 6:8

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” - Matthew 6:32-33

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

CF:   Father, we confess that in these troubling times we are often fearful for our future, and forget that you are still in charge. As we grieve over our declining portfolios, we have not focused enough on your provision for us.  We confess we have trusted too much in our securities, and not enough in your security. 

IN:   Help us to remember that you know our every need, and you stand ready to provide for us.   Give us wisdom with our money, but enable us to not fall in love with it.   Bless our nation’s leaders with wisdom, that our country’s financial problems may be solved, but at the same time, give us more trust in you, so we might be delivered of our anxiety and worry.  

PRAYER AGENDA:    Pray for our Sunday night youth ministries this fall and for all who work with them - for our Nursery (Tina Newsom), Children’s Bible Hour (Katie Owens and Denise Hill), Kid’s for Christ (Mike and Myra Arnold, Julie Fite, Gena Medford, and Adria Norton), our Middle School Growth Group (Leroy and Robin Shelton and Brian and Christina Arnold), and Open Door (Brandon and Leanne Harrell, Chris Reaves, and Jason and Julie Baker).      

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DAY 9 (MON., 10/22)

PRAYER PROMISE: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” - James 1:17

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR:  We praise you, O God, for the many, many gifts you have showered down on us.   You have given us homes to live in, plenty of food to eat, and a secure place where we can worship without fear.  We thank you, our Father, for every reminder of your goodness and grace in our lives.

MN:   Father, we pray for those in our community who have not yet experienced the gift of salvation and are waiting for someone to share the Good News of your Son.   Bless the members and ministries of this church family so that we might effectively share the good news of grace with them.
  
PRAYER AGENDA:   Ask the Lord to bless the work of Kent Jobe, our Minister of Discipleship  *  Pray for the outreach of our Growth Groups this fall.

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DAY 8 (SUN., 10/21)

As we enter into the second week of our 40 days of prayer we continue to celebrate the confidence that we have in prayer.  This week we will be reminded that we can be confident when we address God because He is our Heavenly Father.    Just as an earthly father seeks the welfare of his flesh-and-blood children, so our Father in heaven is eager to bless us with “good gifts” in response to our requests.  

PRAYER PROMISE:  “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”  Matthew 7:11

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR:   We praise you, O God, for being such a good Father to us and allowing us to be your children.  Thank you for being a generous and giving Father. There are no words to adequately describe your love towards us.  We are humbled by the greatest demonstration of your love for us, when you gave up your own Son for our benefit.

PRAYER AGENDA:   Ask God’s blessings on the work of Philip & Laura Shero in Uganda  *  Pray for all our young people who are away at college  *  Ask a special measure of strength today for those in our church family who are trying to give up the habit of smoking.  

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DAY 7 (SAT, 10/20)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" -Psalm 139:23-24

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

CF:  Father, we open our hearts to you today.  Take away our anxious thoughts; deliver us from worry and give us a confident faith.

IN:  We pray today for the nurses at the Medical Center and for the attendants in the nursing homes here in El Dorado and Union County.   Bless them with patience and compassion in the sometimes difficult work they do in ministering to the ill.   Guide their hands that they might bring healing to those who are hurting.

PRAYER AGENDA:  Ask God's blessings on all our Bible teachers as they prepare themselves to share the riches of God's Word with their classes tomorrow.   *  Pray for all the precious children who are growing up in this church, that the seed of faith might be planted deep in their hearts   *  Thank God for the loving work of those who serve in our church nursery.

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DAY 6 (FRI, 10/19)

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving" - Colossians 3:23-24

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR:  Father, we praise you today for our jobs.  Thank you for the opportunity to work, to make an honest living, and to provide for our families.  Help us to use our labor to bring you glory.  We thank you for the opportunity to be useful and productive, and for the assurance of the reward you have promised us when we work with integrity.  We ask that you open doors for us to be witnesses in our workplace.

IN:  Some in our church family are looking for employment:   pray specifically today that they will find the job they need.

