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40 Days of Prayer, Day 38

Day 38, Tuesday, September 27

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. Psalm 22:1-5

Christ, Broken for Us
On the cross, the opening verse of this psalm became the expressed agony of Christ. “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Jesus quotation of this psalm fits the emotions behind the greatest theological moment in history. In our zeal to know the theology of the God we must also feel the theology of God. The Bible tells us that Jesus quoted this psalm in the midst of God’s greatest act of deliverance for hurting people. God, in Christ, rescued us through the cross. He rescued us by having His Son bear the weight of all of our sin and shame. He saved us from the ultimate despair of death and eternal judgment. His rescue of the brokenhearted came at incredible personal cost. The Old Testament foretold His rescue plan. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6 In the New Testament, from the beginning of the ministry of Christ, God declared this rescue plan for broken people. In God’s message to Mary’s husband Joseph we hear of God’s plan of salvation. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 We hear it in the announcement of Christ’s birth to the shepherds. “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 We hear of God’s rescue plan from Christ Himself. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 We hear it in the New Testament writers, looking back on the life, death and resurrection of Christ, as they describe the rescue plan of Christ. “He became a curse for us.” Galatians 3:13. “He became sin who knew no sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:21 “God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.” Romans 3:25 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I John 4:10

Just as the psalmist found hope in the midst of despair, how much more is there hope for hurting people today. The psalmist considered God’s rescue of Israel which came during the nation’s time of need. In the midst of his cry for help, the knowledge of God’s work in liberating Israel provided great comfort. Now, as believers in Christ, we too see God’s rescue plan. Only now we see the fullness of the God who saves. He sent His Son into the world to bear the sin, shame and heartbreak of His people. God, in Christ, reconciled us to Himself forever through the suffering of His Son. For those who suffer, the pain is real, just as the suffering of Christ for our sakes was real. The rescue plan of God does not eliminate the momentary trials of this life. Just as this psalmist, with full knowledge of God’s history of rescue for Israel, still cried out to God for help. We too, just as this psalmist, can cry out to God in our trials. For just as the psalmist we cry out with the knowledge of God’s saving work for Israel as a nation. However, we also cry out with the knowledge of God’s even greater rescue, His eternal salvation for sinners. With that knowledge, let us also say to God even in the midst of our suffering, “Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of” Your people.”

Prayer Focus
O Lord, You have saved us with an everlasting love in Christ Jesus. I confess my need for You. You alone provided a way to eternal life. I confess that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Lord of my life. I trust You through Him with my eternal salvation. Now, O Lord, help me to trust You in my daily trials. You have defeated sin and death in the resurrection of Your Son. There is nothing too big for You. My hope is in You. Please hear my prayers, for You are the Holy One. Amen. 

From Bunyan’s The Acceptable Sacrifice
A broken heart is in the sight of God an excellent thing; because a broken heart is submissive; it falls before God, and gives to glory to him. Hence such a heart is called an honest heart, a good heart, a perfect heart, a heart fearing God, and such as is sound in God's statutes. Now, this cannot but be an excellent thing, if we consider, that by such a heart, unfeigned obedience is yielded unto him that calls for it. 'You have obeyed from the heart, ' says Paul to them at Rome, 'that form of doctrine which was delivered you' (Rom 6:17). Alas! the heart, before it is broken and made contrite, is quite of another temper: 'It is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' The great stir before the heart is broken, is about who will be Lord, God or the sinner. True, the right of dominion is the Lord's; but the sinner will not permit it, but will be all himself; saying 'Who is Lord over us?' and again, they say to God, 'We are lords, we will come no more to you.' (Psa 12:4; Jer 2:31)

40 Days of Prayer, Day 37

Day 37, Monday, September 26

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. Psalm 22:1-5

The Cry of the Contrite-Hearted
Today, we turn our attention to one of the most emotional prayers in the entire Bible. Psalm 22 provides poetic words to the anguish of the grieving soul. Several of the statements in this psalm are familiar. We hear Jesus quote them in His life and ministry. The most familiar quote by Jesus from this Psalm comes from the very first verse, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” In the climax of the single most important moment in human history, as God’s own Son died in our place, this verse provided Jesus Christ the words to express the anguish of His own soul. In addition to this verse, verses 7, 8, 16, 18 and 31 are directly or indirectly quoted in the New Testament as being fulfilled in Christ. The opening statement to the psalm sets the tone. This psalm focuses our minds on the plight of those who are hurting. The first two verses leave the reader in a state of the hopelessness of the psalmist. Then, the psalmist is jolted from helplessness by remembering the faithfulness of God. The structure of the rest of the psalm follows this pattern. Cries to God for help are followed by declarations of confidence in God. The psalm concludes with the offering of joyful praise of the rescued followed by the beautiful sharing of a feast in the house of the Lord together, verses 22-31.

The first section, verses 1-5, give words to those in profound despair. It is the most familiar verse in this psalm. When Christ neared His final moments on the cross, He quoted this psalm. There is such desperation to the words. “My God why have You forsaken me?” These words express both the need for immediate rescue but also the shocking sense of separation felt during the time of need. The psalmist expressed the emotions that all who walk difficult paths feel. We know God loves us. We know He is all-powerful and He is always present. We know He can help. So where is He? Here the sufferer stands, seemingly alone and abandoned by the only One that can really be trusted in these moments. “Where are You God?” “Why have You left me alone here?” “Why don’t You answer my prayers?” The answers to these penetrating questions come in waves of successive statements about God. The psalmist recounts the previous protection for Israel in times of national crisis. The psalmist also recounts God’s history of protection for individuals in need. The character of God prompts the despairing psalmist to turn his focus to the worship of the God of his salvation. “In You they trusted and were not disappointed.” Just as God delivered others in times of great suffering, God will deliver us as well. The suffering is real but so is His rescue plan. His love is real. He can be trusted to deliver us. He is worthy of our praise, even while the trials of life encircle us.

