Day One.

            It has been about five and a half years ago now. Melissa Wilcox came to me with a forty day prayer plan. It was an interesting idea. The Bible instructs us to pray privately. Matthew 6:5-8;

5.) "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

6.) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

7.) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 

8.) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

However, even though we are to pray privately, would it not be a good idea to have the prayer of many focused on an idea, much as we do with the prayer chain? Melissa had the forty day plan and we did it for the forty days. We did this through daily e-mails.

The forty day plan has been on my mind ever since. It helped me just knowing that others were praying as I was and that there was strength in that.

So, I thought we would revisit that forty day plan. The difference is that we will use the concept, but the direction will be the way the Yoke should respond to the world situation. By beginning today and going every day, we will finish the day before Resurrection Day. These will not be long. They are just intended to direct our thoughts and our prayers. And, brothers and sisters in Christ, there is plenty to pray about.

To begin with, we have a situation in the world right now that is very dangerous. We need to pray for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as the coming conflict between China and Taiwan. When geo-political struggles begin to brew, we tend to feel helpless. We don’t want to see the smaller, weaker country be steamrolled, but we also do not want to see our country involved. What is the answer? Obviously, for us, the answer is prayer. But what do we pray for? Solomon gives us the beginning of the answer in Proverbs 1:1-7;

1.) The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 

2.) To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 

3.) to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 

4.) to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-- 

5.) Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 

6.) to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 

7.) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

         I believe that we are to pray for wisdom for the nations of the world. Solomon was told by God that he could have anything he wanted. He chose wisdom. If we choose wisdom for ourselves, it will be easier to pray for wisdom among the nations.

         Let us seek out wisdom for ourselves and then come boldly before the throne of Grace and ask for the wisdom of the Lord to settle among the nations

         We will be back tomorrow for day two.