PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Jordan & Senegal. Father, as we consider these nations and the need for Your Word to release the captives, we pray for Jordan & Senegal. Father, send laborers into this harvest bearing Life and Freedom of Jesus Christ. Expose corruption, build Your church, and rain down Your great gift of salvation upon all that Jesus Christ might be glorified.

The 7 Modern Sins:
* Politics without principles
* Pleasures without conscience
* Wealth without work
* Knowledge without character
* Industry without morality
* Science without humanity
* Worship without sacrifice.
(Donaldson)

"Our God is Jehovah of hosts, who can summon unexpected reinforcements at any moment to aid His people. Believe that He is there between you and your difficulty, and what baffles you will flee before Him, as clouds before the gale." (Meyer)

PRAYING THROUGH THE 10/40 WINDOW: Turkey, SE Europe & SW Asia & N Korea, E Asia. Father, we lift up these regions to You & ask You to send more laborers into the fields to bring forth the harvest. We ask protection over those You've sent and equipped to carry the Gospel, and over the hearts & lives of those who will respond. Expose corruption, protect and strengthen the persecuted for Your glory in Jesus' name amen!

What precious perfume is locked inside your heart that could be lavished on our Lord? The little treasures you and I struggle to hold on to may hold back opportunities to worship Him with extravagant praise, releasing ministry and service to Him that will bless all those around us. (Munizzi )

We're living in an unprecedented day (when) evil is no longer evil. We've changed the terminology-- iniquity is now infirmity; wickedness is now weakness; devilry is now deficiency. (Ravenhill)

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Chad & Algeria. Lord we call out the names of these countries to You. Hear our cry, Father, as we plead the blood of Jesus over ever man, woman, and child. Poverty, persecution, political corruption oppresses Your people. Open their eyes to see Salvation in Jesus Christ as the only Way, Truth, and Life. Send laborers with the message of Hope and Life in Jesus' name, amen.

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Ethiopia & Myanmar. Father we lift up these nations, pleading the blood of Jesus over all believers. We ask that You raise up missionaries from within their own borders to reach the masses with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Protect the persecuted. Set free those who are oppressed. Meet the incredible needs of the impoverished. All that Jesus might be glorified.Amen!

"He who makes himself his own master subjects himself to a fool for a master." ~Bernard

"Pride is a direct attack upon God; it lifts our hearts above Him and against Him. Pride seeks to dethrone God and enthrone itself." (Mack) I've heard it said about pride ... those who think they have none have been blinded by their own pride.

Charles Spurgeon was once asked, "How do you defend the Bible?" "Very easy," he responded. "The same way I defend a lion. I simply let it out of its cage." I wonder how many of us have the Bible caged up behind the barriers of intimidation or doubt. I'd say it's time to open the door and let the Truth out by placing our confidence in the Authority of Truth rather than in our weakness!

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Qatar & Turkmenistan. Father we grieve when we learn of those being persecuted for their faith, the incredible poverty and the corrupt governments. Strengthen those who are strongly opposed for their faith, provide for those who are in desperate need and lead those who rule to do so with justice. Send laborers, Lord, to share the Good News & reap a harvest of souls for Your glory, amen.

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Brunei & Lebanon. Just because we're unfamiliar with the names of countries, Father, doesn't give us an excuse not to pray for them. We lift up Brunei & Lebanon today and ask for Your Spirit to go throughout these lands and draw all men to you; open eyes to the true Messiah whose blood was shed for their redemption. Strengthen those who believe and give them courage to stand. Amen.

"When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart." (Lamar Boschman)

"Assured victory does not mean easy wins." (Moore) Though we are victorious in Christ, the battle can be the hardest thing we ever faced.

Jumping at the Opportunity

My heart is deeply moved as I attempt to write this. In a land where devastating poverty exists, it is paralleled by spiritual poverty; the comparison can easily be seen with uncanny exactness. In Africa, I've witnessed the effects of nourishment. In small villages or communities where the Body of Christ was involved in the people's lives, ministering to them, working side by side with them, building the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the fields were greener, the land itself appeared more nourished, and the people (although very poor according to our standards) were rich. However, in communities lacking the Bread of Life, the land was also lacking nourishment to sustain life essentially causing incomprehensible poverty.

The Bread of Life brings life to the physically and spiritually impoverished.

"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (John 21:16)

If you go on to read the very next verse, you find Simon Peter more frustrated as once again Jesus asks him, "Do you love me?" Jesus then tells him "Feed my sheep!"

What greater gift can be given than food – life sustaining nourishment giving strength and bringing health to anyone who will eat? In fact, a great man of God spoke to me on this very subject a few days ago pointing out the necessity of ministering to the physical needs of man before they can receive spiritual nourishment.