Prayer Focus
O Lord, draw near to the hurting. You love me and have a plan for me. As You have rescued Israel, even more so You have rescued me in Christ. I praise You for Your incredible mercy and grace. Help me trust You. Help me to wait on You as You work in my daily struggles, amen.

From Bunyan’s The Acceptable Sacrifice
A broken heart is the handiwork of God; a heart of his own preparing, for his own service; it is a sacrifice of his own providing, of his providing for himself; as Abraham said in another case, 'God will provide himself a lamb' (Gen 22:8). Hence it is said, 'The preparations of the heart in man is from the Lord.' And again, 'God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me' (Job 23:16). The heart, as it is by nature hard and impenetrable, so it remains, and so will remain, until God, as was said, bruises it with his hammer, and melts it with his fire. The stony nature of it is therefore said to be taken away of God. 'I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh' (Eze 36:26). I will take away the stony heart and I will give you a heart of flesh; that is, I will make your heart sensible, soft, wieldable, governable, and penitent. Sometimes he bids men rend their hearts, not because they can, but to convince them rather, that though it must be so, they cannot do it; so he bids them make themselves a new heart, and a new spirit, for the same purpose also; for if God does not rend it, it remains unrent; if God makes it not new, it abides an old one still. This is what is meant by his bending of men for himself, and of his working in them that which is pleasing in his sight (Zech 9:13). The heart, soul, or spirit, as in itself, as it came from God's fingers, a precious thing, a thing in God's account worth more than all the world. This heart, soul, or spirit, sin has hardened, the devil has bewitched, the world has deceived. This heart, thus beguiled, God covets and desires: 'My son, ' says he, 'give me thine heart, and let your eyes observe my ways' (Prov 23:26).

Suggested Prayer Focus for 40 Days of Prayer Vigil

Prayer Guide for Six Hour Prayer Vigil
For yourself and for other believers, asking God for
1. A contrite heart, a heart that knows and feels the incredible beauty of God
2. A contrite heart, a heart that knows and feels weight of our sin and the joy of God’s mercy
3. A contrite heart, a heart that is humble before God and others
4. Spiritual growth and maturity, growing in the knowledge of God and growing in relationship to God
5. Wisdom and discernment, to be able to choose what is good and to avoid what is evil
6. Spiritual strength, to have the power through the Spirit of God to be able to endure the trials of this life with hope fixed on Christ and His kingdom
7. Daily provisions, to ask God and to trust God each day for food, shelter and basic needs
8. A forgiving heart, to live with mercy toward others, especially when considering how much God has forgiven us
9. A pure heart, to live with thoughts, words and actions according to God’s holiness
10. A bold heart, to proclaim to the world through words and actions the goodness of our great God
For the church, asking God for
1. An open door, to be able to reach those who are unchurched from our community, that God would bring them to our congregation and that we would graciously welcome them
2. Workers, seeking God to send workers into the harvest so that we can teach, lead, and encourage all who we encounter as a congregation
3. Provisions, seeking for God’s resources in time, energy, money, gifting and wisdom to be able to most effectively minister to our congregation and to the community around us
4. Our leaders, asking God to keep our leaders moral pure and to give our leadership the spiritual wisdom and power to fulfill God’s calling
5. The preaching of the Word, that God’s word would come in power week after week in our worship services
6. The teaching of the Word, that God would make Himself known through the diligent study by His teachers and that they would present God’s Word with power, passion, accuracy and clarity
7. The ministry to the poor, that we would open our eyes to see the needs around us
8. The ministry to the hurting, that we would live with compassion toward those who are in need
9. Vision, to see where God is leading the congregation as we walk together in His power, but also as we walk together through this corrupt and fallen world
10. Unity, to preserve the loving community of believers by forgiving each other early and often
For the Gospel around the world, asking God for
1. The work of Baptist missionaries around the world, as they serve God in a variety of roles to plant churches and disciple new believers
2. The work of our own church family who are serving around the world in translating the bible, Papau, New Guinea, Asia, Africa, and workers living here but who are involved in the translation of God’s word into the languages of all peoples, for God to give them wisdom
3. The work of our own church family who are serving around the world in the ministry of church planting for open doors to share the Gospel and for wisdom as they train church leaders
4. Our partner orphanages in Mexico, Sudan and Myanmar, for daily provisions and for the spiritual life of the children
5. Church leadership training, for our trips for training pastors and church leaders, especially for our trip in January to Asia for the purpose of teaching Ephesians and for our trip in July to Mexico to train pastors, along with any other open doors for training. Pray for safety as pastors travel to and from the conferences. Pray for resources for each of these conferences.
6. Pray for Aaron and Becky as they continue to church plant in Connecticut
7. Pray for our church family to think, pray, give and serve with the salvation of Christ for nations in constant view
For our nation, asking God for
1. For righteousness, that we would see a standard of righteousness lived out for the sake of the good of all people in our land
2. For wisdom, that our leaders would rule with integrity, justice and mercy
3. For the Gospel, that our nation would hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that message of God through the power of His Spirit would transform our land