“During this year’s Ten Days of Prayer, the Almighty God did so many awesome miracles. . . . In the neighborhood of one of our churches, there has been no electricity for almost two years. . . . So during the last Ten Days of Prayer, the church pastor was inspired to ask the church to pray each morning for electricity to be restored. To the glory of God, that prayer is being answered.” (P.C.O.)

“[During Ten Days of Prayer] there was renewed commitment, motivation, zeal, and sincerity among the flock. Personally, I found it rejuvenating, and even more so during the culmination with a fruitful night prayer vigil! We need more of such wonderful sessions that bring us closer to the feet of Jesus.” (E.A.)

“My commitment to reading Scripture and spending time on prayer was not that serious. After Ten Days of Prayer I greatly changed my attitude about prayer. I started to spend more time in prayer, praising God, praying for others, and reading Scripture. I had hypertension, but it has since reduced. All my thanks to the Almighty.” (H.R.)

“[During Ten Days of Prayer, everyone prayed for a sister who had a job interview.] She was offered the job—a job that needed someone with the highest qualifications, but it was given to her. [We are amazed at] what God does, after many years of struggling and waiting. How many times have we prayed? We can’t count. I want to encourage us all to continue praying because our prayers won’t be in vain if we believe.” (L.B.)

Has God’s voice been calling you to revival? The Bible is full of promises for you:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32).

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

Wherever you are in life right now, God is closer than you think. He wants to pour out His blessings on your family, your church, your community, and your world!

Our Prayer Theme:
But When You Pray . . .

This year our daily readings were prepared by Dr. Pavel Goia, editor of Ministry magazine. He uses stories from his own ministry to explore the Lord’s Prayer and other teachings of Jesus. Follow along as he unpacks the deeper meaning and spiritual significance of familiar lines. What does it mean to “hallow” God’s name? What does God’s kingdom look like here on earth? How can forgiving others transform our relationship with God? And does God ever lead people into temptation?

Whether you’ve been praying for a lifetime or just a few days, these story-filled readings will awaken your sense of need and desire to meet Jesus on your knees every day. Read thoughtfully and keep your Bible nearby. And if possible, find a group of believers to pray with during these ten days. When two or three gather in the name of Jesus, miracles happen!

Suggested Guidelines for Prayer Times

Keep your prayers short—just a sentence or two on one topic. Then give others a turn. You can pray as many times as you’d like, just as you talk in a conversation.

Do not be afraid of silence, as it gives everyone time to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Singing songs together as the Spirit leads is also a huge blessing. You do not need a piano for this; singing acapella is fine.

Rather than using up valuable prayer time talking about your prayer requests, simply pray them. Then others can also pray for your requests and claim promises for your need. happen!

Claiming the Promises

It is our privilege to claim God’s promises in our prayers. All His commandments and counsels are also promises. He would never ask from us something that we could not do in His strength.

It is so easy to focus on our needs, our difficulties, our challenges—and to wail and whine about our situation when we pray. This is not the purpose of prayer. Prayer is meant to strengthen our faith. That is why we encourage you to claim God’s promises in your prayer time. Take your eyes off yourself and your weaknesses and look to Jesus. By beholding Him, we become changed into His image.

Ellen White offers this encouragement: “Every promise in the Word of God is for us. In your prayers, present the pledged word of Jehovah and by faith claim His promises. His word is the assurance that if you ask in faith, you will receive all spiritual blessings. Continue to ask, and you will receive exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think” (In Heavenly Places, p. 71).

How can you claim His promises? For instance, when praying for peace, you can claim John 14:27 and say, “Lord, You have told us in Your Word, ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ Give me the peace that You promised to leave with us.” Thank the Lord that He is giving you peace, even though you may not feel it right then.

Fasting

We encourage you to do a Daniel Fast during these ten days. Starting the year with prayer and fasting is a wonderful way to consecrate our lives to God for the upcoming year. Ellen White tells us, “Now and onward till the close of time the people of God should be more earnest, more wide-awake, not trusting in their own wisdom, but in the wisdom of their Leader. They should set aside days for fasting and prayer. Entire abstinence from food may not be required, but they should eat sparingly of the most simple food” (Counsels on Diet and Foods, pp. 188, 189).

We know about Daniel, who ate fruits and vegetables for ten days. We likewise encourage you to adopt a very simple diet during these ten days. If we want clearer minds for hearing God’s voice, and if we want to draw closer to Him, we need to make sure that our diet is not hindering us.

Fasting is not only about abstaining from food. We also encourage you to fast from TV, movies, computer games, and even Facebook and YouTube. Sometimes things that are not bad in themselves can take so much of our time. Put aside everything possible so you can have more time to spend with the Lord.

Fasting is not a quick way to obtain a miracle from God. Fasting is all about humbling ourselves so God can work in us and through us. Let’s draw closer to Him through prayer and fasting, and He will draw closer to us.

Holy Spirit

Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you should pray for in a person’s life or in a particular situation. The Bible tells us that we do not know what to pray for and that the Holy Spirit is the One who intercedes for us.

“We must not only pray in Christ’s name, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This explains what is meant when it is said that the Spirit ‘maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered’ (Romans 8:26). Such prayer God delights to answer. When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20)” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 147).

Faith

We read in the Spirit of Prophecy that “prayer and faith will do what no power on earth can accomplish” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 509). We are also told that “for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received” (Education, p. 258). So make a habit of thanking God in advance through faith for what He is going to do and how He is going to answer your prayers.

Pray for Others

During these ten days we encourage you to pray consistently for the people God has placed in your life. Choose five to seven people—they can be relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or simply acquaintances. Take some time to ask God whom He would like you to pray for. Ask Him also to give you a real burden for these people. Write the names on a piece of paper and keep it in a prominent place, such as in your Bible. You’ll be amazed at how God works in response to your prayers!

Ten Days of Prayer Outreach Challenge

Jesus calls us not only to pray but also to serve the practical needs of those around us. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35, 36).

In The Ministry of Healing we read, “We must live a twofold life—a life of thought and action, of silent prayer and earnest work” (p. 512). We have received so much love from our Savior, and we have the privilege of sharing that love with friends, neighbors, and strangers in need.

Ask God how you and your church can serve others after Ten Days of Prayer. As you work to organize service activities, avoid letting the arrangements distract you from praying. “Personal effort for others should be preceded by much secret prayer; for it requires great wisdom to understand the science of saving souls. Before communicating with men, commune with Christ. At the throne of heavenly grace obtain a preparation for ministering to the people” (Prayer, p. 313).