Jesus, when speaking with Peter, understood the relationship between spiritual and physical nourishment. His admonition to Peter to "feed My sheep" was more than merely offering a piece of bread to a hungry person, He spoke of the need to involve both the natural bread and the Bread of Life – where life sustaining nourishment which gives strength and brings health can be found.

We claim to love the Lord just as Peter answered, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." When the Lord questions us in the same manner our immediate response is much the same: "Oh yes, Lord, you know that I love you." I declare that He then admonishes us all, "Then feed my sheep!" Don't just feed them physically – they have need of spiritual food. Don't just feed them spiritually – they have need of physical food.

Jump at every opportunity opened up to you to feed the hungry – both physically and spiritually. If you meet the physical needs, you will have greater success ministering to the spiritual needs.

You don't need to go to Africa to find the hungry. Take a friend to lunch, take a meal to a shut-in, deliver a meal to a single mom overwhelmed with life's responsibilities. Then, give them Jesus. Show them the natural bread then introduce them to the Living Bread. Hear the passionate urgency in Jesus' voice: "Feed My Sheep!"

Father, our hearts are so overwhelmed with the desperate need for daily bread – spiritually and naturally. Show us opportunities to feed Your sheep, to minister to physical needs as well as spiritual needs. Put within us a deep passion for those who are hungry; give us courage to accept this calling. Show us opportunities to reach Your sheep with Living Bread – the Bread that more than satisfies. Oh Lord, we pray for those who do not know You as the life-sustaining Bread of Life. Teach us how to reach them – teach them through our hearts of compassion as we surrender once again to You all that we are and all that we do. In Jesus' name, amen and amen!

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Israel & Tajikistan. How our hearts are burdened! We plead for Your mercy, for a revelation of Truth, & for Your Spirit to draw all to Your great salvation. Lord, provide for the poor, heal the sinsick and diseased, deliver the bound, and set free the captives. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Open the floodgates & let Your mercy flow free & flood these lands in Jesus name, amen!

"The greatness of man's power is the measure of his surrender. It is not a question of who you are, or of what you are, but whether God controls you." (Mears)

Stirring the Heart with Oldies

My husband particularly enjoys two types of music: Bluegrass Gospel and Oldies from the 50's, 60's and early 70's. If he's working in the garden or in the garage, his favorite music offers a peaceful backdrop to his work, making it enjoyable (most of the time). There's something reminiscent about music from our past; it often seems to renew our youth, if only for a few precious moments.

Have you noticed, however, that sometimes the Holy Spirit will use a line or two from an old song to speak to us, convict us, or bring us encouragement?

As I was reading Psalm 5:3, "Dedicated to the One I Love," the song made popular in 1967 by the Mamas and the Papas as sung by Michelle Phillips, came to mind. What stirred in my heart as a result of the title phrase prompted this short devotion.

Think about your day today; is it "dedicated to the One [you] love"?

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3).

So often we take our days for granted. We wake up and immediately get involved with day's business, and very often our mind is on everything BUT the One we love.

The Psalmist made a point of dedicating his day to the Lord. In the morning when he woke up, the first thing he did was to direct his prayer to the Lord. This simple act of submission and dedication helped him keep his eyes on the Lord all the day long. Obviously, it will work the same for us.

Tomorrow when you wake up, when you first open your eyes, whisper a prayer of dedication. Put Him first in your day and you will find that He's right there in your midst all the day long. Always remember, a day not dedicated to the Lord is a day dedicated to the flesh by default. The flesh will take control; the natural man will rule unless you put the Lord in His rightful place first thing when you awaken. The choice is yours. Will your flesh rule or will the Lord rule your day?

Father, it is my desire that my days never again begin without first acknowledging You. Lord, since You are the One I love, I choose to dedicate each day to You from the very moment I awaken. And, I look forward to being even more aware of your presence with me all the day long, every day, amen.

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Iraq & Sri Lanka. Lord, our focus is often turned toward these two nations who so desperately need a revelation of Your love, mercy, & grace. Father, heal the wounded, free those who are bound, & set at liberty those in chains. Let freedom to worship You reign. Protect & bless the persecuted; grant them strength to stand. Send laborers into the harvest with the message of Truth, amen.

"A man who is intimate with God will never be intimidated by men." (Leonard Ravenhill)

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Albania & Morocco. Lord, we thank You for those who have heard the Good News & responded to Your call. Lord, they represent less than 1% of the millions & millions of people in these countries. Send Your messengers with the Word of Life, dispelling the lies of false beliefs. Protect the persecuted & expose corruption in the governments. Reign supreme in Albania & Morocco in Jesus name!

