Baptist World Alliance Mens Department

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

April 27, 2013

75-Day DAILY DEVOTIONAL (NIV)

Authors: LUCKY RAY (Day 1-45) AYOOLA BADEJO (Day 46-75)

Day 1
Luke 12:11,12---When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. How often do we try to practice our words we think we need to proclaim the name of Jesus and find that the Holy Spirit provides all that we need. The message of Jesus is the most powerful message in the world. God equips us to tell this message through the Holy Spirit and we must truly rely upon him to help us bring the Good News to the lost. Pray for God to provide you with an opportunity to share your testimony today and let the Holy Spirit guide you through.

Day 3
1 John 4:11-13---Dear friends, since God loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. God did not give us the Holy Spirit to hide it from the world. This gift is one that needs to be shared with everyone around us. If we really love God, then we will share his word with those who are lost without him. We must do this with a loving and caring attitude. Pray daily for the lost and be constantly seeking ways for you to demonstrate Gods love.

Day 2
Isaiah 61:1--- The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. The poor in worldly goods as well as the poor in spirit are many and we interact, with them every day. Those who belong to Christ are anointed by God to preach good news to them. It is our duty to take advantage of every opportunity to proclaim the name of Christ to all we meet; the poor, the rich, the self righteous, friends, family, the good and the bad. Pray that you will not pass up a chance to tell someone about Jesus today. The message of the Gospel is an encouraging message.

Day 4
Haggai 2:4b,5--- Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord, and work. For I am with you, declares the Lord almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear. The prophet Haggai is exhorting Gods people to keep doing his bidding, to not give up. We too must persevere in our attempts to preach the good news. It is not easy, can be like work and we can be severely tested. However, we must have no fear and rely upon the Holy Spirit to give us strength to endure the hardships, as the apostle Paul encountered when spreading the message of Jesus Christ. Pray for strength and encouragement to go forward today and seek out those who are in need of hearing about Jesus love.

Day 5
Ezekiel 36:27---And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws God has promised to reveal his glory by restoring the fortunes of his people, both spiritually and materially. Sometimes we distort the gospel by emphasizing material dimensions over the spiritual. We need to seek a proper balance between the two. We can find that balance by looking at the way Jesus brought about restoration in his ministry. He emphasized both in feeding the five thousand and explaining that he is the bread of life. But the ultimate example is the cross and the blood of Christ. Pray for those who are hungry for the good news and that God will put them in your path today.

Day 6
John 14:16, 17---And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you foreverthe spirit of truth Truth is our strongest ally. The Spirit of truth is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is the authority that guides us in the way of God and reveals understanding and discernment from making bad decisions. The truth refers to Gods Holiness and Righteousness and His principles that are infallible. This knowledge helps us here and now in preparing for our future. Pray that you will always be bold and speak the truth when speaking about your Lord and Savior, the essence of truth.

remind you of everything I have said to you. The work of the Spirit is to teach, interpret and explain all the things Christ had spoken about; to make things easier to understand; to make salvation more understandable so that we may teach others. For various reasons, we sometimes forget what can be important aspects of who we are. The Holy Spirit is there to bring to our consciousness, that which we may have difficulty remembering. This may also explain how many years after Christs death, at different times and places and without consulting each other, the apostles could write about the life, actions and teachings of Christ in such great detail. You, too, can recall the details of your sinful life, your salvation experience and the joys of your new life by listening relying on the Holy Spirit to help you. Pray each day for God to remind you of where you came from and where you are now in your walk with him.

Day 8
Psalm 139:7---Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Though we are so small and may feel insignificant in the order of things, God will never fail us nor forsake us. God is present everywhere in his creation. Although we may think we fill only a small part of space, God fills all space. He moves with me in space and time. He is God of the living. We as mortals are always somewhere, but God is everywhere. How comforting it is to know that we are never alone. Pray for God to make his presence known to you before you begin your day and use that knowledge to empower you for the day.

Day 7
John 14:26---But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will

Day 9
Micah 3:8---But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might Micah is in opposition to the false prophets who lack the Spirit of God and have selfish intentions. He could claim the power of the Spirit of God to be with him. He is not being arrogant, but claiming the truth of his abilities empowered to him, because power is a gift from the Spirit of God. We need to feel this way, having courage and greatness of mind and fearing no man. We should openly and freely express ourselves to the lost, providing them with the truth about Gods saving grace. Pray for the Spirit of God to empower you today to speak boldly of your love for Jesus Christ.

Day 11
1Timothy 4:4-7---For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. Not only must pastors be trained in faith and good doctrine, but the laity must also be trained in faithfulness, having a mind for truth and a heart for godliness. The gospel is opposed by Satan and not readily accepted by man. We must encourage each other to be honest about who we are and what the scriptures say, noting that it is Gods word, not ours. Pray that you will be courageous in telling others about Jesus today.

Day 10
Isaiah 11:2---The Spirit of the Lord will rest on himthe Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isaiah told us that Jesus would be a descendant of King David. He also tells us here about the kind of person he would be and the things he would do. We are told that he will be a fair judge with exceptional wisdom, understanding and fear of God. Isaiah later tells about Jesus coming to serve those who are desperately in need of his compassion. Jesus, Son of God, is said to have the fear of the Lord, his heavenly Father. We, too, must have that reverent fear of our creator. God expects our obedience and we owe it to him for the saving grace he has offered to us. Pray for Gods mercy to be known to you each day.