In the online Ten Days of Prayer resources, you’ll find a document with dozens of outreach ideas. Jesus invites you to be His hands and feet to a world in need!

About the Author

Pavel Goia, DMin, is an ordained minister, public speaker, and editor. He started his path to the ministry in his home country of Romania. Pavel and his lovely wife, Daniela, moved with their two sons to the United States to continue Pavel’s education for the ministry. He found fulfillment in being a pastor of several congregations in Romania and the United States, and has traveled the world speaking on prayer and other topics. He was the subject of one book, One Miracle After Another: The Pavel Goia Story and is author of many articles and a book, In the Spirit and Power. Pavel is currently an associate ministerial secretary for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and lead editor for Ministry, International Journal for Pastors. He loves spending as much time as possible with his dear wife, Daniela, their two sons, four grandchildren, and his devoted dog.

Ten Days of Prayer materials are prepared by the Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Unless otherwise marked, texts in Introduction and Leader’s Guide are taken from the New King James Version.

In daily readings, texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

World Church Prayer Requests

• Lord, please let a mighty revival of primitive godliness sweep Your church in the final days. May we stand for truth though the heavens fall. Let this revival start with me.
• Lord, show us how to be consistent in daily worship, individually and as a family.
• Lord, open our eyes to the distractions in our lives. The things that keep us from being able to focus entirely on You. Give us undivided hearts of worship.
• Lord, help us to allow You to wake us up each morning, no matter how early, so that we can have sweet, unrushed time in Your Word and prayer.
• We pray that You would help us to come to You as we are, with all our feelings, our imperfections, our sins, and our needs, and allow You to love us, change us, and remake us into the person You long for us to be.
• Lord, teach us how to plead for a daily baptism of the Holy Spirit.
• We pray for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit to empower our witness and enable us to engage in the work You have given us to do before Your return.
• Show us how to love our families sacrificially and how to make disciples for the Kingdom, starting with our own children and loved ones.
• We pray for wisdom to search, understand, and follow God’s Word. Teach us to rightly divide the words of truth and faithfully share them with others.
• Lord, please renew our appreciation for the instructions found in the inspired writings of Ellen White.
• We pray for religious liberty and freedom of conscience throughout the world. Lord, please open doors for the proclamation of Your Word in closed territories.
• Lord, may Your world church accept the call to widely proclaim the Three Angels’ messages to every nation and tongue. Show us how to center all these teachings on the love and righteousness of Christ.
• Lord, help us model to our youth and young people what living the Three Angels’ messages looks like.
• Lord, may Adventists worldwide declare “I Will Go” and take up the call to serve You and proclaim the good news of salvation.
• We pray for medical professionals, scientists, government leaders, and public health officials to have wisdom for the many decisions they make.
• We pray that Adventists around the world will offer practical aid and encouragement to those who are suffering. Give us courage, creativity, and an unselfish spirit when our neighbors need us most.
• We pray for those financially affected by job losses due to the changing economy.
• Lord, please show church members how to help those struggling with mental health issues or isolation.
• We pray for pastors and churches to find ways of keeping church members actively praying together. Lord, please draw Your church together in worship and service.
• We pray for a spiritual revival among Seventh-day Adventist young people attending colleges and universities worldwide. May they become vibrant ambassadors for Christ.
• We pray for the 69 percent of the earth’s population who have not received an unclouded presentation of Jesus.
• We pray for the 62 million people in the 28 least-reached cities of the former Soviet Union (Euro-Asia Division).
• We pray for God to raise up brave missionaries willing to work among the 746 people groups in the 20 countries of the Middle East.
• Lord, please raise up modern-day Waldensian-type students willing to serve You in difficult places.
• We pray for Adventist members facing persecution or imprisonment because of their beliefs.
• We pray for the 202 million people in the 41 least-reached cities of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division to know Jesus.
• We pray for the Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Department of each local church as they seek God’s plan and reach out to their communities with loving service, Bible study, and personal witnessing.
• We pray for Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) as they meet practical needs worldwide.
• We pray for the 16 million people in the 6 least-reached cities of the South Pacific Division.
• We pray for the Holy Spirit to help us know how to reach the 406 million people in the 105 least-reached cities of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division.
• Lord, please bless as Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries mobilizes chaplains and interested members to minister to those in prison.
• Lord, we pray for our Sabbath School teachers. Please let them know how important their work is for our children.
• Lord, we seek your guidance for the many Centers of Influence, health and family programs, and Pathfinder clubs worldwide.
• Lord, please show us how to send more truth-filled literature (printed and electronic) into our communities. We pray that people will read it and that the Holy Spirit will convict them of Bible truth.
• Lord, we ask for Your protection over missionaries working in dangerous places.
• Please raise up literature evangelists, student volunteers, authors, media specialists, and financial supporters to spread words of hope and life.
• We pray for Adventist schools, students, and teachers worldwide. May these schools faithfully teach Bible truth and lead young people into mission, service, and a saving relationship with Christ.
• Lord, give us wisdom to reach secular cultures without interest in religion. Let Your Holy Spirit break down the walls that surround secular hearts.
• Bless us as we reach out to people enslaved by spirit worship, idolatry, and animistic beliefs. Help us to understand their worldview and introduce them to a personal Saviour.
• Lord, please inspire Seventh-day Adventists worldwide to pray as never before. Teach us to claim Your promises and expect You to move mountains when we pray.
• We pray for the 541 people groups in the 18 countries of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. Please lead them to biblical truth.
• Show us how to meet the practical and spiritual needs of refugees. May our church be known for our love of all people, no matter who they are or where they come from.
• We ask You to raise up urban missionaries to plant churches for the 806 people groups in the 20 countries of the Inter-European Division.
• Please raise up an army of workers to plant churches for the 948 people groups in the 38 countries of the Inter-American Division.
• Please teach us to proclaim our fundamental church beliefs with clarity, creativity, and biblical authenticity. May the love of Jesus be at the core of everything we believe.
• Lord, please prepare young people to plant churches for the 789 people groups in the 9 countries of the North American Division.
• We ask You to prepare volunteers to serve the 70 people groups in the Israel Field.
• We ask You to raise up medical missionaries to plant churches among the 830 people groups in the 11 countries of the East-Central Africa Division.
• We ask You to raise up prayer warriors to intercede for the 2,568 people groups in the 4 countries of the Southern Asia Division.
• Please let our families reveal Your love in our homes and communities. We ask You to bring harmony into homes, heal broken relationships, protect the vulnerable from abuse, and reveal Your sanctifying power in seemingly hopeless situations.
• We ask You to raise up nurses and doctors to plant new churches among the 1,978 people groups in the 22 countries in West-Central Africa Division.
• We pray for the 49 million people in the 19 least-reached cities of the Trans-European Division.
• We pray for our children. Please empower them to stand boldly for You when facing obstacles and pressure. Help them to make wise choices and stand for truth.
• Teach us to follow Christ’s selfless example by meeting the daily needs of people close to us. Equip us to serve as medical missionaries, community volunteers, and friends to the needy.

