24/7 Prayer Update Day Seven (Final)

Prayer Update Day Seven

Prayer Items:

-       Dedication and direction – Pray for strength to continue to be dedicated to lifestyle of prayer, in everything presenting your requests to the Lord and asking for his divine wisdom. Also pray that you may grow more in his likeness daily, aligning yourself with His will, and that He may continue to give direction in your life according to His purposes.

-       Persecution against fellow Christians – More than 1000 Christians are living in refugee camps in the eastern Indian state of Orissa as anti-Christian violence continues. Somali Christians facing  persecution in their native land, on seeking refuge in Kenya, continue to be the target of physical abuse, having their families taken away from them, and forced to live as outcasts. The authorities in the area dismiss the claims of these Somali Christians as lies. Yet in a secluded house just outside the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, a group of Somali Christians meet at least once a week to worship in secret. Let’s pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, that the Lord will continue to strengthen them and protect them in the face of persecution. Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.” Pray that the persecuted will not lose hope, and for opportunities to open to us to help in any way that we can. Let us also pray that we will be prepared to face persecution of all kinds as well as we continue to live for Christ, learning from the examples of our fellow Christians being persecuted all over the world as well. Philippians 1:21 “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

-       Our school – The main aim of this prayer movement, let’s continually keep our school in our prayers, believers and non-believers, students and teachers alike, that the Lord will honour our humble requests and the start of a new term will truly see His love being reflected in the lives of many, that many more will turn to Him and that we will see the fruits of His ministry.

 

Psalm of the Day

Psalm 49

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

 1 Hear this, all you peoples;

       listen, all who live in this world,

 2 both low and high, 
      

rich and poor alike:

 3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; 
      

the utterance from my heart will give understanding.

 4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; 
      

with the harp I will expound my riddle:

 5 Why should I fear when evil days come, 
      

when wicked deceivers surround me-

 6 those who trust in their wealth 
      

and boast of their great riches?

 7 No man can redeem the life of another 
      

or give to God a ransom for him-

 8 the ransom for a life is costly, 
      

no payment is ever enough-

 9 that he should live on forever 
      

and not see decay.

 10 For all can see that wise men die; 
      

 the foolish and the senseless alike perish 
      

and leave their wealth to others.

 11 Their tombs will remain their houses ^[a] forever, 
      

 their dwellings for endless generations, 
      

though they had ^[b] named lands after themselves.

 12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure; 
      

he is ^[c] like the beasts that perish.

 13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, 
      

and of their followers, who approve their sayings. 
       Selah

 14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, ^[d] 
      

and death will feed on them. 
      

The upright will rule over them in the morning; 
      

their forms will decay in the grave, ^[e] 
      

far from their princely mansions.

 15 But God will redeem my life ^[f] from the grave; 
      

he will surely take me to himself. 
       Selah

 16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, 
      

when the splendor of his house increases;

 17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies, 
      

his splendor will not descend with him.

 18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed— 
      

 and men praise you when you prosper-

 19 he will join the generation of his fathers, 
      

who will never see the light of life .

 20 A man who has riches without understanding 
      

is like the beasts that perish.

 

Note:

The 24/7 Prayer movement officially ends at 2359, 7^th September, Sunday today =) Thank you to all who had volunteered to pray, truly with God’s grace and your enthusiasm this prayer movement was able to come to fruition! I hope you all had a wonderful and meaningful week to come back to our heavenly Father again and discover the riches that He can bring to our lives when we honour, love and seek after Him with all our hearts and souls. I hop that even though this prayer movement has happened, you all will not cease to pray daily. Remember to keep up the habit of praying, and see how God can work his transforming power in your life! God bless! =)

 

Your sister in Christ,

Petrina Liam

24/7 Prayer Update Day Six

Prayer Update Day Six

Prayer Items:

-       Guidance and assurance – Let’s always remember to pray for His continued guidance and wisdom, as we read His word and minister to those around us, that we may learn to rely more and more on Him everyday. Ask Him to search our hearts, to wash away all our sin and doubts, and help us to align ourselves more with His will each day, living in the assurance of His love and grace.