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to emplore His protection and favor." (Washington)

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Nepal & United Arab Emirates. Lord, our attention is drawn to these two nations today as we pray. Send messengers equipped with the Word of Truth in the power of Your Spirit to proclaim freedom from every bondage. Set Your people free, Lord, to apprehend Your Truth in the midst of darkness. Shine Your Light so all may see and know that Jesus Christ is Lord, amen and amen!

"Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and popularity." (C H Spurgeon)

"May our Lord's sweet hand square us and hammer us, and strike off all kinds of pride, self-love, world-worship, and infidelity, so that He can make us stones and pillars in our Father's house." (Rutherford)

"As long as I see any thing to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!" (David Brainerd)

"To return good for good is human. To return evil for evil is brutal. To return evil for good is diabolical. But, to return good for evil is Divine." (Royard)

"Let me not be a mile-post on a single road, but make me a fork that men must turn one way or another in facing Christ in me." (Jim Elliot)

"Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell ...." (John Wesley)

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Mali & Azerbaijan. Lord, when we look at the statistics for these two nations, we are grieved. Political corruption is a powerful force that must bow to the Name of Jesus. Godlessness and false religions have blinded over 99% of the people. Lord, send laborers into the harvest to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Reign supreme in Mali and Azerbaijan, in Jesus' name, amen.

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: Iran & Burkina. Father, we turn our hearts toward You, asking for Your mercies to be made new and your faithfulness seen in these nations. Lord, open the blinded eyes. Heal the sinsick souls. Release those bound by false religion. We pray for Truth to prevail in these lands. Protect the persecuted and give them the grace to stand unwavering in the face of hatred, in Jesus' name, amen.

I Don’t Deserve It!

Guilt, shame, and awareness of our own sin are the most common tools the enemy uses to keep us from realizing the incredible mercy of God. Think about it for a moment. Do you ever "feel" undeserving of God's love to the extent that you find it hard to approach Him with your needs? Do you ever struggle to open your heart up to Him with total transparency because of sin you may have entertained? Do you ever feel like you deserve distance from God because of something you've done or said or even thought?

Many of us, if not all of us, struggle with this from time to time. The enemy looks for every opportunity to silence us by convincing us that God wants nothing to do with us because we've messed up. And while there is need for us to humbly and sincerely repent when we miss the mark, God is always there for us, eager to forgive us and pour out His great mercy toward us.

"For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:11-12).

How far is the east from the west?

How high is the heaven above the earth?

Immeasurable? Yes!

Unfathomable? Yes!

Unexplainable? Absolutely!

Unthinkable? Yes!

His mercy, His love, His forgiveness—there is no way to measure it, no way to explain it, no way to comprehend it, but it's there. We don't deserve it, yet He has provided it to us freely.

What a wonderful thought! What a humbling thought! The Psalmist wrote of his unmistakable revelation of God's mercy: our sins are so far removed from us that the distance is unfathomable, immeasurable, unthinkable, unexplainable, and, oh, so undeserved.

What an awesome God we serve!

Lord, I stand in awe of your gift of mercy, so undeserved yet given so freely. Your mercy—a gift which cost You so much, yet You give it to anyone who asks with a sincere heart. I am overwhelmed as I consider Your goodness and Your kindness. Thank You for loving me so. I don't deserve it, but I am so grateful for your gift of Mercy. Oh Lord, Thank You!

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: India & Mauritania. Father, the needs are overwhelming when we consider the need for true salvation in both these lands. Raise up & equip laborers who will go into the fields to reap the harvest for Your glory. Expose corruption & evil in the governments. Protect & give strength to the persecuted. Establish Your Kingdom in the hearts of Your people in India & Mauritania, in Jesus' name.

Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you damned? (LR)

"It is with men as with wheat; the light heads are erect even in the presence of Omnipotence, but the full heads bow in reverence before Him." (Cooke)

Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the pulpit, I would desire to die preaching repentance, and if out of the pulpit I would desire to die practicing it. (Matthew Henry)

"The gospel alone is sufficient to rule the lives of Christians everywhere...any additional rules made to govern men's conduct added nothing to the perfection already found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ." (John Wycliffe)

"Answering a student's question, 'Will the heathen who have not heard the Gospel be saved?' thus, 'It is more a question with me whether we, who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not, can be saved." (Spurgeon)

Absolutely Nothing

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with challenges we as a family face. The burden parents and grandparents bear can just about paralyze us as we struggle to maintain our focus and trust in God. Many of you understand this kind of burden; many of you are walking through similar circumstances.

"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear" (Isaiah 59:1).

We need to be reminded that our omnipotent Lord is able to do anything; there is nothing too difficult for Him. The rankest sinner is able to be saved; the filthiest life is able to be cleansed. The lowest depression is able to be lifted; the highest mountain is able to be climbed. The most difficult situation is able to be resolved; the most rebellious life is able to be redeemed. There is NOTHING too difficult for Him.

