30/30 Day Challenge
Let’s Get Back To GOD ~ Let’s Get Back To Prayer!! For the next 30 days WE will DEDICATE 30 minutes per day to PRAY. This is not time with anyone else other than YOU and GOD. You can break it up into 10 minutes or do all 30 minutes at the same time. Daily scriptures will be provided below to include in your prayer time. 
Today’s Scripture ~ Mark 1:35–39
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Day 1
Today’s Scripture ~ I Chronicles 16:8 (The Message)
Thank God! Call out his Name!
Tell the whole world who he is and what he’s done!
Today’s Prayer: Just Thankful…
God, we realize that we ask you for a lot but don’t always thank you for a lot. We have a million things (figuratively) that we think we need you to do but many times forget to thank you for the million things (literally) that you have already done. So on today we come to you with grateful hearts to tell you thank you for what you’ve already done and for what you are doing even right now. We come realizing that we’ve got so much more that we should be thankful for that is far outweighing what we think we need you to do. So today is our day just to give you thanks…not to ask, not to complain, and not to beg but just to tell you thank you. Because the reality is that what we need you to do, you are already working on it anyway. And the miracle we need you to perform, you are already in the process of sending it. So we even thank you for what we are going through because we know that you are already working it out in our favor. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 2
Today’s Scripture ~ Matthew6:33 (The Message)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Today’s Prayer: The God of “Do Overs”…
Daddy,
We thank you for the opportunity that you give to us to do some things over. We either did not complete the task the first time or it appears as if the opportunity we once had is now gone. We’ve tried everything and sometimes it appears as if there is nothing we are able to do to get it back. But then we are reminded of a God whose grace and loving kindness allows us some “do overs” in our lives. And so God, you know there are some things that we may have messed up but this time we understand the importance of doing things in your will. We understand that we first must ask you and put you in charge of the operation. And when we do, that’s when you are able to take control and bring back what appeared to have been gone. So today, we pray for a “do over”. Some of us need a “do over” in a relationship, a marriage, or a job,. Some of us need a “do over” in our finances, our health, our minds, and even in our purpose. So today, God we thank you in advance for the opportunity we believe you are giving us to do some things over with your guidance and direction. Its in Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 3
Today’s Scripture ~ Luke 12:25–26
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Today’s Quote ~ Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.- Corrie Ten Boom
Today’s Prayer: Be More Present In Our Presence
God,
We must admit that many of our minds at this moment are consumed with anxiety and worry. We are worrying about things that we can and cannot change. We find ourselves worrying about jobs and family, relationships and finances, health and habits. We worry about being alone and we worry about letting go. We worry about past mistakes and we worry about the fear of making the same mistakes in our future. We worry about what people say about us and we worry when people aren’t saying anything about us. We worry so much that we barely know how to live without worrying at all.
But on today, God help us to allow you to be more present in our presence. Help us to look to you more than we look to outside sources that have let us down time and time again. Help us to look more to our faith instead of our fear, help us to look more to our strengths than our weaknesses, help us to look more at our God-given gifts than our lack of resources. God, help us to realize that when we allow you to be more present in our presence than we are able to see more of you and less of the things that we are worrying about. And when we see you we are now looking at the problem fixer instead of the problem, we are now looking at the healer instead of the sickness, we are now looking at the provider instead of the debt, we are now looking at the mender instead of the thing that is broken, we are now looking at the director instead of the thing that has us confused. When we learn to allow you to be more present in our presence burdens become lighter, stress becomes invisible, worry no longer wears us out, and doubt somehow disappears.
You are all we will ever need…so today we let go of the worry, the stress, the doubt, the fear, the anxiety, the uneasiness, the concern, and the heartache in order to hold on to our Daddy’s hand and hear you whisper in our ear that “everything will be alright.” Its in Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 4
Today’s Scripture ~ Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Today’s Quote ~ Why are you so disappointed when you never really had any expectations for it. ~Me
Today’s Prayer: I’m Expecting…
Father,
Our hardest challenge is not believing in you but it is expecting from you. We sometimes forget that we serve a God that wants to bless us, wants to shower us with favor, and wants to give us the desires of our hearts. And it shows in our level of expectancy. We don’t always expect it even though we say we believe it.
But today we come to you expecting… we are expecting you to provide us with a miracle, we are expecting you to deliver to us more blessings than we have room to receive, we are expecting you to work out that situation, we are expecting you to deliver us from that heartache, we are expecting you to give us peace in our storms, we are expecting you to give us joy in the midst of tears, we are expecting you to give us comfort in the midst of grief…God, Father, Daddy we expect it because you told us we could. Your word says if our parents who are evil can give us good gifts than how much more should we expect from our Father in Heaven.