-       Non-believers – Pray for those who continue to live in doubt and rejection, that one day their hearts may no longer be hardened against Him but instead humble themselves to receive His grace and mercy, through the work that He has begun in us. Also keep those who have not heard the word yet in prayer, that the Lord will open up new opportunities for us to reach out to them as well.

-       New believers and those who have strayed – Pray that He will continue to protect and sustain these young believers, and to guide us to be good Christian brothers and sisters to them. Pray also for those who have drifted away from Him, that they will draw close to Him again, and He will remove the emptiness in their hearts, and their lives will truly be transformed into seeking after Christ’s likeness each day.

-       The persecuted – People in countless countries, China, South Africa, Latvia, Nigeria, the Netherlands and Sudan, continue to be persecuted for their faith in the Lord. Let’s keep our fellow brothers and sisters around the world in prayer, that He will continue to strengthen them, end the corruption and suffering, and bring peace to these lands.

-       ACS(I) – Pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen his faithful servants in sharing His love and His word in the school, that the new school term will bring with it new changes and joy in the ministry in seeing the Holy Spirit move through the school once again.

-       Year 6s and others taking examinations – That those with important examinations coming up will find rest and be refreshed in coming before Him each day and lifting all their cares and anxieties unto Him, and truly just turn to Him more than ever.

 

Psalm of the Day:

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

 1 O LORD, you have searched me

       and you know me.

 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; 
      

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; 
      

you are familiar with all my ways.

 4 Before a word is on my tongue 
      

you know it completely, O LORD.

 5 You hem me in—behind and before; 
      

you have laid your hand upon me.

 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 
      

too lofty for me to attain.

 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? 
      

Where can I flee from your presence?

 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 
      

if I make my bed in the depths, ^[a] you are there.

 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 
      

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 10 even there your hand will guide me, 
      

your right hand will hold me fast.

 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me 
      

and the light become night around me,"

 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; 
      

the night will shine like the day, 
      

for darkness is as light to you.

 13 For you created my inmost being; 
      

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
      

your works are wonderful, 
      

I know that full well.

 15 My frame was not hidden from you 
      

when I was made in the secret place. 
      

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. 
      

All the days ordained for me 
      

were written in your book 
      

before one of them came to be.

 17 How precious to ^[b] me are your thoughts, O God! 
      

How vast is the sum of them!

 18 Were I to count them, 
      

they would outnumber the grains of sand. 
      

When I awake, 
      

I am still with you.

 19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! 
      

Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

 20 They speak of you with evil intent; 
      

 your adversaries misuse your name.

 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, 
      

 and abhor those who rise up against you?

 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; 
      

I count them my enemies.

 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; 
      

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, 
      

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Your sister in Christ,

Petrina Liam

24/7 Prayer Update Day Three

24/7 Prayer Movement

Prayer Items:

-       Discipline and focus – Let’s continue to pray together for focus, discipline, and of course, the Lord’s divine wisdom as we come before Him and approach His Living Word everyday, asking Him for discipline and guidance to put aside all our distractions, truly committing all our cares and worries to Him to seek Him in prayer.

-       Fellow Christians – Pray that our fellow Christian brothers and sisters have been continuing to walk closely with Him daily, turning to Him for guidance even in the midst of their studying and revision (especially our Year 6s! ^^), and finding rest in Him from the anxieties of the world.

-       School and our classmates – Pray especially for the lost souls in this school, among our close friends, the student body, and even our teachers, that the Lord will open up opportunities to minister to them, and also for those (including ourselves ^^) who are ministering to them, that they will not lose hope but constantly be renewed in courage and wisdom in the Lord. Pray also for the new believers that they may continue to seek after Him daily, pray for their protection daily from the temptations, anxieties and distractions thrown at them by the evil one, that they may walk closely with Him, growing everyday more and more into Christ’s likeness.

