Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 30, 2026

 September 30 -- John 10: 7-15 "So Jesus again said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Prayer focus for today: Today, we're going a bit personal on the prayer focus. Jesus ends today's Scripture passage with some of the most beautiful words in the entire Bible - "I lay down my life for the sheep." While most of us like to think of ourselves more highly than sheep, that's exactly what we are in light of Christ's words. He is the one who guides, protects, and provides for each of us who can truly do nothing on our own. He is the one who does everything just so we can become all we were created to be. 

Today, let's pray that each of us would be the humble, obedient sheep that we were created to be. Pray that you and those you know would faithfully follow Jesus, that each of us would be all we were created to be. Pray for humble hearts to lay down all you THINK you are and all you THINK you know, and just humbly follow Jesus. And on a personal note, please pray for our family, as we once again return to our calling in Zambia where Christ has gone before us and prepared the field. Pray for strength and wisdom in the days and months ahead, that we would continue being obedient sheep in his pasture, following His perfect will and leading others to Him. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 29, 2026

 September 29 -- John 10: 1-6 "'Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheeepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.' This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them."

Prayer focus for today: We all hear so many 'voices' each day, it's often difficult to discern what is important from what just demands more of our attention. From our alarms to wake us each morning to the final click of our remote or phones at night, most of us are bombarded every day with voices calling us to pay attention to them. Whether it's advertisements wanting us to choose a certain product, the 'things not done' calling our names as we walk through our house, or even all the people at work, home, and moving in between who are trying to get our attention, there's a LOT coming at us calling our name each day. 

In today's Scripture, Jesus is teaching another simple lesson -- know WHOSE you are and just listen to that voice. The Good Shepherd (Jesus) will always guide us and keep us on the right path when we spend time with Him each day so we clearly know His voice from all others. When we know WHO to follow, we won't get lost. 

Pray today for wisdom to know His voice and follow Him. Pray for those who have never spent time with Jesus to begin to hear Him, trust Him, and follow Him -- no other path leads to eternal life!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 28, 2026

 September 28 -- John 9: 35-41 "Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He answered, 'And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?' Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.' He said, 'Lord, I believe.' and he worshiped him. Jesus said, 'For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see and those who see may become blind.' Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, 'Are we also blind?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see.' your guilt remains." 

Prayer focus for today: Often our humanness gets in the way of following Jesus. We waste so much time trying to rationalize or make sense of things that we don't understand, that we fail to fully believe in Jesus. The man who had been born blind, but now could see, simply needed that little nudge by Jesus' own words to say, "Lord, I believe." Pray today for faith to truly believe. Lay down all the things that hinder you from fully following Jesus and His Word. Pray for wisdom to discern fact from fiction and to keep your daily focus on Christ alone. When He guides your every decision, you can't go wrong!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 27, 2026

 September 27 -- John 9: 26-34 "They said to him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?' He answered them, 'I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?' And they reviled him, saying, 'You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.' The man answered, 'Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.' They answered him, 'You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?' And they cast him out."

Prayer focus for today: When our 'eyes' are opened to the truth about something, it changes our perspective. This can be something we learn that opens our 'mind's eyes', something we observe with our physical eyes that helps us view things differently, or something we experience through a growing faith in Jesus Christ that opens our 'spiritual eyes'. After Jesus healed the man who had been born blind, his physical eyes had been opened, but so had his spiritual eyes. Not only could he now see all the things around him that he had never seen before, but he saw Jesus. He knew what Jesus had done and He believed that He was of God. He 'saw' that this man, Jesus, was able to do things no man had ever done before, and he believed. Faith healed him. 

How about you, today? What do you believe as truth? What have you 'seen' or experienced that has grown your faith?  Pray today for strength to trust in Christ alone for all the healing you need. Many of us have issues that keep us living in the dark where we cannot see; let Jesus 'slap a little mud on that blindness' in your life as you learn to see through the new lens of God's Word and truth in Jesus. Pray also for those trapped in blindness - that they may see, believe, and experience the beautiful life He created them to live!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 26, 2026

 September 26, 2026 -- John 9: 18-25 "The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, 'Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?' His parents answered, 'We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.' (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.' So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, 'Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.' He answered, 'Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.'" 