So today, we are not just believing for a miracle, believing for a blessing, believing for favor in our family, in our relationships, on our jobs, and in our homes but Father on this day we come expecting it…And we expect it so much that where ever we may be reading this prayer we are thanking you and giving you praise in advance for what we know you are about to deliver at the front door steps of our lives. In Jesus name we pray and expect…Amen!
Day 5
Today’s Scripture ~ Mark 11:25 (The Message)
And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.
Today’s Quote ~ He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven. ~ Thomas Fuller
Today’s Prayer: Help Me To Forgive Them…
Father,
There are some people in our lives who have hurt us, who have done us wrong, who we thought loved us but broke our heart, who intentionally tried to ruin our name, and who it appears have had nothing better to do but make our life miserable. And it is difficult to sometimes do what you have told us we must do and that is to forgive them in order that we might be forgiven. We feel better being angry, hurt, and playing the victim instead of taking the more difficult and less travelled road of forgiveness.
And we don’t have to go really far to start forgiving some of these folks because some of them are on our job, some attend our church, some we see throughout the week, and some even live in our home, eat the food we cook, and sleep in our bed. God, today we not only want to forgive them but we need to forgive them. Not just for their sake but for our sake as well. If the truth be told, we’re tired of being angry, we’re tired of being hurt, we’re tired of playing the victim, we’re tired of them having the ability to change our mood, and we’re definitely tired of acting like what they have done to us is worst than all the stuff we have done to you. And if you have the power to forgive us, than we must use that same God-given power you have given us to forgive them.
And we believe that forgiveness is an act of love that can help to heal not only the one who forgives but also help heal the one that needs to be forgiven. So God, this is a large order we’re seeking your assistance with but we know that with you all things are possible. We’re starting our forgiving process on today and we will not stop until it’s complete. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 6
Today’s Scripture ~ II Timothy 1:7 (King James 2000)
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Today’s Quote ~ Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. ~ Dale Carnegie
Today’s Prayer: Shaking Off Fear…
Dad,
There are things we want to do, should do, and need to do that we have not done because we’re afraid to do it. Every time we think we’re going to finally do it, we allow an excuse or a reason that is born out of fear keep us from even attempting to do it. But we feel worse than better when fear grips us, we feel worse than better when fear paralyzes us, we feel worse than better when fear keeps us from walking in our faith. We are tired of feeling worse and only you can help us to get better.
We’re not asking that you take the fear away because that does not help us grow. But we’re asking that when we confront our fears that you help us to see the faith and the courage you’ve already given us to overcome each and every one of our fears. It is already inside of us and it is up to us to activate it. It is up to us to realize that if you have told us to do it than you have already set everything else in motion for us to accomplish it…In other words, God we know you are just waiting on us to take a step of faith and believe you more than we believe in ourselves. Trust you more than we trust in our past failures and disappointments. Depend on you more than we depend on circumstances beyond our control. And today we not only list those fears but we come ready to start limiting those fears. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 7
Today’s Scripture ~ Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Today’s Quote ~ Just glad that God gave me another chance to finish the purpose he has given me. Good morning God. ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: You Really Didn’t Have To…
God,
We just woke up and we started getting ready for our day. And as we were thinking about what we had to do on today, where we needed to go, what tasks we have to complete you whispered to us silently “Good Morning”. It paused us for a second and then we realized that we had not thanked you for allowing us another day. We had not taken time to recognize it was you that woke us up and not our alarm clock. Our mind was already on what we needed to do and what had to get done. But the truth of the matter is that we really didn’t have to wake us up. This is the day that you have made and it was up to you if we were apart of it. You didn’t have to come pass our house and share with our spirit I’m giving you another day. You didn’t have to stop by our room and share with our soul that you weren’t through with us yet.
So God, we pause in this moment just to tell you thank you for giving us this day. We pause to reflect on your goodness and kindness towards us. We pause to share with you our heartfelt gratitude for waking us up this morning and starting us on our way because for a quick second when you whispered to us silently “Good Morning” it was then we realized that you really didn’t have to. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 8
Today’s Scripture ~ Romans 8:38–39 (The Message)
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Today’s Quote ~ “God is love. He didn’t need us. But he wanted us. And that is the most amazing thing.” ~ Rick Warren
Today’s Prayer: God’s Love Is Amazing…
God,
If it were not for a love that reaches us no matter where we find ourselves how would we have survived? We are thankful for a love that sees pass our faults and constantly and continually meets our needs. We are grateful for a love that works with us, on us, and through us. We are overwhelmed by a love that loves us in spite of us. We are humbled by a love that nothing in this world can ever separate us from.