PRAYER AGENDA:   Pray for all those who are striving to bring new jobs and economic revival to our area    *   Ask the Lord to bless the leaders of our local governments   *   Pray for the police and firefighters in our area as they keep us safe & secure.  


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DAY 5 (THUR, 10/18)

"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him" - 1 John 3:21-22

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

IN:  Our shepherds ask that we pray today for the families of our congregation, and especially those families that are experiencing difficulties.  Ask God to bless troubled marriages and bring healing and peace and reconciliation where there is conflict.  Ask God to bless parents as they seek to raise their children, that they might exercise a healthy authority balanced by love.  Pray especially today for the welfare of those children who are growing up in homes that are broken by discord or divorce.

MN:  Pray for the work of Jason & Julie Baker as they seek to strengthen our families and to lead young people to the Lord.  Ask God to bless our Youth Council as it coordinates  our ministries.  Pray especially for the parents of our young people as they seek to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in an increasingly ungodly culture.

PRAYER AGENDA:   Pray today, by name, for each of our shepherds as they lead this church family:  ask God's blessings on Bret Garrett, David Hogg, Mike Meadows, David Ponder, Bruce Simpson, Jim Welch, and Allen White.  Ask God to grant them wisdom, compassion, and courage, that we might continue to be a strong and sound congregation.   *   Ask the Lord to place a desire to serve in the hearts of our younger men, so that He might continue to raise up the leaders we need for the generations to come.

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DAY 4 (WED, 10/17)

"Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek and you will find;  knock and the door will be opened to you" - Matthew 7:7

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR:  We thank you, Father, for your constant assurances that you will hear, and answer, our petitions.  Help us to pray in faith, and to pray with faithfulness, that we might complete this campaign.  

SG: Father, we confess that we are often inattentive to the leading of your Spirit in our lives;  that we can be blind to needs of even those close to us;  that we often grumble about the service that we do render in your name.  Help us to be greater servants; to be cheerful givers;  to be willing workers in your kingdom.  Prevent us from falling in love with the pleasures and possessions of the world and neglecting our own spiritual growth or the opportunity to serve others.

PRAYER AGENDA:  Pray for all the Bible teachers who will be leading their class tonight  *  Ask God to open doors of opportunity this week, that we might invite someone to our Growth Group.

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DAY 3 (TUE, 10/16)

"Forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors....for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" - Matthew 6:12, 14 

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

CF:   Father, as we examine our hearts we recognize we are not always as gracious and patient with our loved ones as You have been with us.   Help us reflect the grace we have received from you in a relationship with a loved one today.   Give us a forgiving spirit, Lord, that we might be forgiven by you.

MN:   We thank God for all the individuals from our church family who volunteer to serve in our Recovery Ministry.  Bless their work with a harvest of souls, Lord,  and give your grace to all those who are struggling to overcome their addiction.  Especially bless the work of Deacons Scott Barnette, Rick Cook, Herman Hill, and Jack Reynolds in this ministry.

PRAYER AGENDA:  Ask God to strengthen and guide Jane Reynolds as she leads the Ladies Bible class today  *   Thank the Lord for the loving work of our Care Coordinators  *  Pray for the ministry of Wes & Ariel Woodell as they help launch a new church in St Louis.

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DAY 2 (MON, 10/15)

PRAYER PROMISE:   "I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

IN:   Father, we pray for the leaders of our country, that they might seek the common good rather than their own self-interest; that as a result of the coming election we will be blessed with honest, capable leadership;  that our nation will be kept safe and secure from the attacks of those who seek to harm us. 

MN:   Lord, help us to use our freedom wisely, and boldly, that we might stand up for righteousness and speak up for good.  Guide us in using our wealth responsibly, to further Your work in the world.