The next time you feel overwhelmed with life's burdens, or if you think you've strayed too far or failed Him one too many times, remember His arm cannot be shortened. Remember His mercy endures forever. Remember His blood is all-powerful and its purifying power is total and complete.

Finally, remember His ear is never too heavy to hear your prayer. He will never turn a deaf ear to you. He has the answer—He IS the answer for all our problems. Our omnipresent Lord is in the midst of each situation before we even know there IS a "situation".

As you think about Isaiah 59:1 today, take a moment to thank the Lord for His overwhelming love and mercy, and His tender care. Regardless of what things look like to us, nothing is too difficult for Him ... absolutely nothing.

Father, so many times we find ourselves ashamed to approach You because we have allowed circumstances of life to cloud our vision and challenge our trust. Forgive us for "shortening" Your hand. Father, thank You for your overwhelming love and mercy . . . thank You for Your tender care . . . thank You that there is nothing too difficult for You. Amen.

"Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee" (Jeremiah 32:17).

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

PRAYING THROUGH THE 10/40 WINDOW: Sudan & Afghanistan. Oh Lord, the needs in these countries are immense according to our understanding. But there is nothing too difficult for You. Save the lost. Heal the sick. Feed the hungry. Expose corruption. Strengthen the persecuted. Clothe the naked. Fill the empty. Free the oppressed. Protect those who fight for freedom. Let Your glory be revealed, in Jesus' name amen!

Mystery Solved

Have you ever wondered why God "chose" you? Most of us have, at one time or another in our lives, gone through a time in our walk that we really wondered why on earth God would choose us to be His children. We see ourselves as so insignificant that it's hard to understand why the God of the Universe, the Most High, Almighty, Sovereign, El Elyon, El Shaddai would choose 'me' to serve Him.

Look closely at this verse: "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servants whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, and will there be one after me." (Isaiah 43:10)

Why has He chosen you? "... so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he." That's why He chose you; that's why He chose me. So we will KNOW Him and BELIEVE Him and UNDERSTAND that He is God.

The word "know" in this verse is the Hebrew word "yadha". It is an ancient term which encompassed a very personal level of familiarity and was often used to depict the close relationship between a husband and wife. One of the greatest reasons you are on this planet is to learn to KNOW God intimately and with reverent familiarity. God wants us to KNOW Him so He chose us to reveal Himself to us.

But, there's more. He not only wants us to KNOW Him but to BELIEVE Him. To believe Him is to trust Him and in order to trust Him we must know Him. The Hebrew word for "believe" is "aman" which means to be firm, to be enduring, to trust.

The "trust issue" with God is a monumental problem in the lives of most Christians. We know the promises of God and yet we don't trust God to fulfill His promises. Why? Because we don't KNOW Him intimately; we don't know Him to be trust worthy on the level of knowing as described in this verse. We cannot trust someone we do not know; conversely, if we know someone to be trustworthy, we will trust them.

Finally, the third reason God has chosen us is to UNDERSTAND that He is God. How can we understand that He is God? By knowing Him and believing Him; by allowing Him to reveal Himself to us through His Word.

We cannot KNOW God on this level by a short devotional like this delivered in your email or posted on a board. To know God on this level requires diligence to become intimately acquainted with His Word. His Word is the written record of who He is, revealing to us His personality, His character, His plan, His purposes, and His love for us.

Study the Word. Develop an insatiable hunger and thirst for the Living Word. Don't allow anything else this world can offer satisfy you. Learn who Your God is and He will reveal Himself to you in ways you never dreamed possible; He will manifest Himself to you through diligent study of His Word.

The mystery is solved. You have been chosen to KNOW Him, to BELIEVE Him, and to UNDERSTAND that He is God. Don't wait another day. Set your mind to search the Word diligently. There isn't a more satisfying and fulfilling goal known to mankind.

Father, show me how to study Your Word; give me a hunger and a thirst for the Living Word. Open my heart to seek after You diligently through Your Word, so I can KNOW You and BELIEVE You and UNDERSTAND that You are who You say You are. Lord, I confess that I NEED more of You. Lead me to the never-drying fountain that more than satisfies my thirsty soul! In Jesus' name, amen and amen.

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

PRAYING THRU THE 10/40 WINDOW: India & Mauritania. Father, the needs are overwhelming when we consider the need for true salvation in both these lands. Raise up & equip laborers who will go into the fields to reap the harvest for Your glory. Expose corruption & evil in the governments. Protect & give strength to the persecuted. Establish Your Kingdom in the hearts of Your people in India & Mauritania, in Jesus' name.