 

Psalm of the Day:

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

 1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me,

       for I am poor and needy.

 2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. 
      

You are my God; save your servant 
      

who trusts in you.

 3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, 
      

 for I call to you all day long.

 4 Bring joy to your servant, 
      

for to you, O Lord, 
      

I lift up my soul.

 5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord, 
      

abounding in love to all who call to you.

 6 Hear my prayer, O LORD; 
      

listen to my cry for mercy.

 7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you, 
      

 for you will answer me.

 8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; 
      

no deeds can compare with yours.

 9 All the nations you have made 
      

will come and worship before you, O Lord; 
      

they will bring glory to your name.

 10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; 
      

you alone are God.

 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, 
      

 and I will walk in your truth; 
      

give me an undivided heart, 
      

that I may fear your name.

 12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; 
      

I will glorify your name forever.

 13 For great is your love toward me; 
      

you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

 14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God; 
      

a band of ruthless men seeks my life— 
      

men without regard for you.

 15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, 
      

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

 16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; 
      

grant your strength to your servant 
      

and save the son of your maidservant.

 17 Give me a sign of your goodness, 
      

that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, 
      

for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

 

Note:

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt

Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star

Would choose to light the way

For my ever wandering heart

 

Not because of who I am

But because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You're

 

Chorus:

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord, You catch me when I'm falling

And You've told me who I am

I am Yours, I am Yours

 

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin

Would look on me with love and watch me rise again

Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea

Would call out through the rain

And calm the storm in me

 

I am Yours

Whom shall I fear

Whom shall I fear

'Cause I am Yours

I am Yours

 

Truly we have a heavenly Father who rules over all the universe, who loved us so much that He came down from His throne above to the earth as Christ, to the suffering and pain of this world, all to reach out to us. Let’s continue to be humbled daily to know that the awesome Creator of the universe desires to have a relationship with us, of all the things, we who continually sin, forgetting Him and even rejecting Him.

 

Let’s also start believing, truly believing in the awesome power of our Lord,  Creator of the universe, and Author and Perfector of our faith =) He who holds the universe in his hands, what more will He not answer the prayers of those who walk closely with Him? In James 5, Elijah prayed and for 3 and a half years it did not rain, and only when he prayed again then did it rain. In Acts 4:31, after the church gathered to pray, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

 

Let’s start believing in the power of prayer today! =)

 

Your sister in Christ,

Petrina Liam

24/7 Prayer Update Day Two

24/7 Prayer Movement

Prayer Items:

-       Wisdom and strength – That the Lord will continue give you strength in persevering to devote one hour each day lifting your soul in submission to His will, and that He will continue to reveal himself to you daily, guiding you in His wisdom as you read His word.

-       Reaching out to the school – Intercede continually for the countless lost and broken among our fellow peers, that they may turn to Him and truly realize just how much they need him in their lives. Pray for his wisdom, courage and guidance as you prepare to reach out to these people, especially those closest to you, in prayer and in action.  “When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stout-hearted.” Psalms 138:3.

-       Foreign scholars – Let’s also not forget the many foreign scholars in our midst, that the Lord will open up opportunities to minister to them, that their hearts will not be hardened against His word, and that through us they can experience Christ’s love and sacrifice on the cross, that this love that binds us all as one body of Christ can break through those cultural and language barriers.

 

Psalm of the Day:

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

 2 O Lord, hear my voice.

       Let your ears be attentive

       to my cry for mercy.

 3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,

       O Lord, who could stand?

 4 But with you there is forgiveness;

       therefore you are feared.

 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

       and in his word I put my hope.

 6 My soul waits for the Lord

       more than watchmen wait for the morning,

       more than watchmen wait for the morning.

 7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,

       for with the LORD is unfailing love

       and with him is full redemption.

 8 He himself will redeem Israel

       from all their sins.