Day 12
Genesis 1:2---Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Some commentaries refer to the Spirit here as if it were acting like a fowl does in brooding over hatching eggs and arranging the newborns in a particular fashion. It is evident that it was necessary for the Spirit of God to be made known to us early in scripture. It is important for us to be aware of the triune godhead and the role of the Holy Spirit. We should pray daily for the Holy Spirit to brood over us and to continually shape us in Gods image.

Day 13
Matthew 10:19, 20---But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Jesus Christ was telling his disciples what to expect by following him and how they can expect to respond to authorities. It would be wise for us to understand that the Holy Spirit is there to speak for us when we encounter our trials and tribulations in life. We may think that we are prepared, but we need to be in constant prayer asking the Holy Spirit to be there for us in our time of need.

Day 15
Titus 3:5, 6---he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, The changed lives of believers provides a visible platform for witnessing to others. It is important to allow Gods grace to motivate us to show grace to others. We should thank God for pouring out the Holy Spirit upon us and pray for continued renewal. Gods work in us can be seen through our kindness, love, mercy and grace. We are made new by the Holy Spirit.

Day 14
2 Peter 1:20, 21---Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Prophecy is vital to our growth. We need to study prophecies until Christ returns to help us to understand why we do what we do and where we are going. Peter assures us that Biblical prophecy is sure and we should pay attention to it. He tells us that we must be humble enough to realize that our interpretation of prophecy may be wrong. Gods thoughts are not ours and we, in our fleshly form, have limited minds and perspectives. But we must pray for understanding of prophecy and for the Holy Spirit to grant us the ability of discernment.

Day 16
1 Corinthians 3:16, 17---Dont you know that you yourselves are Gods temple and that Gods Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy him; for Gods temple is sacred, and you are the temple. Have you ever thought about how much God loves the church? The Corinthians, thought to be wise, were rebuked by Paul for not knowing that they are Gods temple and that God lives in them. Do you know that? God allowed his son to die so that the church may exist. You are the church, Gods Spirit lives in you. Pray each day for God to strengthen the church, to give you strength, so that no one can destroy his temple, that is, pray for God to protect you from the world and those who would try to destroy his church.

Day 17
Matthew 28:19---Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, We should all be familiar with the Great Commission. How often does it enter your mind? Are you following the command of the Lord? It is our duty as Christians to tell everyone who will listen about the saving grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray this day for encouragement, enlightenment and the sweet desire to tell someone about Christ. The lost are among you, some hidden and others well known. Pray for God to provide you with the opportunity to follow his Great Commission today.

Day 19
Galatians 3:27---for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Paul announces that baptism is common to all believers, because it is an outward sign of our delivery in Christ. The Church must clothe itself in Christ as a garment, to be covered by him so it may be thoroughly holy and without blame. Are you wearing Christ like a garment? Do others know that you are baptized, washed in the blood of Christ? Pray for God to grant you encouragement to let others see Jesus in you.

Day 20 Day 18
Ephesians 1:3---Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The best blessings we can receive are the spiritual and heavenly blessings from Christ. Blessings, spiritual and temporal are fruits of the Spirit. Peace and grace come from God the Father. The actions of all believers and their words declare the praises of Divine mercy. Give thanks daily for the blessings from God. Romans 6:4---We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that , just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may have a new life. We, as believers, must die too sin and live for God. Baptism offers our union with Christ. We are called to be holy. Justification and holiness are inseparable. True believers are dead to sin and cannot be dead and alive at the same time. Life is with Christ. The corrupt nature of the old man was derived from Adam, but is crucified with Christ. That which is not according to the holy laws of God must be done away with. Pray for God to cleanse you of all sin and allow you to find happiness in his service.

Day 21
Nehemiah 9:20---You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. God answers prayer. Too often we wait until our predicament is nearly hopeless before we go to God in prayer. When we confess our sins, do our duty to serve and glorify God, he will care for us and provide all our needs. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets. They spoke as they were moved by the Spirit and received accordingly. Pray for God to remind us of our history so that we may be kept humble, thankful and watchful. Let us go boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and help in our time of need.

Day 23
Acts 4:31---After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. God gave them a sign of acceptance for their prayers. In Haggai 2:7 we read I will shake all nations and will fill this house with glory. The shaking must have put them in awe of the Lords power. They had reason to fear God more and fear man less. He shook the gathering place and caused those who would threaten his servants to tremble. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and were encouraged to speak the word of God and to not fear the looks of the proud and haughty. Pray for God to encourage you to be bold in the word today.

Day 22
Galatians 5:16,17---So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. We must not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We should take heed to the warnings of the apostle to steadfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel. Let us be the ones who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Pray for God to help you to walk in the Spirit and exhort others to stand fast in the word.

Day 24
Romans 8:9---You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Believers may be chastened by the Lord, but will not be condemned by the world. God showed his abhorrence of sin through the sufferings of his Son in the flesh. The law of love is written on our hearts by the Spirit. The carnal mind is an enemy to God. Having the Spirit of Christ means having the mind of Christ. Where are your thoughts? Are you in the flesh or in the Spirit? Pray for God to keep you in the Spirit so that you may demonstrate a life of conversion suitable for the love of Christ.