Abide in Me

Continually Connected—the Vital Condition for Producing Fruit

After graduation I was called to a district that had three small churches. It was winter. One of the churches had a mostly elderly membership. On a very good Sabbath, like for the Christmas program, we had maybe 40 people. On a bad Sabbath, about 10.

One Sabbath it was very cold, around -32°F, and nine people showed up: my family of four and another five. I wondered, Should I even preach? The head elder, a lady who was about 90 years old, said, “We pay tithe, so you need to preach.” So I did.

I preached from John 15:4–8. In four verses Jesus repeats “Abide in Me” three times. In Hebrew culture, something repeated three times is very important, even essential. I emphasized that it is not so much what we do in the Christian life. While we are called to serve, we will never have results by ourselves. However, Jesus gave His word that if we remain in Him, whatever we ask, it will be done. There is no ambiguity; it’s 100 percent assurance for success.

“So,” I told the listeners, “it is not what we can do, but what God can do that makes the real difference.”

Author Ellen G. White states, “It is not the capabilities you now possess, or ever will have, that will give you success. It is that which the Lord can do for you. We need to have far less confidence in what man can do, and far more confidence in what God can do for every believing soul” (Christian Service, p. 262).

I told my little congregation that prayer “is the secret of spiritual power” (Prayer, p. 12). It connects us with the “Source of strength” (Prayer, p. 272). Prayer gives us access to God’s “boundless resources” (Steps to Christ, p. 95). It is the most efficient weapon against Satan’s attacks (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1 pp. 295, 296, 345, 346).

I told them about the promise Jesus gave in Matthew 18:19, 20. “Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (NIV). It doesn’t say “If 200 or 300 ask” but “If 2 or 3 ask” for something in agreement, in unity. And it is not “I might do it” but a very clear “I will do it.”

I told my few listeners, “It’s not an option to do nothing. We must pray and work, and God will give the results as He promised.” It was a strong sermon on the power of prayer.

As my wife and I drove home, I told her, “We need to move. There is no hope of growth or in fact of anything in this church.” She repeated back to me my sermon, with Jesus’ promise, and she asked me, “Why don’t you call them to prayer?” I hesitantly did so. Those few ladies came every morning at 6:30 a.m. to pray together for the Holy Spirit, church growth, families, the city, God’s plan for our church, and clarity on what we needed to do. Three months later the church had an attendance of about 120.

God is calling you to continually remain in Him, pray without ceasing, never disconnect, and walk with Him. He invites you to abide in Him, and you must daily invite Him to abide in you. That’s your only source of true power. That’s your safety. As long as you are connected to God, Satan has no power over you. Christ in you and you in Him is the single way to growth and success.

Let’s pray together.

Prayer Time (30–45 Minutes)

All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to spend the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. We encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more people to pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture based on the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other subjects in your prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer Requests for prayer ideas.

Praying God’s Word — John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;apart from me you can do nothing.”

“Remain in Me and I in you”

Jesus, teach us how to abide in You every day. Without You, we are like dead branches separated from the life-giving vine. Walk with us, work in us, speak through us. Please dwell in our hearts and love the world through us.

“You will bear much fruit”

Lord, we know that all righteousness comes from You. Grow the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Fill us with Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let our lives reflect Your spotless character to everyone we meet.

“Apart from Me you can do nothing”

Lord, our own righteousness is like filthy rags. We break our promises, offend our enemies, and betray those we love. Apart from You, we are helpless and lost. We need Your love, Your patience, and Your grace in our hearts every day. Keep us close to Your side.

More Prayer Suggestions

Thanks and Praise: Give thanks for specific blessings and praise God for His goodness.

Confession: Take a few minutes for private confession and thank God for His forgiveness.

Guidance: Ask God to grant wisdom for current challenges and decisions.

Our Church: Pray for regional and world church needs (see separate sheet with requests).

Local Requests: Pray for current needs of church members, family, and neighbors.

Listen and Respond: Take time to listen for God’s voice and respond in praise or song.

Song Suggestions

SDA Hymnal: Abide With Me (#50); Draw Me Nearer (#306); In the Garden (#487)

Other Songs: Into My Heart; As the Deer; Open My Eyes, Lord; Unto Thee, O Lord

Published by the General Conference Ministerial Association
Daily Readings by Dr. Pavel Goia

Teach Us How to Pray

The Heart of the Christian Life

Prayer is essential, even vital.

“Every morning take time to begin your work with prayer. Do not think this wasted time; it is time that will live through eternal ages. By this means success and spiritual victory will be brought in” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 194).

The disciples often witnessed Jesus praying. They noticed that He had a prayer life different from theirs. The disciples were good spiritual people. They had dedicated hearts and wanted to serve God. They went to church, kept Sabbath, returned tithe faithfully, and ate clean foods. Everybody in Israel, especially the disciples, knew how to pray, right?

We think we know how to pray. Even children know how to pray. But when the disciples watched Jesus praying—and compared their prayers with His—they realized that they didn’t know how to pray. That’s the reason they said, “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

We assume that prayer is so simple. And yes, God would listen to the simplest prayer. But we must continually improve our prayer life.

The disciples noticed that they would preach, but nobody was impressed. They would try to heal or cast out demons, but they had no power. They asked Jesus, “How do You do that?” Jesus said, “By prayer and fasting.”

Jesus basically says that you can’t do things in your own wisdom; it’s only in God’s power. For you to succeed, you need to pray seriously. In the book of Romans, Paul says that Holy Spirit must intercede for us because we don’t even know how to pray (Rom. 8:26).

“Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. . . . Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God” (Prayer, pp. 12, 13).

Jesus had a powerful prayer life and would often spend the whole night in prayer. “Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. . . . He is our example in all things. . . . His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Savior of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer” (Steps to Christ, pp. 93, 94).