So today we let go of guilt and hold on to this amazing love. We let go of shame and reach out to this amazing love. We let go of all those things that the enemy would try to make us believe disqualifies us from this amazing love. And we accept that it has nothing to do with us but everything to do with your love for us. We cannot explain nor fully comprehend it but today we are learning to welcome it, learning to live in it, and learning to appreciate it for what it truly is…AMAZING! In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 9
Today’s Scripture ~ Luke 10:39–42 (NIV)
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Today’s Quote ~ “When I find time in you, I also find in you all I need for the rest of my time” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: We Can Find Rest In You…
Dad,
As we get ready for another day we realize that we have a lot of stuff that we must do. We’ve got to get the kids breakfast and ready for school…we’ve got to deal with traffic in order to get to work…we’ve got to go to jobs that don’t always make us feel good…we’ve got to manage co-workers and bosses that get on our last nerve…we’ve then got to come back to homes where we don’t always seem welcomed…we’ve got to make sure dinner gets cooked…we’ve got to make sure the kids get to bed and then we’ve got to do the same thing all over again.
On top of that we’ve got our own stuff…we’ve got bills that must be paid without always having the financial means to pay all of them…we’ve got marriages and relationships that we are trying to maintain…we’ve got family drama we’re working out…we’ve got health concerns and issues that are being addressed…we’ve got our own personal demons that try to arrest our minds/thoughts…we’ve got a lot of stuff that we must do. And we feel tired, burdened down, worried, exhausted, unappreciated, frustrated, ___________________ (this is the line where we can add the rest of the stuff we feel) and you already know what we would put down.
But help us to learn how to stop for a moment and stop doing and learn how to just be in you. Help us to recognize that the most important thing we can do on today is sit at your feet and rest in your presence. Help us to do like Mary and do the one thing that is needed the most in order to deal with all the other stuff that we feel must get done. Help us to just sit at the Master’s feet, lay down all of our burdens, listen intently to your words of encouragement and comfort, and not leave until we’ve received all that we need to conquer the rest of our day. And let us be reminded that it was our Brother Jesus that told us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 10
Today’s Scripture ~ I Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Today’s Quote ~ “We will never have pure enough motives, or be good enough, or know enough in order to pray rightly. We simply must set all these things aside and begin praying” ~ Robert J. Foster
Today’s Prayer: No More Excuses…
Dad,
We’ve got to admit that we don’t always pray and spend time with you the way we should. Sometimes we put other things that are less important in front of you, sometimes we plan to but the day just gets away from us, sometimes we know we need to but we put it off and never get back to it.
But one of the main reasons/excuses is that honestly sometimes we just feel like we don’t know how to really pray to you. We hear the preacher, we remember how some of our more “saved” friends pray,we think back over the prayers our mothers and grandmothers use to pray and we don’t feel like our prayers measure up.
But when we really get down to it we know that all of those are just excuses because there are no rules, formalities, or “right” ways to pray. We just need to stop making excuses and talk to you about everything that’s going on with us. We know how to tell you thank you for what you’ve done in our life…we know how to ask you for help in areas where we need you…we know how to express our concern for those who we love and who we know need you…we know how to ask you to protect our children, be the head of our marriage, work out our finances, save a close family member, give us guidance to do the right thing…and the list goes on and on.
What we need help with is to stop trying to measure our conversation with you against those around us. We need you to help us understand that the best prayers are those that are transparent, open, honest, and vulnerable. We need you to help us realize that all you ever want from us is just to trust you even when we are just talking. It’s not about how we say it but it’s about knowing that you don’t care how we say it…you just want to talk to us today. You just want us to learn more about you today. You just want us to try to grow deeper in our relationship with you today. So God, on today we come with “no more excuses” and we come to say “hi God, it’s me again.” In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 11
Today’s Scripture ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJ)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Today’s Quote ~ “Don’t let your old keep you from living in your new” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: We’re Learning to Become New…
God,
We’ve done a lot of things we’re not proud of and sometimes our mind just wont let us forget. Some things were as old as we can remember and some were as recent as last night. And then we hear what people have said about us and they remind us about those old things we’ve done too. It becomes difficult to change when all we are reminded of is what we’ve done wrong. But this morning your word gives us hope and your love gives us a brand new start.
We don’t have to remain in that old state of being. Today is an awesome opportunity to be reminded that Christ has given us another chance to become new. We are not bound to our past and we are no longer enslaved to our old ways. We can leave it all behind and accept the fact that today we can become new. We realize it’s a process but we also realize we’ve got to start the process in order for changes to take place.
So God we just want to tell you thank you. Thank you that you do not hold our past over our head…thank you that your love for us surpasses our old sins…thank you that you see us in our newness and not in the old stuff you are constantly bringing us out of…thank you that only you have the power to judge us but you’d rather forgive us…and thank you for today, a new day, where we can keep learning how to become the new us you have called us to be. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 12
Today’s Scripture ~ Proverbs 19:20 (NIV)
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
Today’s Quote ~ “Discipline teaches us to operate by principle rather than desire. Saying no to our impulses puts us in control of our appetites.” ~ John F. MacArthur, Jr.