PRAYER AGENDA:   Ask the Lord to bless our nation as it goes through difficult economic times and another national election  *  Pray for our country's leaders as they make crucial decisions that affect our financial future  *  Intercede for our soldiers in harm's way overseas  * 

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DAY 1 (SUN, 10/14)

PRAYER PROMISE:   "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" - Hebrews 4:15-16

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR:  Father, we thank you today for sending Jesus to this world, to be made like one of us, so that he can understand and communicate to you what it feels like to be a human being.  We praise you for your grace, and in the name of Jesus beg you for mercy when we fall short.  We thank you for the confidence that comes from your promise to hear, and graciously answer, our prayers.

PRAYER AGENDA:   Ask God to bless our Growth Groups that meet tonight  *  Ask a special blessing on the Middle School group led by Leroy & Robin Shelton  *   Thank God for continued unity & love in our church family * Remember the sick listed in today's worship bulletin.

_____________________


This week's prayer guides were prepared by Dan.

***If you know of others who may also like to receive their daily prayer guides over the 40 days via e-mail, please share this with them and so they may click on the link below to sign up.  Thank you.***

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7 Practical Suggestions for Using the Prayer Guides

You are about to embark on one of life's greatest adventures:  the life-changing discipline of fervent prayer!  To ensure your successful completion of the 40 Days, consider these practical suggestions:

1. Choose a specific time when you will pray each day (Daniel 6:10);   be sure it is a time you will be alert (Matthew 26:40-41). Choose a specific place to be when you pray each day;   make sure it is one where you will be undistracted (Matthew 6:6).

2. Decide now where you will keep this prayer guide so that you can find it readily.  For example, consider leaving it by your bedside or in your Bible.

3. Each day during your devotional time, read aloud the specific prayer requests for that day. This will help your mind focus on the petitions you will be offering.  To track your progress, check off the box by each date after you have completed that day's petitions.

4. If you are married or have a family, consider praying together (1 Peter 3:7.)  Family or couple prayers can not only strengthen our relationship with God but also build closeness between family members.

5. The prayer guide also contains daily "PRAYER PROMISES":   that is, scripture readings that assure us of the blessings of prayer.  Take a moment to read each day's scripture aloud before praying, to clear your mind and prepare your heart for your conversation with God (Psalm 19:14).

6. These guides are designed to expand our prayer repertoire by going beyond routine requests (Ephesians 6:18);  therefore, be sure to include ALL of the petitions in your devotions.

7. Finally, remember that our Father wants to speak to US, too! Ask God to help you be sensitive to the leading of His Spirit (Romans 8:12-27, Galatians 5:16-18) and alert to the answers He sends in your life (Acts 12:12-16)!


***If you were subscribed to e-mail updates of previous prayer campaigns with College Avenue Church of Christ, you are still subscribed now and should be receiving the 2012 daily e-mails.  If you know of others who may also like to receive their daily prayer guides over the 40 days via e-mail, please forward this e-mail to them and so they may click on the link below to sign up.  Thank you.***

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40 Days of Prayer Starts Sunday!

40 Days of Prayer:

12th Annual Prayer Campaign

In keeping with our goal of truly being a church "of Christ," our shepherds have called us to follow the example of Jesus by spending the next 40 days in concentrated, coordinated, congregational prayer.  If you are willing to be a part of this spiritual discipline, please use each week's prayer guide to pray for at least five minutes a day for 40 days, and to pray for the specific needs identified by the overseers of our church family.  The prayer items for each week are labeled either PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), SG (Spiritual Growth), or MN (Ministry Needs).

The theme of this year's prayer campaign is "Praying With Boldness."   Hebrews 4:16 assures us that because of the intercession of Christ our High Priest, we can   "boldly approach the throne of our gracious God, where we may receive mercy and in his grace find timely help."

Our daily meditations and prayers are designed to remind and reassure us of the promises that are given to those who sincerely seek God's blessings through Christ. 



***If you were subscribed to e-mail updates of previous prayer campaigns with College Avenue Church of Christ, you are still subscribed now and should be receiving the 2012 daily e-mails.  If you know of others who may also like to receive their daily prayer guides over the 40 days via e-mail, please forward this e-mail to them and so they may click on the link below to sign up.  Thank you.***

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