40 Day Prayer Devotional

40 Day Prayer Devotional

Day 3 - April 25

Why God Blesses

Scripture:

Psalm 67
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us,
2 that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

In this Psalm David prays for God’s blessing but not for himself or even for the nation of Israel, his prayer is an affirmation of God’s covenant with His people made with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-2:
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

There are two things of particular note in these texts.

First it is helpful to note that the bottom line in the prayer of David, as in the covenant, is not the people of God but the world. David does not pray for God’s blessing exclusively for Israel but for all nations; the people of God simply act as agents of God in blessing others.

Therefore the mission of the church is not to receive blessing for itself but to receive blessing in order to bless others. The moment a church ceases to be a blessing to others is the moment the flow of God’s blessing ceases for the church. As such God’s people who desire His blessing are driven by a vision to win the world; being to the world what God is to us. How we bless others is a reflection of God’s image in us and a sign of our true commitment to Christ.

Second, God by virtue of His nature does everything with excellence and as such His blessing is His best for us. Therefore we who are his representatives also live and bless others by that same standard of excellence. God’s vision is not for adequacy, mediocrity or maintenance but it is nothing short of excellence in blessing others. How we live and bless others is how others see God in us, and God in action; we receive only God’s best in order to give our best in service to God and to others.

Prayer Points:
As you pray and invite God’s blessing in your life and in your church:
• Invite God to bring someone into your life that you can bless today
• Give the best of what you have in serving God and others today
• Prepare yourself for an outpouring of God’s blessing so that you will become an increasing blessing to others in the days to come

Rick Wells
Lead Pastor
The Creek Community Church
Stoney Creek, Ontario

40 Day Prayer Devotional

Day 4 - April 26

Instruments of Revival

Scripture: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18

Prayer Points:
Pray for a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit that:
• Canada will be a nation that honours and serves the Lord,
whose leaders seek His guidance, wisdom and inspiration
• all who do not know the Lord will come to believe in and walk
with Him
• all Christians will be united as instruments of revival across the nation

Susan Finlay
National Director
Nation At Prayer