40 Days of Prayer | Days 1-10

For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth. (Romans 9:17)

God is passionate about the fame of his name spreading. Whether we realize it or not, everyone is a part of this. Even Pharaoh’s actions played a role in God’s name being proclaimed throughout the whole earth. We joyfully come alongside God in making him known to the corners of the world. We do this by faithfully sharing the good news of Jesus with one person at a time. With the collective labor of God’s people living on mission, God’s name will one day be proclaimed everywhere. One day, every knee will bow in heaven and on earth before the King.

Identify your one; one person you see on a consistent basis who you can begin praying for and, in the coming weeks, with whom you can share the gospel.

Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples. (Psalm 96:3)

We declare what we are most excited about. We naturally share the things we find most appealing or beautiful. Likewise, we are motivated to share the gospel because our eyes have seen the beauty of God himself. We have experienced his goodness, glory and work, and we are compelled to share this with others, including our one.

God is ultimate, and the scope of his glory expands throughout the whole earth. The psalmist exhorts readers to share who God is and what he has done among the nations. He is worthy to be praised throughout the whole earth, which includes our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Join the psalmist in this global declaration of God’s glorious character and his mighty deeds.

This week, share an amazing work God has done in your life with your one.

Give thanks to the LORD; proclaim his name! Make his works known among the peoples. Declare that his name is exalted. (Isaiah 12:4)

We are motivated to share the gospel out of thanksgiving to God. The Lord is our salvation (Isaiah 24:2), and he has turned away his anger from us and welcomed us into his family through Christ. From the outpouring of our thankfulness is a desire for others to know his goodness as well. We proclaim, make known and declare who God is and what he has done because we understand, even if in small degrees, where we would be had he not intervened in our lives. With thankful hearts, we push past our insecurities, fears and people pleasing, and we share with our friends, neighbors and our one the greatest news we have ever heard, and they will ever hear.

Today, communicate with your one out of a heart of gratitude, sharing with them something God has done for you.

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before you. (Psalm 22:27)

All the families of the nations will stand in humble submission before the Lord, including ourselves. As we share the gospel message, we should remember that our efforts are bigger than ourselves. When we see new converts baptized, we should be reminded those moments are part of God’s name and fame being spread throughout all of the earth. The spreading of the gospel may begin with you sharing with your one in your neighborhood or workplace, but it will not stay there. This news is too good, and God is too glorious, for his name to not be spread to the ends of the earth.

Today, pray that God would remind you that you have a significant role to play in the advancement of his kingdom.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

A mediator intervenes between two parties. When you buy a house, your realtor serves as a mediator of sorts, communicating between the buyer and the seller. When two siblings are in a heated argument, parents serve as a mediator between the opposing parties.

Jesus is our mediator because he restored the harmony between God and humanity, which was broken by sin. Sometimes, we find substitute mediators which attempt to bridge the gap that exist between us and God. We may rely on our own good works, our authority or another person’s relationship with God. But we soon see these mediators fail to deliver. The good news is that Jesus’ atonement on the cross was sufficient to bring us into a relationship with God. Because of Christ our mediator, we can now run to God as a Father instead of cowering before him as judge.

Identify the “substitute mediators” you’re tempted to turn to and the ones your one turns to. How should you tailor your gospel presentation to address their substitute mediators?

He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

The scope of Jesus’ atonement goes beyond our personal salvation. Jesus cares about each individual person, including you! It is said that he leaves the 99 to save 1 (Luke 15). His redemption does not stop with our salvation. He died for the sins of your closest loved ones and your greatest enemy. He came to save your most intimate relationship and those who are mere acquaintances. He has entrusted his people to take this message of redemption to the world. As you marvel at your own story of redemption, begin to direct your attention to those around you whom God may be drawing to himself. He died for you and them. He died for your one.

Pray that God would give you ways you can share this good news today with your one.

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. (John 10:10)

In sharing the gospel, we offer to our friends and family real, genuine purpose in this life and real, genuine life in the world to come. In our witness, we present Jesus as the one who gives abundant life. We can be defined by the things we say yes to, such as love, hope, peace, joy, fullness, good news and more. In doing so, we reflect to the world a God who came so we may have fullness of life.

Engage your one in such a way that you clearly communicate that Jesus came to give your one full and eternal life now and in the age to come.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

By default, our hearts want to justify ourselves through our accomplishments. We sweat, strive and toil to prove to ourselves, the world and God that we are worthy of affection, love, honor, recognition, and admiration. But the only way to God is outside of ourselves. Our striving is but vapor before the face of a holy and perfect God. The good news we bring to our friends and family who do not know Jesus is that the only way to the Father is through Jesus. We come to the feet of Jesus as our true selves: broken, tired and in need of restoration, and it is here that we see Jesus as “the way, the truth and the life.” Our way to God is found outside of ourselves, and on this path, we find joy in the fact that we can never lose what we did not earn.

Identify what your one may use (esteem, recognition, power, etc.) to justify themselves. Share with them the good news that Jesus offers us rest from endless striving.

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

One of the most beautiful lines in the Great Commission is the promise of God’s abiding presence as we take the gospel message, in word and in deed, to the corners of the earth. The scope of the task is vast. God has commissioned us to go, make disciples, baptize and teach the nations. This includes those in our own backyards. While we may not board a plane to a remote undisclosed location, we have been called to make disciples of all nations, including our own. While the scope of the task is great, the promise of the Lord to be with us as we go is clear. As you share the good news with your one, remind yourself that you are not alone.

Pray God would remind you, through the Holy Spirit, that you are not alone on God’s mission.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

We are not saved BY our good works. The ministry of Jesus and his death were sufficient for our redemption. We are, however, saved FOR good works. When we wake up, there are good deeds God has for us to do. He knows what they are, and we get the privilege of discovering them as we live the life he’s called us to live. One aspect of these good deeds is our faithfulness to share the good news of Jesus where we live, work and play. Don’t get so busy in your everyday life that you forget the intentionality it takes to share Christ’s love with others. Our evangelism does not make God love us any more than he already does in Christ, but perhaps we will discover more of God’s love for us and those around us as we engage our one.

Pray God would reveal to you the good works he has for you to walk in today.