10 Days
of Prayer 2017
Though God is transcendant and far above our ability to fully comprehend, He has revealed Himself in His book - The Bible. And Jesus came to reveal the God of the Bible so that we can know what He is like, and be drawn to worship Him.
During these 10 days, we want to focus on who God is. As we pray and meditate on one attribute of God each day, may we be drawn closer to Him.
虽然上帝是超然的，远高于我们能理解的范围，但祂已经在祂的书 - 圣经中彰显了自己。
耶稣来，就是为要揭示圣经中的神，以至于我们可以知道祂是怎样的上帝，并且我们还要被吸引来敬拜祂。
在接下来的十天，我们将关注上帝是谁。
当我们每天祈祷和思想上帝的不同属性时，愿我们可以更亲近祂。
Day 1 - HE IS HOLY
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15–16 NIV
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!
Isaiah 6:1-3 NKJV
Lord of hosts, we praise You for your holiness, for your absolute purity, seen in your Word, and supremely in the life of your Son, Jesus. You are light and in You there is no darkness. Give us a greater vision of You in all your holiness. Give us a greater desire to be like You in your holiness.
Your majestic holiness exposes our hidden sin, and we confess we have unclean lips, unclean thoughts, and unclean hands. At times we fear your holiness because of our sin. But we thank You that You have made it possible for us to come into your holy presence through Christ.
We thank You that Christ died so that we might be forgiven. We thank You that He died that we might be holy. Thank You for the work of holiness that You have begun in us. Help us by your grace to live a life that reflects your holiness in all that we think, say and do.
Day 2 - HE IS SUPREME
Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it… For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
Deuteronomy 10:14, 17 ESV
Almighty Lord, You are supreme in all the universe! You alone deserve the adoration and worship of our hearts. There is none like You.
Although we do not worship idols of wood and stone, we recognise that there are idols in our hearts – even good things that have become more important to us than You: money, pleasure, influence; home, spouse, children; technology, books; fitness and beauty; even our ministries. Forgive us that we seek significance and security in these things rather than in You and your love. Forgive us for the sacrifices we make for these things when we are often reluctant or unwilling to make sacrifices for You and your people. Forgive us that we lead others to make these things idols, as they see the wrong priority we give to them in our lives. We surrender these idols to You and commit ourselves to seeking our identity and satisfaction in You. May You and You alone reign in our hearts. May we be wholly devoted to You.
Day 3 - HE IS UNCHANGING
God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 NIV
I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6 NIV
Father, in this unstable world, where situations change so quickly and people we rely on so often let us down, we thank You that You are an unchanging God; that there is no shadow of turning with You; that your love never ends; that You are always faithful; that You keep your promises; that You never let us down; that You are sovereign and always in control.
Forgive us for the times when we have not been consistent in our love for You, and the hurt we have caused when we have not been consistent in our love for others or unfaithful in keeping our promises.
Help us to reflect your constancy in our relationships, commitments, and service to You.
Day 4 - HE IS JUST
He is Righteous and Just, I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NIV
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26
Almighty God, we praise You that You are a just God in whom we can trust, and a God who cares about justice and righteousness.
We marvel at your way of salvation in which we, guilty sinners, are made right with You without You compromising your righteousness.
We thank You that You lead us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake.
We thank You that in a world in which there is increasing injustice and oppression, in which human life and human rights are increasingly ignored, You are working out your just purposes.
Help us to be just and fair in all our dealings with people.
Help us to care as You do for victims of injustice and oppression.
We thank You that your justice means that You will judge the world in righteousness; for the hope that injustice will end and that the wicked will be punished; and for your eternal reign of righteousness.
Day 5 - HE IS SOVEREIGN
Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places.
Psalm 135:6 NKJV
We worship You Almighty God, Sovereign Lord, Mighty King, Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We thank You that all people and all things and events are under your sovereign control and that you are working out your purposes through them, even though we do not always understand.
We acknowledge your sovereign control over and right to rule our lives. We surrender ourselves to your will, for You to use as you wish; anytime, anything, anywhere.
When suffering and difficulty come our way, or to those we love, help us to believe that You are in control and have allowed a higher purpose in the suffering. When You choose not to remove the difficulties even though we have asked You to do so, help us to trust You, always remembering that whatever You do is for your glory and our good.
We acknowledge your sovereign ways in bringing people to salvation, but pray Lord that You will open the hearts of [name individuals, communities or people groups] so that they may come to know You as Lord and Saviour
Day 6 - HE IS LOVE
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so 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. 1 John 4:7-12 NIV
Heavenly Father, we thank You for your love, your compassion, your kindness and your mercy. Thank You that your love is everlasting; that your mercies are new every morning.
