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Prayer Connection

April 2020 Prayer Connection

By 03/01/2020No Comments
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Devotion: Little Victories

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I slipped on the ice and limped back to the house in pain, convincing myself it was no big deal. After all, I’ve been through this before and know what to do. Get the ice pack out, take some Tylenol, elevate the leg, and go to bed. All good.

The next morning, I woke up and could not put pressure on my legs to stand up. It terrified me. I laid back down and immediately began to pray. I was completely vulnerable and dependent on Him at that moment. It turns out I had a knee break. And it hurt.

The other details aren’t important. What really matters is what I learned from this experience and what I’ll do next. This awful experience became a series of little victories, and I hope my story will encourage and motivate you to persevere in your time of need.

  • Call on Him. Depend on Him. My first response was to pray. I’m thankful that I know God is the source of my salvation and healing. We can call on Him for every life situation.
  • Be Still and Listen. Having to keep my leg elevated forced me to slow down. My only choice was to rest. I spent time in the Word and prayer, listening to the Holy Spirit. He had something to tell me, and I wasn’t paying attention. Maybe you’re going through a challenge like me, or maybe He simply wants you to rest. If so, make every effort not to focus on the negative aspects during this time. He is the orchestrator of our victories, and we simply need to lean into Him.
  • Do Your Part. During my quiet time, He reminded me of some life changes that I need to make. He wants me to be my best self and in my perfect place of serving Him. I need to do my part. Let’s commit to pray for each other in this area.
  • Share Your Story. Raise the Victory Banner High. There are things I learned during my quiet time that I will only share with those close to me, but there is also a part of the story to be shared with others and used as an avenue of conversation to share Jesus. His lovingkindness helped me through each day, reminding me of those two simple words.

Perhaps my knee will never be perfect, but that’s okay, because it will be a gentle reminder of the little victories I felt as I walked to the kitchen or down a stair.   

I encourage you that next time you’re faced with a challenge, fear or discouragement, to raise your Victory Banner and remember that you’re a Child of God. HE is OUR victory banner.

May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory

 and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.

May the Lord answer all your prayers

– Psalm 20:5

 

Discussion Questions:

  • Who or what is the source of your rest?
  • Can you think of someone who needs extra encouragement to persevere today?
  • Do you need to slow down? Is He trying to get your attention about something?
  • Is there something in your life that you know you need to change but have set it aside?
  • Do you have a personal “little victory” story to share that would bring others closer to Christ?
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Prepare for Prayer

During this season of social distancing due to the coronavirus, seek out others that you can connect with in prayer from a distance. Consider using a conference call line like www.FreeConferenceCall.com  or video conference like Zoom. Need help? Please email [email protected]

Ask your Loving Father to prepare your heart for this time set aside to draw closer to Him and to connect with your sisters in Christ so that you might draw closer to God during this unique time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our focus for this month is:  He Is Our Victory Banner

Read: Psalm 20:5

“May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.”

Pray: Mighty God, we come before You as we remember that You are our victory banner. It’s hard for us to fully understand all that that means, but we acknowledge that You alone are worthy of our praise, glory, and honor, for it was your blood that was shed for all. Thank you for being our victory banner and for your work on the cross to bring us into a relationship with God!

Thank God:

  • For the victory that He has won for those who have received the Gospel.
  • For the debt that was paid, as we remember that without Jesus, we have fallen short of God’s glory and best for us.
  • For the joy that results when we raise a banner in His holy name when opposition stands before us. Greater is He that is in us!
  • For the reminder that supernatural joy from God alone can help reset our priorities during these times of social distancing and other struggles as we remember that His name is victory!
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Pray for New Outreach Opportunities

Read: 2 Chronicles 20:15b

“This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Pray: King of Kings, we ask that You build up our faith, and help us remember that You have won the battle for us through Christ, our Lord and Savior. As we reach out to neighbors, family, and friends in new ways during this COVID-19 season, may we think of not just our needs but also for the needs of others. Pray for peace, protection, and hope in Jesus Christ, our victorious, resurrected Savior.