Prayer focus for today: Irony is a funny thing. As we continue seeing the story of the man born blind unfold, we see Jesus heal him through his obedience to just do whatever Jesus asked him to do. The irony comes in when we continue to see the Jews confronting this man, all the while missing the fact that they themselves were blind -- blind to the truth of God's word. They didn't believe Jesus was the promised Messiah. They didn't believe He could possibly be doing this out of the goodness of God, but thought He was of the Devil. 

Pray today that where you have spiritual blindness, you would be given sight by Christ alone. Pray for those who need to know Jesus and be set free of whatever is blinding them to His truth to SEE! Pray that where you and I might have judgment against things God has done that we simply don't understand or have trouble believing (as long as it isn't out of line with Scripture) that we would believe our God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 25, 2026

 September 25 -- John 9: 10-17 "So they said to him, 'Then how were your eyes opened?' He answered, 'The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed and received my sight.' They said to him, 'Where is he?' He said, "I do not know.' They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, 'He put mud on my eeys, and I washed, and I see.' Some of the Pharisees said, 'This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.' But others said, 'How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?' And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, 'What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?' He said, 'He is a prophet.'"

Prayer focus for today: No matter how you might be pressed to change your story -- be like the man who was formerly blind and tell the truth!  Over and over he was questioned as the Jews tried to trap him (and Jesus), but his story never changed. Pray for strength to always tell the truth of what Jesus has done in your life. Never cower or be afraid -- His truth will always set you free!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 24, 2026

 September 24 -- John 9: 1-9 "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.' Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with mud and said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, 'Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?' Some said, 'It is he.' Others said, 'No, but he is like him.' He kept saying, 'I am the man.'"

Prayer focus for today: Sin is sin. No matter how good we try to be, Scripture tells us the truth that we are each born with a sinful nature. We cannot ever get rid of that nature, but we can choose to follow Jesus and be forgiven of our sins.  Jesus is the only human who has ever and who will ever walk this earth who has never been sinful. Pray today that you and each person around you would recognize and be humble enough to repent from the sin inside. Pray for healing for those whose sin runs deep inside addictions of all types. Pray for eyes to see others as Jesus sees them, that you would not come at them in 'righteous' judgment, but in love and peace. Pray for words of wisdom to show each person around you the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 23, 2026

 September 23 -- John 8: 55-59 "But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.' So the Jews said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.' So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple."

Prayer focus for today: We probably all grew up being taught to tell the truth. We've addressed truth many times since beginning this daily prayer walk through God's Word. Often, the truth is comfortable to us. We don't get upset when we hear the truth, because it aligns with what we know. But what happens when someone confronts another with the truth ... and it hurts?  Jesus was confronting the Jews in today's Scripture reading with the truth, but they didn't like it one bit. They were ready to stone him for telling the truth. Why?  Because it cut to the heart of sin in their lives. Pray today for courage to confront lies with truth where needed in your life -- to yourself or to others. Pray for discernment to let God lead with words of wisdom - speaking the truth in love. Pray for Christ to reign in your life so you no longer have any reason to live behind the lies. Jesus loves YOU and created you for a life to truth!  

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 22, 2026

 September 22 -- John 8: 48-54 "The Jews answered him, 'Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?' Jesus answered, 'I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.' The Jews said to him, 'Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?' Jesus answered, 'If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'"

Prayer focus for today: It's becoming more and more difficult these days to distinguish lies from the truth. Social media allows us to present ourselves any way we wish. Filters or no filters, the way we present our lives is often showing only what we want to reveal -- in the way we want to portray it. Jesus was presenting the truth to the Jews; the truth about Himself, and the truth about their lives. They didn't like it one bit. Pray today for courage to present your life truthfully. Where you have not been truthful, pray for strength to correct that. Pray for the truth of Jesus Christ, and eternal life through Him alone to be portrayed and glorified through your life - in person and in social media. The freeing power of Jesus will amaze you (and those who know you)!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 21, 2026

 September 21 -- John 8: 41-47 "'You are doing the works your father did.'  They said to him, 'We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father -- even God.' Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.'"