Jesus made prayer His priority, the first thing before the day started. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35, NKJV). Jesus had a time and a place for prayer.

When the disciples said, “Teach us how to pray,” Jesus didn’t tell them, “Pray with these words,” like a mantra. In fact, He clearly told them not to repeat the same words every time they prayed (Matt. 6:7). Jesus Himself prayed a different kind of prayer in John 17, according to the needs of the situation.

“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend” (Steps to Christ, p. 93). In prayer we open our heart to God in honest conversation, like a dialogue. If you repeat the same words every time you pray, it will become routine and you will not even think about what you say.

Prayer and study of the Word should always go together. Through prayer we talk to God; through the Word God talks to us.

Jesus lived a life of prayer. He prayed early in the morning, He went to a specific place for prayer, and He openly conversed with God. He is our example. He is calling us to pray just like Him.

Let’s pray together.

Prayer Time (30–45 Minutes)

All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to spend the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. We encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more people to pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture based on the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other subjects in your prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer Requests for prayer ideas.

Praying God’s Word — Luke 11:1

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’”

“Jesus was praying in a certain place”

Father, teach us to pray like Jesus. We confess to making excuses and getting distracted and busy. Help us to choose the best time and place for meeting with You every day. Change our priorities and form new habits that lead us into Your presence.

“Lord, teach us to pray”

Yes, Lord, show us how to pray just as You showed the disciples. Thank You for the beautiful example of the Lord’s Prayer. Show us how to model our prayers and our lives after You. Fill us with the Holy Spirit, and use our prayers to transform our homes, our church, our community, and Your kingdom.

More Prayer Suggestions

Thanks and Praise: Give thanks for specific blessings and praise God for His goodness.

Confession: Take a few minutes for private confession and thank God for His forgiveness.

Guidance: Ask God to grant wisdom for current challenges and decisions.

Our Church: Pray for regional and world church needs (see separate sheet with requests).

Local Requests: Pray for current needs of church members, family, and neighbors.

Listen and Respond: Take time to listen for God’s voice and respond in praise or song.

Song Suggestions

SDA Hymnal: Sweet Hour of Prayer (#478); Hear Our Prayer, O Lord (#684); What a Friend We Have in Jesus (#499)

Other Songs: Seek Ye First; Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus; In Moments Like These

 

Published by the General Conference Ministerial Association
Daily Readings by Dr. Pavel Goia

Be Specific

Pray Specifically

Our son, Ovidiu, purchased a house at an extremely low price, but the house was in poor shape and quite small. He had to remodel and expand it to accommodate his family’s needs. However, prices had gone up considerably. He mentioned repeatedly that he would most likely not be able to complete the work due to lack of finances.

I asked Ovidiu to present his needs before God because He cares for them. He responded that he had prayed about the house, in general.

I then asked him to be very specific in prayer, to present one need at a time, not to pray today for what he would need next month or tomorrow, but to pray today for the need of today. God answers specifically to specific requests. God does not answer generic prayers.

Do not go to God and say, “Lord, save my neighbors.” Instead, you might say, “My Father, I intercede for my neighbor John. Please touch his heart. Also, please give me wisdom and opportunities to build a friendship with him and reach him with the good news of the gospel.”

Mark 10:47 presents Bartimaeus asking Jesus for help. He cries out, “Jesus,Son of David,have mercy on me!” That is a generic request. In verse 51 Jesus asks him to be specific: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Bartimaeus responds, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight” (NKJV).

Back to my story—our son started praying specifically. He asked God to help him find a team that would dig the hole for the foundation of the house. Then he began searching. However, all teams he contacted were scheduled months in advance, and they all charged somewhere between $18,000 and $22,000. Eventually he managed to negotiate with one team to lower the price to $16,000 and come the following week to dig.

The leader of the team came, but the heavy machinery did not show up. After waiting all morning, the leader lost his patience, said he couldn’t come back for three months, and left. Our son was devastated. He didn’t have any solution.

Finally, Ovidiu asked God specifically for a team to dig a hole fast, and at a good price. As he finished his prayer, his next-door neighbor approached.

Neighbor: “How are you doing?”

Ovidiu: “I’m OK. Just looking for a team to dig the hole for my foundation.”

Neighbor: “Well, I have a team digging the hole for my house right now. Ask them. Maybe they can do yours too.”

Ovidiu instantly ran next door and asked.

The team leader responded: “Well, since we’re already here with our heavy equipment, as soon as we finish here, we can come and do your job.”

Ovidiu: “Can you come and give me an estimate?”

Upon looking, the team leader said, “I will do it for $2,500.”

What joy! Ovidiu saw that God had already prepared an answer, and He was waiting for Ovidiu to ask for it.

“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend” (Steps to Christ, p. 93). God is calling you to have an open conversation with Him, to present your needs in a clear and specific way. He wants you to have faith in Him, to expect an answer based on His love, wisdom, and promises. He will answer in His time and way, but if you wait upon Him in faith, you will know that His answer is the best answer.

Let’s pray together.

Prayer Time (30–45 Minutes)

All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to spend the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. We encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more people to pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture based on the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other subjects in your prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer Requests for prayer ideas.

Praying God’s Word — Matt. 6:7, 8

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

“Do not use vain repetitions”

God, teach us to talk to You as a Friend. Sometimes our prayers fall into monotonous patterns, and it seems that our words go no higher than the ceiling. Wake us up spiritually! Help us to sense the reality of Your presence right beside us.

“Your Father knows the things you have need of”

Dear Lord, You already know everything about us. You know our fears, our hopes, our strengths, and our weaknesses. We often ask for simple desires like food or money or success, but You know our deepest needs. Thank You that the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that our words cannot express. We trust You to answer in ways that we cannot imagine!

More Prayer Suggestions

Thanks and Praise: Give thanks for specific blessings and praise God for His goodness.

Confession: Take a few minutes for private confession and thank God for His forgiveness.

Guidance: Ask God to grant wisdom for current challenges and decisions.

Our Church: Pray for regional and world church needs (see separate sheet with requests).

Local Requests: Pray for current needs of church members, family, and neighbors.

Listen and Respond: Take time to listen for God’s voice and respond in praise or song.

Song Suggestions

SDA Hymnal: Standing on the Promises (#518); I Know Whom I Have Believed (#511)

Other Songs: Give Thanks; Thank You, Lord, for Saving My Soul; Count Your Blessings; He’s Able

 

Published by the General Conference Ministerial Association
Daily Readings by Dr. Pavel Goia

Unanswered Prayers (and Faith)

Waiting . . .