Day 25
John 16:13,14---But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. Christ had to leave so the Comforter could come. The Spirit is the fruit of his death. The Spirit made sin know to all, proving that the world was guilty before God. The Holy Spirit is our guide to show us the way and to go with us to help us and to keep us mindful of our commitment to God. Not only are we to know the truth, but we should also savor its power in our hearts. All the gifts and grace of the Spirit are to glorify Christ and make his redemption known to us. Pray for the Spirit to keep you in the truth and let you know of the power of the truth when speaking the word to those in despair.

Day 27
Ephesians 6:17, 18---Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. The helmet is the protector of the head in times of difficulty or distress. It covers the head in the day of battle against satan, the enemy of the saints. The helmet of salvation is also the protector of the mind against false doctrines. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Its two edges are the law and the gospel; one convicts of sin and the other speaks to the truth of God. This is a sword of a spiritual nature used by the spiritual man and the Holy Spirit is the author of it. Pray for God to teach you how to use these gifts and to know the power of each and how effective they can be in your ministry.

Day 26
Acts 20:28---Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. God paid for his flock with the blood of Christ as a man, yet still God. As pastors are commissioned to watch over their flock, we as individual Christians have the same mandate. We must also be the foundation of their hope and the fountain of their joy. The desire to be like Christ is to give to all in need and expect nothing in return. Pray for and exhort one another and know that even through the difficult and painful times, there is a great reward waiting for us n heaven.

Day 28
1 Corinthians 2:4,5---My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirits power, so that your faith might not rest on mans wisdom, but on Gods power. Christ is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ should be the subject of the preaching of the gospel. Preachers of the gospel, ordained or laity must preach the truth and will of God from a sense of their own weakness and knowledge of their insufficiency. When plainly preaching Christ crucified, the success of the message should come from the divine power of the word. Pray that men will understand your message and believe in it to the salvation of their souls.

Day 29
Joel 2:28---And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. The priests were to alarm the people about the approaching judgments. We are to warn people of the consequences of sin and to reveal the wrath of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of man. We need to separate ourselves from what are worldly idols. There should be outward expressions of sorrow and shame, weeping and mourning. The promise of goodness began when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and has continued with Gods conversion of lost souls by his grace alone. Faith in God and dependence on him is evidence of sincere devotion and will provide deliverance on the Lords Day. Pray for those who continue to reject the love of God and his free gift of mercy.

have freedom. We have peace of mind and soul. Pray for the peace of God that passes all understanding to be received by all who pass your way. Be strong in your witness as a son of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, freely expressing the free gift of life which can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Day 31
Acts 1:6-8---So when they met together, they asked him,Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Psalm 62:11 tells us that power belongs to God and yet he gave us power through the Holy Spirit. The followers of Christ did not understand that they must first be prepared for what was to come. We now know more than they did about the Kingdom to come. If there was ever a time for the children of God to b prepared, it is now. We have the power, through the Holy Spirit, to change the world, to make it ready for His return. We must be bold and proclaim the gospel as God has commanded us to do. Pray for the courage to use that power that is within you to go forward and prepare your family, your circle of friends and your church. Give them the knowledge of the one who loves them so much that He died for their sins, rose from the grave, sits at the right hand of the Father and WILL return for those who love Him.

Day 30
Romans 8:14-16---because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children. If the Spirit is in us, then Christ is in us. The soul is alive and responsive to God and has holy happiness. Redemption of the soul brings a new life, new spirit, release from the bonds of sin. We received the Spirit of sonship, heirs with Christ. What more could any mortal ever look forward to? The sons of God are not in bondage, but

Day 32
Titus 3:5-6---he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, God saved Israel from their slavery, gave them food and water in the wilderness and provided them the land which he promised. Israel did not accomplish this on their own. Their strength, faith and hope were in God and the certainty of his promise. He saved us from sin through his son, Jesus Christ, and certainly not because we deserved it. We needed regeneration, a newness of life and through baptism and the Holy Spirit we are made new. We need to make this count. We need to tell those who are blinded by sin about the mercy of God. Pray for God and the Holy Spirit to move you to seek out the blind to sin and the lost in sin. Pray for God to grant you the courage and the words to speak in his name.

Being called out as son of man emphasizes the humanity and frailty of Ezekiel. God knows that we, just as Ezekiel did, live in a wicked world, among briers, thorns and scorpions. We, too, must not be afraid of this world. God told Ezekiel that he must speak my words to them. God has also told us to not be concerned how he is received, because some will not listen and will not care about what we have to say. It is their choice not to listen, but it is our mandate to speak the gospel boldly and clearly. Pray that you will remember Gods mandate daily to do his will and make the gospel known to all whom you meet.

Day 34
Proverbs 20:6----Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? Like the Pharisees, many do works to be seen by man. They are outwardly righteous, each proclaiming his goodness to others. But we who have the goodness of the Holy Spirit should not boast, but let our works and our character speak for themselves. We must show kindness to one another, be faithful to our friends and loved ones and not forsake them during adversity. Pray for God to provide you with opportunities daily to demonstrate your compassion and Christian love for your fellow man and then walk away, refusing accolades, explaining that you are just doing your duty as a follower of Christ.