Prayer focus for today:  I remember the first time I heard someone say, "If you're not following God, you're following Satan."  It struck me like a ton of bricks. I was hit with the reality of that statement that in any sin, I'm CHOOSING to follow Satan. Let that sink in for a minute. We all get comfortable living our lives the way we want, and we don't often think about sin, because it's the "little things" we get comfortable allowing into our lives. ANYTHING that goes against God's ways is sin. (Not just the big, ugly, socially known things.) I don't know about you, but I know I have things that are sin that I have to stop, acknowledge, and SHED today!  Pray for strength for each of us to repent and turn away from those comfortable sins. It's the only way to experience true freedom in Christ.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 20, 2026

 September 20 -- John 8: 34-40 "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.' They answered him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.'"

Prayer focus for today: Today's prayer request is simple, yet deep -- pray that Christ would never say to you, 'my word finds no place in you.' Jesus was very plain to those he spoke to in today's scripture; pray today that He would never say to you that you are just full of religion but have none of Him in you. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 19, 2026

 September 19 -- John 8: 27-33 "They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him,' As he was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had beleived him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"

Prayer focus for today:  How many times have you found yourself being questioned about what you believe?  Some of us have experienced this often in our lives, but some have rarely been challenged. (In fact, some of you have probably prayed that you would NEVER be challenged to explain your faith.)  Pray today for God to bring people into your lives who will question your faith in ways that cause you to truly examine what you believe ... and why. Pray for wisdom to know the Truth of Jesus Christ and be able to explain it to those who don't know what truth really is. Pray for each Christian to have the confidence to know what they believe and stand on that truth alone. Don't worry, I'm praying we will also know we're not alone!  (And remember, this doesn't have to be a deep theological explanation, just the truth of God's Word and what Jesus has done to CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 18, 2026

 September 18 -- John 8: 20-26 "These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.   So he said to them again, 'I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.' So the Jews said, 'Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?' He said to them, 'You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.' So they said to him, 'Who are you?' Jesus said to them, 'Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world that I have heard from him.'"

Prayer focus for today: Just as Jesus never changed his story, pray today that each of us would be faithful to speak only God's truth. Pray for strength to NOT be swayed by the world. Sure, the conversation topics may change, and the people you talk with will change, but pray for wisdom and courage to always speak the truth. This is so lacking in our world today. Work to be IN the world, but not OF the world. Pray for true wisdom to understand what this means. So many of us are forwarding social media posts that look "good", but are lacking or twisting Scriptural truth. Pray today that each of us would bear Christ in every choice we make today. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 17, 2026

 September 17 -- John 8: 12-19 "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' So the Pharisees said to him, 'You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.' Jesus answered, 'Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.'  They said to him therefore, 'Where is your Father?' Jesus answered, 'You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.'"

Prayer focus for today:  How many people would you say you really know?  I mean, REALLY know? Often we call someone a friend or say "someone I know" when we really just know them in passing or from what they choose to reveal on social media. Often, there is the presented "truth" that we see and then there is the truth. It's one thing to know about Jesus, but it's a totally different thing to truly KNOW Jesus. Today, join us in truly praying that each of us would KNOW Jesus. Ask Him to reveal to you the areas where you are just following what you've heard or seen on social media, so that you may truly know where to dig in to the Scriptures for the true truth. Pray for the truth to penetrate years of 'surface religion' in you and those you love that we may all be free in Christ to know, follow, believe, and share. 

Scripture and Prayer focus for September 16, 2026

 September 16 -- John 8: 3-11 "The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?' This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.' And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'"

Prayer focus for today: The story of the woman caught in adultery has many twists and turns, possibly even mimicking your own life or your favorite streaming show. However, it shows each one of us the personal side of Jesus -- the only one that matters. The woman was brought to him for condemnation by the religious leaders, yet Jesus, in His own special way, pointed out to the leaders that ALL of us are sinful beings in need of forgiveness and hope. While we don't know what He wrote in the ground, some speculate it was the sins of the religious leaders. Others suspect it might have been specific scriptures addressing their sins. Whatever it was, THAT wasn't the focus (if it was, God would have had His words written down). What was important were his final words to the woman brought before Him, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."  These are His words to each of us still today. He doesn't condemn, He teaches. He calls us to Himself. He loves. He forgives. Yet we are also commanded - from now on sin no more. 