Today’s Prayer: Discipline Isn’t a Bad Thing…
Dad,
Sometimes trying to live right is a lot harder than it looks and even more difficult to always do. It is so easy to act on what we want than to make correct choices on what we need. It is so easy to see what we like and get it than to wait until we know it’s ours to get. It is so easy to tell ourselves if it feels good and taste good and smells good than it has got to be good. But the truth, no matter how we pretend, is that we know through pass experiences that is not the truth at all. We allow ourselves to be bamboozled, hoodwinked, and led astray for a lack of discipline and self-control.
But today we pray for this discipline, we petition for this self-control, and we make request for this restraint. We are tired of allowing our desires to become our destruction. We are tired of letting our bad habits become our gods. You are the only true, wise, and loving God and it is discipline and self-control that keeps us in check. Even where we don’t want it, God we need you to intercede and provide it. Even when we don’t think we need it, God we need you to search our hearts and send it our way.
It is not always good when we are receiving discipline but it sure is a whole lot better than the alternative of the consequences of our lack of it. So help us not to fight discipline but embrace it…help us not to refuse discipline but invite it…help us not to dismiss discipline but encourage it. Because it is this discipline that keeps us, protects us, sustains us, and rewards us. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 13
Today’s Scripture ~ Luke 22:42
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Today’s Quote ~ We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can — namely, surrender our will and fulfill God’s will in us. ~ Saint Teresa of Avila
Today’s Prayer: Not My Will…
Dad,
There are dreams we want to accomplish, goals we want to achieve, and desires we want to fulfill. Places we want to go, people we want to see, and things we want to do. The question isn’t about whether we can make it happen but the question that matters is whether or not it is your will for us. Because when it comes to our relationship with you, we want you to bend towards what we want instead of us bending towards what you want from us. But Jesus teaches us that it’s not about us…”yet not my will, but yours be done.” It’s an understanding that your will is the only will that really matters. Your way is the only way we should want to follow because what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but still lose his soul.
So today instead of telling you what we need you to do for us, we come asking you what you need us to do for you. Help us to learn how to surrender our dreams for your dreams, our goals for your goals, and our desires for your desires. Help us to learn that surrender to you is about learning to have more trust in you. It is understanding that what you want for us is far better than what we could ever want for ourselves. It may be difficult and there will probably be a struggle but today we surrender our will for your will and our ways for your ways. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 14
Today’s Scripture ~ Psalm 47:2
How awesome is the Lord Most High the great King over all the earth!
Today’s Quote ~ “Only God is Awesome.” ~ Shane Claiborne
Today’s Prayer: My God Is Awesome…
Day 15
Today’s Scripture ~ Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJ)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct you.
Today’s Quote ~ Until I surrender it to God, I will never get a release from God. ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: We’re Tired of Always Driving…
God,
We’re so use to always being in control…always driving to make sure things get to where they need to go. We’re use to being the one who makes the decisions, carries the load, and gets it done. We’re the one who everyone comes to for advice and answers. We’re the one who people expect to keep it together. We’re the one who has to run the show or the show will fall apart. We have to take control because we feel like they need us to be in control. And we can never look like we don’t have things under control. But then we hear you whisper in our ear and tell us to let you drive…let you take the wheel…let you handle the load and just trust you. But it’s sometimes hard to let go and give over that control because we’re so use to people letting us down when we’ve given things over to them.
But today we’re reminded that you aren’t them…we’re reminded of the times when we knew we didn’t have it under control, we didn’t know what to do, we didn’t have the answers and it was you that brought us through. We’re tired of driving but we need you to teach us how to be a passenger with you. We’re tired of driving but we need you to show us that we have the opportunity to take control of deciding to finally let it go. We’re tired of driving but we’re seeking your assistance so we can totally surrender it all over to you.
Today we’re surrendering…our family, our job, our marriage, our children, our relationships, our situations, our burdens, our mind…we have to trust you, we need to trust you, we can only trust you. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 16
Today’s Scripture ~ John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Today’s Quote ~ “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
Today’s Prayer: Living in the Moment…
God,
Days go by and sometimes we feel like we’re on autopilot. Life seems to just be going by and we don’t always feel like we’re really apart of it. We feel frustrated and isolated…wondering if there is more to this life than what we are presently living. We’re doing the same thing over and over again trying to reach something that sometimes seems unreachable. We want a better life, we want to accomplish our goals, we want our future to at least appear it’s going to be brighter, and we want to feel like life is worth living.