Your love is amazing and wonderful. We are deeply moved because we know that we do not deserve your love. You have shown how much You have loved us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
Thank You for the felt presence of your love through the Holy Spirit.
In comparison with your love, our love is poor and weak. Help us to love you more. Fill us with your divine love. Help us to love as you do, so that we can love even our enemies.
May your love motivate us to continue walking close to You, witnessing for You and discipling your children. Give us a deeper love, your love, for the lost.
Thank You for your love.
Day 7 - HE IS ALL-POWERFUL
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…
Hebrews 1:3 ESV
Be exalted O Lord. I adore You and worship You for your power, which knows no bounds. Thank You for the times in our lives when You have intervened to rescue us from difficult circumstances. Thank You for the times you turned round seemingly impossible situations bringing a positive resolution. We commit to You the difficult situations and unresolved tensions in relationships we are facing now, believing that by your power You can turn them round.
We commit to You relationships where love has died, churches where spiritual vitality has died, people and communities that are spiritually dead, believing that You have the power to bring life from the dead.
As we advance in age and our flesh and bones decline in strength, we look up to You for the courage to carry on, knowing that You will give us the strength to do the task You assign. The world is full of seemingly insurmountable challenges. However, to You, the Creator and Controller of the universe, nothing is beyond you. Help us Lord to always focus on your power rather than our frailty and the uncertainties of life.
Day 8 - HE IS GRACIOUS
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:14, 17 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7 ESV
Thank You Lord that in your great love You do not treat us as we deserve, but always relate to us in grace.
Thank your for your saving grace, which called us to know You, even though we were unworthy sinners, rebels and enemies.
Thank You for your pardoning grace, that because of Christ’s death on the cross, You forgive all our sins.
Thank You for your transforming grace; that You did not leave us in our sin, but changed our hearts so that we love You and want to serve You in sincerity and holiness, and that by your Spirit You are transforming us daily into the image of your Son.
Thank You for your disciplining grace, which enables us to become more like Jesus.
Thank You for your enabling grace, which enables us to face any and all life’s difficult circumstances.
Thank You for your preserving grace, which keeps us from falling and enables us to persevere.
Forgive us when we live in our own strength, relying on ourselves rather than your grace. Help us to believe and trust that your grace is sufficient, and to rely on You. Help us to reflect your grace and relate to others graciously as You do to us, especially to our spouse and our children. Help us and our colleagues create communities of grace around us in which there is healing and hope.
Day 9 - HE IS ALL-KNOWING
O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139:1-6 ESV
Lord of Lords and King of kings we honour You because your knowledge is beyond understanding.
You know everything about us.
Thank You, Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe and all that is in it, that You care for us. Thank You that there is nothing that happens in our lives that lies outside your sovereign control and plan.
Thank You that you know us through and through. Lord, this encourages us. You understand us when no one else understands us. You understand our thoughts, our heart’s desires to serve You, our intentions, even when thing go wrong. You understand our joys and our sorrows. You understand the things that encourage us; You understand our troubled and anxious thoughts. But Lord, this also frightens us, because we know that our thoughts and intentions are not always good or worthy of You. Help us always to share our thoughts with You, knowing that You love and care for us and will not condemn or reject us. Change us where I need to change.
Day 10 - HE IS MERCIFUL
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him. Daniel 9:9 NIV
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 ESV
Merciful Father, loving Lord, we thank You that You do not treat us as we deserve. Thank You for the cross where Jesus bore the punishment that should have been ours, which enables You to have mercy on us as sinners. Help us never to take for granted what that cost You, but to live day by day in humility and gratitude, knowing that it is by your mercies that we are saved.
As You have shown mercy to us, help us to show mercy to those around us. Soften our hard heart towards those who make mistakes, who are difficult, critical, rebellious and unkind. Help us not to respond in like manner. Help us to seek ways to restore rather than condemn.
Have mercy on our sending countries, many of which have turned their backs on You. In your mercy spare them from the judgement they deserve. In your grace, grant revival.
Have mercy on the lost in the lands where we serve. In your grace, enable them to hear, understand and respond to the Gospel.
Have mercy on the insurgents and terrorists who are in spiritual darkness; as You had mercy on the apostle Paul, shine the light of your Gospel into their lives we pray.
Lord, thank You for your mercy.