Pray today that each of us will take time away from the "usual" of our day and truly ask Jesus to reveal to us the sin in our lives. Pray for that 'next layer' to be peeled back where we would clearly see sin as sin and ask Jesus to forgive us and guide us on the path that would never let us return there. Pray for honest hearts to seek forgiveness from those we have wronged and the strength to 'go and sin no more'. 

Scripture and Prayer focus for September 15, 2026

 September 15 -- John 7:50 - 8:2

"Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 'Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?' They replied, 'Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.' They went each to his own  house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them."

Prayer focus for today: Despite the repeated criticism, judgment, and conflict, Jesus kept on doing what He was sent to Earth to do -- show and tell God's truth. Pray today that we can each be more like Jesus and press on in the midst of the struggles each day. Pray for wisdom to know how to respond to each situation; trusting God to give you the words to say in response to conflict. Pray for confidence to humbly and lovingly guide (correct) those who speak falsely to you or about you. Pray for discernment to know God's will - whether you are to respond or be silent and let Him fight your battles. When you trust in the Lord to guide you, directing every step, you will NEVER go wrong!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 14, 2026

 eptember 14 -- John 7: 43-49 "So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why did you not bring him?' The officers answered, 'No one ever spoke like this man!' The Pharisees answered them, 'Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.'"

Prayer focus for today:  Christianity is one of those ironic things where we have to make the individual decision to believe in and follow Jesus, but we are called to then live in fellowship with other believers.  Pray today for faith to stand alone, knowing confidently what you believe and why. Pray that we will not neglect fellowship with believers, but that we will not be drawn to simply belong to a 'glory club' where truth is compromised by 'going along with the crowd'. 

Scripture and Prayer focus for September 13, 2026

 September 13 - John 7: 35-42 "The Jews said to one another, 'Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?  What does he mean by saying, 'You will seek me and you will not find me,' and 'Where I am you cannot come'?' On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'' Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spiriti had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some of the people said, 'This really is the Prophet.' Others said, 'This is the Christ.' But some said, 'Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?'"

Prayer focus for today: Pray today for discerning ears, hearts, and minds. Whether you have already been to church today, have yet to go, or will be listening/watching online, don't just be an attender, be a participant. Pray for active ears to listen and discern truth. Pray for hearts and minds willing to not just hear words, shake your head in agreement, or mutter and 'Amen!' -- actually pray that you will better understand who Jesus is and what He is asking of you as a Christian than you ever did before.  Pray for minds to accurately reason what the Scripture says with what your pastor says today. And lastly, but certainly not least, pray for each pastor around the globe who is laboring diligently over God's word, that he may stand worthy of bringing accurate messages that encourage and equip his flock. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 12, 2026

 September 12 -- John 7: 28-34 "So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, 'You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.' So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, 'When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?' The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Jesus then said, 'I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.' "

Prayer focus for today: The people Jesus interacted with THOUGHT they knew what they were looking for when the Messiah came. They THOUGHT they understood the scriptures, but they were simply interpretting what they had been taught through the lens of what they had previously experienced - what they knew. We do the same thing today. No matter which continent you live on, you interpret God's word through the lens of what you know; what you have experienced. 

Pray today for God to help you more clearly understand the truth of His Word. Pray for understanding outside of yourself and what you know, to put on the new lens of clearer understanding into how to live for Jesus. Pray that you will no longer limit yourself by thinking you know and understand it all just because you can read the Bible -- if you really dive into the original culture and languages of the Bible, you'll see there is so much more to learn than just what we read on the surface. Pray for all of our Family Legacy staff to teach the truth with clear understanding to each child placed in our care - that each one would choose to believe and follow Jesus. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 11, 2026

 September 11 -- John 7: 21-27 "Jesus answered them, 'I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fahters), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.' Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, 'Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.'"

Prayer focus for today: Double-standards are something we all seem fine living out, yet can't STAND seeing in other people. Jesus was quick to point this out, and it ruffled feathers, to say the least. Pray today for a strong mind and heart to tackle the double-standards you allow in your life. Pray for eyes wide open to see the truth of following Jesus's ways, and let go of the rest. Pray for opportunities to reconcile with those whom you may have offended through the double-standards you allow in your life.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 10, 2026

 September 10 -- John 7: 14-20 "About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, 'How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?' So Jesus answered them, 'My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?' The crowd answered, 'You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?'"