And then you share with us that we’re looking too far ahead without ever just learning to appreciate the moment that we’re living in right now. So today we need you to help us to settle our thoughts and our emotions and learn how to just live and enjoy the moment. Help us to see what is right instead of focusing all day on what is still wrong. Help us to see what’s been fixed instead of what is still broken. Help us to see how things have changed instead of what is still the same. We’ve got so much in this moment to be thankful for, so much in this moment that is beautiful and peaceful, so much in this moment that matters more than the petty things that try to consume our mind, so much in this moment that reminds us of your goodness and mercy, so much in this moment that shows us how blessed we really are…God, settle us, relieve us, soothe us, compose us so that we can live in this moment that you have given us.
We don’t want to miss life because we were too busy missing moments. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 17
Today’s Scripture ~ Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Today’s Quote ~ “No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.” ~ Guy H. King
Today’s Prayer: Taking the Fight Where It Belongs…
God,
We fight all the time! We fight against our bosses and co-workers, we fight against family members, we fight against haters, we fight against our spouses, we fight against people we say we love, and we even fight against traffic. Our first weapon of defense with situations and people who have done us wrong or challenged us or gotten on our nerves is to fight. The problem is we are wasting a lot of energy by fighting against the wrong things and people instead of taking the fight where it belongs.
God, we need you to help us see with different eyes and hear with different ears. There is an enemy behind the scenes that is pulling the strings and until we learn to fight the enemy who resides in the dark world we will lose the fight that matters most. Help us to easily recognize the enemy that wants to steal our joy and our peace…the enemy that wants to get us angry and upset with those around us…the enemy that wants us to focus on others instead of focusing on him. God, remind us today that the weapons of our warfare are not earthly and physical but sacred and spiritual to the pulling down of every demonic stronghold. It’s not in cursing our boss out, fighting our spouse with harsh words, or putting our hands where they do not belong. It’s through prayer and fasting, listening to your word and using your word against our real enemy. Our spiritual weapons are far greater than our physical weapons will ever be.
So today, help us to see the real enemy and deal with him in the right way so we can watch an increase of victories in every area of our lives . In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 18
Today’s Scripture ~ John 15:27
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Today’s Quote ~ “If what I say never matches up with what I do then what I do really doesn’t matter at all.” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: People Are Watching Us…
God,
We tell others about you all the time…how you have blessed us, delivered us from storms, how your love saved us. We tell them about your forgiveness for our sins, your compassion and mercy towards us, and the many doors you have granted us access to. But sometimes those people we’ve shared our testimonies with don’t seem to care and don’t seem to want to know you for themselves. They are always skeptical and pessimistic when we tell them about what you’ve done for us.
But help us not only to witness with our lips but also witness with our lives. Help us to do more than just talk but remind us that it’s up to us to act. They’ve heard from a lot of “saved” folk before but they watched how their lives didn’t match up with their words. Of course they are skeptical and pessimistic because when they watch us too many times they see way too many contradictions. God, we want to do a better job at showing them you in us than always talking about what you’ve done for us. We want our instagram, facebook, and twitter statuses about you to match up with the statutes we live by.
They are watching us even when we think they don’t care. They are watching us even when they dismiss our testimonies. They are watching us even when they no longer listen to what we say. Because they want to believe, they want to experience your love, they want hope in the midst of their despair; they want something real they can grab a hold of and know it won’t let them go.
So when we are about to do that which we know is outside of your will for us, remind us that people are watching. When we are about to get into what we know we need to stay out of, remind us that people are watching. When we want to have conversations about things that we have no business talking about, remind us that people are watching. The Jesus that lives in us is the only Jesus they may ever see; so today please remind us that you’ve assigned people to us who are watching us because they need you. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 19
Today’s Scripture ~ I Chronicles 16:12
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.
Today’s Quote ~ “Miracles only happen if you believe in miracles.” ~ Paulo Coelho
Today’s Prayer: We’re Expecting Miracles…
Hey Dad,
We’ve gotten to use to the normal and the ordinary. We’ve gotten comfortable with the regular and the typical. We’ve started to act like this way of life is what we are supposed to expect. We don’t look for anything unusual, uncommon, or even a little strange. We believe in miracles that took place over 2000 years ago in the bible but we sometimes have a hard time believing that you want us to experience those same kinds of miracles in 2012.
But today we realize that you are a God of the supernatural who wants to interrupt our natural so we can experience and expect your miracles. Miracles are just your way of trying to get our attention and remind us that you are in the room. They are your way to get us to stop putting so much trust in others and learn to put all of our trust in you. We want to leave the house watching, waiting, anticipating, and expecting your hand working in us and through us so that your will might be done on earth as it is in heaven. And these miracles are not for bragging purposes. But they are to help unbelievers believe in the God we serve and to strengthen and encourage those of us who already know you for ourselves.
