Jesus:  Messiah

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’. John 1:41

What a profound statement Andrew made to his brother Simon Peter! Can’t you just see Andrew – so eager to find his brother to tell him that he had found the Messiah.  The name Messiah in Greek means Christ.

In verse 40 we are told that Andrew and another disciple had heard what John the Baptist had said about Jesus. So they followed Jesus and spent time with him.  Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. After meeting Jesus, Andrew found his brother, Simon Peter. Oh, how he must have loved his brother. He wanted Peter to be the first to know what he had learned about Jesus. 

Then what a beautiful picture verse 42 paints for us when it says, “He (Andrew) brought him (Simon Peter) to Jesus”. So, not only did Andrew tell Simon about Jesus, he brought him to Jesus and introduced him to the Messiah, the Christ!!

As you go about your day, think about opportunities to share the love of Jesus, the Christ.   

Say or sing these words:

  Share His love by telling what the Lord has done for you,

  Share His love by sharing of your faith,

  And show the world that Jesus Christ is real to you

  every moment, every day.

When you pray, ask God to help you follow the example of Andrew: to share the love of Jesus.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Author and Perfecter of our Faith

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

This verse describing Jesus follows the “faith” chapter, Hebrews 11. We read of the Old Testament men of God who had faith in God’s promise even when they did not live to receive it. Jesus the Son, who was with the Father when His plan for us was designed, is the author or creator of that faith. By His coming to earth to die for our sins, He has completed our faith. He has both finished the promise of those who came before and become the hope of us who can accept His salvation personally.

Verse 2 says that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that was awaiting Him to sit on God’s right hand. But He had already been with the Father and had that joy. His joy was not only because He was returning to the Father but because He was making a way for us to join Him.

If we keep our focus on Jesus, He is there to help us perfect our faith. Only in Him can we be made perfect.

Say or sing these words:

  Faith of our fathers, we will strive

  To win all nations unto Thee;

  And through the truth that comes from God,

  We all shall then be truly free.

  Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

  We will be true to thee till death.

When you pray, thank God that Jesus died on the cross that you might be His joy.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  The Life

Jesus said to him, `I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14:6

Jesus is the life both physically and spiritually.  Often, when we speak of life we mean the opposite of death. That is certainly part of the meaning in this verse.  In the physical sense, Jesus literally gave life to others, such as the time He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead.  Also, the way that Jesus lived is our example of how we are to live. This can be difficult to figure out in the 21st century, especially in this age of technology with instant access to countless temptations.  We are able to send e-mails and texts and post comments without first thinking about how the message is going to affect the recipient.  Jesus and the disciples had no such technological issues to consider.  If we are going to call ourselves Christians, whatever we say or do must reflect our claim that we are following His life as our example. 

Are we attracting others to the faith or repelling them from it with our words, actions, and attitudes at home, at work, or at school?  

Jesus gives us spiritual life. Sin separates us from God, and Jesus is the bridge and mediator between our sinful, human selves and God.  This was signified when the temple veil was torn in two. We no longer need to go through a rabbi or a priest and make sacrifices to access God the Father.  Jesus was the sacrifice; therefore we have a direct line to God.   Jesus gives Christians everlasting life with Him in Heaven.  In His death, burial, and resurrection, death is destroyed.  

I cannot think of anything more comforting than knowing that we will be reunited with our loved ones one day. While reading a children’s novel this week I was reminded that in some Native American languages, there is no word for “goodbye.”  Their idea is that since the individual was in your life at one time, he or she will continue to influence your life forever.  The person is never really gone, and we will be together again in the afterlife.  Because of Christ, we are never really gone.  Death is a comma at the end of the sentence, not a period. 

Say or sing these words from “I’ll Live for Him”:

  O Thou who died on Calvary,

  To save my soul and make me free,

  I’ll consecrate my life to Thee,

  My Savior and my God!

  I’ll live for Him who died for me,

  How happy then my life shall be!

  I’ll live for Him who died for me,

  My Savior and my God!

When you pray, thank God for showing you how to live both physically and spiritually.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  The Truth

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’  John 14:6

Truth is a deep concept. When I was a child I believed that everything would be easier when I got older. Now that I am older I realize that the opposite is often true. One of my favorite sayings is, “The more I think, the more confused I get.” This is especially true of abstract ideas such as the ones we study in our Christian faith.