Day 33
Ezekiel 2:6,7---And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them , whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

Day 35
Romans 5:5---And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Hope is confidence in knowing good things will happen. Having the Holy Spirit poured into us gives us the hope and confidence that Gods will shall be done. Because of our hope, we can offer hope to those who are hopeless. Be prayerful and hopeful daily for God to allow you to express your hopefulness in Christ with someone who has lost hope. Be prepared to be an encourager today and lean on the Holy Spirit to express himself through you.

Day 37
Romans 8:26,27---In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with Gods will. We all struggle in our prayer life. Sometimes we find our prayer lives to be inconsistent and less than what we would like it to be. We know the power of prayer and yet, God is aware of our difficulty in the practice of prayer. The Holy Spirit is our helper. He intercedes for us with groans, which are not able to be expressed in words of any language. He intercedes in our behalf in accordance to Gods will. Therefore, we should pray daily for Gods will to be done through us. Pray for the needs of the flesh and of the spirit for everyone on your heart.

Day 36
Galations 5:25---Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. By having the Holy Spirit within us we also have the fruits of the spirit. Paul tells us that we must first live in the spirit before we can walk in the spirit. Good comes from following Christ. We must demonstrate the goodness of Christ in all that we do. Our daily walk must be a demonstration of who we are. Pray for non believers to see Christ in your walk. Use the fruits of the spirit to embolden you in your walk. Be loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and show self control. Be what Christ expects you to be.

Day 38
Genesis 6:3---Then the Lord said,My Spirit will not contend with man forever, Those who knowingly and by their own will refuse the Spirit will ultimately be left to the hardness and blindness of their own hearts. This puts pressure on us, followers of Jesus Christ, to be serious about our desire to spread the gospel. God has said that man has proved himself to want to indulge in the flesh and yet he is a forgiving God. But time is of the essence. Pray each day for God to be merciful and for the lost to hear his word of mercy and grace.

Day 39
Acts 16:6,7---Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. Wow, the Holy Spirit would not allow the gospel to be preached? The area in Asia referred to here, eventually was opened to the gospel. The seven churches referred to in Revelations 2 and 3were in this area. So, the closing to the gospel was only temporary to fit Gods purpose. This tells us that God does sometimes close a door for us today, which he may open tomorrow, if it is his will. Closed doors can be an illness, a loss of a job or family problems. These are real parts of life. If you are refused permission to open the door to the gospel, dont be discouraged. Pray for God to grant you a better time and place to do his will.

There is but one original Holy Spirit and he can bestow various gifts to different people. There is a diversity of gifts, but the same God that works in all. Some have many gifts and some are not aware of what they have. The spiritual gifts are not given for boasting or honor, but God bestows them for his glory and for man to do good. They are to edify the church body and spread the gospel. Pray for God to make your spiritual gifts known to you and pray that you will use them to honor and glorify him. Do not begrudge those who actively use their spiritual gifts. Pray that they will use them wisely.

Day 41
Isaiah 63:10---Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. The Spirit of God fought for the Israelites and did many good things for them and sympathized with them. They still rebelled against him in the time of Moses, at the Red Sea, during the times of some of the prophets and they suffered unbelief and idolatry. He gave them up to their enemies during the time of the judges and even allowed the Romans to rule them. Let us not irritate the Holy Spirit and cause him to lose confidence in us. Pray for his continued guidance for our desire to spread the gospel. Pray for renewal, comfort and enlightenment. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be pleased in all that you do.

Day 40
1 Corinthians 12:4-6---There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Day 42
Matthew 4:1---Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Jesus was led by the Spirit. He was tested, but he was not alone. Christ went into combat, but he had a protector. We, too, have a counselor, protector and advisor with us today. If we accept the Holy Spirit and do not grieve him or deny his presence and help, then we will feel that protection only he can provide when we get into a bad spiritual situation. When the devil tempts us or lies about us, the Holy Spirit will stand before us and help us. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to wrap himself around you daily and do not grieve him.

in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirits fire. It is hard to always be joyful, but it is possible, because we have so much to be joyful about. And we can strive to be in a continual state of prayer. The difficulty is for us to not quench the Spirit. If we do not have the Holy Spirit, we do not have the joyful heart or the desire to pray. Without him, even Jesus will have difficulty doing mighty works in us. In John 6:63, Jesus said, The Spirit gives life;the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life. Pray that you do not quench the Spirit by your words or deeds or traditions.

Day 45 Day 43
Acts 20:28---Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God. Paul emphasizes how special their task is for the elders to be careful about how they shepherd the flock. He lets them know that it is a God given duty and responsibility. They are to keep watch over those redeemed by God. We need to take this assignment seriously. Christ shed his blood for his flock and they need to be protected. The Holy Spirit has given us the assignment and we need to pray daily for the wisdom we need to accomplish our assigned task. Colossians 3:16,17---Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. We must maintain a balance in our daily life. Too much emphasis on one subject or activity over another can be extreme, boring or hurtful. In our Christian walk there needs to be a balance between knowledge and application. We need to live our daily lives as authentic believers in Christ, exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit and showing the Spirit of Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you in daily prayer and bible study. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring joy into your everyday life. Practice what you believe and pray for the needs of those who do not know Christ as Lord and Savior.

