LCMC Invites All to Participate in Three Days of Prayer

By Mark Vander Tuig - LCMC - December 18, 2012 1 Comments

mark Every congregation, member and pastor is being invited to set aside some time each day of January 8, 9 and 10, 2013 for prayer.

Our attitude toward prayer has often been characterized by saying, “well, all we can do now is pray!”.

Prayer is not the hopeless act of desperation. Prayer is a gift that God has given to us as a means to approach the throne of grace with confidence—like that of a child coming to her parents sharing concerns, victories, defeats and every part of life. It is an opportunity to express the deepest heartache and the greatest joy. Prayer is a conversation between the Creator and the created…and the conversation began with God, for us, in Christ Jesus.

Organize these three days of prayer any way that seems good to you. Some of our congregations will put together a prayer vigil—a person signing up to pray in 30 minute intervals for example—for all three days, or a few hours each day; some will offer a prayer service at a set hour each of the three days, some will simply ask each person to spend some time each day in prayer…whatever works best in your congregation is the right way to go.

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013: A Day of Confession

The church of Jesus will never rise up until it first gets to its knees. We have much to confess. We have turned the Body of Christ, the church, into a building, a location, a spot on a map and then we spend most of our time, resources and energy in taking care of it. We have turned on each other by holding grudges and resentments. We have talked about each other but not to each other. We have set aside the Word of God for the words of people. We have been very good at making members, but not disciples of Jesus. We have not loved one another. Let’s lay all of this at the foot of the cross and confess. And then hear the word of forgiveness and renewal.

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013: A Day of Petition

There are many in our congregations who are in pain, dealing with loss, facing battles. A time of prayer for those personal needs is important for the Body of Christ to heal. But let this also be a time of prayer for the congregation. Many of our churches have dreams of what they might do for the cause of Christ but believe they lack the resources. Pray for your own church: for the Sunday school, the youth, for the leaders of the congregation, the church council and others, for the pastor. We are to bring every care and concern to God in prayer, for we know that He cares about us. Pray for ears to hear and eyes to see. Pray for those who serve Jesus in the mission fields around the world, many who face persecution and harassment because of Jesus. Pray for the congregations of LCMC both here and abroad. Go to our website at www.lcmc.net and pray for each of our international partners and the ministries listed there.

Thursday, January 10th, 2013: A Day of Invitation

Let us together pray for the Holy Spirit to breath new life into the church across this nation, the congregations in your community and in your congregation as well. We have become one of the largest and most difficult mission fields in the world. We live in a time of great spiritual interest, but little interest in the forms of the church of the last generation. Let’s pray for renewal and revival in the church. Ask the Lord of the Church to raise up the church so that we might be a light in the darkness, salt for a tasteless life, and real and abiding hope for those who live in despair. Pray that Jesus may be lifted up and that all might come to know Him as Savior and Lord. Pray that we might be a part of what the Holy Spirit is doing in the world and that we would find ways to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.

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What is your church (or just you!) doing to take part in Three Days of Prayer? Email your photos, ideas, and stories to kristy@lcmc.net by Sunday, January 13th, or just post a comment below.

Author

Mark Vander Tuig

Mark Vander Tuig doesn’t sit still for very long, needs coffee, loves humor, and is passionate about Jesus. He is a resource to congregational leaders, pastors, and anyone else who calls; hoping to help them to catch the vision of the Great Commission. Growing up, Mark was expelled from his youth group and decided then that there had to be a better way to do “church”. For the future, he would like to see the people of LCMC strengthen the churches we have and plant the ones we don’t.

Comments (1)

Judy Beaudry
First Lutheran Church in Washburn, ND is accepting the invite and are targeting our youth along with the entire congregation. We will serve a meal at noon and have time for prayer using the 3 days theme. We will put up large banners saying THREE DAYS OF PRAYER and then giving info. Time, and an overview of each day. If nyone has ideas please pass those on to me. Because our school kids have only a half hour, (the school is one block away) we will pray in our dining room, but I a inviting those who have more time to go up to the church. The church will have voltive cads in the window. Help me to make this a success. Thank you Judy
January 1, 2013 at 8:34pm

LCMC Invites All to Participate in Three Days of Prayer