Thinking about what “truth” means can last a lifetime and confound even well-educated scholars. Ask any philosopher or theologian. 

I asked 95 twelve year olds what “truth” means.  Their responses were insightful: the opposite of tricking, what is right, the actual meaning of something, someone you can depend on, honest, to be open-not holding anything in, without hiding anything, not deceitful, having faith in somebody, the real story-for example, The Bible.

Some people believe that truth is relative. There is no comfort in “truth” being whatever you want it to be.  As Christians, we have our peace in the absolute knowledge that Christ is THE truth.  He was truly God and truly man.  Jesus the Son was sent to teach us about the true nature of God the Father. Christ was the fulfillment of the prophecies from the Old Testament. 

Jesus is our example of how to live the way that God desires us to live, and His truth helps us discern what is true from what is false.

Say or sing these words from “Break Thou the Bread of Life.”

  Thou art the bread of life,  

  O Lord, to me,

  Thy holy Word the truth

  That saveth me;

  Give me to eat and live

  With thee above;

  Teach me to love Thy truth,

  For Thou art love.

When you pray, thank God for sending Christ to show us the truth that saves us.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Mediator between God and Man

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.  1 Timothy 2:5

In the New Testament Jesus is given many titles.  One of those titles is “Mediator”.  He is called Mediator four times in the New Testament.  As Mediator, Jesus enables God and man to meet directly and personally.

Jesus Christ is both divine and human.  As true God He brings God to man.  As true man He brings man to God.  Matthew 1:23 expresses this truth about the birth of Jesus as prophesied in Isaiah:  “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him

Immanuel – -which means, ‘God with us’.”

What an incredible gift God has given to us in Christ Jesus, our Mediator.

Say or sing the hymn “Jesus My Advocate Above”, written by Charles Wesley:

  Jesus, my advocate above,  

  My friend before the throne of love,  

  If now for me prevails Thy prayer,   

  If now I find Thee pleading there,  

  If Thou the secret wish convey,  

  And sweetly prompt my heart to pray;  

  Hear, and my weak petitions join,  

  Almighty advocate, to Thine.

When you pray, give thanks for the many ways Jesus loves you.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Good Shepherd

I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  John 10:11

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. He spoke to His followers in terms they understood. They knew that a shepherd was the caretaker of his flock. They knew that it was a shepherd’s job to watch after the flock and to protect the sheep from harm. Although we may not personally be associated with shepherds and sheep, it is still easy for us to understand the image that Jesus presents.

Shortly after Christmas we received an email with a photo attached that was entitled “I a shepherd”.  Our 2½ year old granddaughter had wrapped a blanket around her neck and proclaimed herself a shepherd. While she probably did not fully understand the role of a shepherd, she understood the relationship to the sheep. She had just been a ‘sheep’ in the school Christmas program.

We, too, as sheep should recognize our relationship to the Shepherd. As ones who often wander off the path, walk without thinking into situations we shouldn’t, and get caught in thickets of trouble and despair--we need to know that our Good Shepherd is there to rescue us.

Jesus provides for our needs and gives us His place of quiet rest. He is ready to guide us back on the right path and most importantly, He has already given His life that we might have life eternal.

Say or sing these words:

  My Shepherd will supply my need:  

  Jehovah is His Name;  

  In pastures fresh He makes me feed,  

  Beside the living stream.  

  He brings my wandering spirit back  

  When I forsake His ways,  

  And leads me, for His mercy’s sake,  

  In paths of truth and grace.

When you pray, thank God that you have a Shepherd who watches over you and laid down His life for you.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus: Author of Life

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

Since I was a child, I have always been fascinated with the birth of a baby. However, it was not until I was expecting our child, when I read in awe on a weekly basis about how this miracle was being formed, that I began to see God as the true Author of Life.

In the beginning, God breathed life into Adam, and He just keeps giving life. Have you ever really thought about that? He knew each of us before anyone else – when I was just a baby, He knew my personality, my strengths, my weakness, those things that make me unique, and even my sins, and yet he loved me still. Not only that, but he loved me enough to send Jesus, who keeps giving me new life day by day.