Day 44
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19--- Be joyful always; pray continually: give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you

Day 46 Dont Give Up God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9 MSG) When God gives you a mission, you can be sure youll run into delays, difficulties, detours, and dead ends along the way. They are a natural part of life. But you can be ready for them. For example, if anybody had a right to be discouraged, it was Noah. Do you know how long it took Noah to build the ark? 120 years. Could you go 120 years on a project without one word of encouragement from anybody else in society? Noah trusted God. I bet there were many days that Noah didn't feel like going to work, but for 43,800 days, he went to the same place, and he worked. He never gave up. He heard the Spirit. Don't give up on your dream, either. Don't give up on your marriage. Don't give up on your health. Don't, give up. God is in control. You havent read the final chapter of your life. God's already written it, but you haven't read it yet.

Day 48 Dont Live an Unexamined Life Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me, get a clear picture of what Im about Psalm 139:23 (MSG) When you live an un-examined life it shows! If Christ's followers don't grow, it's because they don't make a habit of evaluating their lives. I realized a long time ago, that, I was always on the go, never looking deeply inside. I never did the kind of reflection that leads to growth, and I was paying the pricecommitting the same stupid sins over and over, living with the same heavy load of guilt. So I made a difficult decision: I decided that each day I would try to honestly assess my soul's condition. I would look inside myself and write down what I saw. There are key benefits to keeping a spiritual diary of your walk with God that you can't get any other way. It helps you get closer to God, it helps you trust God the more. The list is endless.

Day 47 Listen To The Voice of God Start with GODthe first step in learning is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. Proverbs 1:7 (MSG) Have you noticed that most times, the moment you establish a goal in your life, you start hearing people say, Are you sure you are up to it? or It can't be done or Forget about it? The antidote to the voices of doubt is to instead listen to the voice of God. Just imagine all the critics that were in Abraham's life. That guy, Abraham, thinks God speaks to him, but he's old already, how can he become the father of man nations? The Bible tells us that Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Dont be distracted from your vision. God will accomplish it for you Day 49 Wait On God, Period!! And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so Im not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that Ill never regret this. Isaiah 50:7 (MSG) When you pray, expect to hear from God. I cant say it any simpler than that. Expect that God will answer your prayer. This is where faith comes in. You wait expectantly on God. Waiting on God is never a waste of time. In fact, it is time well invested in your life. It keeps you to trust and focused on God. One reason you may not hear God speak to you is that you don't wait long enough. He wants you to care enough to listen. Learn to hear The Spirit.

Day 50 Gods Compassion Is Endless Gods loyal love couldnt have run dried up, Theyre created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:2223 (MSG) God supplies more and more and more of his love today, tomorrow, and forever. The prophet Jeremiah says Gods merciful love never fails. His love is like a bottomless cup of coffee served fresh every morning. Since Gods compassion is created fresh every morning, you will never reach a point where his love runs out. This means you can never blow it so bad that God will abandon you. He is the God-ofsecond-chance. If youre uncertain that God can (or has) forgiven you for things you did in the past, ask him to help you replace your fears with faith.

Day 52 Effective Leadership Youre blessed when you care. At the moment of being care-full, you find yourself cared for Matt. 5:7 (MSG) A cartoon shows an executive sitting forlornly behind a big desk. Standing meekly on the other side of the desk is a man dressed in work clothes who says, 'If it's any comfort to you, it's lonely at the bottom too.' The truth is, you'll meet lonely people at the top, on the bottom, and in the middle. Loneliness is not a positional problem, it's a relational one. The Bible says, 'Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family' Proverbs 18:24 (MSG). The saying, 'It's lonely at the top', was never made by a great leader. Stop for a moment and think about that. If you're all alone, nobody is following you. And if nobody is following you, you're not really leading. What kind of leader would leave everyone behind? An ineffective one. An insecure one. A dysfunctional one. Effective leadership is about lifting people, not elevating yourself, and to lift people you must get close to them.

Day 51 Trusting God Is Good For Your Health I said to myself, relax and rest, God has showered you with blessings Psalm 116:7 (MSG) God has given you the gift of your body, and it comes with an owners manual the Bible. In it are all the instructions you need to take care of yourself and live a long life. You already know the basics: proper nutrition, exercise, a good nights rest. Let us look at the first of some health factors you may not have thought of for living long and well. Trusting God is good for your heart. Trust God from the bottom of your heart; dont try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for Gods voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; Hes the one who will keep you on track Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG). Why is trusting in God good for your health? Because when you trust him, you dont worry. And when you dont worry, stress is greatly reduced and your life cycle is greatly enhanced too.

Day 53 Playing the Lesser Part Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead Philippians 2:3 Being a believer in Jesus compels us to stop being selfish and self-centered. The ideal is to want to push your way all to the front. However, Jesus asks that you consider others too. Consider them to the point of helping them get along for free - no conditions, no demands, no stringsattached., but just because, God wants you to. There are always opportunities to give help. Do your best to be a partner with God in helping others get ahead.

