Scripture and Prayer Focus for July 19, 2026

 July 19 -- Colossians 3: 7-9 "In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices." (ESV)

Prayer focus for the day -- Today is a follow-up to the challenges of yesterday's prayer focus. Whether you are a follower of Jesus Christ or not, today we challenge each one of us to pray honestly -- fully honestly  -- that God would open our eyes to the sin which we allow in our lives because we are so comfortable with it. Today's scriptures specifically address items that we often do with our mouth, but they can also be "thought sins", which Jesus says are the same as committing the acts. Pray today that those who already have committed their lives to Christ will become more aware of their "comfortable sins" and those who have never given their lives to Christ would understand their need for Jesus and turn from their sins and live!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for July 18, 2026

 July 18 -- Colossians 3: 4-6 "When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming." (ESV)

Prayer Focus for the Day:   Today is a challenging day for prayer. It's easy to see "other people's" sins, but so easy to overlook our own. Pray today that each of us will be willing and able to see the sin in our own lives, truly repent (which means not just saying, 'I'm sorry', but turning your back on that sin), and put to death what is earthly in each of us, pressing on toward the righteousness of God!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for July 17, 2026

 July 17 -- Colossians 3: 1-3  "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (ESV)

Prayer focus for the day:  As you can see in this image, people in different places think of things differently. Too often, the Church gets caught up in this and never notices it; we let things that have nothing to do with the TRUTH of Christ and God's Word separate us, simply because we don't take time to learn about other cultures or customs.  We often tell our friends in Zambia that each person has his/her own cultural beliefs and traditions, but the only thing that matters is Christ's culture -- that is what we are to follow. 

This image is from a Zambian textbook showing the use of body parts. In Zambia, your head is used as a carrying platform, not just a pretty place to hang your hat. It's a multipurpose tool!  It's not wrong -- it's just different from what would be taught and experienced in the USA and some  other parts of the world. Pray today that the body of Christ - the CHURCH universal - would be united in the truth of God's Word and stop being divided over the things that don't matter - the things of this world.... you just might learn some fun new things while you're at it!  

Scripture and Prayer Focus for July 16, 2026

 July 16 -- Colossians 2: 21-23  "'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch' (referring to things that all perish as they are used) -- according to human precepts and teachings?  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." (ESV)

Prayer focus for the day: Please pray that the things that seem right to our human customs and what we've been taught in the past will be made clear through the LIGHT of Christ as we all dig deep into God's word and pray for wisdom from Christ alone.   Pray that no matter which continent someone is on, we would all seek the truth and FOLLOW IT!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for July 15, 2026

 July 15 -- Colossians 2: 18 - 20  "Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died on the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations --" (ESV)

Prayer focus for the day: One of the most difficult parts for people in the west to understand about our work in Zambia is the strong hold that animistic belief systems hold on our friends and students in Zambia. Just as in a chemistry class where you have a "reaction" when unlike substances interact, the internal conflict of beliefs can be a challenge to overcome. Please join us in prayer today that we would always grow in our own knowledge of the truth of Christ and salvation through Him alone, but that our friends and students in Zambia would be able to discern the truth of Christ from the elemental spirits of the world that have such a strong pull on their minds and hearts.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for July 14, 2026

 July 14 -- Colossians 2: 15 - 17  "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."  (ESV)

Prayer focus for the day:  Today we ask for prayers for our grade 12 students who are working hard each day studying for the national exams they will take at the end of the year. Please pray that they will trust God alone as they prepare and will not be drawn into any "side" beliefs or customs that would distract them from the next steps God has for them. 

Scripture and Prayer focus for July 13, 2026

 July 13 -- Colossians 2: 11-14  "In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." (ESV)

Prayer focus for the day: Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the amazing gift of Jesus, and all record of our debt cancelled by His death on the cross if we only choose to turn from our sins, believe in Jesus, and follow Him daily. Pray that all of us who are Christians will be bold to share this truth with all in our circles of life who do not know Christ and salvation through Him alone. Pray that each believer will know the truth and never live under false beliefs, but we would all follow, believe, and know the truth of Christ who has set our sin aside through the nails on the cross. All praise be to Jesus ... and Him alone!