Yes, God is the Author of Life – the miracle of life, the gift of life, and the hope of life everlasting.

Say or sing or say these words:

   For you created me within.

   You knit me in my mother’s womb,

   I praise you for I am fearfully made,

   Your works are wonderful.

   If I rise of the wings of the dawn,

   If I settle on the far side of the sea,

   Even there your hand will guide me,

   Your right hand will hold me fast.

When you pray, thank God for the gift of life – yours, your families, your loved ones gone before.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Resurrection and the Life

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.’  John 11:25

I think all humans, at some point, think about what will happen when they die.  As we get older, we think about that a lot more!  As believers in Christ, we don’t have to worry about if there is a heaven.  Because of the Resurrection, we have the assurance that we will be there with Christ. Anywhere with Him will be a wonderful place!

In this story Martha and her sister are sad because their brother, Lazarus, has died.  Both women believe that he would not have died had Jesus been there.  Because of their faith, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, proving that He has power over death.  Of course, this is just a foreshadowing of the ultimate power over death that Jesus has. 

One of our most meaningful religious practices is the ordinance of baptism.  Through baptism, we symbolize dying and being reborn when we lie back in the water and then rise up.  In this way, we are “resurrected” to begin a new life, cleansed of our sins.  In John 11:26, Jesus goes on to promise that “everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”  Not only do we have a new life after baptism, but we are promised everlasting life.  Now there is a story with a happy ending!

Say or sing these words from “He is Lord”:

   He is Lord, He is Lord!

   He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!

   Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess

   That Jesus Christ is Lord.

When you pray, thank God for Jesus and His power over death.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Rabbi/Teacher

Jesus looked around and saw two men following him.  Jesus asked them, 'What do you want?' The men replied, 'Rabbi' (which means 'Teacher'), 'where are you staying?' Jesus answered, 'Come with me and you will see.'  John 1:38

These two men, who were disciples, went with Jesus. They saw the place where Jesus was staying and spent time with Him that day. The disciples had heard about this amazing man, this “Lamb of God”.  They were eager to know more about Him and about His heart.

Imagine you were these disciples and heard all the stories about Jesus. Would you be curious? Would you want to seek Him out and find out where He was staying? What is His purpose, His desires, His heart? Would you be willing to follow Him?

Jesus' invitation to these early disciples is also an invitation to us. "Come and see!" Jesus says. "You want to know my heart? You want to know what is important to me? You want to know how I can bless you? Come and see!" He asks us to come, stay awhile with Him, and learn from Him. He invites us to "come and see!"

Say or sing these words:

  O how He loves you and me.

  O how He loves you and me;

  He gave His life, what more could He give?

  O how He loves you;

  O how He loves me;

  O how He loves you and me.

When you pray, ask Jesus to help you learn from Him today.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Son of David

Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on

us!’   Matthew 20:30

Jesus, the promised Messiah had many titles conferred on Him throughout the scriptures.  To the Jews of His day, none was so meaningful to them as “Son of David.”

The “Promised One,” as prophesied, was to come through the ancestral line of David.  “Son of David” identified Jesus as not only a Jew but also as a descendent of their ideal king.  David was certainly not a perfect man, but the “Son of David” was perfect and in all ways a man after God’s own heart.

Jesus eclipses David. He is the King of Kings. He is sent from God to teach us how to have a heart like God’s. 

“What would Jesus do?” is a question that became popular some years ago, and can be our guide each day.  Dedicate yourself to follow the model of Jesus in all your dealings and you will not go wrong.

Say or sing these words:

       More about Jesus would I know.

       More of His grace to others show;

       More of His saving fullness see,

       More of His love who died for me.

       More about Jesus let me learn

       More of His holy will discern;

       Spirit of God my teacher be,

       Showing the things of God to me.

When you pray, ask God to help you grow to be more like Jesus.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Only Begotten of the Father

 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.   John 1: 14

When you think about God, where do you think He is?  Do you look up to the sky and to the heavens?  Do you think about Him being in “some other place?”  Often we think of God as being far removed from the cares and concerns of the world.

When Jesus became a man, He came to show us God.  We could never reach up to God in heaven, but in love He came down here to us as Jesus. He became touchable, approachable, and reachable.  Jesus shows us God in a way that we can understand.