Day 54 Only Jesus Can Do It Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and youll recover your life. (Matthew 11:28 MSG) Do you remember the Parable of the Lost Coin that Jesus shares in Luke 15? The woman has 10 coins; she loses one and turns the house upside down to find the missing coin. Thats what Jesus came to do for you and I. Whether youve lost your confidence, your hope, your reputation, or your innocence recently, Jesus came to earth as a little baby so He could recover you like that woman recovered her coin. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and youll recover your life (Matthew 11:28 MSG). Only Jesus can do that. You cant depend on the government, your family, or yourself to recover what youve lost. Your savior cant be the person we put in the White House. Your Savior is who we put on the cross. Never look to anyone else for your recovery other than Jesus.

'When youre joined with me ............. the harvest is sure to be abundant.' Notice, the blessing comes from 'abiding' and staying close to the Lord. Getting excited about fruit before you've learned to sow seed means you end up serving God for what He does, instead of who He is to you. You will be regularly pruned for greater fruitfulness. But that's when it's even more important to abide. So don't give up, and don't collapse.

Day 56 Its About Jesus, Not You ....This work had been done with the help of our God Nehemiah 6:16 (NIV) On February 10, 2013, Nigeria won Soccers African Cup of Nations held in South Africa. It was jubilations all over the nation. Many citizens attributed the feat to the skills of the players and their coaches. However, the Captain of the side, told the whole world that, God did it for us What a declaration? Now meet another team player, Nehemiah, the king's royal cup bearer. When he heard about Jerusalem's brokendown walls, he set aside his own problems and focused on the nation's. Nehemiah was so burdened for the city where his forefathers were buried that he '...wept... mourned... and prayed before...God...' (Nehemiah 1:4 NIV). He remembered his roots, and reminded God of His covenant with His people by, in essence, praying: God honoured Nehemiah's prayers and Jerusalem's walls were rebuilt in fiftytwo days, causing the enemy nations who heard to lose 'their self-confidence, because they realized this work had been done with the help of our God'. T he question is, do they know who you are following? And that it's about Himnot you?

Day 55 Pruned For Greater Fruitfulness When youre joined with me and I am with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant John 15:5 (MSG) Some folk view the Christian life as a bed of roses, others see it as a battlefield. The first group says, 'If I've enough faith I'll never be sick, broke, or have problems.' The second group says, 'I have more troubles than Job.' The truth is, your faith level is revealed by hard times. When your back is to the wall financially you need faith to believe that God is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. When you're battling illness you need faith to believe He's Jehovah Ropheka, the great physician who promises to heal. Jesus said,

Day 57 Defensive Praise He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing straight and tall, giving glory to God Luke 13:13 (MSG). One day Jesus healed a woman in the synagogue who'd been crippled for 18 years. As a result, two things happened: First, she rejoiced like anybody would who'd been set free from an 18 year illness. Second, some church folks condemned Jesus for healing her on the Sabbath day. What a scene; while she was glorifying God over here, they were arguing the fine points of doctrine over there. So what did she do? She just kept praising God! She didn't stop to explain herself or try to convince her critics, because she knew their minds were already made up and weren't open to change. You don't have to defend yourself because the Lord is your defender. Plus, when you've been through difficult times you can't afford to mess around with people's moods and attitudes. If you do, your defensiveness can make you vulnerable to the enemy. This woman protected herself by entering into defensive praise, and you must do that too! Day 58 God Turns Failure Into Success ...... But if you say so, Ill let out the nets.... Luke 5:5 (MSG) Jesus said to Simon: "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch" Simon answered, "Master, we've been fishing all night and havent caught a minnow. But if you say so,.... When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break' (4-6 MSG). Notice two principles in this story: 1) God will use failure to get your attention. Peter was tired, empty-handed and disappointed when Jesus spoke to him. And He will speak to you through a rocky marriage, a child you're about to give up on, or a job that seems too hard. He doesn't want you to run from your problems, He wants you to learn from them; to discover the difference He can make in your situation when you invite Him into it. 2) God can take you back to the place of failure and give you success. We assume that because we weren't successful at something, it wasn't God's will. But often the truth is that we failed because we relied on our own strength instead of His. God's only limited by your unbelief. When you obey Him, you'll discover He has a level of abundance in mind that will exceed all your expectations.

Day 59 Unhealthy Comparison #1 We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow 1 Corinthians 3:6 (MSG) Unhealthy comparison is a sign of spiritual immaturity. Understanding your gifts and your God-given purpose frees you from the need to measure yourself by the runner in the next lane, or someone playing a different position on the team. When you understand this, your sense of inadequacy will be healed and you'll be able to enjoy and complement others. You'll also be able to help liberate your children from sibling rivalry and show them that success is not about being like somebody else, but about being the best you can be, and all God made you to be.

Day 60 Unhealthy Comparison #2 Gods various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in Gods Spirit ! Corinthians 12:4 (MSG) No matter how good you are, you'll never be good at being somebody else. Don't fall into the trap of trying to live up to the reputation of another person. The new husband says to his wife, 'My mother makes better fried chicken than this.' The wife retorts, 'Then tell your mother to come over here and cook you some.' If you want your wife to shine in the kitchen, compliment her. Don't compare her with somebody else. Unhealthy comparisons hurt relationships! When you understand who you are and what God created you to be-being yourself brings glory to God! You can say, 'Lord, I'm thankful for who You made me; I've finished complaining or wishing I could be somebody else.'