So we come thanking you in advance for the miracles that we are expecting on today. We come with our eyes widened so we can see the miracles when they arrive. We come with our hands open to receive it and to share it with others. We come expecting miracles to land on our jobs, our homes, our children, our families, our health, our finances, and anywhere else you would like to send them. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 20
Today’s Scripture ~ Philippians 4:19
And my God will met all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Today’s Quote ~ I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess. ~ Martin Luther
Today’s Prayer: Our Everything…
Dad,
We realize that no matter how many times we put our trust in others and they let us down you’re our everything. No matter how many times we think someone else is going to come through for us and they don’t you’re our everything. No matter how many times we put a human relationship over our spiritual relationship with you and the human relationship doesn’t last; you’re our everything.
And this morning we just want to tell You thank You for being our everything. When we find ourselves in storms You are our peace…when tears have kept us up at night you are our joy…when grief saddens our heart You are our comforter…when we have no where else to turn You are our best friend…when others have not a clue what we are going through You are our confidant…when the weight of the world is on our shoulders You are our burden reliever…when our hearts have been broken You are our mender…when our faith has been shaken You are our foundation…when others have left us to our own destruction You are our rebuilder…when we have let You down You are our forgiver…when our purpose for life has died You are our resurrector…when chains have us bound You are our liberator…when bills are more than our bank balance You are our provider. You are our everything!
So this morning, we just want to tell You thank You. Because even when we’ve picked others over You and chose things instead of You…You have never left us and You never will. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 21
Today’s Scripture ~ Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)
And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
Today’s Quote ~ “Don’t overlook the power of the pen.” ~ Michele Blood
Today’s Prayer: Our Grocery List…
God,
Whenever our mother’s would get ready to go grocery shopping they always made sure to have a grocery list. It would help remind them of what they needed to pick up and what was important to bring back home. We also noticed that whenever they picked up what was on their list they would scratch it off to remind them of what they had already gotten.
And today we come with our grocery list for prayer…we come writing down those things that we are believing only you can give us. We are writing down those issues and situations where we need you to show up. And when you give us what we have asked for, we will make sure to mark it off our list to remind us of what you’ve done for us. Matter of fact, today we are going to look back and see what you’ve already done and give you thanks for what we may have forgotten to thank you for.
Our grocery list for prayer helps us stay focused, helps us trust you more, and gives us hope. In Jesus name…Amen!
Day 22
Today’s Scripture ~ Philippians 3:13–14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Today’s Quote ~ “My new journey requires me to do only one thing…take one step.” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: A New Journey…
God,
We just want to tell you thank you for a brand new day. Not just a brand new day but an awesome opportunity to do something peculiar, to change our path, to go in a totally different direction. Today we have the liberty, if we chose, to start a new journey and live a new life. We don’t have to do it the same way today…we don’t have to stay stuck in the same place today…we don’t have to continue making excuses why we can’t today.
But today you’ve blessed us to trust in you more and believe in us more. You’ve blessed us to see another option we can accept, another preference we can select, another way we can go. And it is up to us to explore this new journey that has the potential to take us somewhere we’ve always wanted to go and experience something we’ve always wanted to try. Help us not us let this possibility of a new journey scare us because of the changes that must take place for us to walk in it. Help us to see that new does equal change but change is what makes us live a more abundant life.
So today open our eyes to see the new journey you have set at our feet. Today open our minds to think that with you all things are possible. Today open our hands to receive the overflow of blessings that come from us going on this new journey. Today open our hearts to embrace the fact that this new journey has the power to impact more than just us. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 23
Today’s Scripture ~ Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Today’s Quote ~ “I can learn more from being still than I will ever learn from constantly moving” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: Learning to Be Still…
Dad,
We have a lot to do and little time to do it so we are rushing. We are rushing to get to work, we are rushing to make sure the kids get to school on time, we are rushing to get proposals and projects finished on our jobs, we are rushing to take care of a task, fix a problem, and find a solution. Our days are filled with rushing from one thing to another. And even when we spend time with you we still find ourselves rushing and our thoughts and minds are sometimes not totally with you. Because we’ve got so much to do and so little time to do it.
But this morning we heard you tell us to slow down and find a moment to just be still. You want us to calm down and put things into perspective by learning to be still. And in our still moment the earth did not collapse, the family did not implode, the job was not lost, the kids are fine. But you just want to remind us how to be still and know that you are God.
You take care of our bills, you make sure the kids are safe, you provide us with the job, you cover our family, you are the ultimate answer to every problem we will ever face.We just have to learn to be still…help us to be still and quiet our inner thoughts, help us to be still and shut down overemotional hearts, help us to be still and even close our talkative mouths.