Jesus is the only Son of God.  He came to earth for each one of us.

Sing or say these words from “At the Name of Jesus”:

  At the name of Jesus

  Every knee shall bow.

  Every tongue confess Him

  King of Glory now.

  Tis the Father’s pleasure

  We should call Him Lord,

  Who from the beginning

  Was the mighty Word.

When you pray, thank God for sending His only son, Jesus, to earth for you.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Emmanuel, God with Us

Behold the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which translated means ‘God with us.’  

Matthew 1:23

We all have many names. I am a mother, daughter, wife, sister, aunt, niece, and friend.  Each one of these names means something different, yet I am still the same person.

Jesus had many different names too. One of these names was Emmanuel which means "God with us".  In old testament times, God was in one place--the temple.  If you wanted to be "with God" you had to travel to the temple.  With the birth of Jesus, we no longer have to go to the temple. Jesus is Emmanuel—He is always with us. What a blessing!

Say or sing these words from “Hope, Peace, Joy and Love”:

  Hope, peace, joy and love!

  These are gifts You bring from above.

  Jesus, Emmanuel, come to be

  Light of Your love, reflected in me.

When you pray, give thanks to God for His constant presence in your life.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Prince of Peace

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.   Isaiah 9:6  

Do you ever have one of those days when you’d like to sit down, throw your hands in the air, and say “Calgon, take me away?” We’ve heard those words many times before and seen the commercials on TV of how this product can help you feel like you’ve let all your troubles go. It’s hard not to chuckle here and say, “if only it were that easy”.  

On most days we don’t find ourselves facing life altering situations or difficult illnesses. However, in the midst of the day to day rat race of work, school, responsibilities at home, family, etc., it’s very easy to find ourselves overwhelmed.  It is in those moments that we have to stop and remind ourselves that our Savior, Jesus, not only has the ability to speak peace over us; He is the Prince of Peace. He is the very essence of peace.  His nature is to be a peacemaker.

Be reminded today that no matter what you face, whether it’s difficult news or just trying to get dinner on the table, the Prince of Peace is very near. We need only call upon Him and ask Him to come and bring peace to us. In doing so, we often find that our circumstances don’t necessarily change, but the peace in our hearts will overflow. The Prince of Peace is near and He is waiting to come to us.

Sing or say these words from the old Rich Mullins Song,

“Hold Me, Jesus”:  

  Sometimes my life just don't make sense at all.  

  And the mountains look so big,

  and my faith just seems so small.  

  So hold me, Jesus, ‘cause I'm shakin' like a leaf.  

  You have been king of my glory; won't you be my prince of peace?

When you pray today, thank God that He knew you would need a Prince of Peace in your life.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus: The Word

Just look around you! What do you see--mountains, trees, the sky, the birds? It's hard to imagine a time when the world didn't exist! God, the Word, was here even before the heavens and the earth were created.

A word is a form of communication; it can be spoken or written or even sung.  God, the Word, speaks to us in many ways. Sometimes He's speaking to us through a Bible verse or story and sometimes through the pastor on Sunday morning.  Other times He might speak to us through something a friend says or does for us.  And sometimes, if we're still and quiet and listening, He speaks to us in prayer.

Say or sing these words from "I Love the Bible, the Word of God", author unknown (tune of "Blessed Assurance"):

  I love the Bible, the Word of God.

  It is the Word God has given to man.

  Telling who God is, all that He's done,

  How much He loved me; He sent His Son.

  I love the Bible, the Word of God.

  It is the Word God gave unto man.

  I love the Bible, The Word of God.

  It is the Word God gave unto man.

When you pray, thank God for being the Word that guides us, teaches us, and helps us.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Son of Man

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  Matt.18:11

We all lose things. Some of these things are disposable and can be easily replaced while some are valuable and very costly to replace.

Death is loss that is irreplaceable and final. Once while at the beach in Destin our Sam and a friend, both about ten years old, were playing in rather heavy surf. Suddenly Sam’s friend came running to shore yelling that Sam had been pulled out over his head and was struggling to stay afloat. For an instant, as I ran out to get him, the thought of losing Sam raced through my mind and my only mission in life was to get him back safely to shore.

