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Monday, August 2
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (Isaiah 41:17–20 ESV)
Lord of all nations, we praise you today for your concern for all of the human race. You have compassion on the poor, the oppressed, the ones troubled by war or by famine. You desire that all people everywhere should repent and believe in Christ. You wish to give all the abundant life that comes only through him. Today we lift up to you the country of Haiti. This is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Two thirds of its people unemployed or underemployed. Over half are illiterate. Sex trafficking is rampant. Many are in bondage to voodoo. And now the country has been thrown into confusion by the assassination of its president. Have mercy on this country, Lord! We thank you for the Christians in Haiti and ask that you strengthen them and make them effective witnesses for Christ. We pray for the stability of the government. We ask for reforms that will make it possible for people to climb out of poverty and illiteracy. We pray that Taiwan may be a good friend to the Haitian people.
We continue lifting up our own prayers, especially for Haiti.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Tuesday, August 3
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1–9 ESV)
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! All creation declares your glory. Even now, as we pray, we look around ourselves and see signs of your majestic creative power. We also praise you for the responsibilities you have given to human beings. You have made us stewards of this earth. We ask that we may play that role well. Particularly, today, we pray for our efforts to care for our environment in Taiwan. Help us make good decisions about energy production. Help us to reduce air and water pollution. Help us to be wise in our use of plastics, herbicides, pesticides, and other substances that may have long-term effects on the environment. Show us how to live in such a way that our economy may continue to grow without harming the water, land, or air.
We continue lifting up our own prayers, especially for Taiwan’s environment.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Wednesday, August 4
“And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.” (Genesis 23:2 ESV)
God of all comfort, it was not your original design that human beings should die. Death is not a friend, but an enemy. When our loved ones die, it is right for us to mourn and normal for us to grieve. Even Jesus wept when he stood before the grave of his friend Lazarus. Today we remember that in our midst there are many who are even now in the process of grieving. Some have lost husbands or wives. Some have lost parents or children. In some cases, the loss is recent, and the pain is sharp. For others, the loss occurred years ago but has left an ache in their hearts. Too often, we forget about the grief of others, or we are embarrassed to ask how they are faring. But we know that in most cases, those who are bereaved appreciate being given the opportunity to talk about their pain and about the ones they have lost. Give us sensitivity and compassion, that we may know what it is to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. We ask you to stand close to those who are grieving today, giving them the comfort that can come only from your Spirit.
We continue lifting up our own prayers, especially for those who grieve:
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Thursday, August 5
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:15–17 ESV)
Our great Shepherd, we praise you today for the ways you feed your people. We thank you for the Bible, for good Christian books and good Christian friends, for public worship and sermons and small groups. We thank you also that we have the privilege of feeding others. Today we pray especially for the university students who attend our Faith You Can Experience classes. These classes are designed to turn seekers into believers. We teach them the basics of Christian faith and challenge them to give their lives to Christ. Please let more and more students participate in this class. Give us teachers and other volunteers who want to befriend the students and help them. And please bring these students to saving faith in Jesus Christ! As a result of hearing the gospel, may many of them not only become believers but also become spiritual leaders. Please bless all our efforts to evangelize our campus.
We continue lifting up our own prayers, especially for students who are exploring Christianity.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Friday, August 6
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:18–21 ESV)
God of justice and mercy, we praise you for sending your Son to us. He is your beloved, your chosen, in whom your soul is well pleased. You placed your Spirit upon him, and he has brought salvation to the world. We thank you for his gentleness with us. We thank you for his patience. We ask you to help us be his good witnesses. Today we pray especially for your church in Asia. Despite persecution, let the church in North Korea prosper. Let the number of Christians in China continue to increase. Bring millions to faith in India. Let the countries of Southeast Asia turn to Christ. Increase the church’s strength in Japan and Korea. Have mercy on the countries of Central Asia. Let every unreached people group be reached. Let every language have its own Bible. Call your elect from every part of Asia!
We continue lifting up our own prayers, especially for church growth in Asia.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Saturday, August 7
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 ESV)
Lord, you are the Father of all your people. You are our creator, redeemer, protector, and guide. You are the one who gives wisdom. We honor you today with our thanks and praise. Today we also want to pray for the fathers of our church, remembering that tomorrow is Father’s Day. Too often, we Christians remember to celebrate Mother’s Day but forget about our fathers. But you have given us our fathers for a purpose. They have provided for us, protected us, taught us, and guided us. The healthiest homes are those in which the fathers assume the role of spiritual leader. We are grateful for the men we know who have played this role well. We also see that it is not easy being a good father. There are many temptations for men, especially the temptation of putting so much energy into work that they do not have time for their children. Help the men of our church to become excellent fathers. Comfort those people whose fathers have already died. Heal those who may have been wounded by their fathers’ behavior. Let all the wives and children of our congregation recognize the importance of fathers and show fathers the honor that is their due.
We continue lifting up our own prayers, especially for any fathers we know who may be facing especially difficult circumstances or challenges:
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Sunday, August 8
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:5–10 ESV)
God of light, we praise you that in you is no darkness. You never do evil. You never lie. You are completely untainted by temptation and by sin. Because you are completely pure and holy, we know that we can trust you in all things. We aspire to know you better and become more like you. As this day of worship ends, we remember that if we pretend to ourselves that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Day by day, we fall short of your glory in innumerable ways. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved you with all our heart. We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. Lord, help us to see our sins clearly. Help us to face them and confess them to you. Help us then to trust fully in your grace, for you are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We continue lifting up our own prayers, especially for deeper self-understanding and greater hunger for holiness:
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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