So today, we will find some time that you will give to us to just be still and know that you are God. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Personal story…I was rushing to get this prayer up. I was rushing God to tell me what prayer he wanted me to write. I was rushing because time was getting away from me and I didn’t hear God telling me anything. And finally, I settled myself down and realized all the time that God just wanted me to be still…not to ask him for anything, not to tell him anything, not to require anything from him but just to be still and know that He is God.
Day 24
Today’s Scripture ~ James 1:2–4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Today’s Quote ~ “The answer I’m seeking isn’t in You but it is You” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: It’s Not in the Answer…
Dad,
You know that a lot of what we pray about is connected to us waiting on you to answer our prayer. We need a solution, a fix, a result, or at least some kind of explanation. We need you to show up soon before we lose our minds trying to figure this thing out. We need you to be the God that answers our prayer and responds immediately to our situation.
But then you remind us that it’s not always about the answer, the fix, the result, or even an explanation. It’s in the process of waiting for the answer that you are trying to show us more of you. You need us to know that even when the answer hasn’t come you are still there with us. Even when there is no solution in sight you want us to see that lessons are being learned and class is still in session. You are trying to teach us more than just you to giving us an answer. You want us to learn about patience, endurance, perseverance, and how to surrender. You want us to get more than just an answer because for you that’s the easy part. But you want our faith to be stretched, our relationship with you to grow, and our compassion for others to expand. You want us to see you not just in the answer but learn to see you even more when it appears the answer has not shown up.
So today as we wait on the answer we need you to help us learn to trust you more in the process of waiting on the answer. We need you to guide our minds away from the problem and redirect our thoughts on the one who has never left us or forsaken us. We know your track record and you’ve never let us down or failed us. We don’t need an answer; we just need to know that it’s you that holds the answer in the palm of your hand. It’s not the answer we are really searching for but it’s you. Even when you don’t give us our answer we know you are the only Answer we will ever need. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 25
Today’s Scripture ~ Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Today’s Quote ~ “The presence of God within you is greater than any prognosis. The desire of God’s love for your healing is greater than any disease.” ~ Ian Paul Marshall
Today’s Prayer: We Need Our Healer…
Dad,
We come today with sickness, diseases, ailments, afflictions, and disorders. We come bruised, broken, and battered. We come depressed, discouraged, and distressed. We come put down, beat down, and worn down. God, we come not just for a healing but we need our Healer. We thank you for doctors but they don’t always have the cure. We thank you for specialist but they can’t always pinpoint what is wrong. We thank you for our primary physicians but they don’t always get it right. And when it appears that there is no remedy please remind us that you are our Healer.
When doctors say no, you have the power to overturn their diagnosis and say yes. When medicine doesn’t work you have the power to heal us by Jesus stripes. When surgeons have done all that they can do you have the power to remove it, replace it, fix it, and mend it with your supernatural surgical procedure that only requires our mustard seed faith. We need our healer, our curer, our therapist, our psychiatrist, our counselor, and our specialist. And we do not dismiss those you have sent with those gifts but wherever they fall short we thank you that you pick up where they left off.
And maybe we are fine and in good health but we come standing in the gap for family members, loved ones, friends, and strangers. We come adding our faith to their faith and our prayers to their prayers. We come trusting in your healing power because we’ve seen you do it so many times before. We come knowing that you are our Healer not only of our physical areas but also wounded hearts and broken spirits. So God, we thank you in advance because our expectation surpasses and precedes our healing manifestation. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 26
Today’s Scripture ~ Matthew 5:13
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Today’s Quote ~ “There is only one place we were made to fit in and that is in God.” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: Keep Us Salty…
God,
We aren’t supposed to fit in, be carbon copies, and live a status quo life. We should never be satisfied, comfortable, or even content with where we are but always seeking you to find out what else you are calling us to. We don’t want to be at ease with how things are but we want the burden of knowing that there is always more you want us to do. It’s not about what we obtain from life but what we add to life because you have created us to be the salt of the earth.
Today, help keep us salty. Help us to stand out and not to blend in with the world and it’s ways. Help use us to preserve those things that are right and to speak out against those things that are not. Help us not to enter the conversation that doesn’t honor you, engage in the activity that doesn’t respect you, or embrace those places that are in no way for you. Help us not to get caught up in what everybody else is doing that we forget what you want and need us to do. Help us not to lose our testimony, compromise our faith, and negotiate our relationship with you to satisfy other people and flatter ourselves.