Can you imagine that Jesus felt that same urgency about everyone on earth!  He had come to save the lost and His only mission was to accomplish that goal before a single one was lost. As Son of man, Jesus was both human and spirit. He feels that intense human joy and sorrow for each one of us.

Say or sing the words to “Why Do I Sing About Jesus”:

  Deep in my heart there’s a gladness;

  Jesus has saved me from sin.

  Praise to His name, what a Savior!

  Cleansing without and within!

  Why do I sing about Jesus?

  Why is He precious to me?

  He is my Lord and my Savior;

  Dying, He set me Free!

When you pray, give thanks for Jesus coming to earth as the Son of man and caring so much for you.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Son of God

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…  Mark 1:1  

Traveling is one of my favorite things. I love to prepare for a trip and imagine all the things I might do while I’m gone. I check websites for lists of things to do in the places I go, and I always try to check the weather to make sure I’m prepared for whatever temperatures or precipitation I might encounter.

I also make a list of what I need to pack for my trips. I love putting each thing in my suitcase and crossing it off the list. I must confess that I have a tendency to over pack, but I like to be prepared with everything I might need.

In the journey of our day to day life we can always be certain that we have everything we need because of Jesus. He is the Son of God. Say that out loud and think about the words: “Jesus is the Son of God.”   He is the closest thing to God that ever has or ever will exist.  As a matter of fact, He is God.  

Today’s scripture verse reminds us that the Bible is filled with the redemption story of Jesus, the Son of God coming to bring salvation to all of us.  In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus we have been given everything we need for whatever we may face in this life.

As you walk your daily journey, be reminded that you don’t have to worry about what’s been packed for you. Jesus, the Son of God is everything you will ever need.

Sing or say these words from “All That Thrills My Soul is Jesus”:  

  Who can cheer the heart like Jesus,  

  By His presence all divine?  

  True and tender, pure and precious,  

  O how blessed to call Him mine!  

  All that thrills my soul is Jesus,  

  He is more than life to me;  

  And the fairest of ten thousand  

  In my blessed Lord I see.

When you pray, thank God that He gave us everything we need in His Son, Jesus.

Click here to submit a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Savior

My heart rejoices in God my Savior.  Luke 1:47

Before Jesus was born, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth.  Mary was worried about the things that were happening to her.   As soon as Elizabeth saw Mary, she responded in a loud voice.  Elizabeth told Mary that she was very special.  Mary was special because she would be the mother of Jesus our Savior. 

This made Mary very happy since Elizabeth could have known this only because God had let her know.    She was so full of happiness that she “rejoiced”.    Rejoicing is better than being happy.  We rejoice when we have what we need and want the most.    

We each have the same happiness and joy that Mary had since Jesus is also our Savior.   So may we all have a “Rejoicing New Year”.

Say or sing these words from “Give Me Joy In My Heart”:

  Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,  

  Give me joy in my heart, I pray,  

  Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,  

  Keep me praising 'till the break of day.

When you pray, thank God for the joy we have in Jesus, not only in the new year, but forever.

Click here to send a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Lamb of God

The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'  John 1:29

As children, we learn from stories that are read to us or television shows that we watch.  Many of these stories have animals as central characters.  For a lot of us, a sheep is a favorite animal due to its fluffiness and gentle nature.  So it shouldn’t be a surprise that a lamb is one of the most beloved animals of children.  They are meek and appear to need protection from anything harmful.

In Biblical times, sheep and lambs were valuable assets.  Many men were employed as shepherds, just to protect an owner’s flock of sheep.  Lambs were commonly used as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the person bringing it to the altar.  Lambs were considered pure, and the most valuable ones were unblemished. 

When John said that Jesus was “the Lamb of God”, he was trying to give everyone the image of Jesus’ importance.  He also gave them the image of a pure, unblemished lamb.  Jesus became the sacrifice to atone for the sins of all mankind. 

Jesus would preach the good news in an aggressive manner. He would accept his role as a sacrifice for all people like a lamb.  Aren’t we glad that God sent a lamb to be sacrificed for us, so that we might have eternal life!    

Say or sing these words from “You are My All in All” by Dennis Jernigan:

  You are my strength when I am weak.  

  You are the treasure that I seek.  

  You are my all in all.  

  Seeking You as a precious jewel,  

  Lord, to give up I'd be a fool,  

  You are my all in all.  