 

Note:

I trust and hope that the first day of prayer has been a fruitful and meaningful experience for you all in drawing you closer to Him =)

 

If you have strayed away from Him, know that it is never too late to seek after the Lord again! “I have strayed like a lost sheep, Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.” Psalms 119:176. And indeed the Lord seeks after us, constantly knocking on the door to our hearts, waiting to be let in. As the psalmist said in Psalms 139, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee fro your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Truly our heavenly Father is God after our own hearts, who loves us more than we can ever imagine!

 

If you have continued to seek after Him daily, I pray and hope that in the days to come, the passion for the Lord will continue to be renewed within you, and that you may be refreshed and renewed in just coming into His presence daily =)

 

And know that over all this, let us continue to support one another in prayer, never forgetting our fellow brothers and sisters around us who are in need. “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose… Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:1-4.

 

Let’s come before Him with open, humble and contrite hearts, putting aside our pride and self-righteousness. Instead, let us truly know what it is to be still and wait on the Lord, lifting up our hearts to Him, calling on Him to search our hearts and see if there is an offensive way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting. The weight of our sins alone is too great for us to bear, too countless for us to ever repay, but if we turn to Christ with repentant and submissive hearts, He promises to wash away all our sins, and even more than that, the chance to be reborn again in Him, to have our lives transformed by His love, to start afresh. In waiting on the Lord yesterday, one song that truly spoke to me was this:

We bow our hearts

We bend our knees

Oh Spirit come make us humble

We turn our eyes

From evil things

Oh Lord we cast down our idols

 

So give us clean hands

and give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands

and give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Oh God let us be

a generation that seeks

That seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

 

Let’s also not forget one of the main aims of this 24/7 Prayer Movement: To pray for the school. Let’s not forget that ACS(I) was founded by Bishop Oldham first as a mission school as an extension of the Protestant Church, and only then as an educational institution. There continue to be many lost and broken in our midst, many who have not truly come to know and receive Christ’s love, and let it transform their lives. But let’s not lose hope that through us, slowly and surely, the Holy Spirit will once again move through this school and the student body, and that as a school we can all rediscover what it means to glorify Him. So let’s sing that part of the school song, “God save our land and heaven bless, our ACS forever” with renewed conviction, and truly become a generation that seeks the face of the Lord. God bless you all!

 

Your sister in Christ,

Petrina Liam

24/7 Prayer Update Day One! =)

24/7 Prayer Movement:

Prayer Update Day One:

Prayer Items:

-       Non-believers among your circle of friends. The Lord has placed you in these circles of friends to reach out to them and share his love. Miracles happen when there is an opportunity for God to work! Pray that the Lord will open their hearts and minds to receive His love, and that He will continue to give you the courage, wisdom and opportunities to reach out to them.

-       Fellow Christians and their ministries – Let’s continue to keep our fellow brothers and sisters in prayer, encouraging them in spirit as they go about in their Christian walk everyday, like us similarly reaching out to the people around them in God’s love.

-       Discipline and perseverance – Ask the Lord for strength and wisdom, that He may reveal himself to you daily and guide you as you read His word and seek after Him daily.

-       The Year 6s – Keep our year 6 seniors in our prayers daily as they prepare for their final IB exams, the most crucial time of their lives for now. Pray that they will continue to rely on Him for strength and wisdom during this taxing period, and walk closely with Him daily.

-       The school administration – Let’s also not forget the leaders of our school! Constantly pray for God’s wisdom in guiding our school administration as they lead the school spiritually and academically, that this school will continue to be a mission school in glorifying God and spreading God’s word to the teachers, student body, and to the nation.

 

Psalm of the Day: (Something for you guys to meditate on ^^ P.S. The Psalms were also personal prayers by God’s people!)

Psalm 96

 1 Sing to the LORD a new song;

       sing to the LORD, all the earth.

 

 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;

       proclaim his salvation day after day.

 

 3 Declare his glory among the nations,

       his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

 

 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

       he is to be feared above all gods.

 

 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,

       but the LORD made the heavens.