Waiting is not fun. Who likes waiting? Waiting at the doctor’s office, waiting in line, waiting for a delayed plane at the airport, waiting for someone who is late for a meeting.

Abraham had to wait 25 years to get an answer to his prayer. Moses waited 40 years for God to finally intervene. Joseph was a slave for several years and then sat in prison a few years—not a fun place to wait for God’s intervention! There are many examples of waiting for help in the Bible.

Though waiting challenges our patience, the Bible says that one characteristic of God’s people is patience. The same in prayer. Often, we may have to wait for an answer.

“To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good” (Messages to Young People, p. 250).

When we humble ourselves and present our need, in a clear, specific way, acknowledging our total dependance on God, He answers. However, often we must wait. We often need to use up all our resources and options before God intervenes, so we can know with certainty that it was Him. If He answered instantly, we might take credit for ourselves.

When we see no possible way to solve a crisis, God says a word, and something that we never could have imagined happens. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great andmighty things, which you do not know” (Jer. 33:3, NKJV).

However, if God doesn’t answer at the time and in the way we ask, we may think He didn’t answer at all. God answers honest, humble prayers, and His answer is the best possible answer.

You are called to know the love of God (Eph. 3:19). That’s all you need. The more you know Him, the more you trust Him, the more peace you have, and the more you are willing to wait for His leading and intervention. Fix your eyes on Him, His love, His promises, and the way He has led in past challenges.

“You will keephimin perfectpeace, whosemindisstayedon You” (Isa. 26:3, NKJV).

God knows the future. He cares for you, but He also cares for others. He may not answer now because He has a better answer, or it’s not the best time, or you are not ready for His plan. He may have a different answer that addresses other needs, things you may not think about. He may also allow something in your life as the single way to reach someone that otherwise would not be reached. Many things happen that we will understand only in heaven.

Keep in mind, Jesus didn’t come and die to give us a comfortable life on earth. In fact, He said that in this world we will have trials (John 16:33). He often uses trials to teach us lessons necessary for character growth and salvation. “Forour light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceedingandeternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17, NKJV).

So instead of asking God to remove challenges, ask Him to help you grow and learn through them. Our greatest need is not the needs that we pray for, though most of the time they are real needs. Our greatest need is to know our God. The more you know Him, the more you trust Him, and the more you allow Him to work.

God is calling you to pray and seek Him, His presence, His plan, His leading. Seek to know Him before seeking answers and help, then cast upon Him all your worries and wait upon Him.

Let’s pray together.

Prayer Time (30–45 Minutes)

All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to spend the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. We encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more people to pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture based on the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other subjects in your prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer Requests for prayer ideas.

Praying God’s Word — Isa. 40:31a

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”

“Those who wait on the Lord”

Father, we don’t like to wait. Waiting makes us anxious and fearful, so we rush ahead and look for our own solutions. Teach us to rest in You as a child rests in his father’s arms. Give us faith to know that You hold tomorrow in Your powerful hands. May we live by faith, not by sight.

“Shall renew their strength”

Lord, sometimes we grow weary of life in this broken world. We’re worn out by illness, disagreements, poverty, injustice, and loneliness. Please lift our eyes to heaven and renew our strength. Teach us to lean on You and find strength in Your endless promises. When we are weak, connect us to Your power.

More Prayer Suggestions

Thanks and Praise: Give thanks for specific blessings and praise God for His goodness.

Confession: Take a few minutes for private confession and thank God for His forgiveness.

Guidance: Ask God to grant wisdom for current challenges and decisions.

Our Church: Pray for regional and world church needs (see separate sheet with requests).

Local Requests: Pray for current needs of church members, family, and neighbors.

Listen and Respond: Take time to listen for God’s voice and respond in praise or song.

Song Suggestions

SDA Hymnal: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (#469); It Is Well with My Soul (#530); Be Still, My Soul (#461)

Other Songs: My Peace I Give unto You; I Cast All My Cares upon You; In God’s Green Pastures

 

Published by the General Conference Ministerial Association
Daily Readings by Dr. Frank Hasel

Hallowed be Your Name

We Are an Open Letter

One time the members of a church, together with the pastor, tried to invite the neighbors to some events. Several refused. The pastor asked a few families that he knew about why they did not want to come. In different words they all said, “If Mr. ____ is a member there, we’d rather not come. He’s not kind or loving. He has no respect or sense of shame. He cheats, abuses his pets, and is always angry and rude.” Most church members could commiserate.

The Lord’s prayer starts with the words, “Our Father in heaven.” God is not only the God of the Universe but He also has a close, intimate relationship with us. Then it says, “hallowed be Your name.” The Greek word is not hagios—meaning “holy, sacred, worthy”—but hagiazo—meaning “to sanctify.” How can we sanctity or make God holy when He is holy?

Paul says that we are an open letter read by all people (2 Cor. 3:2). In 1 Corinthians 4:9 he writes, “For we have been made a spectacle to the world” (NKJV).

People don’t see God, they see us. Our daily behavior can glorify God and honor Him, or it can dishonor His name and misrepresent the church and negatively affect its work (Matt. 5:13–16).

Enter God’s presence with praises and then acknowledge Him as your loving Father. Instead of focusing on you and your needs, first focus on God, His name, and His honor. “God would have us seek for those things that will honor His name. In no case are we to glorify ourselves; we should seek God for grace and spiritual blessings, that we may glorify His name in our characters. God is glorified, His name is hallowed, when His children give in their lives a representation of Christ’s character” (Manuscript 34, 1903, par. 15).

Pray something like this: “Father, help me honor you in all I do today. Help me properly represent you and carry your Name so that when people see me they will praise You. Let me behave in a way that allows people to see Jesus’ character through my every action and word.”

Also, in your prayer seek only things that would honor and serve God. 1 John 5:14 says that “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (NKJV).

We must pray in Jesus’ Name, but that means more than merely saying “in Your Name.” In Bible times, a name represented character. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray within His will, to ask the things that would represent Him and His character. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss” (NKJV). “To pray in Christ’s name means much. It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His works” (The Desire of Ages, p. 668).

Jesus promised to answer our prayers if we ask in His Name, within His will, and for something that will glorify and honor God (John 14:13, 14; 1 John 5:14).

And when God answers, make sure that you praise and honor Him. We must not take any credit for ourselves. Satan tries to take God’s glory for himself. In humility, thankfully acknowledge and glorify God through your words, actions, and prayers.