Prayer focus for today: How many times have you heard someone speak and it becomes evident that they are just speaking so you will marvel at their knowledge?  Sadly, today there are even pastors, just as there were religious leaders in Jesus' day, who speak to try to bring glory to themselves, rather than simply be used of God to speak His truth ... that HE may be glorified. Pray today that we would all be humbled to speak ONLY for Jesus. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and humility to know Him more clearly and speak His truth in love, as Scripture commands. Pray that we would each take time to not just speak words in prayer, but truly sit and wait on Jesus ... listen to His voice ... don't rush on after YOU speak and miss the most important voice of all. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 9, 2026

 September 9 -- John 7: 8-13 "'You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.' After saying this, he remained in Galilee. But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, 'Where is he?' And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, 'He is a good man.' others said, 'No, he is leading the people astray.' Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him."

Prayer focus for today:  How often have you allowed the people around you or situations you are in to dictate how you respond in a situation?   We all speak more openly with "like-minded people" than with those in authority over us. We form our thoughts and opinions and often do not speak them out if we have any fear of ramifications from someone who might hear.  The people who were seeing Jesus and hearing about all He had done had formed opinions, yet were afraid to speak out because they feared the Jewish leadership. 

Pray today for wisdom to know when to speak and when to be still and let God work. Pray for confident discernment to speak the truth about what Jesus has done in your life -- YOU could be the reason someone accepts Jesus today!  Pray for those trapped in situations where they cannot speak the truth about Christ -- that the word may still go out to those around them and lives changed for eternity.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 8, 2026

 September 8 -- John 7: 1-7 "After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, 'Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.' For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, 'My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.'"

Prayer focus for today: Once again, Jesus clearly explains his mission ... and that of his followers, yet they didn't understand exactly what He was meaning with His words. Today, we're often the same. We read the Bible, we say we believe (and actually believe we believe), yet we want Jesus to act in accordance with what we THINK and KNOW. We tell Him to "do this" or "do that", often forgetting to simply ask Him to do what HE wants done and use us however He sees fit.  We expect Jesus to fix problems we brought on ourselves, when He just wanted us to obey Him in the first place. Just as Jesus said in verse 6 ... 'your time is always here', we each need to be about testifying about all Jesus has done and can do, according to His word and what we have witnessed, yet trusting Him with all the details. 

Pray today for faith to simply let Christ lead out. Pray for faith to follow right now and trust Him to fill in the details as the plan unfolds. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 7, 2026

 September 7 -- John 6: 65-71 "And he said, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.' After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you want to go away as well?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have beleived, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.' Jesus answered them, 'Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.' He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him." 

Prayer focus for today: Pray today for discernment to know who you follow and why. We are have so many choices to make today; pray for wisdom to make the right choice in the things that matter. Pray for true understanding of God's Word and courage to choose Christ NO MATTER WHAT. Satan will try to pull you away little by little through the choices you make ... pray we will all choose Christ and nothing less. If you or someone you know is struggling in this area, pray for wisdom, courage, and strength to resist the temptation to turn away from Jesus and know with all confidence that HE is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 6, 2026

 September 6 -- John 6: 58-64  "'This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.' Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?' But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.' (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not belive, and who it was who would betray him.)"

Prayer focus for today: When we were young, we never liked being around the kid who was  "know-it-all". They were annoying and overbearing. However, Jesus is one know-it-all who can wear that title proudly!  While sometimes we do get annoyed at all He knows, deep down, we know it is the truth!  If we say we believe in Jesus, but still believe there are things in our lives we are hiding from Him, we are just listening to the lies of Satan who helps us to fool ourselves. 

Pray today for Jesus to be KING in your life. He already knows ALL and knows every aspect of YOU better than you know yourself. Pray for healing for the areas of your life you keep bottled up - thinking NO ONE knows. He knows, He forgives, He cares, and He wants you to trust Him to heal. And lastly, pray today that you will be willing to allow Jesus to be the voice of truth THROUGH you. Until you listen to King Knows It All ... you haven't found true freedom. Let others hear about Him and see Him through you.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 5, 2026

 September 5 -- John 6: 50-57 "'This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.'  The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.  As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.'"