  Jesus, Lamb of God  

  Worthy is Your name.  

  Jesus, Lamb of God  

  Worthy is Your name.

When you pray, thank God for the supreme sacrifice Jesus made for us as the Lamb of God.

Click here to send a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus: Alpha and Omega

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  Revelations 21:6

When I was decorating our Christmas Tree with my four year old grandson in December, he showed me the Chrismon ornament representing Alpha and Omega and said, “Grammy, does this stand for Auburn?” I said “It is an A but this one stands for Jesus.  Christ told us He was everything from A to Z, that is what Alpha and Omega meant to Him.”

This verse reminds us that it means more than that. Jesus said He is the beginning and the end. That means He was from the beginning of creation, is present with God, and will be for eternity all that we will ever need. He will freely give us the salvation that we thirst for.

Today remember that there is nothing we can think of that doesn’t come between A and Z. There is nothing that we cannot ask Jesus to help us with today. He is the source, He sees the future.

You may have heard this Carol during the Christmas season:

  Of the Father’s love begotten,  

  Ere the worlds began to be,  

  He is Alpha and Omega,  

  He the source, the ending He,  

  Of the things that are, that have been,  

  And that future years shall see,  

  Evermore and evermore.

When you pray, ask God to help you trust that He sees what we cannot see today.

Click here to send a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Prophet

For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Acts 3:22

Hundreds of years before that first Christmas, Moses predicted one of the titles by which Jesus would be known. That title was prophet, a person who spoke to the people after receiving inspiration from God.

Many times the message spoken by the prophet caused the people to be very angry. They did not want to hear that God was not pleased with them.  But Jesus had the courage to speak the truth even among those who knew him best.

In Mark 6:4 we read, “Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are respected everywhere except in their own hometown and by their relatives and their family.’” Let us learn to listen with receptive hearts for the wisdom scripture provides, and from the inspired messages of those that God calls today even if we know them well.

Say or sing these words from the hymn “Praise Him, Praise Him”:

  Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessèd Redeemer!  

  Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!  

  Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.  

  Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!  

  Christ is coming! over the world victorious,  

  Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.

  Praise Him! Praise Him!  

  Tell of His excellent greatness.  

  Praise Him! Praise Him!  

  Ever in joyful song!

When you pray, ask God to help you speak His truth today.

Click here to send a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Light of the World

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’   John 8:12

Darkness and light—there are definite advantages to both in our daily lives.  Dark and light help us maintain a rhythm to our days and routines.

The morning light many times is an encouragement to us, helpful in overcoming the cares of the night. 

Light is important to my own well being, the very presence of the sun giving me energy and motivation.

How much more the light of Christ brings to my life, especially on cloudy and stormy days.

The light we receive from Jesus our Lord is far superior to any star or bright lamp.  Jesus gives us the example of how we should live in the world.  We should spread His “light of life” wherever we go.   

Say or sing these words from the hymn by Phillip Landgrave “Light for my Journey”:

  Christ, be the light for my journey to those in the darkness of sin.

  O Jesus, the Light of the Nations, now light up my life within.

  Christ, be the light for my journey; And this shall my prayer ever be

  That as I go to be Your witness, may Your light ever shine through me.

When you pray, ask God to help you light your world today.

Click here to send a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Jesus:  Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’  

John 6:35

Can you remember a time when you had not eaten or had anything to drink for a long time?  This is probably a rare occurrence for us, considering we live in a country where food is plentiful and water comes into our houses through a good water system.  But in the days of Jesus, food and water were sometimes scarce.

If you can think of a time like that, you may remember that you had what felt like hunger “pains”, and your mouth was so dry it felt like you were in a desert! 

We as Christians can have feelings like that when we have not been in the presence of God or reading His Word.  There is a place inside of us that will feel empty without some worship time or devotional reading. 

We need to feed our souls as well as our physical bodies.  Attending church regularly with your family and reading your Bible will help you feel “full”. 

The good news is that Jesus promises us that when we come to Him, we will not hunger or thirst! 

Say or sing these words from "Break Thou the Bread of Life":

  Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,

  Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;

  Give me to eat and live with Thee above;

  Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

When you pray, ask God to be your "Bread of Life".

Click here to send a prayer request to the Intercessory Prayer Ministry.