When we complain we give the wrong message about our God. In a way we say that God is not good, He doesn’t care, He doesn’t keep His promises. Rejoice always (1 Thess. 5:16; Phil. 4:4). Pray, talk, and behave in a way that would honor God. How can you inspire faith when you doubt? How can you ask others to praise God when you complain?

Our heartfelt prayer should be, “My heavenly, loving Father, help me today to talk and act in a way that properly represents You before others. Give me only those things that will honor You, and help me use them in a way that serves You. Let me glorify Your name today.”

Let’s pray together.

Prayer Time (30–45 Minutes)

All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to spend the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. We encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more people to pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture based on the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other subjects in your prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer Requests for prayer ideas.

Praying God’s Word — Matt. 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“Let your light so shine”

Lord, You are the Source of all light. Shine through us so others can see the beauty of Your character. Help us to shine brightly and boldly so others are attracted to Your kingdom through our love.

“That they may see your good works”

God, sometimes we forget that others are watching everything we do. Help them to see love, not hate in our lives. Help them to see generosity, not selfishness. Work in our lives to bless our children, our neighbors, and even our enemies.

“And glorify your Father in heaven”

God, You must increase and we must decrease. Humble us and help our neighbors to glimpse Your power and compassion in our loving actions.

More Prayer Suggestions

Thanks and Praise: Give thanks for specific blessings and praise God for His goodness.

Confession: Take a few minutes for private confession and thank God for His forgiveness.

Guidance: Ask God to grant wisdom for current challenges and decisions.

Our Church: Pray for regional and world church needs (see separate sheet with requests).

Local Requests: Pray for current needs of church members, family, and neighbors.

Listen and Respond: Take time to listen for God’s voice and respond in praise or song.

Song Suggestions

SDA Hymnal: How Great Thou Art (#86); Praise to the Lord (#1); Praise Him, Praise Him (#249)

Other Songs: I Will Enter His Gates; Shine, Jesus, Shine; Majesty; His Name is Wonderful

 

Published by the General Conference Ministerial Association
Daily Readings by Dr. Pavel Goia

Sabbath Celebration

Design the final Sabbath of Ten Days of Prayer to celebrate God’s goodness and mighty power. Tell how you have experienced the power of prayer and share the valuable spiritual insights gained during the past ten days. Rejoice in what God has done, is doing, and will do.

The needs of each congregation are unique, so please work with local leaders to develop a specific plan for your church. Here are some possible items to include in your final Sabbath church service.

2025 Theme:

But When You Pray . . . (Prayer Principles from Jesus)

Theme Verses:

“Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1, NKJV)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

(Matt. 6:9-13, NKJV)

Possible Hymns:

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (#290)

Standing on the Promises (#518)

It Is Well With My Soul (#530)

Live Out Thy Life Within Me (#316)

He Lives (#251)

Sermon Ideas:

Single Sermon: Have a pastor, elder, or prayer leader preach a sermon about how we can live out the principles of the Lord’s Prayer.

[OR]

Short Summaries: Have the Ten Days of Prayer participants take turns offering short summaries (1–2 minutes) for each of the 10 daily prayer guides. Share the title, the main verse, and a key thought. (Plan ahead so summaries stay within 1–2 minutes. For most people, one minute is 125–150 spoken words.)

[OR]

Short Talks on a Related Theme: Enlist three members of different ages to give short talks (5–7 minutes) on a chosen theme, such as the Lord’s Prayer or prayer stories from the Bible.

Other Program Ideas:

Member testimonies of answered prayer, small-group prayer time, announcement of future prayer or service activities, children’s story, special music selections, etc.

Leader’s Guide

Has God’s voice been calling you to revival? The Bible is full of promises for you:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32).

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

Wherever you are in life right now, God is closer than you think. He wants to pour out His blessings on your family, your church, your community, and your world.

General Items for Ten Days of Prayer

Daily Prayer Guides

We have provided a prayer guide for each of the ten days. Each guide includes a Bible passage, devotional reading, Bible texts to pray through, prayer suggestions, and song suggestions. We recommend that you copy the daily guides so each participant can have one to follow during the prayer time.

Churches around the world will unite in praying about each day’s topic. Join them in praying through the verses and prayer requests, but don’t feel that you must rush through the entire list of prayer suggestions. You may want to divide into small groups and have each group pray for a portion of your prayer requests.

We also included a document called World Church Prayer Requests. It’s important to pray together for our world church family, but you may want to spend extra time praying for local needs if your group includes visitors from the community. Pray about how you can best welcome guests and make them feel a part of your group.

Suggested Times for Each Prayer Session

Keep your prayer time simple so the group can focus on actually praying. How much time you spend on each section will vary. The following guide is just a suggestion:

Welcome and introduction: 2 – 5 minutes

Read devotional (in daily prayer guide): 5 minutes

Pray through the verses in “Praying God’s Word” (in daily prayer guide): 10 – 15 minutes

Pray about the items in “More Prayer Suggestions” (in daily prayer guide): 20 – 30 minutes

Respond in song and praise: 5 – 10 minutes

Pray for Others

Encourage each person to pray consistently for five to seven people that God has placed in their life. They can be relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or simply acquaintances. Encourage them to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in choosing these names and in reaching out to these people during the ten days. You may want to provide some cards or pieces of paper on which people can record the names they will be praying for.

Sabbath Services During Ten Days of Prayer

Have a special prayer focus and share testimonies of answered prayer during the church services on both Sabbaths. Be creative—there are many ways to share with the church family what is happening during the daily prayer meetings.

Final Sabbath Celebration

The final Sabbath should be designed as a time of great rejoicing in all that God has done throughout the ten days. Include ample time for testimonies of answered prayer, biblical teaching/preaching on prayer, and singing. Lead the congregation in a time of prayer so that those who have not attended the daily meetings can experience the joy of praying with others. Please see the Sabbath Celebration handout for more ideas.

Follow-up to Ten Days of Prayer

Pray about how God wants your church/group to continue what He has begun during Ten Days of Prayer. Perhaps you will continue with a weekly prayer session. Or perhaps God wants you to begin a new ministry in your church or an outreach to the community. Be open and follow where God leads. You’re sure to be amazed as you walk with Him. The document called Outreach Challenge is filled with ideas for service.

Testimonies

Please share stories of how God has worked through Ten Days of Prayer! Your stories will be an encouragement to many others. Testimonies may be submitted online at www.tendaysofprayer.org.