 

 6 Splendor and majesty are before him;

       strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

 

 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,

       ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

 

 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

       bring an offering and come into his courts.

 

 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his [a] holiness;

       tremble before him, all the earth.

 

 10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."

       The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;

       he will judge the peoples with equity.

 

 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

       let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

 

 12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.

       Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

 

 13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,

       he comes to judge the earth.

       He will judge the world in righteousness

       and the peoples in his truth.

 

Note:

Hi all! Thanks for joining in the movement =) I hope and pray that the week ahead will be a spiritually fulfilling one that will continue to help you in your journey in seeking after and knowing the heart and mind of Christ more and more each day, and discover His purpose in your life =)

 

Regardless of whether you’ve chosen to pray in early morning, afternoon or evening, do know that the Lord is always with you and he hears the prayers of the ones he loves.

“I call to you, O Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you… in the morning my prayer comes before you.” Psalms 88

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.” Psalms 92

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Hear my voice in accordance with your love… You are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.” Psalms 119

 

It’s the first day, and many of you may be a little unsure as to how exactly and what to pray for “one whole hour!” But think of it like chatting with a very close friend – someone you trust and love – over a cup of coffee, on the phone, heart-to-heart conversation… I promise you the hours will fly by quickly! Yes, the hours ;) There’s a never-ending list of things we can pray about, countless people in our lives we can pray for, and countless blessings to thank our heavenly Father for =) But firstly, how should we pray?

 

Praying is simple. The following are just some guidelines, but depending on whichever suits you best (for after all every friendship is unique), do make sure it’s a conducive environment for you to pray in!

 

- Find a quiet regular place and time each day for prayer. If possible guarantee that you will be unhurried and uninterrupted. Your ‘quiet time’ may sometimes be short – but a short time with a friend is better than no time at all.

- Prayer is essentially a simple process – even a child-like one. We should come empty handed before our heavenly Father, and gradually discover over time how he becomes the centre of our lives more and more.

- The innate want to be in control is what stops us from praying. We have to let God control our lives and let Him work in us. Pray not just when you are feeling inadequate and looking for help, pray knowing the emptiness inside can only be filled by God, that only in prayer can you become fully human, and because you were created to be in relationship with God, and because in prayer heaven and earth meet, and the reality of God’s Kingdom, the future reality of redemption, wholeness, joyous love, breaks into your present brokenness.

- Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

- Listen. God speaks to us most often by planting a thought in our minds. Do not be discouraged if nothing comes through right away. Keep listening and asking for his wisdom and guidance. Write it down. In between sentences, take time to pay attention to the ‘still small voice’.

- Romans 8:26 “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

 

Are you ready to pray now? If you are still unsure of what to pray for, here’s a few guidelines on how you can start.

 

1.     Thanksgiving – It doesn’t necessarily have to be about any major events in our lives, it can be about the smallest of things as well, such as having a shelter over our heads and food on the table to eat =) We should never forget to always give thanks for our family and friends as well; those precious blessings from God in our lives whom we should never take for granted.

2.     Submit yourself to the Lord – Submitting our minds and imagination to be used by God, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, and aligning ourselves with His will. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Ask the Lord for protection as you pray and take property authority over the enemy. “Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

3.     Ask the Lord to search your heart – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24. “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.” True confession and repentance. “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Psalms 118:14.

4.     Look to the word – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalms 119:105.

5.     Prayer Items/ Prayer requests/ Intercession/ QT

6.     Wait on the Lord – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27. “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Psalms 62:5. “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7.

 

“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

If you have any prayer requests, questions, or any wonderful things to share, to leave a comment! We are all always glad to know how the Lord has continued to work in your life, and if there’s anything that we can all together commit to the Lord in prayer =)

 

If you’ve just discovered this prayer movement and would like to join in, don’t worry it’s not too late! Leave a comment or email petguin@gmail.com your questions/contact details and preferred hour of prayer =)

Your sister in Christ,

Petrina Liam