Prayer focus for today:  These verses are some that often turn people away from Christianity, because they are looking at the literal words Jesus said instead of looking at all the ways/times He used parables to teach. Jesus is talking about himself as food and drink, knowing that this is what we humans know as essential for life. Jesus is NOT suggesting we take up a cannibalistic life. He is teaching that HE is all we need to survive. HE is to be our sustenance when we can't go on. HE is to be our life-giving all-in-all. 

Pray today for a mind to understand the Bible the way God intended it. Pray for wisdom and time to study the original text (even Google can help with that); even a brief tidbit can open our understanding in great ways. Pray that Christ will give you the words to say to help someone who has misunderstood Scripture see clearly today and choose to follow Christ alone. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 4, 2026

 September 4 -- John 6: 41-49 (*My apologies for yesterday. I stated our Scripture was through verse 42, but I only gave you through 40.)

"So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, 'I am the bread that came down from heaven.' They said, 'Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?' Jesus answered them, 'Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me -- not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.'"

Prayer focus for today: Today it seems people believe something just because a celebrity endorsed it or a social media ad sounded convincing.  When was the last time you believed something to be true, even a news story, only to find it was fake, maybe even just something AI generated?  The Jews had trouble believing Jesus was the Son of God, because they knew him as the son of Joseph and Mary. They had watched him grow up. Even if we had been in their shoes, we probably would have had the same doubting minds. 

Pray today for minds to discern God's truth from all else that is false in the world. Pray for eyes to see God's TRUTH above all else. Pray for the ability and desire to turn off what is "false" whether on your tablet, phone, or television, and spend more time in God's Word. If we would all do that, there would be much more TRUTH than FALSE.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 3, 2026

 September 3 -- John 6: 36-42 "But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but  raise it up on the last day. For this is  the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.' 

Prayer focus for today:  If you've been with us for the past several day, walking through Jesus' discussions with others might seem like a broken record. (Imagine how He feels still today telling the same message to we humans and getting the same response.....if you've had children, you know what I mean.)  :-) Continue to pray today for all of us who call ourselves Christians to REALLY understand what that means and humbly submit ourselves to Christ's commands and God's WILL today. 

Pray also for those who are in persecuted nations where taking a stand and following Christ can cost them everything. Pray for safety, but also patient endurance for each one currently undergoing persecution. Pray for strength to endure that Christ may be seen in each believers' actions and words. Pray for their lives to make and eternal difference, even when their stories go untold. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 2, 2026

 September 2 -- John 6: 29-35 "Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.' So they said to him, 'Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'' Jesus then said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' They said to him, 'Sir, give us this bread always.' Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'"

Prayer focus for today:  "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."  The plan of God has never changed. His purposes all center around Jesus being sent so that all of us, every human who has and ever will live, might choose to repent of our sins, believe in Jesus, and faithfully follow Him. 

Pray today for faith to truly believe. Hold nothing back. Repent of those "comfortable sins" that you hold on to and see in others, but never recognize in yourself. Pray for faith to trust His perfect plan for your life and rest in Him. Pray today that you won't look to social media 'perfection' as a goal, but simply rest in Him knowing YOU are enough just the way you are. Pray today to live as Christ that others will be drawn to Him.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 1, 2026

 September 1 -- John 6: 22-28 "On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, 'Rabbi, when did you come here?' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.' Then they said to him, 'What must we do, to be doing the works of God?'" 

Prayer focus for today:  Today's Scripture passage continues to build on the story. The people who were fed by Jesus' miracle with the five loaves and two fish want more. But they don't really know WHAT they want more of, and Jesus clearly points this out to them in His words. How often do we, today, waste time seeking after the things that look "good, nice, perfect, tantalizing, exciting, fun, ..." ? You name your adjective. In our human minds we convince ourselves we know what we want, and we let Satan distract us, often to the point of numbness towards the things of God. 

Pray today that the Father would open our hearts and minds to His truth and clarify our day's focus to be 'doing the works of God' by faithfully following Jesus. Pray that Christ would make it clear to you what it is that is distracting you and taking your focus off of the things of God. Pray openly with a willing heart and mind to let God the Father cleanse you and renew His purpose within you. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 31, 2026

 August 31 -- John 6: 16-21 "When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going."