Pray:

  • We rejoice that our victory comes from the Lord, for He has already won the battle for us.
  • That we would enjoy His presence, and let Him fight for us in our weakness, because there is nothing that we want more than to see women find love and forgiveness in Jesus as the One who changes lives.
  • Thank Christ for going to the cross to pay for the debts that we owed and reconciling us to God. We are humbled as we remember that we are His ambassadors for the Gospel.
  • Pray for faith and boldness to be creative witnesses during COVID-19 when people may be more open spiritually.
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Sharing Your Faith

Read: Isaiah 64:8

“And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.”

Pray: O God, we are in your hands. Use us as you will for women to hear and respond to the saving hope in Jesus Christ so that they might become children of God, too.

Pray for:

  • Power from our Father to know that God made us with spiritual gifts and abilities for His glorious purposes and for His greater good will.
  • Obedience to be ready in season and out of season to give the reason for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.
  • Dependence on the Holy Spirit to work in women’s hearts and minds, and to give us the right words at the right time, so that the Gospel may make sense to those who are seeking peace, hope, and love spiritually.
  • Creativity and sensitivity to try to reach women for Christ from a distance.
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Pray for our World, Nation, and Local Leaders

Read:  John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Pray: O Father, during this time of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear due to COVID-19, we ask that You guide world, national, and local leaders to make wise decisions for the health, safety, and well-being of everyone.

Pray for:

  • World leaders, our President and local governors, as well as the CDC to make the best choices for the good and well-being of the people they are serving.
  • Pray for the safety of healthcare professionals and first responders. May they have extra stamina and grace as they work long days, and may they seek out Jesus Christ.
  • Christian leaders to model peace and calm amid uncertainty and unrest to be a witness of Jesus our victory banner.
  • Pray that God will help those who are working to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Pray for a quick resolution and that health, safety, and economic uncertainty will swing around in a marvelous renewal.
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Pray for the Stonecroft Family

Read: Romans 8:31-32

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”

Pray: Dear Father, we thank You that absolutely nothing can separate us from the love You have for us, for it was Your Son’s blood that was shed for us, and Your Son rose from the grave to give us resurrected power for living by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for:

  • All Stonecroft staff to be victorious in the name of Jesus Christ.
  • Every Stonecroft staff to live in the amazing love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
  • For ministry to be an overflow of the love and victory found in Christ.
  • For God’s provision for Stonecroft during this time when groups are not meeting. That women would remember to give to their local church, as well as to Stonecroft.

Prayer for Stonecroft Staff

Mike Cole – HR / IT Administrator

Please pray for Mike that God would bless and lead him in my new reduced hours status at Stonecroft and that his efforts would be fruitful for God, for his family and for Stonecroft.

Also pray for his father Jack (81 yrs.) with Dementia that is progressing more rapidly now. Prayers for Mike as he helps lead him, his sister and others to the care his dad needs now and, in the future, and for Mike to do it with love and grace. Prayers too to keep Mike’s dad safe as the family moves him to the care, he needs that he would have a grateful and accepting heart as they do.

Kaitlyn Chavez – Ministry Support Representative

Prayer for Kaitlyn that her transition working from home would to go smoothly and that Kaitlyn and her husband would have wisdom as they transition into our roles as parents.

 

 

Pray for Stonecroft leaders such as Stonecroft Regional Administrators, District Consulting Coordinators, Regional Speaker Trainers, Regional Reps, Area Reps, Chairs, Prayer Consultants, and new outreach leaders that they will prioritize Jesus Christ as their victory banner in all their ministry. Help them to explore digital outreach and new ways to love women from a distance. Pray for leaders who may be sick or who have loved ones who have the coronavirus.

Pray for our international partners that they would allow Jesus to fight their spiritual battles for the souls of those that they are hoping to reach. Pray that God would give them what they need to be about their Father’s mission, and to be healthy and safe.

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Share Personal Requests

Pray for one another in the victorious name of Christ.

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Closing Prayer

Father, thank you for this sweet time of prayer with one another in Christ. This time of year, as we celebrate Easter, we lift high the victory banner that Jesus Christ obtained for us as He died on the cross and rose from the grave three days later! No pandemic can compare to the resurrected power of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. He has risen indeed! Amen!

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