United Prayer Pointers

Agree Together

When someone prays a request to God, be sure some others pray for that same request and agree together—this is powerful! Don’t think that because one person has prayed about the request, no one else needs to. “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). How encouraging it is to be lifted up in prayer!

Claiming God’s Promises

Encourage the group to claim God’s promises as they pray. It is so easy to focus on our problems. But when we claim God’s promises, we increase our faith and remind ourselves that nothing is impossible with God. The promises help us take our eyes off our weaknesses and difficulties and set them on Jesus. For every weakness and every struggle, we can find Bible promises to claim. Encourage people to search for more promises and write them down so they can claim them in the future.

Fasting

Invite those joining you in Ten Days of Prayer to consider some type of fasting, such as fasting from TV, secular music, movies, the Internet, sweets, or other types of food that are hard to digest. Use the extra time to pray and study the Bible, asking God to help you and your congregation to abide more fully in Christ. By adopting a simple diet, we allow our minds to become more receptive to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit

Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to show you what to pray for in a person’s life or in a particular situation. The Bible tells us that we do not know what to pray for and that the Holy Spirit is the one making intercession for us (Romans 8:26, 27).

“We must not only pray in Christ’s name, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This explains what is meant when it is said that the Spirit ‘maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ (Romans 8:26). Such prayer God delights to answer. When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20)” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 147, emphasis supplied).

Journaling

Keeping a prayer journal during the Ten Days of Prayer can help participants to internalize the daily prayer theme, make concrete commitments to God, and recognize His blessings. Writing out our prayers and keeping a record of God’s answers is a proven path to encouragement.

If you wish, you might provide time during the prayer meeting for people to journal their responses to God in private prayer journals. Or you could keep a group journal of prayer requests and answers—either in a notebook, on a large poster, or online. It is exciting and faith-building to look back and see how God has answered prayers!

Reverence

Encourage and model a reverent attitude. We are approaching the throne room of the King of the universe. Let’s not treat this prayer time carelessly in our posture or mannerisms. However, it is not necessary that everyone kneel continuously. You want people to be comfortable for an hour, so encourage everyone to kneel or sit or stand as God leads and as they are comfortable.

Sentence Prayers

Prayers should be short and to the point. This gives others an opportunity to pray as well. Try to limit your prayers to a few sentences. Each person can pray multiple times. Short sentence prayers keep the prayer time interesting and allow the Holy Spirit to impress the group how to pray. You don’t need to open and close each short sentence prayer with phrases such as “Dear God” and “Amen.” It is an ongoing conversation with God.

Silence

As a leader, don’t dominate the prayer time. The goal is to get others praying. Times of silence are wonderful, as they give God time to speak to our hearts. Allow the Holy Spirit to work and give everyone time to pray.

Singing

Spontaneous group songs, mingled between prayers, add beauty to the prayer meeting. Suggested songs are listed at the end of each theme sheet. Do not feel that you need to use all the songs—these are simply suggestions. Singing is also a good way to transition from one prayer section to another.

Taking Prayer Requests

Don’t ask for prayer requests from the group. Instead, tell people to pray their requests and encourage others to join in agreement and prayer for those requests. Here’s why: time! Talking about the requests will take up most of your prayer time. Satan is thrilled if he can keep us talking about the problem instead of praying about the problem. Group members will often begin counseling and suggesting solutions. The power is from God! The more we pray, the more His power is unleashed.

Your Daily Time

This is so important! Make sure that you as a leader are spending time daily at the feet of Jesus, talking with Him and reading His Word. If you will make knowing God a first priority in your life, it will open such a beautiful experience to you. “From the secret place of prayer came the power that shook the world in the Great Reformation. There, with holy calmness, the servants of the Lord set their feet upon the rock of His promises” (The Great Controversy, p. 210). When a leader prays, God works on hearts!

All Scriptures taken from NKJV

Promises for the Holy Spirit

“Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.” Zech. 10:1

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. . . . And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 14:26; 16:8

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14

“So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4:6

Promises that God Answers Prayers

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:16

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Ps. 50:15

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” Matt. 18:19

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matt. 21:22

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:13, 14

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23, 24

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14, 15

Promises About God’s Power

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Gen. 18:14

“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Ex. 14:14

“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.’” Mark 10:27

“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thess. 5:24

“I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” Job 42:2

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:31, 32

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Num. 23:19

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isa. 40:28-31

Promises for God’s Guidance

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Josh. 1:9

“ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Gen. 28:15

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.” Ex. 23:20

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deut. 4:29

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jer. 33:3

“Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isa. 40:4, 5

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Ps. 32:8

“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deut. 31:8

“Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.” Ps. 25:12

“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 your paths.” Prov. 3:5, 6

“If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isa. 58:10, 11

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isa. 65:24

Promises for a Changed Heart

“Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.” Jer. 24:7

“And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deut. 30:6

“ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezek. 36:26

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:6

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thess. 5:23, 24

Promises for Forgiveness

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chr. 7:14

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” Ps. 86:5

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:32

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” Isa. 43:25

“For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jer. 31:34

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Eph. 1:7

Promises for Victory Over Sin

“ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4

“ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isa. 41:10

“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Eph. 6:16

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16

“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Rom. 16:20

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:2

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

Promises for Healing

“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” Ex. 15:26

“Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be.” Deut. 33:25

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Ps. 103:2-5

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” Prov. 3:7, 8

“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:3-5

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.” Jer. 17:14

“‘For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘because they called you an outcast saying: This is Zion; no one seeks her.’” Jer. 30:17

“Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.” Jer. 33:6

“But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.” Mal. 4:2

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:14, 15

Promises for Strength to Do God’s Will

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Gal. 6:9

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9

Promises About Being God’s Witnesses

“Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Isa. 44:8

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” Isa. 60:1

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18

“But the Lord said to me: Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” Jer. 1:7

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exod. 20:8–11, ESV)

The Sabbath Rightly Understood

Seventh-day Adventists are good at explaining the historical change of the Lord’s Day from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week. We are sometimes less successful in demonstrating the beauty and blessing of keeping the Sabbath holy. For many, the Sabbath has deteriorated into a dreaded legalistic routine where they abstain from certain work. It is no longer a delight that delivers us joy in our walk with God. Unless we rediscover the delightful aspects of joyful Sabbath celebration, nobody will be attracted to experiencing the Sabbath as God’s blessing. The Sabbath, rightly understood, offers wonderfully practical blessings to a generation that is shaped relationally by using new technology in an age of digital connectedness. The Sabbath offers a perfect opportunity to clarify our choices about how we are going to live in the present. In a time when few people put any limits on texting, social media, or other uses of digital technology, the Sabbath offers an experience that will enrich the rest of our work week as well.