Prayer focus for today:  As we end the first month in the book of John,  let us start our prayers today thanking God for His Word and the blessings of praying through these first chapters. Pray for each of us to better understand the Scriptures as we continue through this Gospel of Jesus which is PACKED with so much to learn. Pray for wisdom to be able to share these powerful stories with someone who doesn't know Jesus or who is a new believer. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 30, 2026

August 30 -- John 6: 8-15 "One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?' Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, 'Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.' So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!' Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself."

Prayer focus for today:  Anyone who has grown up with any connection to the Christian faith knows something of today's Scripture story. Typically entitled, 'Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand' or 'The Miracle Meal' or something similar, there have been countless songs, stories, and adaptations throughout recent time. If we look past the fact that hungry people were fed, we see a deeper significance in this story ... we see God keeping His word to ALWAYS meet our every need. To the human - thinking of the disciples, these people needed to go away and figure out a solution to their hunger problem on their own; there was NO WAY they could do anything to feed so many. But to the 'God thinking' Jesus, these people needed to just sit down and trust that the God who created them would meet every need they had ... not just physical hunger. 

Pray today for faith to just sit and trust Jesus to meet your every need. Set aside the worry, fear, doubt, and time being wasted trying to solve your own problems. Pray for strength to stay peace-filled despite the temptations Satan will send to try to stir you up into worry, being distracted by thoughts that NEVER were yours to have. Jesus has a perfect plan to meet every need - even I need to remember this today. Praying today we can all sit down and trust in Him alone. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 29, 2026

 August 29 -- John 6: 1-7 "After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?' He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.'"

Prayer focus for today: How many times have you worried whether or not your paycheck would meet all of your needs until the next check came in?  How many times have you  doubted you'd have enough money to feed your family and still be able to pay school fees?  Pray today for faith -- pure and simple trust in Jesus Christ alone.  He already knows what He will do to meet your every need. Pray today for the strength to trust in Him alone ... and not worry. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 28, 2026

 August 28 -- John 5: 37-47 "And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?'"

Prayer focus for today:  Today's scriptures highlight an important human characteristic that wasn't just a battle in Jesus' time -- it's still a battle we all face today. How often do we have something that is TRUE placed before us, yet we do not believe, because it doesn't align with something else we believe. How often do we have something FALSE placed before us, and we quickly believe it because it makes sense with something else we've read / heard or it's simply "fantastic news" that we want to share, thinking it will make us look like we're really smart?  We all fall into these categories at some time or another because -- well, we're human. Jesus was laying the truth down without any hidden agendas. He even addressed the unbelief. Today, Jesus is addressing us the same way.

Pray today for eyes and minds to be laser-focused on Jesus and the Word of God. Pray that we would each be drawn into truth, and not distracted by spending hours on social media reading things that don't matter. Pray for true healing in homes that need to be cleansed of these practices -- that we would all believe and spend our time on things that truly matter. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 27, 2026

 August 27 -- John 5: 30-36 "'I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.'"

Prayer focus for today: In today's Scriptures, Jesus is restating that John was simply a messenger to tell of the truth of Jesus and point people to Him alone. Pray today that we would all point others to Jesus, and not try to bring attention or glory to ourselves. Pray for humility to see the truth of Jesus and live it out before others. Pray that we would all be faithful to do the 'works' that the Father has given us to accomplish -- for only in this will we live out the potential for which we were each created. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 26, 2026

 August 26 -- John 5: 22-29 "'For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Fahter. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.' 'Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.'"

Prayer focus for today:  Have you ever left one of your children in charge of the others while you went away for a short time?  Perhaps YOU were that sibling who was left in charge of the others or perhaps YOU were one of the children placed under the authority of your older sibling. Whatever the case, that authority came from a higher authority.

In today's Scriptures, we see Jesus (fully God and fully man; God the Son) describing the authority given to Him by His Father (God the Father). (We won't get into a deep discussion about the Trinity today, but just know it's there!)  Being fully God, Jesus spoke the truth in everything. He didn't always speak where everyone understood perfect all that He said, but He did speak truth. Today, let's each spend time in prayer asking for forgiveness for all the times we have failed to submit fully to God's authority over our lives. Follow that with a time of prayer asking God to show you areas where you still need to submit fully to His authority -- that you may live a more full life. Lastly, let's all pray for a more clear understanding of exactly who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him. Even if you've been a Christian since you were a young child, asking God to help you see more clearly who He is and what He wants you to do is crucial in living a more full life for Him!  Praying with you and for you every day!  We love you all. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 25, 2026

 August 25 -- John 5: 15-21 "The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I am working.' This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and give them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.'"