You will always see God honor His Word. He expects the same of His people. God says there are consequences when we do not fulfill our vows. It can be very dangerous to make vows to God and fail to fulfill it. You might just be shooting yourself in the leg and the consequences can be grave. Keep your promise to God TODAY.

Day 62 Giving is an Investment, Not an Expense Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop 2 Corinthians 9:6 (MSG) God often compares giving to sowing seeds. Like a farmer, if you go out and sow a bunch of seeds, you'll get a bunch of plants. If you only sow a few seeds, you'll only get a few plants. And if you sow no seeds, you'll get no plants. No farmer considers sowing seeds an expense. He sees it as an investment. He knows that if you don't buy seed, you won't have a farm. Here are three things the Bible says about sowing and reaping: 1. Whatever you sow, you are going to reap. 2. You will reap more than you sow every time. 3. You always reap in a different season than you sowed. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, I understand the principles of debit and credit. Give to God and credit your account in heaven.

Day 61 Fulfilling Your Vows When you tell God youll do something, do it - now. God takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it Ecclesiastes 5:4 (MSG) Have you ever had a business relationship with someone who made a commitment but later said, "Well, things changed, so I cannot honor our original agreement." Sometimes this may be the case, but often it is simply an opportunity to avoid fulfilling an agreement. God is big on fulfilling vows. God's nature is righteousness and truth.

Day 63 Balancing Family And Career He must handle his own affairs well...... ! Timothy 3:4 (MSG) Balancing family and career calls for tough, unselfish choices. If you make the right ones you'll look back with joy, not regret. Combining effective balance in your home and career, calls for careful planning. Neither should suffer for the other. Whereas, you need to put food on the table and care for your family needs, you equally need to work hard at it. God grants such enablement when He is taking along with our plans. He demands it, and has capacity to deliver on it. Let your family suffers for your pursuit of you career. Find a balance. Day 64 A Business Problem Can Lead To A Call Some of Kishs donkeys got lost. Kish said to his son, Saul, take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys 1 Samuel 9:3 (MSG) The people of Israel wanted a king. God finally agreed. Samuel was the prophet of Israel who was to anoint the man God had chosen. God selected a young man to be the first king of Israel - Saul. It is interesting to look at the circumstances in which God called Saul into his new vocation. Saul's father had a business that used donkeys. During these times, donkeys were often used for commerce. It was obviously important to the father to find these lost donkeys, so he sent Saul and his servant out to find them. God can use circumstances to bring you into His plans. Just as He chose Saul, He can also choose you.

Day 65 Learn To Succeed In Your Work Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. Ecclesiastes 9:10 (MSG) Our society has taught us to define success by a person's job title and financial status. But what does it take for God to have His blessing on your work? To Him the motive, method and meaning of your work matters more than the money. That's because you only take your character to heaven, not your career. Success is measured by Gods standards, not mans. God must be given His rightful place in your work. You must depend on Him, trust Him, and work by His standards. Do your business only in Christian ways and you will see God grant you His kind of success.

Day 66 Running The Race ..Strip down, start running - and never quit!... Hebrews 12:1 (MSG) The Christian life is a race that starts the day you accept Christ and ends when you meet Him face-to-face. In order to cross the finish line as a winner you must eliminate: 1) Anything that slows you down. In other words, anything that hinders your spiritual progress. 2) Anything that causes you to stumble short of the finish line. You must constantly monitor the level of your commitment to Christ, the growth of your faith, your home life, your relationships, your integrity, your work ethic, your thought life and your habits. Make up your mind to stay focused on the prize. Greek athletes who won received a garland that eventually withered, but you will receive an everlasting crown. Isn't that worth running the race for?

Day 67 Complete The Work And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, Do your best in the job you received from the Master Colossians 4:17 (MSG) Have you ever seen or driven by a construction project that was half finished but was now abandoned? It is a lasting testimony of something that had a vision, often with significant money invested, but something happened that killed the project. Why do projects fail to be completed? There could be a number of reasons. There could have been a failure to raise adequate funds to complete it. There could have been a fallout among the board or management. The project could have been simply illconceived. Good planning is key to estimating what it will take to complete a project.

The morning time spent with God is much like these situations. God pours His Word into my spirit, and I am recharged. This recharging has an important effect on my day. It allows you the greatest opportunity to hear the small voice that directs your steps. If you refuse to "get connected," then, you risk being OYO (on your own).

Day 69 What Is Expected of the Leader Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant Luke 22:26 (MSG) I read a story that impacted my life some years back. Michael Bruner writes about how, as a young college student, he was at a lecture by a former Attorney General. Afterwards he approached him to see if they we could meet for coffee. To his shock, he said, "How about tomorrow"...We met and talked for an hour...I peppered him with many questions. When he was asked who was the greatest person he'd ever met, he said, "I don't think of people in those terms." and then made a profound statement. "Don't ever seek to be the greatest. Seek instead to do great things. If you aspire to greatness, your greatness will die with you. But if you aspire to do great things, your legacy will live on. The only way to do this is by being a servant. Lead by serving and you'll do great things." Jesus was the embodiment of servant leadership. He didn't just tell the disciples what they should do, he did it along with them. Pursue great things, not greatness; lead by serving.'