Digital Detox

Skimming media-rich web pages exposes us to endless information, but we become less able to engage in deep, undistracted thinking. When people get used to quick browsing, scanning, and one-time reading, the ability to do in-depth and focused reading diminishes. It becomes physiologically more difficult to follow an extended line of thinking and more challenging to reflect deeply on the words and ways of God. This has drastic implications for our relationship with God because Jesus tells us that our brain is essential in expressing our love of God (Mark 12:30). Digital technology does not develop the brain circuits needed for contemplation, undistracted prayer, and other dimensions of spiritual life. But this is precisely the type of thinking that is fostered by a digital detox, by slowing down, and by embracing and practicing God’s Sabbath. Imagine the blessings from one full day every week when we turn off our cell phones, when we keep our computers and tablets turned off, when we deliberately refrain from browsing the web and do not check e-mails. Instead, we purposefully engage in activities and relationships that invite us to be physically and mentally present. Imagine a Sabbath where you extend grace by offering undistracted conversation and keep your focus on the family and friends around you. Imagine a day of rest where you make time to reflect on God’s Word creatively and deeply. Imagine quality time where you share your insights and experience with others and also listen attentively and without interruption to their stories. Such a Sabbath practice will reconnect us to God, renew our relationships, and grace our spiritual journey in ways both beautiful and profound.

Consider holding an all-night prayer service as part of Ten Days of Prayer. For example, you could begin at 6:00 p.m. and finish at 6:00 a.m. Choose a schedule that’s suitable for your group.

Why a Night of Prayer?

There is nothing “holy” in staying awake and praying all night. However, night might be the only time when people are not busy or in a rush. We believe that your purpose should not be to stay up the whole night but to pray as long as necessary and until you have prayed for everything you feel God wants you to pray for.

We suggest that several people lead out during the night. Be sure to have some breaks. As a leader, you can sense the atmosphere and know when a break is needed and when you need to move on to the next section of prayer. You can also incorporate the reading of Bible passages into your prayer time. You may want to do all of the suggested items or only some of them, depending on what is best for your group. Feel free to change the order.

Possible Format for Night of Prayer

Start with a session of praise. Praise God in your prayers and also through songs.

Take some time for confession, making sure that nothing is hindering God from hearing you. Give people time for private confession and have a time of corporate confession. Encourage the people to confess private sins privately and to confess publicly only the public sins. In Daniel 9:1-19 we read about Daniel, who interceded and publicly confessed the sins of God’s people.

Pray for the needs of people who are at the prayer meeting. So many people are hurting or in need of prayer, or know someone else who is in desperate need of prayer. Make a circle, put a chair in the middle, and invite those who have a special prayer request to come one by one and share their requests. Then gather around the person and have two or three people pray for the person’s specific need and claim God’s promises.

Divide the group in two. Have the females pray in one room (with a female leader) and the males in another room (with a male leader). Many personal needs cannot and should not be shared with everyone. It is easier to share with those of the same gender.

After you come back together, pray for needs in your community and church. Also take time for world church prayer requests (listed in a separate document in the Ten Days of Prayer materials). Don’t feel that you must rush through the entire list. You may want to divide into small groups and have each group pray for part of the list.

Pray for the list of five to seven people you have been praying for during these ten days.

Choose a Bible passage and pray through it.

Close the prayer time with another session of praise and thanksgiving.

Outreach Challenge for Ten Days of Prayer

Jesus calls us not only to pray but also to serve the spiritual and physical needs of those around us. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35, 36).

In The Ministry of Healing we read, “We must live a twofold life—a life of thought and action, of silent prayer and earnest work” (p. 512). We have received so much love from our Savior, and we have the privilege of sharing that love with friends, neighbors, and strangers in need.

Ask God how you and your church can serve others after the Ten Days of Prayer. As you work to organize the service activities, avoid letting the arrangements distract you from praying. “Personal effort for others should be preceded by much secret prayer; for it requires great wisdom to understand the science of saving souls. Before communicating with men, commune with Christ. At the throne of heavenly grace obtain a preparation for ministering to the people” (Prayer, p. 313).

Here are some ways of helping others. Choose whatever fits the needs of your community, and feel free to add your own ideas.

• Cook a meal for someone who has been sick.
• Invite a neighbor/co-worker to a social gathering.
• Give food to a homeless person.
• Donate clothing that you would want donated to you.
• “Adopt” an elderly person. Visit the person on a regular basis and help with chores, shopping, cooking, or garden work.
• Bake some bread and share a loaf with a neighbor.
• Help with neighborhood projects.
• Offer to stay with a sick or disabled person so their caretakers can run an errand.
• Participate in neighborhood projects.
• Introduce yourself to a new neighbor by taking them a meal. Make them feel welcome in the neighborhood.
• Buy groceries and deliver them to a needy family.
• Donate your old eyeglasses.
• Offer to give a Bible study.
• Visit people in nursing homes.
• Give some “food” money to a student.
• Collect clothing for the needy. You might start a clothes closet at your church for sharing with others.
• Donate your old laptop or other electronics.
• Donate a used car.
• Organize a “Health Expo.”
• Send a card to a shut-in.
• Organize an evangelistic series.
• Call your neighbors and ask how they’re doing.
• Give someone a book you think they’d like.
• Pass out GLOW tracts (available to order here: http://www.glowonline.org/).
• Invite someone to accept Jesus.
• Hold a cooking school.
• Give away sharing books about biblical topics.
• Take some food to someone who has lost a loved one.
• Visit someone in the hospital to encourage them or help them in some way.
• Read to an elderly person.
• Visit a children’s home and offer your help to the staff.
• Start a sewing/knitting/crocheting group to make clothes to give away.
• Read the Bible aloud for someone who can’t see or read.
• Host a youth night at your home.
• Volunteer at a shelter for abused persons.
• Donate some books to a children’s home or shelter.
• Take children from your church to visit a home for elderly people. Present a program for them.
• Plan and host a fun day for special-needs kids and their families.
• Have a community clean-up day.
• Start a healthy living club in your church. Invite friends and neighbors.
• Ask someone if they would like to join you in watching a DVD with a spiritual message. As you watch together, pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to the person’s heart.
• Design your own project.

 

For more resources on witnessing, visit www.revivalandreformation.org/resources/witnessing.