Prayer focus for today: Jesus was making it clear that He was just doing what He was supposed to do. He wasn't bound by earthly restrictions and "religious rules". He followed what God the Father told / taught Him to do. Pray today that you and I would grow in our walks of faith to be ready, willing, and able to faithfully follow what the Father tells us; He loves us and wants His will to be done in our lives. Pray we can each lay down the restrictions and barriers that we so often bring on ourselves. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 24, 2026

 August 24 -- John 5: 8-14 "Jesus said to him, 'Get up, take up your bed, and walk.' And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed. 'It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.' But he answered them, 'The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.' ' They asked him, 'Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'? ' Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well!  Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.'"

Prayer focus for today: Miracles happen every day. Often, we take them for granted and they go unnoticed, but they are still there. We breathe, solve problems, do our work, are spared the pain of unfortunate events that we aren't even aware of, and the list could go on and on. In today's Scripture passage, we see the man by the pool who was an invalid have a personal interaction with Jesus and be healed. Not all healing is physical. The most important healing any of us needs is spiritual.

Pray today for someone you know who needs to have that personal encounter with Jesus  -- that they would repent and seek forgiveness for their sins as they make the most important decision of their lives - to follow Christ. Pray today that you would not be caught up in "religion" like the Jews who saw this healing not as a miracle, but as a "sin" against their religious practices. Pray today that Christ would open your eyes to the miracles all around you - that you would encounter Jesus in a brand new way. Pray today for all the college students who are starting classes and those who have already started. Please lift up our daughter, Jaymeson, and her friends who are following in faith the path Jesus has laid out for them. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 23, 2026

 August 23 -- John 5: 1-7 "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids -- blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?' The sick man answered him, 'Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.' 

Prayer focus for today: Today's scripture passage shows us a perfect question from Jesus to the invalid man by the pool. A question that seems ridiculous at first, as we KNOW anyone with a disability would most certainly choose to be freed from it, if it was possible. However, it's a perfect question, because it's a question we ALL need to be asked over and over again. 

If you are a Christian, when you first chose to follow Jesus, He asked you the same question. "Do you want to be healed ... of your sin."  In that moment, your soul said, "Yes!"   Yet, how often do you still turn to those 'comfortable' sins?  The ones you allow Satan to convince you are "no big deal"? The ones you are so comfortable committing that you just overlook them? If you've never chosen to follow Jesus, He's asking you if you want to be healed ... we all pray you'll say, "Yes!" today. 

Pray today that God will open your eyes and your heart today to the true "healing" you need. It's different for each of us, so truly do some soul searching. He's able, He's ready, and He's willing to provide, so just answer Jesus with a resounding YES -- it will be the most healing 'yes' you've ever said!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 22, 2026

 August 22 -- John 4: 46-54 "So He came again to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, 'Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.' The official said to Him, 'Sir, come down before my child dies.' Jesus said to him, 'Go; your son will live.' The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, 'Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.' The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' And he himself beleived, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when He had come from Judea to Galilee."

Prayer focus for today: While we could easily focus on the faith of the official in this passage of Scripture, today we are going to focus on the impact the official's faith had on those in his household. Notice in verse 53, the Bible tells us that "he himself beleived, and all his household."  This is the key to every home -- that the father would believe and follow Jesus -- and his whole household would also be drawn to Jesus through the faith and leading of the father. 

Now, we certainly know that many homes today are not led by a father, so just know if you are a single mom, a grandparent, or another adult leading a home, the same can apply to you. When the one who leads the home comes to faith in Jesus Christ, it will definitely change the dynamic in the home where all in the household are drawn to Christ and choose to follow Him. 

Pray today that all households around the world would be changed by the head of the household choosing to turn from sin and faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Pray for strength when the enemy attacks and tries to distract. Pray today for your own household to all turn faithfully to not just SAY they believe in Jesus, but to faithfully live it out and change the world for HIM!