Today, let us live to a different standard, act in a different way, and do things that bring attention to you and not ourselves. Not by being holy and arrogant but holy and humble with compassion and love. Help keep us salty so that we never have to worry about no longer being good for anything. We really do want to make you smile! In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 27
Today’s Scripture ~ Ephesians 5:20
At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Today’s Quote ~ “If you can’t be thankful for what you’ve got, it isn’t likely you will be thankful for what your going to get.” ~ Frank Howard Clark
Today’s Prayer: We are Thankful…
Dad,
Thanks for all your promises, blessings, and provisions. Thanks for always taking care of us even when we forget about you. Thanks for making us a priority even when we put you on the back burner. Thanks for having us on your mind even when you are the farthest from ours. Thanks for not giving us what we should get while giving us what we really don’t deserve. God, today we just want to tell you thank you for being God. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 28 — October 22, 2012
Today’s Scripture ~ Psalm 24:5
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Today’s Quote ~ “For today and its blessings, I owe God an attitude of gratitude. ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: Not Focusing on the Dot…
Dad,
If we were to draw a dot on the middle of a blank piece of paper our tendency would be to notice the dot. We probably wouldn’t use the blank piece of paper because of the dot. Instead of looking at all of the space that is on the blank piece of paper we would focus all of our attention on the dot…why? Because we allow small, insignificant things to get us distracted from the whole picture.
And many times we do the same thing in our own lives. We allow small, insignificant things to get the spotlight while disregarding the huge area that is undisturbed and clear. We focus on the few dots while dismissing all of the rest of the many blessings you have given to us daily. We complain and sweat the little things and don’t give all the miracles you’ve performed in our lives the consideration they deserve. We are blessed…PERIOD!!!
So today we will focus on our blessings and not the burdens, we will focus on the miracles and not the mess, we will focus on the favor and not the failures. And we will recognize that we’ve got so much to thank you for, so much to appreciate you for, so much to be grateful for, and so much to celebrate you for. Today we put our focus on the entire blank piece of paper in our lives and we refuse to give the dots more attention then they deserve. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 29 — October 24, 2012
Today’s Scripture ~ Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Today’s Quote Is An FYI ~ “I know that yesterday was the last day for 30:30 and it seems weird that today I’m doing Day 29. But for those who have been following closely you realized that this day was skipped. It was a long weekend with lots of things to do…3 photo shoots on Saturday with a wedding to attend as well, 2 services to preach on Sunday with a 4pm on-location photo shoot. I was tired, exhausted, and had a lot on my plate that day and did not get a chance to put up the Day 29 prayer. Well, here it goes…” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: Even When We Skip…
Dad,
It’s us again…we know we missed you yesterday but we had a lot going on which is no excuse. We let work and other things get in the way and somehow we managed to skip spending time with you. We even did work that was directly connected to you but we still didn’t schedule time to totally just be alone with you. We are sorry and we will do better not to keep making the same mistakes while using the same excuses (we were tired, exhausted, and had a lot on our plate). Because we know that those are the days where spending time with you should be mandatory and priority to keep our spirits rejuvenated and revived.
But we are also grateful and thankful on today. Why? Because you are still here waiting for us with you arms of love wide open to embrace us once again. Even when we skip you, you never skip us. Even when we are to busy, tired, and exhausted for you, you continue to be right there helping us, blessing us, keeping us, and using us. Even when we skip you, you do not charge it against us because we are your children and you love us. And so we are back today, in our right frame of mind thanking you for not shutting the door but keeping it unlocked so we can come right in and get where we need to be…with you. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!
Day 30
Today’s Scripture ~ Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Today’s Quote ~ “Out of every relationship we will ever have in this life, our relationship with God matters the most.” ~ Me
Today’s Prayer: Now What?…
Dad,
It’s been great…we did it. We completed our 30:30 Challenge…30 days spending at least 30 minutes with you in prayer and meditation. We had a great slogan! We had a great campaign for the slogan! We had prayers posted for the last 30 days to keep us focused! We even had some amazing graphics to stimulate our minds! We saw it on facebook, twitter, instagram, and www.hiphopenation.com/30days30minutes. Some of us did all 30 days while others of us did what we could. And we are the better for whatever amount of time we spent with you. We were motivated, enthusiastic, and committed. We spoke to you and heard from you. We saw you more in the small details and recognized more of the many blessings you’ve given to us. We grew spiritually and our relationships with you grew exponentially. But now the 30 days is up and the question we must ask ourselves is “now what?”
Help 30:30 not end as a slogan or a campaign but help us realize it was developed and created so we would make it a lifestyle. Help us to see that we are thirsty for you and you are even more thirsty for us. Help us to not go backwards to our old ways but to move forward to a more pleasing and satisfying relationship with you. Help prayer become mandatory and time spent with you priority. Help us to seek you first understanding that everything else will take care of itself because you are in total control.
In the last 30 days some of us realized how spiritually depleted we were but now our lives have been revitalized and our spirits rejuvenated. We can’t go back, we won’t go back, we will never go back. But we need another 30:30 and we won’t stop until there are no more days and no more time and 30:30 translates to eternity. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!