Day 68 Staying Connected If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, Ill go to sleep each night trusting you. Point out the road I must travel; Im all ears, all eyes before you Psalm 143:8 (MSG) Two of the greatest inventions for business people have been the notebook computer and e-mail. The notebook means you no longer have to stay in one place to be productive in your business life. On the other hand, e-mail will allowed you to stay connected to people all around the world with the touch of a button. However, you can be frustrated when either of these fail to work. Sometimes e-mail cannot be used because there isnt a connection. Sometimes you cannot use the notebook because it was not properly charged, and then the battery runs out.

Day 70 The Power of Serving Others Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be Gods words; if help. let it be Gods hearty help. 1 Peter 4:9-10 (MSG There is a Kingdom principle few Christians really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God's supernatural law of serving. Then, the law of sowing and reaping comes into play in this Kingdom principle. "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love" (Hos 10:12). "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly ......" (2 Cor 9:6-9).

to hear it." This will define future situations with that person and it will get communicated to others in the office because of your response. You might become known as the religious person in your office, but that is OK.

Day 72 Building a Mighty Team This is the list of Davids top men 2 Samuel 23:8 (MSG) David and Jesus pulled together two teams that were the most unlikely groups to accomplish what they achieved. David's small army of men became known as "David's Mighty Men" because of their extraordinary exploits. However, they were formally the rejects of their society. Jesus' team was made up of common men who would never have been chosen by other rabbis'. They would here been men who would not have qualified for mentorship by most rabbis' of their day. Yet, they were chosen by the Supreme King of Kings. We can learn three key things about David and how he related to his Mighty Men. First, David's men came to him as a result of battle. They had fought together and learned first-hand from one another's capabilities. They had covered one another's backside on several occasions. And they trusted each other. Is there something you can learn from these men?

Day 71 Unwholesome Talk Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth.Say only what helps, each word a gift Ephesians 4: 29 (MSG) The way you interact with friend and colleagues. It is often not difficult to determine whether you will be the leaven for Christ or be viewed as one of the multitudes. Two defining situations in the workplace involve joke-telling and discussions about employees and bosses. If we laugh at off-color jokes we give permission to the person telling the joke that it is OK to continue this activity in your presence. If we fail to laugh, we discourage this behavior. When someone is about to tell a joke in my presence, I stop them and ask, "Is this a clean joke? If not, I don't want

Day 73 A Heavenly Strategic Planning Session And God said, How can we seduce Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead? 1 Kings 22:20 (MSG) There are few times we get a glimpse of what goes on in Heaven. Here is one instance when the angels were conferring with the Lord about the judgment of King Ahab for his sin and who was going to set up Ahab for this judgment. If God wanted to use you to impact your world for Jesus Christ, what circumstances would have to be created in order for you to respond to His call? Would prospering you materially encourage you? Would a major change in what you are presently doing be necessary or remove some things that might be very dear to you? Hard questions, aren't they? This is the very thing God does in many who have been called for a special mission. Moses had to be stripped of his royal position in the family of Egypt and sit in the desert for 40 years. The apostle Paul had to be knocked off his horse, blinded, and receive a personal visitation from Jesus, etc. Why?

friends with someone you don't know, like, or respect? That's why it's important to discover what God's called you to be, then work at becoming that person. And you won't get there overnight; it's a process-one that requires a mindset of honesty, frequent repentance and constant self-correction. Therefore, the first person you must work on is yourself.

Day 75 Start Living Jesus! My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what youve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live Him. Youre deeply rooted in Him. Colossians 2:6-7 (MSG) No child remains a child forever. Just the way parents have responsibility for the growth of a child, the child also has responsibility to keep growing. Baptist men must live their lives to honour Jesus. Some of the vices that drive away Gods Spirit from indwelling polluted bodies, should be overcome and subdued by His grace. Alcoholic consumption, extra-marital relationship, drugs, etc are not to be mentioned amongst Gods people. Are you still be-deviled by these vices? The time to give them up is NOW. God will help you, but you need to release yourself too.

Day 74 Need For Change? Test yourself to make sure you are solid in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG) If you are serious about changing, the first person you must know is yourself. Human nature seems to endow us with the ability to size up everybody-except ourselves. One marriage counselor says, 'The most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself. You've got to be your own best friend first.' But how can you be best

About the Authors

Lucky Ray
President, American Baptist Men - USA

Ayoola Badejo
President, All Africa Baptist Men's Fellowship Secretary, BWA Men's Department

Mr. Ayoola Badejo is a Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant. He was National President of Baptist Men's Fellowship of Nigeria. He currently serves as the President of the All African Baptist Men's Fellowship and Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance Men's Department. He is happily married to Olaitan and blessed with two boys and two girls. He can be contacted at:
ayobadejo@hotmail.com

Mr. Lucky Ray has been actively involved in American Baptist Mens Ministry (ABMen) for about 20 years, serving in the leadership positions of his local churchs Mens Group, the Kanawha Valley Association of ABMen and the ABMen of West Virginia. He is a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in South Charleston, WV, having been baptized there in 1954 and held various leadership positions, including Sunday School Superintendent, Trustee and Deacon. He has been the Acting President for ABMen-USA for two years, but his actual term as President began in January of this year. Lucky is married to Lee for 45 years, and they have a son, Kevin, and a daughter Lisa. He can be contacted at:
luckyray1@suddenlink.net